Taxonomy, distribution and population structure of invasive Corbiculidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in the Suquía River basin, Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

Invasive species are one of the most significant causes of biodiversity loss and changes in ecosystem services, which underlines the importance of their detection and their study. The Asian clams (Corbiculidae) are invasive organisms that accidentally entered the La Plata River, Argentina, presumably in the 1960s. The objectives of the present study were to identify the corbiculid species and to determine their distribution at several locations along the Suquía River basin, an extended area in central Argentina. In addition, population structure was evaluated monthly during one year, at a site in the city of Córdoba that is characterized by high human influence. The presence of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) and Corbicula largillierti (Philippi, 1844) in the Suquía River basin is reported for the first time. The former species was found only in a lentic environment (San Roque reservoir), while the latter was also found along the tributary rivers and brooks of the basin. Corbicula largillierti showed variations in average density between the different sites and also in biomass and size classes throughout the study period at the site at Córdoba city. The relative composition of the sediments, flow fluctuation and human pollution may be responsible for the observed differences.

Variation in the distribution of Corbicula species (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Corbiculidae) after 25 years of its introduction in the Río de la Plata, Argentina

“…It is, however, found in lower densities than C. fluminea. This preference C. largillierti has for streams and other lotic environments, was detected by Reyna et al (2013), in the Suquía River basin, Argentina (31°32'S, 64°10'W). Also, it should be noted that there are environmental differences between the Río de la Plata and the tributary streams.…”

“…The same can happen in the Suquía River basin. While C. fluminea is continually expanding geographically, C. largillierti is not (Reyna et al 2013). About ten years after the ingression and dispersion of the two species of Corbicula to the Río de la Plata River area, other invasive species have arrived in Río de la Plata River.…”

Targeting clams: insights into the invasive potential and current and future distribution of Asian clams

“…In areas where the presence of more than one Corbicula species is possible, interaction between them could magnify the negative effect on native species and ecosystems (Jackson 2015). The current relatively narrow distribution of C. largillierti and C. fluminalis could be explained by different hypotheses: (i) misidentification: even assuming the hypothesis of the existence of lineages from a specific complex, instead of truly species (Pigneur et al 2011), differences between morphotypes really exist (Mansur & Pereira 2006;Martins et al 2006;Reyna et al 2013). The presence of C. fluminea could be overestimated compared to its congeners.…”

eDNA for detection of five highly invasive molluscs. A case study in urban rivers from the Iberian Peninsula

“…fluminea [ 50 ]) and C . largillierti , which is native to Asia and invasive in South America [ 51 , 52 ].…”