Floating meadows knows as "camalotales" are important way of biogeographical dispersal at the Rio de La Plata basin

Abstract

Floating meadows known as "camalotales" are important way of biogeographical dispersal at the Río de la Plata basin. However, the fauna transported in these rafts is a scarce studied topic. This work presents a survey of this fauna, for which different localities of its coast were visited after the floods in the summer season from December 2015 to March 2016. Twenty species of tetrapods, eight arachnids and three hirudiniformes closely associated with floating vegetation were accounted. Also, fishes, insects, mollusks and tricladids were recorded. This provided better information about animals capable of supporting transport on floating rafts. It is proposed that in future studies emphasis should be placed on improving knowledge about invertebrates that are associated with camalotales transport. It is underlined that the events of camalotales are very important in the regulation of the biodiversity, and that therefore they must be taken into account when planning palliative measures against the economic problems that can cause the floating vegetation.