Habitat preference of freshwater snails in relation to environmental factors and the presence of the competitor snail Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774)

The introduced snail Melanoides Tuberculatus (Muller, 1774) (Mollusca: Thiaridae) in aquatic ecosystems of the Brazilian Semiarid Northeast (Piranhas-Assu River basin, State of Rio Grande do Norte)

“…The gastropod M. tuberculatus shows great adaptability to different ecological conditions, but its successful establishment is frequently associated with eutrophic environments (Martins- Silva and Barros, 2001;Callisto et al, 2005;Giovanelli et al, 2005;Vidigal et al, 2005;Rocha-Miranda and Martins-Silva, 2006). Areas located near the Rio Doce State Park in the state of Minas Gerais, which are impacted by eucalyptus plantations, were also favourable for the development of high densities of this species (Vidigal et al, 2005).…”

“…These reservoirs exist in a semiarid climate, are highly eutrophic, and generally have high mean water temperatures (>28 °C), which demonstrates the impressive ecological plasticity of this species. These exotic and invasive mollusks can colonise different environments and in different trophic conditions, from oligotrophic to intensely eutrophic, lotic or lentic, and even brackish systems (Roessler et al, 1977;Thiengo et al, 1998;Sinha and Das, 1993;Silva et al,1994;Giovanelli et al, 2005;Vidigal et al, 2005).…”

Diversity and distribution of mollusks along the Contas River in a tropical semiarid region (Caatinga), Northeastern Brazil

“…Melanoides tuberculata, the most abundant and well-distributed species in the Contas basin, is a non-pulmonate gastropod (prosobranch) that occurs in both lentic and lotic environments (Giovanelli et al 2005). Several features allow this invasive species to dominate, including the capability of aestivating (Abílio et al 2007), tolerance to low dissolved-oxygen concentrations, high temperatures (Mitchell & Brandt 2005), and brackish and saline waters, and also because it can reproduce parthenogenetically (see references in Santos et al 2012).…”

“…Melanoides tuberculata is also considered to be responsible for the decline or extirpation of some native Brazilian species, such as members of Biomphalaria and Pomacea (see references and discussion in Vidigal et al 2005). Populations of M. tuberculata found in the Northeast region can decline in rainy periods (Giovanelli et al 2005, Abílio et al 2006. Therefore, the Contas River populations are likely to be more numerous, and are probably causing the decline of the populations of other mollusks.…”

“…In Brazil, it is difficult to determine whether species are threatened, because of the scarcity of information about the structure and distribution of the communities (Mansur et al 2003). Furthermore, most studies on communities inhabiting running waters are concentrated in the southeastern (e.g., Giovanelli et al 2005, Vidigal et al 2005, França et al 2007) and southern (e.g., Pereira et al 2001, Pfeifer & Pitoni 2003, Rangel e Souza et al 2008 regions, and are relatively rare in other parts of Brazil (Midwest region: Martins- Silva & Barros 2001, Colle & Callil 2012North region: Jesus et al 2007, Pimpão & Mansur 2009). In the semiarid Northeast region of Brazil, such studies are practically nonexistent , Souza et al 2010, and malacological research deals, in general, with lentic settings such as reservoirs, "açudes" (small reservoirs) and small waterbodies, focusing on vector species of human diseases or on invasive species (e.g, Abílio et al 2006, Santos & Eskinazi-Sant'Anna 2010, Souto et al 2011.…”