Invasion of ancient Lake Titicaca by the globally invasive Physa acuta (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Hygrophila)

Abstract

A vital population of Physa acuta, a globally invasive species of freshwater gastropods was dicovered in ancient Lake Titicaca in April 2007. The population was found near Chucuito (Bahia de Puno) on the Peruvian side in close proximity to a boat landing of the aquaculture facility of the University of Puno. Physids occured in great abundances at this site on macrophytes in depths from 0 to 2 m. Physa acuta was associated with members of the Heleobia andicola species complex as well as with Heleobia otorni, Biomphalaria andecola, and Uncancylus crequi. Species identity was confirmed by morphological and molecular methods. We discuss the mode of introduction and raise a cautionary note on the potential impact of this global invader on the endemic gastropod fauna of ancient Lake Titicaca.

How do freshwater organisms cross the “dry ocean”? A review on passive dispersal and colonization processes with a special focus on temporary ponds

“…What Old Romans called ''Mare Nostrum'' was crossed by several trade routes and people living on its shores have been sailing across it since at least 5,000 years, founding settlements and actively transporting goods (and drinking water) all around the lands surrounding this sea (Abulafia, 2011). Further to historical reasons, other more recent human activities still contribute to freshwater organisms dispersal: construction of canals connecting separated watersheds (Dumont, 1995), recreational boating (Albrecht et al, 2009;Bruckerhoff et al, 2014), trade in ornamental species for aquaria (Padilla & Williams, 2004;Marrone & Naselli-Flores, 2011;Havel et al, 2014), and ecotourism and/or scientific field-work (Waterkeyn et al, 2010) have been found to be responsible of dispersal and new species (even invasive) introductions. Trading of living fish for sport and professional fishing can be also responsible for the accidental introductions of (micro)organisms and a huge number of nonindigenous species are reported as ''invaders'' in freshwater ecosystems at a high frequency (Ruiz & Carlton, 2003;Havens & Beaver, 2014).…”

Unravelling the riddle of Radix: DNA barcoding for species identification of freshwater snail intermediate hosts of zoonotic digeneans and estimating their inter-population evolutionary relationships

“…This number of reference sequences would be sufficient for distinct species specific clades to emerge during phylogenetic analysis and definitively identify sequences generated in this current study. Each of these reference sequences was considered as putative throughout the analysis and were chosen because they were generated for studies focused primarily on the molecular identification and the evolutionary relationships of Radix species particularly from the following works: Albrecht et al, 2009;Bargues et al, 2001;Bolotov et al, Christiansen et al, 2014;Cipriani et al, 2011;Correa et al, 2011;Dung et al, 2013;Ferreira et al, 2014;Ferté et al, 2005;Huňova et al, 2012;Jouet et al, 2008Jouet et al, , 2010Kaset et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2010;Patel et al, 2015;Pfenninger et al, 2011;Novobilsky et al, 2014;Schniebs et al, 2011Schniebs et al, , 2013Vinarski et al, 2015;von Oheimb et al, 2011; Therefore the sequences used for inter-species comparisons were considered to be representative of taxa alone and were not used to make biogeographical inferences.…”

How did this snail get here? Several dispersal vectors inferred for an aquatic invasive species

“…It is known as a rapid (re)coloniser of freshwater systems where it is exposed to variable environmental conditions (Chlyeh et al, 2006). It can efficiently disperse via water ( Van de Meutter, Stoks & De Meester, 2006) and has been found to be carried in plant material on boats between lakes (Albrecht et al, 2009). Anecdotal evidence suggests that it may also be dispersed by waterbirds (e.g.…”