Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857 larvae in different environments of a Neotropical floodplain: relationships of abiotic variables and phytoplankton with different stages of development

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology Vol. 76; no. 1; pp. 154 - 161
• Main Authors: Ernandes-Silva, J, Ragonha, F H, Jati, S, Takeda, A M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 01-02-2016
• Subjects: Animal Distribution; Animals; BIOLOGY; dispersal patterns; environmental filters; Food Chain; invasive species; Larva - growth & development; Larva - physiology; limnic bivalves; Mytilidae - growth & development; Mytilidae - physiology; Paraná river; Phytoplankton - physiology; Population Dynamics; Rivers; limnic bivalves; Paraná river; rio Paraná; environmental filters; filtros ambientais; padrão de dispersão; espécie invasora; invasive species; dispersal patterns; bivalves límnicos
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.15514

Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857 is an Asian invasive freshwater bivalve. Although there need to contain their spread, studies about the biology of the larvae are scarce. We correlated the larval stages of L. fortunei with biotic factors such as phytoplankton and main abiotic variables in lotic environments of the Upper Paraná River floodplain. The four samples were taken quarterly during the year 2012. The Principal component analysis (PCA) showed only spatial differences, as did a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). High densities of larvae were recorded in all samples the Paraná River and Baía River only in December, especially those in their initial stage. In the biovolume of Class of algae, Bacillarophyceae showed the highest value, but Chlorophycea who was strongly correlated with the density of D-stage larvae. The large variety of phytoplankton, especially microplankton Chlorophyceae, high values of PO4, NH4 and temperature were positively correlated with high densities of D-stage larvae. We conclude that high temperature, and food availability, indicated by phytoplankton community, favored the reproduction of L. fortunei and enhance the ability of specie dispersion due to the increase in the emission of propagules. Therefore, studies that address the biology of golden mussel larvae should be performed in order to prevent its spread.