Invasion process of Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia: Mytilidae): The case of Uruguay river and emissaries of the Esteros del Iberá Wetland, Argentina

Abstract

Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia, Mytilidae), during its invasion process in South America, has caused severe impacts both on natural environments -altering native biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function-, and on man-made structures causing economic looses.Twenty one samples were taken from the right bank of the Uruguay River, from tributaries of the Uruguay and Paraná Rivers, the drainage of the Esteros del Ibera Wetland. Based on this fieldwork, the presence of larvae and adults of L. fortunei was determined. Also, through the comparison of environmental characteristic with the known tolerance limits for the species, the possibility of its establishment in environments not yet invaded was determined. Most of the sampling stations have features that allow the development of stable populations L. fortunei, including the rivers that drain the Esteros del Ibera, allowing access of this invasive species to this important wetland.