Dinâmica populacional de Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774) em um riacho impactado da Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, RJ, Brasil

Abstract

Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774) is an afro-asiatic freshwater gastropod but nowadays with a cosmopolitan distribution, due his invasive behavior. In this study are used the name Melanoides tuberculatus, it is also found in literature the name Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774), this last name is not in accordance with ICZN rules. We found reports of this species in 52 countries, 25 in native area of distribution and 27 in exotic area. This species was recently introduced in a stream in Vila do Abraão (Ilha Grande), possibly by an aquarist. The aim of this work was to evaluate M. tuberculatus population dynamics in the new habitat, as also the effects of this snail over the fauna. The study was conducted between July/2006 and May/2008 with collections every two months. The stream was divided in eight collecting stations, being P1 the most upstream and P8 the most upstream. In each collecting station were performed two collecting methodologies, timed search and Surber. Collected animals were screened, counted, measured and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Environmental factors were measured in each collection station. Melanoides tuberculatus specimens were divided in four size classes (CL) according to the animal width(CL1 0.01 to 2,99 mm; CL2 3.00 to 5.99 mm; CL3 6.00 to 8.99 mm e CL4 >9.00 mm). Data analysis was done in Excel and SYSTAT 12. The M. tuberculatus population showed a four stages growth: lag, exponential growth, falling and stabilization, a pattern different from others freshwater snails in this stream. Population maximum size was reached in November/2007, when was collected 3156 snails. This species reproduced along the year but with a reproduction peak from May/2007 to September/2007, when CL1 represented more than 50% of collected snails. Mortality was concentrated in biggest specimens (CL3 e CL4), CL4 represented less than 5% of collected snails. All parasitological tests were negative, so interactions with helminthes in the study period are nonexistent. Males are not observed in this population, being a entire partenogenetic population. Melanoides tuberculatus reached a dense population in this stream; maximum estimated density was 47555 snails/m2 on the place that this snail was first observed (P6-P8). Estimated removed biomass was 4,578 kg and was observed two biomass peaks in March/2007 and November/2007. Melanoides tuberculatus dispersal in this stream was active going upstream, reaching P5 in September/2006 and P4 in May/2007. The average size in recently colonized collection stations was bigger than in the other collection stations at the same time. Community composition groups obtained in Discriminant Analysis was influenced by distribution of M. tuberculatus in the stream, in one group was joined the collection stations without M. tuberculatus, in other group the stations with M. tuberculatus. The negative effect of this species was observed over Chironomidae, Odonata and Pisidium punctiferum (Guppy, 1867) (regression with negative tendencies and p<0,05). This species were less abundant in collect stations where M. tubercuatus occurs. Finally, we conclude that M. tuberculatus had a population growth in four stages, as described for other exotic invasive species; dispersion in this stream was active and changed community structure with negative effects over other species.