New records of larvae and adults of the invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857) in the Ivaí River (Paraná, Brazil)

Golden mussel is a freshwater bivalve native from South Asia, but introduced in South America. It is very aggressive, causing ecological and economic problems in invaded environments. Here, we presented new records of larvae and adults of golden mussel in the Ivaí River (Paraná, Brazil). We believe this finding is important mainly because (i) the Ivaí River basin is the second largest basin in the state of Paraná, (ii) Ivaí River is of great relevance to maintain regional freshwater biodiversity, and (iii) Ivaí River is one of the few tributaries free of dams of the Upper Paraná River. Consequently, due to its high conservation importance, records of the invasive golden mussel in Ivaí are worrisome. We recommend future studies about golden mussel distribution in Ivaí River to monitor and, if possible, minimize their spread

Distribuição espacial e temporal das larvas de Chironomidae em diferentes ambientes do complexo - rio Baía, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i4.5386

The floodplain of the upper Paraná river is characterized by the great diversity of aquatic organisms, and the larvae of Chironomidae are distinguished for their high density. Starting from the hypothesis that abiotic variables influence Chironomidae larvae composition, density and dominance in different environments and sampled periods, this study aimed to characterize the Baía river, secondary channel, floodplain lakes (connected and non-connected) of the Paraná river floodplain, according to attributes of Chironomidae assemblage, and identify possible gradients of temporal and spatial distribution of the larvae, relating them with abiotic variables. The collections were carried out from March 2003 to December 2005. Samples were collected in three points (margins and center), using a modified Petersen grab. CCA showed the larvae were influenced mainly by sediment particle size. Curutuba channel, due to the presence of pebbles, differed from other sites such as the Baía river and floodplain lakes, where fine particles predominated. It was concluded that particle size composition, percentage of organic matter and hydrodynamic of each environment were the main variables that influenced the spatial distribution of Chironomidae larvae.A planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná caracteriza-se pela grande diversidade de organismos aquáticos e as larvas de Chironomidae destacam-se por sua elevada abundância. A partir da hipótese de que as variáveis abióticas influenciam a composição, densidade e dominância das larvas de Chironomidae em diferentes ambientes e períodos amostrados, este trabalho objetivou: caracterizar o rio Baía, canal secundário, lagoa não-conectada (Fechada) e lagoa conectada (Guaraná) da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, de acordo com os atributos da assembléia de Chironomidae e identificar possíveis gradientes de distribuição espacial e temporal das larvas, relacionando-as com algumas variáveis abióticas. As coletas foram realizadas no período de março de 2003 a dezembro de 2005, em três pontos distintos (margens e centro), com o auxílio de um pegador tipo Petersen modificado. A Análise de Correspondência Canônica mostrou que as larvas foram influenciadas principalmente pela textura granulométrica do sedimento. O canal Curutuba, pela presença de seixos, diferenciou-se das demais estações de coleta como rio Baía e as lagoas de inundação onde predominaram as partículas mais finas. Pode-se concluir que a composição granulométrica, a porcentagem de matéria orgânica presente no sedimento e a hidrodinâmica de cada ambiente foram os principais fatores que influenciaram a distribuição espacial das larvas de Chironomidae

Influence of environmental factors on the benthic invertebrates community distribution in channels of a neotropical floodplain

One of the central themes in ecology is the relative importance of local and regional processes for determining the communities’ structure, since both processes may behave as filters in the composition of local communities. Thus, this study analyzed the influence of environmental factors on the benthic invertebrate community distribution in different channels of the Upper Paraná River floodplain, through quarterly samplings conducted from March to December 2010. Through the biotic and abiotic data, we performed a Canonical Correspondence Analysis, where it was possible to visualize the centers of Ivinhema and Paraná rivers and Ipoitã channel separate from other points by high values of depth and velocity and taxa typical of lotic environments, such as Harpacticoida, Haplotaxidae, and Narapidae, and the center of the Curutuba channel, with L. fortunei. One may conclude that flow velocity, granulometric texture, and sediment organic matter were structuring factors of the benthic community, determining the distribution of invertebrates both among the various channels and between the marginal and central regions in these environments, providing greater or lesser availability of resources and environmental heterogeneity

Environmental variables driving the larval distribution of Limnoperna fortunei in the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil

<div><p> Abstract Aim: To verify the temporal dynamics of Limnoperna fortunei larval stages and to identify the main environmental variables driving the larval density patterns in an area highly impacted by reservoirs. Methods Samplings were performed quarterly, from February to December 2014, in 10 transects along to the Paraná River main channel. For each sample site, 100 L of water were filtered. The filtrated was fixed in alcohol 80%, and the larval stages were counted and classified under the optical microscope. Concomitant to biological collections we took some of the main water variables. We performed a Redundancy Analysis (RDA) in order to summarize the variations in densities of larval stages in relation to the main physical and chemical water variables. Results We found a total of 200,590 L. fortunei larvae, in which 83.6% were identified as the initial stages. The most abundant months in L. fortunei larvae were December and February. The first two axes of RDA sum up 96% of the total data variation, and the most significant environmental variables explaining variations in larval densities were: water temperature, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, depth and ammoniac ion. The warmer months were influenced by the major values of water temperature and depth, besides the higher densities of all larval stages. Conclusions Our results indicate that L. fortunei reproduction follows a general pattern throughout the upper Paraná River floodplain, what seems to occur mainly between February and December. Thus, we suggest that measures for the L. fortunei control should be done during low-density periods (i.e., April to August), when the water level is low, and consequently, the dispersion of this species might be limited.</p></div

<b>Emergence of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) in a floodplain lake of the upper Paraná river, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil </b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v36i1.19323

To investigate the emergence of Chironomidae in different habitats of a floodplain lake of the upper Paraná river floodplain, four collection points were established: marginal regions (one with numerous macrophytes species, other dominated by only Polygonum sp.), central region and linking channel. Adults were captured by surface emergence traps assembled every three months, from May 2001 to March 2002. The traps remained for a period of about 48 hours, obtaining quantitative data for richness and abundance. 944 adults distributed into three subfamilies and 40 taxa were captured. The taxa identified at the species level were: Goeldichironomus neopictus, G. petiolicola, G. maculatus, Tanytarsus ligulatus, Parachironomus atroari, P. guarani and P. cayapo. Higher abundances were observed for Polypedilum (Tripodura) sp.1 and Tanytarsus ligulatus. There was a considerable variation in the richness among the collection points, mainly on the marginal area, with 38 taxa. In the central region (five taxa) and in the linking channel, were registered the predominance of Aedokritus sp. The higher diversity and abundance of Chironomidae in the littoral area may be related to the presence of aquatic macrophytes that provide shelter and food, resulting in increased recruitment of new individuals in this region

Effect of habitat heterogeneity in the composition and distribution of Chironomidae (Diptera) assemblage in different microhabitats of preserved streams in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

AIM: This study aimed at to evaluate the influence of habitat heterogeneity on the attributes of richness, abundance, diversity and equitability of Chironomidae assemblage and also the biological differences in faunistic composition related to each microhabitat. METHODS: The sampling was performed in summer (February) and winter (August) 2010, with Surber sampler, in three headwaters streams at Atlantic Forest, in southern Brazil. RESULTS: In the total 6,429 Chironomidae larvae were identified and classified into 96 taxa belonging to Chironominae, Tanypodinae and Ortocladiinae subfamilies. Among the microhabitats, the highest richness was observed in the deposits of litter, and the highest number of exclusive species took place in the pool regions. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the composition and structure of the Chironomidae assemblage are directly related to the availability and heterogeneity of habitats in streams