Benthic malacofauna of the reservoirs of the Middle River Tietê (São Paulo, Brazil) and an ecological evaluation of the invading exotic species, Melanoides tuberculata (Müller) and Corbicula fluminea (Müller)

This study analyze the composition of species, the density and the spatial and temporal distribution of benthic malacofauna in three reservoirs of the Middle Tietê River. The samplings were carried out in two climatic periods, the rainy season in November 2002 and the dry season in August 2003, showing three portions in each reservoir (upper, middle and lower) and following a sweeping with six sampling points in each transect. Based on the limnological data the reservoirs of the Middle Tietê River were eutrophied with high concentrations of nutrients (total and dissolved). Eight species of mollusks were registered, six natives and two exotics. Of these, the dominant species was the exotic and invading mollusk Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774), found in all reservoirs. Another exotic specie Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774), was current in all the reservoirs in both periods of sampling (except in the Barra Bonita reservoir). In the Barra Bonita reservoir only the two exotic species occurred, while in the Bariri and Ibitinga the native species Aylacostoma tenuilabris (Bernardi, 1856), Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818), Biomphalaria intermedia (Paraense & Deslandes, 1962), Diplodon expansus (Küster, 1853), Physa cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1839) and Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1822) occurred in at least one of the sampled periods. The generalized occupation of M. tuberculata and C. fluminea and the high densities of these species in the studied reservoirs reveal the invading potential of same and the probable competition with the native species.

Diversity; ecology of reservoirs; invading mollusks