RESUMO
Bivalves are one of the most representative groups in the Phylum Mollusca, with over 1,100 freshwater species around the world except Antarctica. About 900 of these species belong to the Order Unionida Gray, 1854. In South America, the distributional range of the Unionida includes all countries in the region and extends as far south as the lakes and rivers of Argentinean-Chilean Patagonia. With the aim of generating distribution maps for the different genera of Unionida in Argentina, we consulted the databases of the nation's main official malacological collections. The data were analyzed and georeferenced using the point-radius method. Spatial analyses were performed with the software Q-GIS 2.16.3 Nødebo using vector layers under the 2007 Argentinean Geodesic Positions reference system. A total 1,833 lots were analyzed, of which it was possible to georeference 1,503. The distribution of Unionida in Argentinean territory was analyzed according to political provinces, Surface Drainage Basins and the Argentinean Protected Areas. Species richness was analyzed using the surface drainage basins of Argentina. We generate distribution maps for each genus and discuss the species threat status and conservation degree in the region. Only six (18%) of the Unionida present in Argentina have been classified by the IUCN, four are Least Concern and two are Data Deficient. This pattern is also valid for all of South America. More than 95% of the distributional range of the Unionida has no protected area. Conservation management is necessary for the preservation of Unionida diversity in southern South America.
Assuntos
Bivalves/classificação , Animais , Argentina , Biodiversidade , Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Água DoceRESUMO
RESUMEN El género Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Gastropoda; Tateidae), posee 31 especies, 22 de las cuales se hayan en la Argentina distribuidas principalmente en la cuenca Del Plata, definiendo al río Uruguay y al Río de la Plata como una zona caliente de diversidad en gasterópodos dulceacuícolas. Sin embargo, la mayoría de sus especies han sido descriptas solo por caracteres conquilógicos y, unas pocas tienen datos anatómicos, conllevando a la descripción de subespecies o morfos que se superponen unos a otros. A Potamolithus lapidum algunos autores le atribuyen cuatro subespecies (con datos conquiológicos, y una con datos parciales de anatomía blanda), sin embargo otros incluyen ocho morfos. Aquí nosotros damos un comienzo en el estudio de Potamolithus lapidum elevando a Potamolithus lapidum supersulcatus Pilsbry, 1896 a la categoría de especie, de la cual solo se conocen caracteres conquiológicos y radulares parcialmente. Aportamos datos de: concha, órganos paleales, cabeza, pie, pene, rádula, sistemas reproductor femenino y masculino, sistema nervioso y, secuencia parcial del gen mitocondrial citocromo c oxidasa subunidad I. Es necesario realizar una buena descripción de las especies del género Potamolithus debido a que algunas de las especies ya han sido citadas como especies vulnerables y que habitan ríos que están siendo modificados por la actividad humana y por la presencia del bivalvo invasor Limnoperna fortunei.
ABSTRACT The genus Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Gastropoda; Tateidae), has 31 species, 22 of which are distributed in Argentina in Del Plata basin, defining the Uruguay River and the Río de la Plata as a hotspot of diversity in freshwater gastropods. However, most of its species has been described only by conchology characters and a few has anatomical data, leading to the description of subspecies or morphs that overlap each other. Potamolithus lapidum some authors attribute four subspecies (with conchology data and anatomical partial data), but others include eight morphs. We give a start the study of Potamolithus lapidum elevating to Potamolithus lapidum supersulcatus Pilsbry, 1896 to the category of species, of which only known partially conchology and radular characters. We provide data of: shell, pallial organs, head, foot, penis, radula, female and male reproductive system, nervous system and partial sequence of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. A good description of species of the genus Potamolithus is necessary, because some species have been listed as vulnerable species and they inhabit rivers that are being modified by human activity and the presence of invasive bivalve Limnoperna fortunei.
RESUMO
RESUMEN El género Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Gastropoda; Tateidae), posee 31 especies, 22 de las cuales se hayan en la Argentina distribuidas principalmente en la cuenca Del Plata, definiendo al río Uruguay y al Río de la Plata como una zona caliente de diversidad en gasterópodos dulceacuícolas. Sin embargo, la mayoría de sus especies han sido descriptas solo por caracteres conquilógicos y, unas pocas tienen datos anatómicos, conllevando a la descripción de subespecies o morfos que se superponen unos a otros. A Potamolithus lapidum algunos autores le atribuyen cuatro subespecies (con datos conquiológicos, y una con datos parciales de anatomía blanda), sin embargo otros incluyen ocho morfos. Aquí nosotros damos un comienzo en el estudio de Potamolithus lapidum elevando a Potamolithus lapidum supersulcatus Pilsbry, 1896 a la categoría de especie, de la cual solo se conocen caracteres conquiológicos y radulares parcialmente. Aportamos datos de: concha, órganos paleales, cabeza, pie, pene, rádula, sistemas reproductor femenino y masculino, sistema nervioso y, secuencia parcial del gen mitocondrial citocromo c oxidasa subunidad I. Es necesario realizar una buena descripción de las especies del género Potamolithus debido a que algunas de las especies ya han sido citadas como especies vulnerables y que habitan ríos que están siendo modificados por la actividad humana y por la presencia del bivalvo invasor Limnoperna fortunei.
ABSTRACT The genus Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Gastropoda; Tateidae), has 31 species, 22 of which are distributed in Argentina in Del Plata basin, defining the Uruguay River and the Río de la Plata as a hotspot of diversity in freshwater gastropods. However, most of its species has been described only by conchology characters and a few has anatomical data, leading to the description of subspecies or morphs that overlap each other. Potamolithus lapidum some authors attribute four subspecies (with conchology data and anatomical partial data), but others include eight morphs. We give a start the study of Potamolithus lapidum elevating to Potamolithus lapidum supersulcatus Pilsbry, 1896 to the category of species, of which only known partially conchology and radular characters. We provide data of: shell, pallial organs, head, foot, penis, radula, female and male reproductive system, nervous system and partial sequence of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. A good description of species of the genus Potamolithus is necessary, because some species have been listed as vulnerable species and they inhabit rivers that are being modified by human activity and the presence of invasive bivalve Limnoperna fortunei.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Atlantic Forest is globally one of the priority ecoregions for biodiversity conservation. In Argentina, it is represented by the Paranense Forest, which covers a vast area of Misiones Province between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers. The Uruguay River is a global hotspot of freshwater gastropod diversity, here mainly represented by Tateidae (genus Potamolithus) and to a lesser extent Chilinidae. The family Chilinidae (Gastropoda, Hygrophila) includes 21 species currently recorded in Argentina, and three species in the Uruguay River. The species of Chilinidae occur in quite different types of habitats, but generally in clean oxygenated water recording variable temperature ranges. Highly oxygenated freshwater environments (waterfalls and rapids) are the most vulnerable continental environments. We provide here novel information on three new species of Chilinidae from environments containing waterfalls and rapids in the Uruguay River malacological province of Argentina. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The specimens were collected in 2010. We analyzed shell, radula, and nervous and reproductive systems, and determined the molecular genetics. The genetic distance was calculated for two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I-COI- and cytochrome b -Cyt b-) for these three new species and the species recorded from the Misionerean, Uruguay River and Lower Paraná-Río de la Plata malacological provinces. In addition, the COI data were analyzed phylogenetically by the neighbor-joining and Bayesian inference techniques. RESULTS: The species described here are different in terms of shell, radula and nervous and reproductive systems, mostly based on the sculpture of the penis sheath. Phylogenetic analyses grouped the three new species with those present in the Lower Paraná-Río de la Plata and Uruguay River malacological provinces. DISCUSSION: Phylogenetic analyses confirm the separation between the Uruguay River and the Misionerean malacological provinces in northeast Argentina. These new endemic species from the Uruguay River add further support to the suggestion that this river is a diversity hotspot of freshwater gastropods (with 54 species present in this basin, 15 of them endemic). These endemic species from environments with rapids and waterfalls should be taken into account by government agencies before the construction of dams that modify those ecologic niches in the Uruguay River.