Diversity and Distribution of Mollusks Along the Contas River in a Tropical Semiarid Region (Caatinga), Northeastern Brazil
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Diversity and distribution of mollusks along the Contas River in a tropical semiarid region (Caatinga), Northeastern Brazil Kotzian, C.B. & Amaral, A.M.B. Biota Neotrop. 2013, 13(4): 299-314. On line version of this paper is available from: http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n4/en/abstract?inventory+bn03313042013 A versão on-line completa deste artigo está disponível em: http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n4/pt/abstract?inventory+bn03313042013 Received/ Recebido em 06/12/2013 - Revised/ Versão reformulada recebida em 11/20/2013 - Accepted/ Publicado em 12/02/2013 ISSN 1676-0603 (on-line) Biota Neotropica is an electronic, peer-reviewed journal edited by the Program BIOTA/FAPESP: The Virtual Institute of Biodiversity. This journal’s aim is to disseminate the results of original research work, associated or not to the program, concerned with characterization, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within the Neotropical region. Biota Neotropica é uma revista do Programa BIOTA/FAPESP - O Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade, que publica resultados de pesquisa original, vinculada ou não ao programa, que abordem a temática caracterização, conservação e uso sustentável da biodiversidade na região Neotropical. Biota Neotropica is an eletronic journal which is available free at the following site http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br A Biota Neotropica é uma revista eletrônica e está integral e gratuitamente disponível no endereço http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br Biota Neotrop., vol. 13, no. 4 Diversity and distribution of mollusks along the Contas River in a tropical semiarid region (Caatinga), Northeastern Brazil Carla Bender Kotzian1,3 & Aline Monique Blank do Amaral1,2 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, prédio 17, sala 1016, Camobi, CEP 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil 2Bolsista Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES 3Corresponding author: Carla Bender Kotzian, e-mail: [email protected] KOTZIAN, C.B. & AMARAL, A.M.B. Diversity and distribution of mollusks along the Contas River in a tropical semiarid region (Caatinga), Northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 13(4): http://www.biotaneotropica. org.br/v13n4/en/abstract?inventory+bn03313042013 Abstract: An inventory of macroinvertebrates conducted in the Contas River basin in Northeastern Brazil found 13 species of freshwater mollusks. Most of the community was represented by pulmonate gastropods, including Physa acuta, Drepanotrema anatinum, D. cimex, D. lucidum, Biomphalaria straminea?, Gundlachia radiata?, G. ticaga and Hebetancylus moricandi; the prosobranchs Pomacea archimedis?, Melanoides tuberculata and Littoridina sp. were also found. Bivalves were less diversified, represented only by Pisidium pulchellum? and Eupera simoni?. The taxonomic composition and the small size of many species reflect the intermittent condition of the basin. Additionally, the occurrence of shells of five terrestrial species (Helicina angulata, Gastrocopta pellucida hordeacella?, Beckianum beckianum, Succinea sp. and Systrophiidae gen. et sp. indet.) in the rivers reflects the occasional heavy rainfalls and floods in the region. The invasive gastropod M. tuberculata was the most abundant and widely distributed species. All 13 species were found in the lower course, in the Atlantic Forest region, and most, but not all, were recorded in the upper course, in the Caatinga region. The distribution and the occurrence of the bivalve species exclusively in the Atlantic Forest region indicate that the locally higher annual precipitation provides favorable conditions for the survival of these mollusks, such as a more stable hydroperiod. Keywords: Neotropical region, Atlantic Forest, intermittent streams, invasive mollusks, Bahia. KOTZIAN, C.B. & AMARAL, A.M.B. Diversidade e distribuição de moluscos ao longo do Rio de Contas em uma região tropical semi-árida (Caatinga), nordeste do Brasil. Biota Neotrop. 13(4): http://www. biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n4/pt/abstract?inventory+bn03313042013 Resumo: Treze espécies de moluscos de água doce foram encontradas em um inventário de macroinvertebrados realizado ao longo da bacia do Rio de Contas, no Nordeste do Brasil. A maioria da comunidade foi representada por gastrópodes pulmonados, como Physa acuta, Drepanotrema anatinum, D. cimex, D. lucidum, Biomphalaria straminea?, Gundlachia radiata?, G. ticaga e Hebetancylus moricandi, embora prosobrânquios, como Pomacea archimedis?, Melanoides tuberculata e Littoridina sp. também tenham sido encontrados. Bivalves foram menos diversificados, e foram representados porPisidium pulchellum? e Eupera simoni?. A composição taxonômica e o pequeno tamanho alcançado por muitas espécies refletem a condição intermitente da bacia. Além disso, a ocorrência de conchas de cinco espécies terrestres (Helicina angulata, Gastrocopta pellucida hordeacella?, Beckianum beckianum, Succinea sp. e Systrophiidae gen. et sp. indet.) dentro dos rios reflete as fortes chuvas e inundações que ocorrem ocasionalmente na região. O gastrópode invasor M. tuberculata foi a espécie mais abundante e bem distribuída. Todas as espécies foram encontradas no curso inferior, na região da Mata Atlântica, e a maioria, mas não todas, foram registradas no curso superior, na região da Caatinga. Esta distribuição e a ocorrência das espécies de bivalves exclusivamente na região da Mata Atlântica indicam que a maior precipitação anual desta região fornece condições favoráveis para a sobrevivência destes moluscos, como um hidroperíodo mais estável. Palavras-chave: Região Neotropical, Mata Atlântica, rios intermitentes, moluscos invasores, Bahia. http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n4/en/abstract?inventory+bn03313042013 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br 300 Biota Neotrop., vol. 13, no. 4 Kotzian, C.B. & Amaral, A.M.B. Introduction Material and Methods Knowledge of the diversity and the spatial distribution of 1. Study area the communities that occur in different ecoregions is essential for environmental preservation and conservation programs The Contas River basin is located in south-central Bahia state (Dudgeon et al. 2006). In Brazil, studies on the distribution of (BA), between the coordinates 12° 55’ and 15° 10’ S and 39° 00’ and communities that inhabit rivers and streams are very limited for the 42° 35’ W, and covers a drainage area of 55,334 km² (Secretaria… Caatinga, a tropical and semiarid biome located in the northeastern 1993) (Figure 1). The rivers and streams run from west to east. region of the country (Santana et al. 2009, for invertebrates; Leal et al. Freshwater springs are located in altitudes reaching ca. 1,500 m, 2003, for vertebrates). However, this ecoregion is one of the most and the river flows for 360 km until its outlet in the Atlantic Ocean interesting for ecological studies, because of its complexity (Maltchik (Secretaria… 1993). The grain size of bed sediments in the lower 1999). The proximity to the equator ensures a minimum annual course of the Contas River ranges from coarse to fine sand (Campos temperature ranging from 25 to 30°C, but the annual precipitation 2002). The fluvial regime is essentially torrential, because of the varies from 200 to 800 mm, with dry periods that can persist for irregular precipitation. Although the main course is perennial almost 11 months. Precipitation may be concentrated over a few days, throughout, most of the tributaries are intermittent (CENTRO... 1979). causing large floods. Most of the rivers and streams are intermittent, Most of the upper course of the river basin is located within the and characterized by wide fluctuations of the water level (Maltchik Caatinga domain, while the lower course runs within the Atlantic 1999). The fauna of this environment usually shows morphological Forest domain. Small areas in the westernmost part lie in the Cerrado and physiological adaptations, such as a small body size, short biome, and near the river mouth are areas of ‘restingas’ (coastal dune life cycle, high dispersal capacity and generalist habits (Maltchik scrub vegetation) and mangroves (Paula 2010). The predominant 1999, Diáz et al. 2008, Santana et al. 2009). Communities are often climate is type “Aw” according to Köppen’s classification, ranging characterized by the presence of endemic species with limited from semiarid in the Caatinga to semihumid in the Atlantic Forest geographical distributions (Abílio et al. 2007). The few studies domains (Secretaria… 1993). The mean annual temperature ranges conducted with macroinvertebrates in semiarid rivers of Brazil show from 19.8 °C to 27.7 °C. The mean annual relative humidity is about that the communities are dominated by insects and mollusks, and are 72.9%, and the mean annual evaporation is 1,529 mm (Secretaria… frequently associated with macrophytes near the riverbanks (Maltchik 1993). Climate varies markedly from upstream to downstream. In the 1999, Santana et al. 2009). west, precipitation reaches 750 mm/year, but in the region near the Freshwater mollusks are among the most threatened faunal group ocean, the precipitation is heavier and more regular, reaching 1,750 in the world (Lydeard et al. 2004). Damming and agricultural activities mm/year (Secretaria… 1993). are the main factors related to this problem, but invasion by exotic The original vegetation consists of Steppe in the Caatinga region, species can also cause great harm to the native species (Neves et al. and Ombrophilous Dense Forest and Seasonal Semideciduous Forest