Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil

Freshwater bivalves play essential ecological roles in ecosystems, but they are among the most threatened fauna worldwide. Despite receiving industrial and domestic wastes, the Guandu River is the main source of drinking water for more than nine million people in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan regi...

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Main Authors: Nathália Rodrigues, Igor C. Miyahira, Antonio J. S. Rodrigues, Luciano N. Santos, Raquel A. F. Neves
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Limnological Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/25/2/24
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author Nathália Rodrigues
Igor C. Miyahira
Antonio J. S. Rodrigues
Luciano N. Santos
Raquel A. F. Neves
author_facet Nathália Rodrigues
Igor C. Miyahira
Antonio J. S. Rodrigues
Luciano N. Santos
Raquel A. F. Neves
author_sort Nathália Rodrigues
collection DOAJ
description Freshwater bivalves play essential ecological roles in ecosystems, but they are among the most threatened fauna worldwide. Despite receiving industrial and domestic wastes, the Guandu River is the main source of drinking water for more than nine million people in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region. This study aimed to assess how infaunal bivalves respond to water and sediment quality in the Guandu River basin. Samples were collected at 10 sites across reservoirs, lotic, and lentic systems during cold–dry and warm–rainy seasons. Four bivalves were identified: <i>Anodontites trapesialis</i>, <i>Diplodon ellipticus</i>, <i>Corbicula fluminea</i> (non-native), and <i>C. largillierti</i> (non-native). Native species were restricted to two lentic sites at Guandu Lagoon, with the poorest environmental quality, significantly affected by high chlorophyll a and ammonia in the water. In contrast, <i>C. fluminea</i> was widely distributed and more abundant in the basin but restricted to less degraded sites, suggesting a lower tolerance to environmental pollution. Multivariate analyses indicated significant differences in environmental conditions and species–environment correlation. The non-native species spread and poor environmental quality threaten native bivalves in the Guandu River basin, leading them to a local extinction risk. Results highlight the need for effective management and conservation actions to protect biodiversity in tropical river basins.
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spelling doaj-art-c25f1fb3a84c4a21bf209292a0e41d912025-08-20T03:16:22ZengMDPI AGLimnological Review2300-75752025-06-012522410.3390/limnolrev25020024Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast BrazilNathália Rodrigues0Igor C. Miyahira1Antonio J. S. Rodrigues2Luciano N. Santos3Raquel A. F. Neves4Graduation Program of Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Center of Biological Sciences and Health (CCBS), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur 458 Room 506A, Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, BrazilGraduation Program of Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Center of Biological Sciences and Health (CCBS), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur 458 Room 506A, Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, BrazilGraduation Program of Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Center of Biological Sciences and Health (CCBS), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur 458 Room 506A, Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, BrazilGraduation Program of Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Center of Biological Sciences and Health (CCBS), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur 458 Room 506A, Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, BrazilGraduation Program of Neotropical Biodiversity (PPGBIO), Center of Biological Sciences and Health (CCBS), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur 458 Room 506A, Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, BrazilFreshwater bivalves play essential ecological roles in ecosystems, but they are among the most threatened fauna worldwide. Despite receiving industrial and domestic wastes, the Guandu River is the main source of drinking water for more than nine million people in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region. This study aimed to assess how infaunal bivalves respond to water and sediment quality in the Guandu River basin. Samples were collected at 10 sites across reservoirs, lotic, and lentic systems during cold–dry and warm–rainy seasons. Four bivalves were identified: <i>Anodontites trapesialis</i>, <i>Diplodon ellipticus</i>, <i>Corbicula fluminea</i> (non-native), and <i>C. largillierti</i> (non-native). Native species were restricted to two lentic sites at Guandu Lagoon, with the poorest environmental quality, significantly affected by high chlorophyll a and ammonia in the water. In contrast, <i>C. fluminea</i> was widely distributed and more abundant in the basin but restricted to less degraded sites, suggesting a lower tolerance to environmental pollution. Multivariate analyses indicated significant differences in environmental conditions and species–environment correlation. The non-native species spread and poor environmental quality threaten native bivalves in the Guandu River basin, leading them to a local extinction risk. Results highlight the need for effective management and conservation actions to protect biodiversity in tropical river basins.https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/25/2/24aquatic ecosystems<i>Anodontites</i>conservation<i>Corbicula</i><i>Diplodon</i>
spellingShingle Nathália Rodrigues
Igor C. Miyahira
Antonio J. S. Rodrigues
Luciano N. Santos
Raquel A. F. Neves
Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil
Limnological Review
aquatic ecosystems
<i>Anodontites</i>
conservation
<i>Corbicula</i>
<i>Diplodon</i>
title Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil
title_full Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil
title_fullStr Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil
title_short Environmental Pollution and Biological Invasions Threaten Native Freshwater Infaunal Bivalves in the Guandu River Basin, Southeast Brazil
title_sort environmental pollution and biological invasions threaten native freshwater infaunal bivalves in the guandu river basin southeast brazil
topic aquatic ecosystems
<i>Anodontites</i>
conservation
<i>Corbicula</i>
<i>Diplodon</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/25/2/24
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