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The role of an invader in its native range: could differential grazing by apple snails structure the submersed macrophytes assemblages in Southern Pampas (Argentina)?

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Abstract

Apple snails are renowned for their strong impacts on aquatic vegetation and ecosystem function in invaded regions but the existing knowledge on their role in aquatic ecosystems and communities in their native range is scarce. The variation in palatability of five submersed macrophytes, the preference of Pomacea canaliculata for them and the potential effects of its differential grazing on macrophyte assemblages in Southern Pampas were investigated. In no-choice trials, macrophytes showed differences in palatability that were correlated to physical defences and not to nutritional values. In free-choice trials, preference was consistent with the palatability ranking. In a mesocosms experiment, Chara contraria and Zannichellia palustris were totally eradicated by apple snails, the coverage of Stuckenia striata increased only when they were absent and Ludwigia peploides and Myriophyllum quitense were not affected. The live biomass of Z. palustris, S. striata and M. quitense was reduced by apple snails. Total live and dead biomasses were lower, and chlorophyll-a concentrations higher, in the mesocosms with apple snails. Our results indicate that P. canaliculata has a keystone role in its native range and that its differential grazing could shape the structure and composition of submersed vegetation and promote shifts to turbid-water states or maintain them.

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  • 22 November 2018

    Due to an unfortunate turn of events, the surname of the first author appeared incorrectly in the original publication as it should have read Manara. The original article has been corrected and the proper representation of the authors’ names and their affiliation is also listed here.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded with Grants from UNS (“Universidad Nacional del Sur”, PGI 24/B185 and 24/B232) and ANPCyT (“Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica”, PICT 2012-1956). EM and MAM are Doctoral fellows in CONICET and ANPCyT. PRM is a researcher in CONICET. We are grateful to Luis Fritz from INBIOSUR (UNS-CONICET) for his help with the launching of the mesocosms experiment and to the authorities of CERZOS (UNS-CONICET) for allowing the use of their experimental fields and the data from their meteorological station. We wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and criticisms.

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  1. INBIOSUR (Universidad Nacional del Sur – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), San Juan 671, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Enzo Manara, Mara A. Maldonado & Pablo R. Martín

  2. Laboratorio de Ecología, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia – Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Pablo R. Martín

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  1. Enzo Manara
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Handling editor: Mariana Meerhoff

The original version of this article was revised: the surname of the first author appeared incorrectly as it should have read Manara.

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Manara, E., Maldonado, M.A. & Martín, P.R. The role of an invader in its native range: could differential grazing by apple snails structure the submersed macrophytes assemblages in Southern Pampas (Argentina)?. Hydrobiologia 828, 229–242 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3815-5

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