Benthic assemblages of wetlands invaded byTarebia granifera(Lamarck, 1822) (Caenogastropoda: Thiaridae) in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa

A study on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Maputo National Park reveals that the invasive snail Tarebia granifera has significantly impacted local benthic diversity, with negative correlations observed between its abundance and Shannon Diversity at two invaded sites. Despite this, native benthic assemblages were more closely linked to environmental conditions than to the presence of T. granifera. The research highlights the adaptability of this invasive species across varied aquatic environments, from freshwater ponds to saline estuaries, underscoring its ecological dominance. The findings serve as a critical baseline for future studies, which should focus on specific localities to better understand whether diversity changes are driven by non-native species or other factors like climate change.

Miranda, N. A. F., & Perissinotto, R. (2014). Benthic assemblages of wetlands invaded byTarebia granifera(Lamarck, 1822) (Caenogastropoda: Thiaridae) in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa. Molluscan Research, 34(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2013.866177