Testing temporal stability of the larval digenean community in Heleobia conexa (Mollusca: Cochliopidae) and its possible use as an indicator of environmental fluctuations.

ABSTRACT

Larval digeneans have been proposed as indicators of abundance and diversity of vertebrate and other hosts as well as environmental disturbances. To evaluate its response to environmental changes and its potential use as an indicator of environmental fluctuations, the temporal stability of the community of larval digeneans in Heleobia conexa was comparatively analysed in 4 separate years (1996, 1999, 2004 and 2005) in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires province, Argentina). In total, 4579 specimens of H. conexa were collected and 22 digenean species were observed. Overall prevalence presented inter-annual and seasonal differences. These differences correlate with seasonal changes in composition of the vertebrate definitive host community and with the elimination of the preferred habitat of H. conexa in 1999. In general, the larval digenean community of H. conexa showed a yearly re-establishment following the annual cycle of H. conexa and the presence of definitive hosts. This annual restructuring allowed inferences about the effects of short-term environmental changes in the lagoon. According to these observations, the larval digenean community of H. conexa could be considered as a good bio-indicator with quick response to environmental disturbances.