In vitro glochid culture of endangered freshwater bivalves of São Paulo State

• Grant number: 06/04658-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2007
• End date: March 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Wagner Eustaquio Paiva Avelar
• Grantee: Wagner Eustaquio Paiva Avelar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian freshwater mussels, particularly from Sao Paulo State, are little known. Instead of oysters and saltwater mussels, the freshwater mussels needed a kind of host fish to complete their life cycle. Like parasites, the glochids are dependent of fishes to feed during their ontogenetic development. When fixed with success on to a host fish, they encysted for a period that varies for one specie to another. After metamorphosis, the juvenile begins a independent sessile life. IN the last years, the freshwater mussels have been target of innumerous research in many countries, due to a drastic reduction of their stocks caused by water contamination, non sustainable exploitation, dam’s construction and the reduction of host fishes, as like the introduction of non native species (exotic). An alternative proposal was culture these mollusks to maintain an acceptable level of exploitation and at same time to increase the natural stocks. Sexually mature animals will be collected; their glochids will be extracted and maintained in Petri dishes with culture medium. After transformation, the juveniles will be feed with a mixture os micro algae, and after the acclimation period they will be transfer to natural environment. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LIMA, RICARDO CUNHA; AVELAR, WAGNER E. P.. A new additive to the artificial culture medium for freshwater bivalve culture in vitro. INVERTEBRATE REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, v. 54, n. 2, p. 89-94, SEP 2010. (06/04658-7)

LIMA, RICARDO C.; PAES, ANGELA T.; AVELAR, WAGNER E. P.. GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF THE FRESHWATER MUSSEL, ANODONTITES TRAPESIALIS (LAMARCK 1819), IN A FLOW-THROUGH SYSTEM FOR LONG-TERM HOLDING. REVMAR-REVISTA CIENCIAS MARINAS Y COSTERAS, v. 3, p. 7-pg., 2011-12-01. (06/04658-7)