MORPHOMETRY AND GROWTH PATTERN OF THE SHELL OF Castalia inflata (d'ORBIGNY, 1935): IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE SPECIES

• Grant number: 24/22065-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Pintor de Arruda
• Grantee: Bruna Ferreira da Costa Pedroso
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Humanas e Biológicas (CCHB). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are experiencing a greater loss of biodiversity than terrestrial and marine environments. Among the groups most affected by this biodiversity decline are freshwater bivalves, which have some of the highest documented extinction rates. Thus, knowledge about these species is essential for focusing on their conservation and preserving the fauna in these environments. Castalia inflata is a bivalve found in the Pantanal, a region where rainfall patterns dictate cycles of flooding and drought that can strongly influence the species' reproductive cycles, as their larvae are fish parasites. This study aims to analyze the shells of C. inflata using geometric morphometry and sclerochronology techniques to identify variations in shape, size, and growth patterns related to reproduction and the environment where the organism lives. The study will conduct morphometric analysis using the landmark technique and General Procrustes Analysis to obtain morphometric data, correlating them with the sex of the individuals and their collection sites. Sclerochronological analysis will also be performed to identify, count, and define monthly and annual growth patterns, aiming to relate them to the reproductive periods of C. inflata. This framework will provide a more comprehensive understanding of C. inflata population structures and support the conservation of the species.