New records and distribution patterns of the invasive snail potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843) in lithuanian inland waters

Abstract

This paper presents new records of P. antipodarum in inland waters of Lithuania, along with its distribution patterns in the country and within particular lakes. In the period 2014–2018, seven new records sites were found. The current distribution pattern of the snail suggests secondary dispersion vectors are accelerating the spread of the species between distant ecosystems. It was found that most initial records of the invader were in parts of the lakes with intensive water recreation activities. Additionally, analysis at the level of individual lakes indicated high population densities (on average (± SD) from 106.7 ± 45 to 1966.7 ± 1315.8 ind. m-2) in the parts of lakes with recreation activities, thereafter decreasing to zero with distance from these sites. Such results imply the possible role of overland movement of watercraft in the rapid dispersion of P. antipodarum over considerable distances.