Lodeiros C, Gutiérrez Gregoric DE, González-Henríquez N, Hernández-Reyes D, Rey-Méndez M, Panta-Vélez RP, Bernal-Zambrano, JJ, Darrigran G, 2025. The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea in Ecuador: dispersion and diversity of occupied environments. Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica 23, 33-43. DOI: 10.32800/amz.2025.23.0033

Table 2. Potential vectors capable of dispersing Corbicula fluminea in South America.

Tabla 2. Vectores potenciales capaces de dispersar la especie Corbicula fluminea en América del Sur.

     
Route Origin sites Probability
Natural dispersal Various The use of mucous filaments of the ctenidium, considered the main natural dispersal factor in aquatic ecosystems (Minchin and Boelens 2018)
Transport by fish (Belz et al 2012)
    Derived through entanglement with plants and others (Prezant and Chalermwat 1984)
Sport fishing, commercial fishing and fish storage Fishing in invaded areas In the bags to store fishing nets and equipment (Minchin 2014)
    Used as fishing bait (Cao et al 2017, Carranza et al 2023)
Sand transportation for artificial beaches Littoral of invaded river According to Belz et al (2012), although only 6.3 % of the sand transported by trucks is used for the development and maintenance of artificial beaches, the density of C. fluminea in said transport is 50/m3.
Introduction for local consumption Various Asian clams are consumed by the Asian community (Darrigran 2002)
Release of fauna from aquaria Various, close to human habitats Not proven, but likely the case (Minchin 2014)