LIFE HISTORIES AND DYNAMICS OF STREAM AND LACUSTRINE POPULATIONS OF MUSCULIUM ARGENTINUM (D'ORBIGNY, 1842) (BIVALVIA: SPHAERIIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN CHILE

Life histories and population dynamics of two populations of Musculium argentinum, one inhabiting a fluvial environment and the other a lacustrine one, are compared. Musculium argentinum is oviparous, iteroparous, and sequential incubator, reproducing throughout the year. The life cycle pattern of the fluvial population, unlike the lacustrine one, is characterized by seasonal reproductive variations, more marked in spring and summer, higher fertility and population reproductive productivity (potential recruitment), higher number of marsupial sacs per hemibranch, and smaller size of first reproduction. The content of organic matter and water flow would be the main factors determining the higher population density observed in the fluvial population