Notas sobre el conocimiento limnológico de los gasterópodos paranenses y sus relaciones tróficas. II Planorbidae, con aspectos distribucionales y sanitarios

The present remarks on the family Planorbidae constitute a further work o f a series of contributions tending to fumish an integrated overview of the Paraná river’s malacologic fauna, the knowledge of which is most limited, particularly conceming thetaxonomic, biological and limnological aspects. To this effect, the aim of this work is, as well, to give an idea of its energy transfer to fishes and of its importance. This is best observed in the planorbids of the genus Biomphalaria, not particularly because of the importance of such energy contribution, but due to the preying capacity, consumption pressure, and consequent population control performed by certain fishes on these gastropods, some of which species are vectors of schistosomiasis. The fact becomes especially relevant when a sustained advance of this parasitosis towards Argentinianwaters is being noticed; for this reason, thorough investigations of this problem are suggested so as to prevent (or at least reduce) this serious threat which has to be realistically assumed..The present remarks on the family Planorbidae constitute a further work o f a series of contributions tending to fumish an integrated overview of the Paraná river’s malacologic fauna, the knowledge of which is most limited, particularly conceming thetaxonomic, biological and limnological aspects. To this effect, the aim of this work is, as well, to give an idea of its energy transfer to fishes and of its importance. This is best observed in the planorbids of the genus Biomphalaria, not particularly because of the importance of such energy contribution, but due to the preying capacity, consumption pressure, and consequent population control performed by certain fishes on these gastropods, some of which species are vectors of schistosomiasis. The fact becomes especially relevant when a sustained advance of this parasitosis towards Argentinianwaters is being noticed; for this reason, thorough investigations of this problem are suggested so as to prevent (or at least reduce) this serious threat which has to be realistically assumed