Insights into the fauna associated with Egeria densa at the upper section of the international Minho River estuary (NW Iberian Peninsula) 3 decades after its establishment

Abstract The macrophyte Egeria densa Planchon, 1849 is a freshwater plant native to the subtropical regions of South America. Fast vegetative reproduction and efficient dispersal allow this species form extensive beds that produce high levels oxygen in ecosystems, generating microhabitats act as refuge nursery for an array organisms, increasing sedimentation light availability. Despite its undisputable ecological role, it considered invasive present on all continents except Antarctica with first records Europe occurring at 20th century. At international Minho River (NW Iberian Peninsula), observation presence was noted 1990s now established population ecosystem. This study descriptive-taxonomical assessment associated fauna exotic E. , using both morphological molecular approaches, three decades after establishment River. Results indicate faunal assemblage, composed total 20 identified species, including platyhelminths, hydrozoans, bryozoans, molluscs (Gastropoda), annelids (Oligochaeta Hirudinea), crustaceans (Ostracoda, Copepoda, Branchiopoda Amphipoda), aquatic mites insects. Paludicella aff. articulata (Ehrenberg, 1831), Girardia sinensis Chen & Wang, 2015, Lebertia insignis Neuman, 1880 Ceriodaphnia rigaudi Richard 1894 are recorded time Portugal.