Abstract

The aim of the present study was to provide data about the population dynamics and reproductive traits of a Musculium argentinum (d'Orbigny, 1835) population inhabiting a channel next to the city of Lautaro in southern Chile. Results showed that M. argentinum size population structure varied during the study period, with brooding adults present throughout the year, with the highest frequencies in December 2002, and March, August and September 2003, producing offspring throughout the year. The smallest specimen brooding was 2.6 mm collected in May 2003 and the size of population first brooding corresponded to the 3.0-3.9 mm class size, collected in March 2003. M. argentinum at the study site is an ovoviviparous, iteroparous, sequential brooder, producing offspring throughout the year. These characteristics are attributed to the stable habitat. © CMS, Inc., 2006.