Molecular methods confirm the presence of the alien mussel Perna viridis Linnaeus, 1758 (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) in Southern Brazil

The mussel Perna viridis, commonly known as the green mussel, is native from the Indo-Pacific region and has been introduced in various sites around the globe. In Brazil, the species has already been recorded in Rio de Janeiro and Ceará states. With the aim of assessing the presence of mussels in the southern region of the country, 14 individuals were collected in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, Paraná. The mussels were found attached at a depth of 2 meters on the artificial structure of Ponta do Poço Marina. The DNA was extracted using a commercial kit, the COI gene was amplified through PCR by the primers forward dgLCO-1490 and reverse dgHCO-2198, sequenced by the Sanger method, assembled in CLC Genomics Workbench, and the species was identified through the BOLD Systems. The phylogenetic tree was built on MEGA11 using 28 sequences from three species within the genus Perna. Therefore, the present study represents the first to confirm the occurrence of the exotic species Perna viridis in Brazil through molecular identification and characterizes the third Brazilian state where the mollusk has been recorded. This indicates that Brazilian coastline provides optimal environmental conditions for the establishment and development of the P. viridis