Non-native Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) (Bivalvia, Veneroidea) in Central Italy: do the waters pumped by Reclaimed Agencies may have a role in spreading through translocation?

Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is an invasive mollusk species (Bivalvia, Veneridae) known to cause several negative impacts in freshwater ecosystems where it has been introduced. In the 2022 summer season a total drying up took place in the “Torre Flavia” wetland, a Special Protection Area (Latium, central Italy): it made possible a survey of biological remains deposited in the bottom of the wetland channels (> 2,000 m in total length). During this survey, for the first time, we recorded valves belonging to 68 specimens of Asian clam. We did not record living specimens. This is the first case of occurrence of this mollusk in a wetland basin (the fourth record for Central Italy). The population would not appear to have naturalized locally but, probably, individuals could be accidental arrived by the waters pumped by the Reclaimed Agency. We discussed the implications about the role of these Agencies in favour involuntarily the translocation of both native and non-native species from the dewatering pumps (along the Tiber River) to surrounding land reclaimed wet areas (channels and swamps) and croplands connected to the artificial water system.