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- Title
COMPETITION BETWEEN <em>BIOMPHALARIA GLABBATA</em> (SAY) AND <em>MARISA CORNUARIETIS</em> (L.): FEEDING NICHES.
- Authors
Cedeñ-Leon, Aragua; Thomas, J. D.
- Abstract
To evaluate the potential of Marisa cornuarietis (L) as an agent for the biological control of Biomphalaria gtabrata (Say), (a snail host of human schistosomes), various components of their feeding niches were measured when the two species were kept separately and together in competitive situations. The three measurements of the extent to which snails find species of aquatic plants ingestible in precompetitive situations indicate that Marisa is likely to be a better competitor than Biomphalaria and that juveniles of both species are better able to adapt to novel food items that their adult conspecifics. The α indices in competitive situations confirm that Biomphalaria is more adversely affected by interspecies competition than Marisa. Possible reasons for the differences between the responses of the two species to novel food items and in competitive abilities are discussed. It is concluded that further field tests to evaluate Marisa as a biological control agent would be justified.
- Subjects
MARISA cornuarietis; BIOMPHALARIA glabrata; BIOLOGICAL pest control; SNAILS; ANIMAL feeding; COMPETITION (Biology); AQUATIC plants
- Publication
Journal of Applied Ecology, 1982, Vol 19, Issue 3, p707
- ISSN
0021-8901
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/2403276