We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The effect of calcium and pH on Florida apple snail, Pomacea paludosa (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae), shell growth and crush weight.
- Authors
Glass, Nancy; Darby, Philip
- Abstract
Abstract  Pomacea (Ampullariidae) snails, commonly referred to as apple snails, serve as prey for many freshwater-dependent predators, and some species are highly invasive. Identifying limits to apple snail distribution and abundance are pertinent to understanding their ecology. Calcium (Ca2) availability and pH generally influences freshwater snail populations, yet scant data exist for Pomacea snails. We measured 6-week change in shell length (ÎSL) in P. paludosa in two laboratory experiments with varying Ca2 and pH levels. ÎSL was significantly higher in â¥28 mg Ca2 compared with treatments â¤14 mg/l. Snails from populations living in low Ca2ﺑ waters did not appear genetically predisposed at growing faster in these conditions. Smallest ÎSL was in snails treated with 3.6 mg Ca2 and pH 2ﺑ treatment. Smaller shells and lower CWs have implications for predation vulnerability and reproductive success. Our results are consistent with reports associating relatively low snail densities with relatively low Ca2ﺑ waters, and they are consistent with the geographic distribution of P. paludosa as related to the underlying water chemistry as influenced by geology.
- Subjects
FLORIDA applesnail; AMPULLARIIDAE; GASTROPODA physiology; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of calcium; PH effect; PREDATORY animals; WATER chemistry; GEOLOGY
- Publication
Aquatic Ecology, 2009, Vol 43, Issue 4, p1085
- ISSN
1386-2588
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10452-008-9226-3