Journal Title
Title of Journal: Aquat Ecol
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Abbravation: Aquatic Ecology
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Publisher
Springer Netherlands
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Authors: Nancy H Glass Philip C Darby
Publish Date: 2008/12/13
Volume: 43, Issue: 4, Pages: 1085-
Abstract
Pomacea Ampullariidae snails commonly referred to as apple snails serve as prey for many freshwaterdependent 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 6week change in shell length ΔSL in P paludosa in two laboratory experiments with varying Ca2+ and pH levels ΔSL was significantly higher in ≥28 mg Ca2+/l compared with treatments ≤14 mg/l Snails from populations living in low Ca2+/pH waters did not appear genetically predisposed at growing faster in these conditions Smallest ΔSL was in snails treated with 36 mg Ca2+/l and pH 65 water these snails had signs of shell erosion Shell crush weights CWs were lowest for snails grown in the lowest Ca2+/pH 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 Ca2+/pH waters and they are consistent with the geographic distribution of P paludosa as related to the underlying water chemistry as influenced by geologyFunding was provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS Grant Agreement 401815G045 Egg cluster collection was made possible by the Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge LNWR under special use permit SUP 4156006001 LNWR also provided an airboat and operator The support of Tylan Dean USFWS and Laura Brandt LNWR is especially appreciated We appreciate Jim Hammond and Robert ‘Del’ Delossantos UWF for their assistance with equipment and their collaboration with Bill Weber and David Algeo of the UWF Engineering Department in the design and development of the CW measurement device
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