scholarly journals Differential herbivore damage to calcicolous lichens by snails

1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Fröberg ◽  
Anette Baur ◽  
Bruno Baur
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiment ◽  
Outer Layer ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Herbivore Damage ◽  
Mechanical Defence ◽  
Calcareous Rock ◽  
The Baltic

AbstractA laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the damage caused by snail grazing to 35 calcicolous lichen species and cyanobacteria from the Baltic island of Oland, Sweden. Individuals of four species of land snails (Balea perversa, Chondrina cliema, Clausilia bidentata and Helicigona lapicida) were allowed to graze on identified lichen species growing on pieces of limestone. Snail grazing on thalli and ascocarps was classified into four categories ranging from no damage to completely eaten. In general, some lichen species were heavily grazed, whereas others were only slightly damaged or not injured. Aspiciha calcarea, Tephromela atra and Verrucaria nigrescens were preferred by all snail species except Chondrina cliema. In general, lichen thalli that were not immersed in the calcareous rock and cyanobacteria were preferred, whereas ascocarps were avoided by one of the snail species (C. clienta). Immersed perithecia with a carbonized outer layer were avoided by all snail species except C. bidentata. Possibilities of chemical and mechanical defence properties in calcicolous lichens are discussed.

Interactions between the land snails Theba pisana and Cernuella virgata in the laboratory

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff H Baker
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Theba Pisana ◽  
Inhibitory Components

ABSTRACT Two Mediterranean snails, Theba pisana and Cernuella virgata, are agricultural pests in southern Australia. The two species are rarely found together in large numbers in the field, at small scales (<1 m2). In laboratory experiments, the presence of T. pisana reduced the survival of C. virgata, but only when food (carrot + lettuce) was provided. When C. virgata was exposed to only the mucus trails and faeces of T. pisana, produced while feeding on lettuce, both the survival and activity of C. virgata were reduced. When carrot was substituted for lettuce, there was less effect. In addition, when C. virgata was exposed to T. pisana’s faeces only, derived from access to a mix of lettuce and carrot, there was no effect on C. virgata’s survival. The observed reductions in the survival of C. virgata were stronger in autumn (the breeding season for both snail species) compared with spring. Inhibitory components within the mucus trails of T. pisana may (1) help explain the observed distribution patterns of the two species at small scales in the field and (2) provide a novel method for control of pest populations of C. virgata, in some situations.

scholarly journals Snail mucus from the mantle and foot of two land snails, Lissachatina fulica and Hemiplecta distincta, exhibits different protein profile and biological activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nattaphop Noothuan ◽  
Kantamas Apitanyasai ◽  
Somsak Panha ◽  
Anchalee Tassanakajon
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Protein Pattern ◽  
Protein Profile ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Different Types

Abstract Objective Snails secrete different types of mucus that serve several functions, and are increasingly being exploited for medical and cosmetic applications. In this study, we explored the protein pattern and compared the biological properties of the mucus secreted from the mantle collar and foot of two snail species, Lissachatina fulica and Hemiplecta distincta. Result Protein profile showed a different pattern between the two species and between the two secretory parts. The mantle-specific protein bands were further characterized and among them was an antibacterial protein, achacin. Accordingly, the mucus from the mantle exhibited the higher antibacterial activity than that from the foot in both snail species. The mucus from H. distincta, first reported here, also showed antibacterial properties, but with a lower activity compared to that for L. fulica. Snail mucus also exhibited anti-tyrosinase activity and antioxidant activity but with no significant difference between the foot and mantle mucus. These results indicate some different protein compositions and biological activities of snail slime from the mantle and foot, which might be associated with their specific functions in the animal and are useful for medical applications.

scholarly journals An Ecological Study of the Brown Garden snail Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) from selected habitats in Jadiriya in Baghdad vicinity.

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal
Keyword(s):  
Land Snails ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
The World ◽  
Cornu Aspersum ◽  
Healing Wounds ◽  
Medical Importance ◽  
The One ◽  
Scientific Attention

The present study is considered a pioneer investigation that deal with the terrestrial brown garden snail Cornu aspersum (Müller), in Iraq. Cornu aspersum however is considered an exotic species in many parts of the world ,The species is most probably infiltrates with plants transferred from one place to another. The species has gained importance in many ways. Nutritionally, the species is consumed as food item in many countries, but in other cases it is considered as pest for the damage it causes when feeding on valuable plant shoots. It also has medical importance for its role and ability in healing wounds, burns and remedy of other skin problems. This snail species however may act as a vector for some parasitic nematodes that cause serious diseases. The species is also important in scientific research, usually referred to as ‘ecological indicator’ employed in environmental pollution problems such as the one caused by heavy metals. A great deal of research on this species has been carried out in different parts of the world, however, in Iraq, the scientific attention given to land snails in general and to Cornu aspersum in particular is rare and may be negligible in comparison with the research carried out on aquatic Mollusca species. A total of 1880 individuals of Cornu aspersum were collected from all sampling sites. The study was carried out for the period November 2007 to November 2008 on three sites within the Jadiriya district in Baghdad.. Growth, size classes and shell dimensions of Cornu aspersum populations, and their relationship with major environmental factors; ambient temperature; soil pH, moisture, texture; and the soil content of organic matter have been also investigated. Identification of the species was confirmed by the British Natural History Museum.The data were analyzed by means of standard statistical procedures.

scholarly journals The direct cost of traumatic secretion transfer in hermaphroditic land snails: individuals stabbed with a love dart decrease lifetime fecundity

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1804) ◽  
pp. 20143063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuki Kimura ◽  
Satoshi Chiba
Keyword(s):  
Direct Cost ◽  
Sexual Conflict ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Fertilization Success ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Arms Races ◽  
Lifetime Fecundity ◽  
Sperm Donors

Several taxa of simultaneously hermaphroditic land snails exhibit a conspicuous mating behaviour, the so-called shooting of love darts. During mating, such land snail species transfer a specific secretion by stabbing a mating partner's body with the love dart. It has been shown that sperm donors benefit from this traumatic secretion transfer, because the secretions manipulate the physiology of a sperm recipient and increase the donors' fertilization success. However, it is unclear whether reception of dart shooting is costly to the recipients. Therefore, the effect of sexual conflict and antagonistic arms races on the evolution of traumatic secretion transfer in land snails is still controversial. To examine this effect, we compared lifetime fecundity and longevity between the individuals that received and did not receive dart shooting from mating partners in Bradybaena pellucida . Our experiments showed that the dart-receiving snails suffered reduction in lifetime fecundity and longevity. These results suggest that the costly mating behaviour, dart shooting, generates conflict between sperm donors and recipients and that sexually antagonistic arms races have contributed to the diversification of the morphological and behavioural traits relevant to dart shooting. Our findings also support theories suggesting a violent escalation of sexual conflict in hermaphroditic animals.

The land snail fauna of a South American rainforest biodiversity hotspot: the Panguana conservation area in the Peruvian Amazon

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318
Author(s):  
Birte Wendebourg ◽  
Bernhard Hausdorf
Keyword(s):  
Distinct Group ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
South American ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Synanthropic Species ◽  
Very High

Abstract We investigated the land snail fauna of the Panguana conservation area on the western rim of the Amazonas basin in Peru. A total of 2,322 individuals assigned to 65 land snail species were collected in 32 plots. Ten additional species were found in collections made on previous expeditions to Panguana. On the basis of available data, Panguana is the most species rich locality for land snails in South America. The species density of 75 land snail species in c. 2 km2 of rather homogeneous rainforest is also high on a global scale. The land snail fauna of Panguana is characterized by a very high proportion of species belonging to the carnivorous family Scolodontidae, many of which are likely to be new to science. The fauna includes seven species that are new records for Peru, and the species Hirtudiscus sp., Xenodiscula venezuelensis, Geostilbia aperta, Guppya gundlachii and Thysanophora plagioptycha represent genera not previously recorded from the country. The synanthropic species Allopeas gracile, Opeas hannense, Subulina octona, Geostilbia aperta and Gastrocopta servilis form an ecologically distinct group that occurs mainly in sites strongly modified by humans. The presence of these species on the margin of the Amazon rainforest is evidence of the ongoing homogenization of the global fauna.

Production of Natural Bioceramic from Land Snails

2011 ◽  
Vol 493-494 ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kel ◽  
Hasan Gökçe ◽  
D. Bilgiç ◽  
D. Ağaoğulları ◽  
I. Duman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helix Pomatia ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Ultrasonic Equipment ◽  
Liquid Part ◽  
Commercially Important

There are thousands of land snail species, ranging in size from 1 mm to the Giant African Snail growing up to a foot long. Two species, known as escargot, helix aspersa and helix pomatia, are commercially important. Helix pomatia is abundant in Turkey. Those snails are exported usually without shells. Shells are damped to trash sites or used as substitute food for animals. The shell is rich in calcium carbonate and some other minor minerals. Thus, snails’ shells can be used as a source for bioceramic production. So far, in the literature there are lot of papers about converting calcite and aragonite structures to hydroxyapatite (HA), like corals, sea shells, sea urchin and other sea creatures. However, there is very limited information about converting land snail shells to HA and other bioceramic phases. The aim of this work was to produce various phases of bioceramic materials from land snails’ shells which are left as a residue waste after their export procedures. Empty local land snails’ shells (helix pomatia) were collected in Istanbul. They were washed, dried, crushed and ball milled until a powder of 100 µm particles size was obtained. Raw powders were stirred at 80°C for 15 min on a hotplate. A second part of the raw powder was stirred with an ultrasonic stirrer at 80°C for 15 min in an ultrasonic equipment. Equivalent amount of H3PO4 was added drop by drop into the solution. The reaction lasted for 8h. Then, to evaporate the liquid part, the mixtures were put into an incubator at 100°C for 24 h and the resultant dried sediments were collected. The produced powders were analyzed with X-ray diffraction, IR and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental results confirmed the formation of various Ca-phosphates, specifically monetite, fluorapatite and some other minor calcium phosphate phases. Bioceramic production from land snail is a reliable and economic way comparing to other tedious methods of producing synthetic HA and other various bioceramics phases.

scholarly journals Seven species of land­snails (Gastropoda) new to the Faroe Islands

2015 ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Jens-Kjeld Jensen ◽  
Jógvan Fróði Hansen ◽  
Ámundur Nolsø
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Faroe Islands ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Gastropod Species ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Commercial Purpose

<p>Since the investigation performed by Solhøy between 1977 and 1979 (Solhøy, 1981) no organized investigation has been performed on the distribution of land snails in the Faroes. Intense importation of building and gardening materials has since increased the risk of introducing new snail species to the islands. This article is based on material and observations from observers around the islands over several years, who have contacted the first author. This has resulted in the discovery of seven new species to the islands in addition to Solhøy’s twenty species. Four of the new species are snails, while two are slugs. An additional species was introduced for commercial purpose but does not seem to have survived well in the Faroese climate.</p>It is difficult to predict the consequences of the settlement of these new Faroese gastropod species, but they may act as intermediate hosts for parasites, having cats and dogs as final hosts.

scholarly journals Contrasting responses of two xerophilous land snails to fire and natural reforestation

2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-S1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Santos ◽  
Vicenç Bros ◽  
Elisabet Ros
Keyword(s):  
Key Management ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Holm Oak ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Limited Mobility ◽  
Faunal Distribution

Land-use change is considered the main disturbance in landscape structure and composition, directly affecting faunal distribution and species richness worldwide. Wildfires and natural reforestation alter habitat structure in terms of vegetation cover and also in soil composition and moisture; these processes hence trigger habitat transformations that act as opposing forces at small spatial scales. We have explored the contrasting effects of wildfires and natural reforestation on two land-snail species of the genus Xerocrassa, which are endemic in the western Mediterranean. Snails were sampled in pine and Holm oak forest, stony bare slopes and burnt sites. Both species followed a similar pattern: they were present in more than 75% of the stony bare slope sites and around 50% of the burnt sites, but were almost absent in Holm oak forests. The comparison of aerial photographs from 1956 and 2003 showed that stony bare slopes were significantly larger in 1956, this indicating that the natural reforestation might close these habitats, and consequently threaten the viability of the Xerocrassa populations. Given their limited mobility, the presence of Xerocrassa at burnt sites suggests that these species live in small and cryptic populations within the forest, surviving fire and expanding their distribution due to the appearance of adequate habitats. Our study shows that natural reforestation and fire play opposing roles in conserving Xerocrassa populations. The preservation of stony bare slopes as well as other open areas is a key management guideline to maintain landscape mosaics and help future conservation of species of open habitats such as these vulnerable endemic gastropods.

DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY OF LAND SNAILS IN GUNUNG HALIMUN SALAK NATIONAL PARK (GHSNP) IN JAVA, INDONESIA

Zoo Indonesia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayu Savitri Nurinsiyah ◽  
Ita Faizah ◽  
Yogi Prasetio ◽  
Tedi Setiadi ◽  
Ristiyanti Marsetiowati Marwoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
National Park ◽  
New Records ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Tropical Montane Forest ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
June July

The land snail fauna of the largest tropical montane forest in Java, the Gunung Halimun Salak National Park (GHSNP), was surveyed during the dry season (June-July) in 2015, concentrating on four park’s resorts, i.e. Cikaniki, Mt. Botol, Cisarua (Halimun area) and Cidahu (Salak area). In total, 399 specimens representing 43 species were collected. Prior to the surveys, 48 land snail species were known from the GHSNP. Fifteen new records for the GHSNP were discovered so 63 species are now known to inhabit the Park. This number represent 25% of the total land snail fauna of Java. 21 of the species found in GHSNP are endemic to Java. The species richness of the plots in GHSNP was correlated with soil pH and the composition of the land snail communities was correlated with elevation, annual mean temperature, and amount of deadwood.

Comparison of plant and snail diversity patterns in the White Carpathian Mts (Czech Republic) across forest and grassland habitats

Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Dvořáková ◽  
Michal Horsák
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Compositional Variation ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Grassland Plants

AbstractThe Bile Karpaty Mountains belong to the best-explored areas of the Czech Republic for both land snails and vascular plants, providing a unique opportunity for cross-taxa comparison of their diversity patterns. A total of 1,181 plant and 101 snail species, recorded in 45 grid cells of 2.8 × 3.1 km in size, were used for the analysis. We aimed to investigate the responses of forest and grassland assemblages separately, and to determine relative roles of environmental and spatial predictors on the compositional variation. We observed no significant correlation between the number of plant and snail species across the cells. While land snails showed a negative response to human-made habitats, a positive response was found for plants due to a high proportion of species confined to disturbed and ruderal habitats. Such differences can be attributed to different species pools of forest and grassland species and a high sensitivity of most land snails to habitat degradation and deforestation. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between grassland species as both groups positively responded to the same variables related to habitat diversity. Using the variance partitioning approach, we found a notably higher importance of spatial variables for grassland and forest plant assemblages, in contrast to snail assemblages, which were driven mainly by environmental conditions. These differences emerged especially for grasslands, most likely due to a long-term survival of several relict steppe plants and a notably higher species pool of grassland plants than that of snails.

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