Water levels in the regulated Snake River, southern Idaho, U.S.A. can fluctuate daily and seasonally due to hydroelectric demands. The federally listed threatened Bliss Rapids snail, Taylorconclia serpenticola Hershler et al., 1994 (Family: Hydrobiidae), survives in and near these fluctuation zones. Remaining T. serpenticola populations occur only in sections of the Snake River that are impacted by these hydroelectric facilities and associated springs. Because effects of rapid draw-down in fluctuation zones on T. serpenticola are unknown, we conducted a laboratory experiment to evaluate potential impacts of desiccation. Our experiment compared desiccation resistance at several air temperatures, on dry and wetted substrates, and for ‘small’ vs. ‘large’ snails. Probit regression-maximum likelihood models estimated lethal time (LTj,,) values. Suiwival was significantly greater on wetted substrate than on dry substrate and was lowest at temperatures <0‘’C and at 37'^C on dry substrate. Survival was greatest at 17°C on wetted substrate. There was no significant difference in survival at temperatures above 0°C on dry substrate other than at 37°C. LTj,, survival ranged from 0.5 hours at -7°C to 157.0 hours at 17°C on wetted substrate. There were no significant differences in survival relative to snail size in any treatment. Our results suggest that desiccation could impact T. serpenticola populations if snails become stranded on dry substrates during rapid water-level fluctuations of the Snake River, particularly during subzero winter or extreme high summer temperatures. The most important factor determining survival would be the ability to find refuge on the undersides of cobbles, where snails typically occur, or in habitats that remained moist for the duration ot the draw-down of the river.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.