Relictual physiological ecology in the threatened land snail Codringtonia helenae: A cause for decline in a changing environment?

Giokas, Sinos; Karkoulis, Panayiotis; Pafilis, Panayiotis; Valakos, Efstratios D.

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2007.05.008

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In our study we detected elevated LDH activity during aestivation (Fig. 1E, F) in agreement with previous studies of other Greek land snails (Giokas et al, 2005(Giokas et al, , 2007.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Mediterranean species typically lose water mainly during the aestivation period, e.g. Codringtonia helenae (Giokas et al, 2007), Albinaria caurelea (Giokas et al, 2005), C. apertus (Reuner et al, 2008), Cristataria genezarethana and Rupestrella rhodia (Arad et al, 1995). Nevertheless, H. aspersa in western Australia shows insignificant increase in the osmolality of haemolymph, even after 1-3 months of aestivation (Pedler et al, 1996) and in France keeps water content almost stable (Klein-Rollais & Daguzan, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Glycogen is the primary metabolic fuel (Rees & Hand, 1993) and its decrease was therefore expected. The decline in proteins is mainly associated with the decline of tissue water and increased demand for urea synthesis (Giokas et al, 2007) and only secondarily with energy production. In addition, low protein levels may be explained by reduced protein synthesis during aestivation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…LDH is an enzyme associated with anaerobic pathways, catalysing the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate. It has been documented that in aestivating land snails the levels of LDH are increased (Giokas et al, 2005(Giokas et al, , 2007, indicating that energy production may be based on anaerobic processes (Michaelidis, Pallidou & Vakouftsi, 1999). LDH activity (0.1 g) was measured according to the method of Kornberg (1955).…”

Section: Biochemical and Water Content Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During this period snails form an epiphragm, which is related to the reduction of water loss (Machin, 1975;Barnhart, 1983;Cook, 2001). Though snail physiology during aestivation has been studied extensively (Steinberger, Grossman & Dubinsky, 1982;Fields, 1992;Pedler et al, 1996;Porcel, Bueno & Almendros, 1996;Withers et al, 1997;Stuart, Ooi & Ballantyne, 1998;Pakay et al, 2002;Michaelidis et al, 2007;Nowakowska et al, 2009), only a few studies have been conducted with naturally aestivating animals in the field (Arad & Avivi, 1998;Giokas, Pafilis & Valakos, 2005;Giokas et al, 2007;Nowakowska, Caputa & Rogalska, 2010;Nicolai et al, 2011); in most studies aestivation was triggered under laboratory conditions. Therefore, study of seasonal physiological/biochemical patterns in relation to aspects of behavioural ecology in natural snail populations should be useful for understanding functional aspects of biochemistry and behaviour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A comparison of the physiological responses of two land snail species with different distributional ranges

Kotsakiozi

Pafilis

Giokas

et al. 2012

Journal of Molluscan Studies

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Land snails usually exhibit cycles of activity and dormancy (aestivation or hibernation). The transition between these two states is accompanied by a range of behavioural and physiological responses to ensure their survival under adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, aestivation plays an important role in shaping species' distribution patterns. We examined the seasonal patterns in biochemical tissue composition in relation to aspects of behavioural ecology in three land snail populations: one mainland and one insular population of the widespread Helix aspersa and a population (sympatric with the latter) of Helix figulina, a congeneric species with a narrow and declining distribution. Helix figulina aestivates in underground borrows, while H. aspersa spends the summer under stones and may interrupt aestivation when conditions become favourable. Prior to aestivation H. figulina accumulates metabolic fuels, which it consumes later during summer, and at the same time loses substantial body water and increases lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. The insular H. aspersa population follows a similar pattern (regarding metabolites and LDH activity), with the difference that water loss is limited. However, the mainland population of H. aspersa deviates from this model with energy metabolites and water levels showing little variation throughout the year, while LDH activity is reduced. These differences probably reflect the particular behavioural and physiological patterns adopted by each species. The specialist and range-restricted H. figulina shows a constant and more predictable seasonal pattern, which may be effective for surviving in its historical biogeographic range, but it seems to be more vulnerable to possibly changing environmental conditions. On the other hand the generalist and cosmopolitan H. aspersa adopts a more flexible pattern that compensates for the effects of adverse conditions during aestivation and permits a more effective exploitation of energy resources.

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“…In our study we detected elevated LDH activity during aestivation (Fig. 1E, F) in agreement with previous studies of other Greek land snails (Giokas et al, 2005(Giokas et al, , 2007.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biochemical and Water Content Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A comparison of the physiological responses of two land snail species with different distributional ranges

Kotsakiozi

Pafilis

Giokas

et al. 2012

Journal of Molluscan Studies

Self Cite

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Terrestrial Zen master: Transcriptomics in long‐term aestivation and arousal of Mediterranean earthworms

2023

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Earthworms have a crucial role in the maintenance of the biotic and abiotic soil properties, which is important for the biodiversity and productivity of terrestrial ecosystems, especially in the current scenario of climate change. Aestivation is a form of dormancy witnessed in organisms living in deserts or semiarid environments such as the ones found in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. This work employs next-generation sequencing techniques to explore the changes in gene expression of different aestivation times (1 month and 1 year) as well as changes in gene expression upon arousal. Not surprisingly, the more the aestivation persisted the higher levels of gene downregulation were observed. Conversely, upon arousal, a quick recovery of the levels of gene expression were noted, comparable to the control. Transcriptional changes related to immune responses coming predominantly from abiotic stressors in aestivating earthworms and from biotic stressors in aroused earthworms triggered regulation of the cell fate via apoptosis. Long-term aestivation seemed to be enabled by remodeling of the extracellular matrix, activity of DNA repair mechanisms, and inhibitory neurotransmitters, which could also play a role in lifespan increase. Arousal from 1-month aestivation was on the other hand, characterized by regulation of the cell division cycle. Since aestivation is considered as an unfavorable metabolic state, aroused earthworms probably go through a damage removal process and a subsequent reparation process. This study provides the first transcriptomic investigation done on earthworms in such long aestivation times as well as arousal demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of Carpetania matritensis.

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Adjustment of metabolite composition in the haemolymph to seasonal variations in the land snail Helix pomatia

et al. 2010

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In temperate regions, land snails are subjected to subzero temperatures in winter and hot temperatures often associated to drought in summer. The response to these environmental factors is usually a state of inactivity, hibernation and aestivation, respectively, in a temperature and humidity buffered refuge, accompanied by physiological adjustments to resist cold or heat stress. We investigated how environmental factors in the microhabitat and body condition influence the metabolite composition of haemolymph of the endangered species Helix pomatia. We used UPLC and GC-MS techniques and analyzed annual biochemical variations in a multivariate model. Hibernation and activity months differed in metabolite composition. Snails used photoperiod as cue for seasonal climatic variations to initiate a physiological state and were also highly sensitive to temperature variations, therefore constantly adjusting their physiological processes. Galactose levels gave evidence for the persistence of metabolic activity with energy expenditure during hibernation and for high reproductive activity in June. Triglycerides accumulated prior to hibernation might act as cryoprotectants or energy reserves. During the last month of hibernation snails activated physiological processes related to arousal. During activity, protein metabolism was reflected by high amino acid level. An exceptional aestivation period was observed in April giving evidence for heat stress responses, like the protection of cells from dehydration by polyols and saccharides, the membrane stabilization by cholesterol and enhanced metabolism using the anaerobic succinic acid pathway to sustain costly stress responses. In conclusion, physiological adjustments to environmental variations in Helix pomatia involve water loss regulation, cryoprotectant or heatprotectant accumulation.

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Relictual physiological ecology in the threatened land snail Codringtonia helenae: A cause for decline in a changing environment?

Cited by 19 publications

References 38 publications

A comparison of the physiological responses of two land snail species with different distributional ranges

A comparison of the physiological responses of two land snail species with different distributional ranges

Terrestrial Zen master: Transcriptomics in long‐term aestivation and arousal of Mediterranean earthworms

Adjustment of metabolite composition in the haemolymph to seasonal variations in the land snail Helix pomatia

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