The influence of chemical cues and conspecific density on the temperature selection of a freshwater snail (Melanoides tuberculata)

Gerald, Gary W.; Spezzano, Lawrence C.

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2004.12.002

Cited by 23 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Natural selection should favour individuals that maintain body temperatures within an optimal range by shifting behaviour to suit current environments (reviewed in Gerald and Spezzano 2005). Our lizards responded to the cooler thermal conditions on the ground by shifting their use of available microhabitats to the warmer exposed canopy of periwinkle plants.…”

Section: Reproductive Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experimental study of the effects of weed invasion on lizard phenotypes

Downes

Hoefer

2007

Oecologia

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We examined how a weed affected the basking and activity of a diurnal lizard, and the potential cascading effects of these shifts for life history strategies and expression of morphology. Hatchlings of the diurnal lizard Lampropholis delicata were raised to maturity in outdoor enclosures that mimicked high, moderate and low invasion by a sprawling plant (blue periwinkle, Vinca major). Skinks depend on sunlight for growth and maintenance. Periwinkle differs from displaced grassland by being structurally complex and blocking sunlight. Lizards restricted to the enclosure floor achieved preferred body temperatures only when exposure to periwinkle was moderate or low. However, lizards in high invasion enclosures could reach preferred body temperatures by climbing plants and basking on exposed canopy. This shift in basking strategy resulted in lizards growing longer hind limbs compared with animals that rarely (moderate invasion) and never (low invasion) climbed plants. Consequently, lizards reared in high invasion enclosures sprinted faster than conspecifics reared in lower invasion environments. Throughout the study there was no significant variation among treatments in the tendency of animals to be moving when they were not hidden. However, lizards in high invasion treatments hid more often during the day, were lighter in body mass, and females had lighter clutch masses and offspring than did those from moderate and low invasion enclosures. Thus, microhabitat degradation can drive a cascade of changes to an animal's ecology.

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Section: Reproductive Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experimental study of the effects of weed invasion on lizard phenotypes

Downes

Hoefer

2007

Oecologia

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“…The importance of individual spring channels (Table 3) suggests that intrinsic factors, such as probability of drying during prolonged drought and local structural characteristics, may play an unexplored but important role in concert with the abiotic factors studied here (Harman 1972, Brown 1991, Mladenka and Minshall 2001, Hurt 2004, Malcom et al 2005, Gerald and Spezzano 2005. Together, these findings indicate the importance of protecting the seven distinct spring channels in which P. thompsoni was found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Influencing the Distribution of the Huachuca Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni)

Tsai

Maloney

Arnold

2007

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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The Huachuca springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni) is a species of concern inhabiting springs of the Huachuca Mountains in southeastern Arizona, USA. We documented springsnail distribution and examined the major abiotic and biotic factors influencing springsnail abundance at eight spring channels before and after the onset of seasonal summer rains in 2003. Of the abiotic factors examined (total dissolved solids, pH, distance from spring source, spring channel, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen), only spring channel and total dissolved solids were strongly associated with springsnail abundance. However, correlation of total dissolved solids with pH, temperature, dissolved 02, and distance downstream necessitated hrther exploration of these explanatory variables. We found that sampling locations with P. thompsoni were characterized by cooler, more oxygenated, and less-occluded water conditions relative to sampling locations without springsnails. Springsnail abundance was positively associated with abundance of caddisfly larvae (Helicopsyche sp.) but not significantly associated with abundance of a co-occurring snail (Physa sp.). The most important outcomes of this study were the documentation of major factors associated with springsnail abundance, and recovery of springsnails at greater distances downstream than previously documented.

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“…Both of the temperatures chosen represent temperature extremes potentially experienced by our study species, and for M. tuberculatus, fall well outside of the range of preferred temperatures (15.8-20.6°C, Gerald and Spezzano 2005). Importantly, given habitat preferences of both species, snails used in the experiment were extremely unlikely to have experienced the extreme temperatures used here in either their natural environment or during culture.…”

Section: Temperature Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

High tolerance to abiotic stressors and invasion success of the slow growing freshwater snail, Melanoides tuberculatus

Weir

Salice

2011

Biol Invasions

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Considerable research has been conducted to determine traits common to invasive species with the goal of predicting, preventing, or managing invasions. The importance of physiological tolerance to abiotic stressors in the ability of invasive species to establish and displace native species has been hypothesized to be important although there are few actual tests of the hypothesis in the literature. In freshwater molluscs it has been suggested that high fecundity is the most important trait for invasion success and that physiological tolerance to abiotic conditions is unlikely to play a significant role. We examined the tolerance to abiotic stressors using a known invasive snail species (Melanoides tuberculatus) that has a much slower growth rate and fecundity than a native species it has displaced (Biomphalaria glabrata). We tested the hypothesis that M. tuberculatus would have significantly greater tolerance to natural and anthropogenic abiotic stressors (cadmium, malathion, temperature extremes, and desiccation) which may provide a mechanism for displacement of B. glabrata. A time-to-event analysis was used to determine relative tolerance between species. M. tuberculatus was significantly more tolerant to the tested abiotic stressors than B. glabrata with the exception of low temperature (5°C). Stress tolerance may partly explain the ability of M. tuberculatus to displace B. glabrata despite having a much lower growth rate and fecundity. These results also suggest that M. tuberculatus is likely to have a strong advantage in disturbed or polluted habitats. Identifying those traits most important for the invasion success of particular species could be used to better inform removal strategies and may allow for improved predictions of invasion potential.

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The influence of chemical cues and conspecific density on the temperature selection of a freshwater snail (Melanoides tuberculata)

Cited by 23 publications

References 37 publications

An experimental study of the effects of weed invasion on lizard phenotypes

An experimental study of the effects of weed invasion on lizard phenotypes

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Influencing the Distribution of the Huachuca Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni)

High tolerance to abiotic stressors and invasion success of the slow growing freshwater snail, Melanoides tuberculatus

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