Within-and Between-Clutch Variation in Egg Size and Nutrient Content in the Land Snail Arianta arbustorum

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Baur
Keyword(s):  
Egg Size ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum

Altitudinal variation in size and composition of eggs in the land snail Arianta arbustorum

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 2067-2074 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Baur ◽  
B Baur
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Carbon Concentration ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Altitudinal Variation ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum ◽  
Carbon Concentrations

Egg size and egg provisioning are crucial for the survival of offspring in invertebrates without postlaying egg care. The effects of elevation and size of the mother on egg size and on nitrogen and carbon concentrations in eggs were examined in eight populations of the land snail Arianta arbustorum over an altitudinal gradient from 370 to 2340 m in Switzerland. The dry mass of single eggs ranged from 1.48 to 2.79 mg and decreased with increasing altitude. Adult snail size (shell volume) also decreased with increasing elevation as did clutch size and reproductive investment (clutch size x egg dry mass) of mothers. Hatching success of eggs varied among populations, but showed no altitudinal pattern. When differences in parental shell size were taken into account, correlations between altitude and egg size, clutch size, and reproductive investment disappeared. Thus, the altitudinal decreases in egg size, clutch size, and reproductive investment were mainly due to smaller snail sizes at higher elevations. The nitrogen concentration in eggs ranged from 3.4 to 4.5% and decreased with increasing elevation. In contrast to egg and clutch size, the altitudinal variation in nitrogen concentration of eggs cannot be explained by differences in snail size. The carbon concentration in eggs ranged from 31.1 to 33.1%, but showed no altitudinal variation. Nitrogen and carbon concentrations in the eggshell and egg fluid in eggs from four populations were examined separately. The nitrogen concentration in the eggshell ranged from 0.7 to 1.8% and was lower than that of the egg fluid (5.1-5.8%). Similarly, the carbon concentration in the eggshell was lower (20.2-22.8%) than that in the egg fluid (35.8-0.2%). Interpopulation differences in egg composition may affect growth, size, and survival of hatchlings and the extent of egg cannibalism in A. arbustorum.

Effects of early feeding experience and age on the cannibalistic propensity of the land snail Arianta arbustorum

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 3068-3070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Baur
Keyword(s):  
Land Snail ◽  
Early Feeding ◽  
Vegetable Food ◽  
Egg Cannibalism ◽  
Feeding Experience ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum ◽  
Genetically Determined

The influence of early feeding experience on egg cannibalism was examined in hatchlings of the land snail Arianta arbustorum. The propensity for cannibalism was not affected by cannibalistic or by vegetarian early feeding experience. It was, however, negatively correlated with the age of the snails. Freshly hatched snails with no prior feeding experience chose eggs exclusively, while 16-day-old snails preferred vegetable food. Furthermore, the cannibalistic propensity varied between offspring from different clutches. Restriction of the cannibalistic propensity to the hatchling stage, its nonmodifiability, and differences in its extent between clutches suggest that egg cannibalism in A. arbustorum is a genetically determined trait.

scholarly journals Birch tar oil is an effective mollusc repellent: field and laboratory experiments using Arianta arbustorum (Gastropoda: Helicidae) and Arion lusitanicus (Gastropoda: Arionidae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. LINDQVIST ◽  
B. LINDQVIST ◽  
K. TIILIKKALA
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Plant Protection Product ◽  
Arion Lusitanicus ◽  
Northern Fennoscandia ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum ◽  
Tar Oil

Populations of two molluscs, the land snail Arianta arbustorum and the Iberian slug Arion lusitanicus, have increased substantially in many places in the northern Fennoscandia in recent years. This has resulted in considerable aesthetic and economic damage to plants in home gardens and commercial nurseries. Birch tar oil (BTO), is a new biological plant protection product, and was tested against these molluscs. In this study we examined whether 2 types of BTO, used either alone, mixed together, or mixed with Vaseline®, could be applied as 1) a biological plant protection product for the control of land snails by direct topical spray application, 2) as a repellent against snails when painted on a Perspex® fence, and 3) as a repellent against slugs when smeared on pots containing Brassica pekinensis seedlings. Both the fences and the pots with seedlings were placed in each field with a high population of the target organism. When applied as a spray on snails, BTO did not act as a toxic pesticide but rendered the snails inactive for a period of several months. The BTO barriers were effective in repelling both snails and slugs. However, the repellent effect of BTO alone against the molluscs was short-term. Repeated treatments were required to keep the slugs away from the plants and we found that the interval between treatments should not exceed two weeks. A collar fastened around the rim of the pots, combined with the BTO treatment, did not give any additional benefit in hindering slugs from invading the plants. Most noticeably, the BTO+Vaseline® mixture prevented the land snails from passing over the treated fences for up to several months. The results of these experiments provide evidence that BTO, especially when mixed with Vaseline®, serves as an excellent long-term repellent against molluscs.;

scholarly journals Visual selection in the land snail Arianta arbustorum

Heredity ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T Parkin
Keyword(s):  
Land Snail ◽  
Visual Selection ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum

scholarly journals Does the Land Snail Arianta arbustorum Prefer Sequentially Mixed Over Pure Diets?

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 403 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Speiser ◽  
M. Rowell-Rahier
Keyword(s):  
Land Snail ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document