The biochemical ecology of Biomphalaria glabrata, a freshwater pulmonate mollusc: The uptake and assimilation of exogenous glucose and maltose

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Abstract

  • 1.

    1. The rates at which the pulmonate snail B. glabrata takes up soluble glucose and maltose from a defined medium were evaluated by measuring the buccal mass pulsation rate, the drinking rate, net changes in the concentrations of sugars in the medium and the rate of accumulation of 14C labelled maltose.

  • 2.

    2. It was demonstrated that B. glabrata was capable of net accumulation of maltose and glucose via the mouth and integument, respectively.

  • 3.

    3. Some of the maltose in the medium was also hydrolysed to glucose by exogenous snail enzymes.

  • 4.

    4. The mechanisms involved in the accumulation of the sugars and the relevance of the results to the biochemical ecology of the snails and other aquatic invertebrates are discussed.

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