Abstract
Selected life cycle parameters of the snail Bradybaena fruticum were studied in the laboratory. The initial material for the laboratory culture was taken from a population in South Western Poland; the snails were kept in Petri dishes and plastic containers. The temperature, humidity and lighting conditions were maintained at a constant level (day 18°C, night 12°C, rh 80%, light:dark 12:12). Circadian activity observations were conducted outside the climatic chamber. Eggs — calcified, slightly oval, of mean dimensions 2.67x2.56 mm — were laid singly or in batches of 6–62, as a result of both biparental and uniparental reproduction. Incubation took 27–76 days and hatching was asynchronous. Hatching success was lower among eggs produced by single parents compared to eggs produced by two parents (c.a. 56 and c.a. 88%, respectively). Growth included fast (2.25 to 5 whorls) and slow (1.9–2.25 and >5 whorls) phases as well as lip formation, and took 261 to 420 days. The first eggs/batches were laid c.a. one year later, and for uniparentally reproducing snails the period was even longer. The growth of snails kept singly was faster than in those kept in groups. Juvenile snails were much more active than adults in the spring, summer and autumn but the adults were more mobile in the winter. In all seasons, juveniles were more active at night than adults.
[1] Wiktor A., Terrestrial gastropods of Poland [Ślimaki lądowe Polski], Mantis, Olsztyn, 2004, (in Polish) Search in Google Scholar
[2] Riedel A., Terrestrial gastropods (Gastropods terrestria), Catalogue of the Polish fauna 36 [Ślimaki lądowe (Gastropoda terrestria), Katalog fauny Polski 36], PWN, Warsaw, 1988, (in Polish) Search in Google Scholar
[3] Seifert D.V., Shutov S.V., Role of certain terrestrial molluscs in the transformation of leaf litter, Ekologiya, 1979, 5, 58–61 Search in Google Scholar
[4] Bába K., Investigation of the growth rate of two terrestrial snail: Bradybaena fruticum (O. F. Müller) and Euomphalia strigella (Draparnaud), Pulmonata, Soosiana, 1985, 13,7, 79–88 Search in Google Scholar
[5] Staikou A., Lazaridou-Dimitriadou M., Rana E., The life cycle, population dynamics, growth and secondary production of the snail Bradybaena fruticum (Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda Pulmonata) in northern Greece, J. Mollus. Stud., 1990, 56, 137–146 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mollus/56.2.13710.1093/mollus/56.2.137Search in Google Scholar
[6] Khokhutkin I.M., Lazareva A.I., Polymorphism and protective coloration of terrestrial mollusca populations, J. Gen. Biol., 1975, 36, 863–869, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[7] Khokhutkin I.M., Lazareva A.I., Biotopic and geographic changes in the polymorphic structure of Bradybaena fruticum (Müll), In: Likharev I.M. (Ed.), Mollusca Systematics, Ecology and Bionomic distribution. Seventh meeting on the Investigations of Molluscs, Academiia Nauk USSR, Zoologischeskii Institut, Leningrad, 1983, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[8] Khokhutkin I.M., Lazareva A.I., Variability structure in land snails: adaptation on populational and superspecific levels, In: Starobogatov Ya.I., Golikov A.N., Likharev I.M. (Eds.), Molluscs, Results and Perspectives of Investigation, Eighth meeting on the Investigations of Molluscs. Abstracts of Communications, Academiia Nauk USSR, Zoologischeskii Institut, Leningrad, 1987, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[9] Khokhutkin I.M., Inheritance of banding in natural populations of the land snail Bradybaena fruticum (Müll), Genetika (Moscow), 1979, 15, 868–871, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[10] Khokhutkin I.M., Organization and variation of the polymorphic structure of landsnail species, J. Gen. Biol., 1984, 45, 615–623, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[11] Makeeva V.M., The role of the anthropogene barriers in the formation of the population structure of Bradybaena fruticum (Müll.) in the Moscow region, In: Starobogatov Ya.I., Golikov A.N., Likharev I.M. (Eds.), Molluscs, Results and Perspectives of Investigations, Eighth meeting on the Investigations of Molluscs, Abstracts of Communications, Academiia Nauk USSR, Zoologischeskii Institut, Leningrad, 1987, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[12] Makeeva V.M., Matiokin P.V., The role of the natural selection in the genetic population structure of Bradybaena fruticum (Müll.) in the Moscow region, In: Starobogatov Ya.I., Golikov A.N., Likharev I.M. (Eds.), Molluscs, Results and Perspectives of Investigations, Eighth meeting on the Investigations of Molluscs, Abstracts of Communications, Academiia Nauk USSR, Zoologischeskii Institut, Leningrad, 1987, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[13] Proćków M., Kuźnik-Kowalska E., Lewandowska M., Differences in population dynamics of Bradybaena fruticum (O.F. Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Bradybaenidae) in a submontane and lowland area of Poland, Anim. Biol., 2012, 62, 451–462 http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157075612X65013110.1163/157075612X650131Search in Google Scholar
[14] Ehrmann P., Molluscs. The animal world of Central Europe [Mollusken (Weichtiere). Die Tierwelt Mitteleuropas], II, 1, Leipzig, 1933, (in German) Search in Google Scholar
[15] Almeida M.N., Bessa E.C., A study on growth and reproduction of Bradybaena similaris (Férussac) (Mollusca, Xanthonychidae) in the laboratory [Estudo do crescimento e da reprodução de Bradybaena similaris (Férussac) (Mollusca, Xanthonychidae) em laboratório], Rev. Bras. Zool., 2001, 18, 1115–1122, (in Portugese) http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-8175200100040001010.1590/S0101-81752001000400010Search in Google Scholar
[16] Carvalho C., Bessa E.C., D’ávila S., Life history strategy of Bradybaena similaris (Ferussac, 1821) (Mollusca, Pulmonata, Bradybaenidae), Molluscan Res., 2008, 28, 171–174 Search in Google Scholar
[17] Künkel K., On the biology of Eulota fruticum Müller [Zur Biologie von Eulota fruticum Müller], Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Allg. Zool. Physiol. Tiere, 1928, 45, 317–342, (in German) Search in Google Scholar
[18] Maltz T.K., Sulikowska-Drozd A., Circannual gonad activity in two species of the genus Vestia P. Hesse (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Clausiliidae), Ann. Zool., 2010, 60, 469–480 http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/000345410X53544210.3161/000345410X535442Search in Google Scholar
[19] Wolda H., Ecological variation and its implications for the dynamics of populations of the land snails Cepaea nemoralis, Proc. Adv. Study Inst. Dynamics Numbers Popul., 1970, 98–102 Search in Google Scholar
[20] Wolda H., Ecology of some experimental populations of the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (L.) I. Adult numbers and adult mortality, Neth. J. Zool., 1972, 22, 428–455 http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/002829672X0002210.1163/002829672X00022Search in Google Scholar
[21] Dziabaszewski B., On the biology of the Roman snail (Helix pomatia L.) with special reference to reproduction [Z biologii ślimaka winniczka (Helix pomatatia L.) ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem rozrodu], Pr. Kom. Biol. PTPN, 1975, 35, 1–90, (in Polish) Search in Google Scholar
[22] Cowie R.H., Precocious breeding of Theba pisana (Müller) (Pulmonata: Helicidae), J. Conchol., 1980, 30, 238 Search in Google Scholar
[23] Tompa A.S., Land Snails (Stylommatophora), In: Tompa A.S., Verdonk N.H., Van Den Biggelaar J.A.M. (Eds.), The Mollusca 7. Reproduction, 47–140, Academic Press, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, 1984 10.1016/B978-0-08-092659-9.50009-0Search in Google Scholar
[24] Baur B., Baur A. Proximate factors influencing egg cannibalism in the land snail Arianta arbustorum (Pulmonata, Helicidae), Oecologia, 1986, 70, 283–287 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0037925210.1007/BF00379252Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[25] Heller J., Ittiel H., Natural history and population dynamics of the land snail Helix texta in Israel (Pulmonata: Helicidae), J. Mollus. Stud., 1990, 56, 189–204 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mollus/56.2.18910.1093/mollus/56.2.189Search in Google Scholar
[26] Koralewska-Batura E., Helix lutescens Rossmässler, 1837 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helicidae) — its structure, biology and ecology, Folia Malacol., 1999, 7, 197–240 10.12657/folmal.007.020Search in Google Scholar
[27] Maltz T.K., Life cycle and population dynamics of Helicodonta obvoluta (O. F. Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helicidae), Folia Malacol., 2003, 11, 63–88 10.12657/folmal.011.008Search in Google Scholar
[28] Kuźnik-Kowalska E., Roksela A., Life cycle of Perforatella bidentata (Gmelin, 1791) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helicidae), Folia Malacol., 2009, 17, 199–214 http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10125-009-0016-x10.2478/v10125-009-0016-xSearch in Google Scholar
[29] Tompa A.S., Studies on the reproductive biology of gastropods: Part III. Calcium provision and the evolution of terrestrial eggs among gastropods, J. Conchol., 1980, 30, 145–154 Search in Google Scholar
[30] Seifert D.V., Khokhutkin I.M., Ecology of land snail Fruticicola fruticum, KMK Scientific Press Ltd., Moscow, 2009, (in Russian) Search in Google Scholar
[31] Baur B., Intraclutch egg cannibalism by hatchlings of the land snail Arianta arbustorum: non-random consumption of eggs? Ethol. Ecol. Evol., 1993, 5, 329–336 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08927014.1993.952302010.1080/08927014.1993.9523020Search in Google Scholar
[32] Lucarz A., Evidence of an egg-laying factor in the prostatic secretions of Helix aspersa Müller, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A: Physiol., 1991, 100, 839–843 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0300-9629(91)90301-R10.1016/0300-9629(91)90301-RSearch in Google Scholar
[33] Chen X., Self-fertilization and cross-fertilizationin the landsnail Arianta arbustorum (Mollusca, Pulmonata: Helicidae), J. Zool., 1994, 232, 465–471 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb01587.x10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb01587.xSearch in Google Scholar
[34] Lush A., Biology and ecology of introduced snail Microxeromagna armillata in south eastern Australia, Ph.D. thesis, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, 2007 Search in Google Scholar
[35] Barrientos Z., Life history of the terrestrial snail Ovachlamys fulgens (Stylommatophora: Helicarionidae) under laboratory conditions, Rev. Biol. Trop., 1998, 46, 369–383 10.15517/rbt.v46i2.19628Search in Google Scholar
[36] Proćków M., Drvotová M., Juřičková L., Kuźnik-Kowalska E., Field and laboratory studies on the life-cycle, growth and feeding preference in the hairy snail Trochulus hispidus (L., 1758) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Hygromiidae), Biologia, 2013, 68, 131–141 http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11756-012-0132-810.2478/s11756-012-0132-8Search in Google Scholar
[37] Frömming E., Biology of Central European terrestrial gastropods [Biologie der Mitteleuropäischen Landgastropoden], Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, 1954, (in German) Search in Google Scholar
[38] Maltz T.K., Sulikowska-Drozd A., Life cycle of Alinda biplicata (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Clausiliidae) in the laboratory with reference to uniparental reproduction [Cykl życiowy Alinda biplicata (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Clausiliidae) w warunkach laboratoryjnych z uwzględnieniem rozrodu jednorodzicielskiego], In: Kałuski T., Gawlak M. (Eds.), Problems of contemporary malacology [Problemy współczesnej malakologii 2012], XXVIII Polish Malacological Seminar (8-11.05.2012, Boszkowo), Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań, 2012, 28, (in Polish) Search in Google Scholar
[39] Cichoń M., Growth after maturity as a suboptimal strategy, Acta Oecol., 1999, 20, 25–28 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1146-609X(99)80012-510.1016/S1146-609X(99)80012-5Search in Google Scholar
[40] Terhivuo J., Growth, reproduction and hibernation of Arianta arbustorum (L.) (Gastropoda, Helicidae) in southern Finland, Ann. Zool. Fenn., 1978, 15, 8–16 Search in Google Scholar
[41] Baur B., Growth and reproduction of the minute land snail Punctum pygmaeum (Draparnaud), J. Mollus. Stud., 1989, 55, 383–387 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mollus/55.3.38310.1093/mollus/55.3.383Search in Google Scholar
[42] Kuźnik-Kowalska E., Life cycle and population dynamics of Discus rotundatus (O. F. Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Endodontidae), Folia Malacol., 1999, 7, 5–17 10.12657/folmal.007.001Search in Google Scholar
[43] Kuźnik-Kowalska E., Life cycle and population dynamics of Discus perspectivus (Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1818) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Endodontidae), Folia Malacol., 2005, 13, 157–168 10.12657/folmal.013.015Search in Google Scholar
[44] Kuźnik-Kowalska E., Life cycle and population dynamics of Discus ruderatus (Férussac, 1821) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Endodontidae), Folia Malacol., 2006, 14, 35–46 10.12657/folmal.014.005Search in Google Scholar
© 2013 Versita Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
