Distribution, Dispersion, and Behavioral Ecology of the Land Snail Oxyloma retusa (Succineidae)

Authors

Michael J. Lannoo, University of IowaFollow
Richard V. Bovbjerg, University of IowaFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Oxyloma retusa; Succineidae; color polymorphism; distribution; dispersion; behavioral ecology

Abstract

Oxyloma retusa is a land snail found only along moist margins of freshwater wetlands and lakes. This study quantifies the dispersal pattern of O. retusa along permanent and temporary wetlands and considers the environmental factors to which this snail responds. On a lake shore, snail density peaked in the second or third meter from the water's edge but snails were present in decreasing numbers up to 7 meters inland. In field experiments, marked snails, initially distributed evenly along a shore transect, assumed a similar dispersion pattern within 72 hours. Two color morphs had overlapping but zonal dispersions, the amber morph farther inland than the dark. In drying ponds, snails followed the retreating shoreline. In reflooding of such ponds snails responded by crawling with the water's leading edge or ascending emergent vegetation. It is clear that O. retusa actively selects a precise microhabitat. This habitat selection appears dependent on a combination of physical and biotic factors acting separately and in combination.

Publication Date

March 1985

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

92

Issue

2

First Page

67

Last Page

69

Copyright

©1985 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Lannoo, Michael J. and Bovbjerg, Richard V. (1985) "Distribution, Dispersion, and Behavioral Ecology of the Land Snail Oxyloma retusa (Succineidae)," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 92(2), 67-69.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol92/iss2/6