Field and laboratory studies were conducted on the water relations of the high intertidal snail Melampus bidentatus Say (Pulmonata: Ellobiidae) in the Little Sippewisset Marsh, Cape Cod (Mass., U.S.A.). Densities of Melampus in the upper 12% of the intertidal zone averaged about 1300 snails/m2. A size gradient of snails was found, with large snails (5–12 mm shell length) occupying both upper and lower extremes of tidal height. Adult snails (>5 mm) undergo semilunar migrations, such that during neap tidal cycles the center of peak density shifts 2 m lower in the marsh from that of spring tidal cycles. Juvenile snails appear to remain in the dense vegetation of mid-range.
During dry conditions in the field, snails contained 15% less body water compared with normally hydrated snails. Laboratory studies on desiccation (controlled temperature and humidity, still air) showed water loss to be inversely proportional to shell length and relative humidity (RH). Immature snails regulate water loss poorly; few survive for more than 12 h in 0–75% RH (20°C). In contrast, adults survive for 48 h or more in ⩽ 50% RH and remained alive in 97% RH for at least 14 days, despite the loss of up to 40% body water. Adult snails placed in ≈0% RH for 27–36 h were remarkably tolerant to desiccation, with an LD50 near 80% body water loss. Melampus rehydrates rapidly when provided with free water; from a level of 50% body water loss, snails reached 90% normal water content within 0.75 h. Adult Melampus can survive submergence in sea water for at least 10 days and in fresh water for 3 days and can tolerate −12°C for several days.
These studies demonstrate some of the physiological and behavioral adaptations to the rhythmicity of the tides and to the extremes in other physical factors found in the high intertidal zone. The significance of these adaptations in Melampus, and the fitting of its primitive, marine reproductive strategy to an amphibious lifestyle, are discussed in relation to the transitional status of this snail in the movement of molluscs from marine origins to land and freshwater habitats.
Field and laboratory studies were conducted on the water relations of the high intertidal snail Melampus bidentatus Say (Pulmonata: Ellobiidae) in the Little Sippewisset Marsh, Cape Cod (Mass., U.S.A.). Densities of Melampus in the upper 12% of the intertidal zone averaged about 1300 snails/m2. A size gradient of snails was found, with large snails (5–12 mm shell length) occupying both upper and lower extremes of tidal height. Adult snails (>5 mm) undergo semilunar migrations, such that during neap tidal cycles the center of peak density shifts 2 m lower in the marsh from that of spring tidal cycles. Juvenile snails appear to remain in the dense vegetation of mid-range.During dry conditions in the field, snails contained 15% less body water compared with normally hydrated snails. Laboratory studies on desiccation (controlled temperature and humidity, still air) showed water loss to be inversely proportional to shell length and relative humidity (RH). Immature snails regulate water loss poorly; few survive for more than 12 h in 0–75% RH (20°C). In contrast, adults survive for 48 h or more in ⩽ 50% RH and remained alive in 97% RH for at least 14 days, despite the loss of up to 40% body water. Adult snails placed in ≈0% RH for 27–36 h were remarkably tolerant to desiccation, with an LD50 near 80% body water loss. Melampus rehydrates rapidly when provided with free water; from a level of 50% body water loss, snails reached 90% normal water content within 0.75 h. Adult Melampus can survive submergence in sea water for at least 10 days and in fresh water for 3 days and can tolerate −12°C for several days.These studies demonstrate some of the physiological and behavioral adaptations to the rhythmicity of the tides and to the extremes in other physical factors found in the high intertidal zone. The significance of these adaptations in Melampus, and the fitting of its primitive, marine reproductive strategy to an amphibious lifestyle, are discussed in relation to the transitional status of this snail in the movement of molluscs from marine origins to land and freshwater habitats.
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