Pomacea (Ampullariidae) snails, commonly referred to as apple snails, serve as prey for many freshwater-dependent predators, and some species are highly invasive. Identifying limits to apple snail distribution and abundance are pertinent to understanding their ecology. Calcium (Ca 2? ) availability and pH generally influences freshwater snail populations, yet scant data exist for Pomacea snails. We measured 6-week change in shell length (DSL) in P. paludosa in two laboratory experiments with varying Ca 2? and pH levels. DSL was significantly higher in C28 mg Ca 2? /l compared with treatments B14 mg/l. Snails from populations living in low Ca 2? /pH waters did not appear genetically predisposed at growing faster in these conditions. Smallest DSL was in snails treated with 3.6 mg Ca 2? /l and pH \ 6.5 water; these snails had signs of shell erosion. Shell crush weights (CWs) were lowest for snails grown in the lowest Ca 2? /pH treatment. Smaller shells and lower CWs have implications for predation vulnerability and reproductive success. Our results are consistent with reports associating relatively low snail densities with relatively low Ca 2? /pH waters, and they are consistent with the geographic distribution of P. paludosa as related to the underlying water chemistry as influenced by geology.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.