Expansion of the Foot in Bullia (Gastropoda)

Brown, A. C.; Turner, Lauren

doi:10.1038/195098a0

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Nevertheless the foot is expanded in the usual way, by the introduction of haemolymph into the pedal sinus (Brown & Turner, 1962). In this it differs from sandy-beach naticid snails such as Polinices, in which the foot is expanded largely by the introduction of sea-water (Bernard, 1968).…”

Section: Locomotion and Burrowingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the production of this water into jets-instead of just letting it drip out of the shell-requires both morphological and behavioural adaptations (Brown & Downloaded by [New York University] at 09:19 08 February 2015 Turner, 1962;Brown, 1964~). I am therefore fully convinced that these jets have a function of their own, though what that function is cannot yet be determined.…”

Section: Defence Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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THE ECOLOGY OF THE SANDY BEACHES OF THE CAPE PENINSULA, SOUTH AFRICA PART 2: THE MODE OF LIFE OFBULLIA(GASTROPODA: PROSOBRANCHIATA)

Brown

1971

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa

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OPSOMMINC'n Verslag word gegee van ons kennis van die strandslak, Bullia, op die Kaapse Skiereilandstrande. Dit is vernaamlik die twee soorte, B. digitalis and B. rhodostoma, albei soorte wat lief vir die branding is, wat behandel word. Die B. laevissima, 'n soort wat voorkeur het vir kalm water, word ook vermeld. Die voortplantingsgedrag word vir die eerste keer beskrywe. Heelwat van die werk gaan oor chemoresepsie en die reaksies wat tot voedselopname lei. Sommige gevolgtrekkings word gemaak in verband met groei en ouderdom. Die verspreiding van die drie soorte en die faktore wat 'n rol speel word bespreek. 'n Beskrywing word gegee van pogings om die aantal Bullia wat op die strand by Muizenberg voorkom, te skat. Die rol wat water en temperatuur in die lewe van hierdie diere speel, word vermeld, asook hulle verdedigingsmetodes en die organismes wat op hulle parasiteer. SUMMARYThis paper gives an account of the present state of our knowledge of the sandy-beach snail, Bullia, on the beaches of the Cape Peninsula. The work deals mainly with the two surf-loving species, B . digitalis and B. rhodostoma, though mention is made of B. laevissima, a species found in quiet waters. Reproductive behaviour is described for the first time. Much of the work reported concerns chemoreception and the responses which lead to feeding. Some conclusions are reached with regard to growth and life-span. The distribution of the three species is dealt with, and the factors responsible for this distribution are discussed. Attempts to estimate the numbers of Bullia on Muizenberg beach are described. Some mention is made of water-and heat-relationships, defence mechanisms and parasites.

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Section: Locomotion and Burrowingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Defence Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

THE ECOLOGY OF THE SANDY BEACHES OF THE CAPE PENINSULA, SOUTH AFRICA PART 2: THE MODE OF LIFE OFBULLIA(GASTROPODA: PROSOBRANCHIATA)

Brown

1971

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa

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“…They surf at an angle to the flow of the swash, and, like a sailing ship, they tack in a zigzag trajectory towards the food item. After a few swash rides, the surfing snails typically reach their food-voila [70][71][72]. PS-Four species of antson a Venezuelan beach have entered this evolutionary 'invertebrate surfing carnival', with some adroit inviduals able to ride small foam crests [73]; at this stage it remains unknown whether the cool South African surfer snails now have ants in their boardshorts.…”

Section: (8) Vegan Beach Flies Wearing Stilettos Feed By Step Dancingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Coasts: A Baroque Embarrassment of Riches

Schlacher

Maslo

Schipper

2022

Coasts

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Coasts form the universal stage on which people interact with the global ocean. Our history is inextricably intertwined with the seashore, being a rich tapestry of archaeological sites that paint a vivid picture of people hunting, foraging, fishing and scavenging at the edge of the sea. Seascapes inspire diverse art forms celebrated through the ages. The world’s sandy beaches have a flummoxing duality of anthropocentric purpose—ranging from the horrors when being theatres of war to first love under a rising moon. ‘Man’s Love of the Sea’ continues to draw people towards the shore: the narrow coastal strip contains everything from holiday cottages to mega-cities. This coastal concentration of the human population is problematic when shorelines erode and move inland, a geological process fastened by climate change. Society’s response is often a heavy investment in coastal engineering to complement and enhance the natural storm protection capacity of beaches and dunes. The coast’s immense cultural, social, and economic significance are complemented by a wealth of natural riches. In the public’s eye, these ecological values can pale somewhat compared with more imminent ecosystem services, particularly protecting human properties from storm impacts. To re-balance the picture, here we illustrate how peer-reviewed science can be translated into ‘cool beach facts’, aimed at creating a broader environmental appreciation of ocean shores. The colourful kaleidoscope of coastal values faces a veritable array of anthropogenic stressors, from coastal armouring to environmental harm caused by off-road vehicles. Whilst these threats are not necessarily unique to coastal ecosystems, rarely do the winds of global change blow stiffer than at the edge of the sea, where millions of people have created their fragile homes on shifting sands now being increasingly eroded by rising seas. Natural shorelines accommodate such changing sea levels by moving landwards, a poignant and powerful reminder that protecting the remaining natural land is primus inter pares in coastal management. There is no doubt that coastal ecosystems and coastal communities face august trials to maintain essential ecosystem services in the face of global change. Whilst bureaucracies are not always well equipped to counteract environmental harm effectively, using measures carrying a social license, many communities and individuals have encouragingly deep values connected to living coastlines. Building on these values, and harnessing the fierce protective spirits of people, are pivotal to shaping fresh models that can enhance and re-build resilience for shores that will continue to be a ‘baroque embarrassment of coastal riches’.

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“…Its foot is distended by an extensive system of aquiferous tubules (Bernard, 1968; Russell-Hunter & Russell-Hunter, 1968) distinct from the pedal blood system, which in comparison is somewhat restricted in size. Bulliu differs from this in at least one major respect, for the foot is almost totally expanded by the introduction of blood into the pedal sinus, sea water absorbed from the exterior playing only a very minor role (Brown & Turner, 1962). The present investigation of the fluid dynamics of the foot of Bulliu thus affords us an opportunity to compare the adaptations of gastropods for burrowing with those of bivalve molluscs, for example Ensis (Trueman, 19686) and to observe how the pedal haemocoel functions as a hydraulic system.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Locomotion, pedal retraction and extension, and the hydraulic systems of Bullia (Gastropoda: Nassaridae)

Trueman

Brown

1976

Journal of Zoology

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Surface locomotion and burrowing by Bullia digitalis have been analysed by use of ciné film and electronic recording. Both movements are shown to be carried out by a series of steps in which the propodium is first extended whilst the snail is anchored by the posterior of the foot (penetration anchor) and, when buried, also by the shell; secondly the shell is drawn forwards and downwards towards the anchored propodium (terminal anchor). The extremely flattened foot of this snail contains a greatly enlarged pedal sinus containing blood and functions as a hydraulic organ. This contrasts with the foot of most gastropods, e.g. Patella, which crawl over hard surfaces and have no large fluid filled pedal cavity. During each step, or digging cycle, there are two pressure pulses, one effecting propodial extension, the second occurring as the shell is drawn forwards. The pedal haemocoel is isolated from the remainder of the circulation for at least part of the locomotory cycle so enabling the foot to function as a fluid‐muscle system at constant volume. Bullia exhibits convergence with burrowing bivalve molluscs having a similar pattern of alternating anchorages in sand and in both water is ejected from the mantle cavity to liquefy the sand in front of the shell. The energy cost of burrowing by B. digitalis is estimated to be 6.6 times 10‐6 J/mg dry tissue weight, a figure comparable to that of the clam Donax provided that burial occurs at a similar rate. By contrast the energy requirement for Bullia to move over the surface of sand is about one tenth of that for burial. Pedal extension involves both blood flow, so that the foot may function as a hydraulic system, and direct muscular antagonism between the fibres of a three dimensional muscle network in the opercular muscle. When the snail is extended the shell contains some sea‐water which plays a dynamic role in pedal expansion and retraction independently of the pedal blood sinus. The possible role of this cavity in other prosobranchs is discussed.

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Expansion of the Foot in Bullia (Gastropoda)

Cited by 11 publications

References 1 publication

THE ECOLOGY OF THE SANDY BEACHES OF THE CAPE PENINSULA, SOUTH AFRICA PART 2: THE MODE OF LIFE OFBULLIA(GASTROPODA: PROSOBRANCHIATA)

THE ECOLOGY OF THE SANDY BEACHES OF THE CAPE PENINSULA, SOUTH AFRICA PART 2: THE MODE OF LIFE OFBULLIA(GASTROPODA: PROSOBRANCHIATA)

Global Coasts: A Baroque Embarrassment of Riches

Locomotion, pedal retraction and extension, and the hydraulic systems of Bullia (Gastropoda: Nassaridae)

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