Life history traits of the exotic freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata Müller, 1774 (Gastropoda, Thiaridae), and its sensitivity to common stressors in freshwaters

Abstract

Aim In the present study has analyzed several aspects of the life history traits of Melanoides tuberculata, an exotic species, under laboratory conditions, and its response to some stressors has also been applied. Methods Sensitivity to two toxic substances was tested. The mollusks were collected and cultured in the laboratory under controlled conditions of temperature of 25 ± 1 °C and ad libitum food regime. Growth rates and biomass were experimentally obtained and the individual growth curve obtained. Results The experiment lasted 287 days and the maximum shell lengths registered was 11.67 mm. The growth curve indicated a rate of 3.98 year-1 and a maximum theoretical length of 10.61 mm. The mean post-embrionary development time until first reproduction was 275 days and the size of the primipara was 10.13 mm. An accelerated growth of juveniles was observed with fast increase in the shell length until sexual maturity, but growth rate decreased afterwards as more energy was devoted to reproduction. Under the combination of 25 °C and fed on alternate days, M. tuberculata had a slow growth and a long-life expectancy under laboratory conditions. The tolerance of this mollusk to temperature as a stressor ranged between 16 °C and 37 °C, being the optimum temperature situated between 29 °C and 34 °C. The LC(I)50-24h for reference substances were: 0.70 g L-1 for KCl and 9.05 g L-1 for NaCl. Conclusion Based on these results, we can conclude that M. tuberculata is a species tolerant to temperature and salinity, what partially explains to accordance to its wide and rapid dispersion throughout tropical waters.

Freshwater gastropod community in South Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…These two things have made the population of T. granifera uncontrollable, especially in Southeast Sulawesi (Chuboon et al 2013;Veeravechsukij et al 2018;Oliveira et al 2020;Purnama et al 2020;Sirza et al 2020;Malatji et al 2021;Nguyen et al 2021;Makherana et al 2022;Yin et al 2022). A potential threat might also come from M. tuberculata (Facon et al 2005;Daniel et al 2019;Barros et al 2020;Khanam et al 2020;Lopes et al 2020;Okumura and Rocha 2020;Oliveira et al 2020;Alfaro et al 2021;McClure 2021;Bose et al 2022;Tolley-Jordan et al 2022), although its invasion rate was not as high as T. granifera. These two invasive snails are always found in all types of freshwater habitats (rivers, lakes, swamps, embankments, dams, rice fields, and drainage), and the range of population density is quite high when they are found in water (25-67 ind./m 2 ) (Purnama et al 2019;2022a,b).…”

Review of the freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata (O. F. Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda, Thiaridae)

“…The males in population extremely rare or absent [10], within their native range, some populations contain 10 to 33 % males and show the ability of sexual reproduction [7]. M. tuberculata become fertile when reaching 15-16 mm at the age of six months [6].…”

“…The most important species are: Clonorchis sinensis ,Paragonimus westermani, , Centrocestus formosanus, Philophthalmus gralli, deleted name [7]. Haplorchis pumilio, Haplorchis taichui, Acanthatrium hitaense, Loxogenoides bicolor, deleted neme, Cloacitrema philippinum, Cardicola alseae, Alaria mustelae, Transversotrema patialense, Apatemon gracilis , Mesostephanus appendiculatus [6] Echinochasmus pelecani, Gastrothylax crumenifer, Cercaria caribbea LXVIII and Podocotyle (Podocotyle) lepomis [14].…”

“…This snail presenting high inheritable phenotypic variation in the shell shape, pigmentation and sculptures [5]. M. tuberculata adapted to local conditions causing environmental influences producing ecophenotypic alterations [6].…”

“…The average of adults sizes within their native regions is between 20-40 mm, although some specimens as large as 80mm have been recorded [7]. Four possible factors strongly influence the growth of the shell explaining its variation among different populations: the genetic variation, the conditions of microhabitat, the chemistry of water and temperature [6].…”