Ovoviviparity and the structure of the brood pouch inMelanoides tuberculata (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Thiaridae)

Ben‐Ami, Frida; Hodgson, Alan N.

doi:10.1002/jmor.10307

Cited by 25 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…However, in T. granifera , brooding is associated with increased parental care, which minimizes mortality of vulnerable early life stages. The anatomy of the brood pouch of T. granifera is similar to that of M. tuberculata [36], [48] and the larger the animal, the greater the number of juveniles it can carry. The current study also found a variety of sizes of juveniles in the brood pouch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Population Structure of an Invasive Parthenogenetic Gastropod in Coastal Lakes and Estuaries of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2011

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BackgroundEstuaries and coastal lakes receive little attention despite being heavily invaded by non-indigenous invasive species (NIS). In these situations, studies of population dynamics in invaded habitats can provide valuable insights into how NIS interact with new environments. Tarebia granifera is a prosobranch gastropod from south-east Asia which has invaded other sub-tropical parts of the world. This study addresses whether a small number of key environmental factors influences gastropod communities, and specifically how the population density and size structure of T. granifera were influenced by environmental change in estuaries and coastal lakes in southern Africa.Methodology/Principal Findings T. granifera's density, number of brooded juveniles and size structure were measured at the St. Lucia Estuary, Mgobozeleni Estuary, Lake Sibaya and Lake Nhlange. Size structure was classified according to shell height (SH). All dissected individuals were found to be female and free from trematode infection. Salinity, water depth, temperature, and pH were the main factors correlated with population density of gastropod communities. T. granifera often reached densities well over 1000 ind. m−2, displacing indigenous gastropods and becoming a dominant component of the benthic community. T. granifera successfully invaded estuaries despite frequent exposure to high salinity and desiccation, which could together eliminate >97% of the population. The persistence of T. granifera was ensured due to its high fecundity and the environmental tolerance of large adults (20–30 mm SH) which carried an average of 158±12.8 SD brooded juveniles. Repeat introductions were not essential for the success of this parthenogenetic NIS.Conclusion/SignificanceThere is a need for a broader study on the reproductive biology of T. granifera (including the previously overlooked “brood pouch ecology”), which affects population dynamics and may be relevant to other parthenogenetic NIS, such as Melanoides tuberculata and Potamopyrgus antipodarum.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Population Structure of an Invasive Parthenogenetic Gastropod in Coastal Lakes and Estuaries of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2011

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“…Prashad, 1928;Van der Schalie, 1936), wherein the embryo is intimately connected to the mother and obtains continuous nourishment from her (e.g. as in mammals), a strategy that has not been substantiated in mollusks (Ben-Ami and Hodgson, 2005). In C. japonica eggs usually seem to hatch in the pallial oviduct ( Fig.…”

Section: Anatomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomy, functional morphology, evolutionary ecology and systematics of the invasive gastropod Cipangopaludina japonica (Viviparidae: Bellamyinae)

Bocxlaer

Strong

2016

CTOZ

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The anatomy, functional morphology and evolutionary ecology of the Viviparidae, and the subfamily Bellamyinae in particular, are incompletely known. Partly as a result, genealogical relationships within the family remain poorly understood. Because of this lack in knowledge, few informed hypotheses exist on ancestral states, how differences in body plans between the subfamilies evolved, and how the peculiar biogeographic distribution patterns of viviparids have arisen. Here we document the anatomy, morphology, life history and systematics of Cipangopaludina japonica, a Japanese species that has been introduced into North America, to resolve taxonomic confusion and to improve our understanding of how form and function are related in bellamyines. Anatomical and histological examinations demonstrate marked differences between C. japonica and other bellamyines in the radula, salivary gland, kidney, nerve ring and reproductive organs. Substantial differences also exist between male and female body organization, but conchological differences between sexes in semi-landmark morphometric analyses are limited. The volume of the brood pouch of females, and hence body and shell size, appear to be good predictors of reproductive success, and the species' ecological versatility may relate to high fecundity and the ability to alternate between feeding modes. Comparing our observations on C. japonica with other viviparids and basal Architaenioglossa, we identify several persistent misinterpretations in the literature on how form and function are related in viviparids, not in the least as to female reproductive anatomy. Our reinterpretations improve understanding of the evolution of Viviparidae and its subfamilies, and hopefully will allow future workers to isolate key traits that shaped the evolution of viviparids at the taxonomic levels of their interest for more detailed studies.

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“…Melanoides tuberculata is ovoviviparous. The eggs, which are small (50 × 70 μm; Berry & Kadri, 1974), contain large amounts of glycogen and protein yolk (Hodgson, Ben‐Ami & Heller, 2002) and embryos derive little nutrition from the mother (Ben‐Ami & Hodgson, 2005). Embryo numbers reach up to 71 embryos per snail (Berry & Kadri, 1974; Livshits & Fishelson, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex versus parasitism versus density

Ben‐Ami¹,

Heller²

2008

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The Red Queen hypothesis predicts that sexual reproduction should be favoured when the risk of infection by parasites is high. However, this prediction may also be achieved independently by means of the reproductive assurance and the density-dependent transmission hypotheses because higher densities increase the chances of fertilization (i.e. mates are easier to find) and increase the risk of infection. Additionally, the Red Queen hypothesis makes a long-term prediction that infection should be genotype-specific, with time-lagged dynamics. In the present study, we attempt to consolidate these two predictions by investigating whether sexuality and parasitism alternate in a time-lagged fashion on an ecological time-scale. In a 3-year study, we examined the time-lagged dynamics between male frequencies, infection levels (by Centrocestus sp.), and snail densities of four natural populations of sexual and asexual Melanoides tuberculata snails. The results obtained provide no evidence of either prediction of the Red Queen hypothesis. We found partial support for reproductive assurance in a single population, and could not discriminate between the three hypotheses in another population. The remaining two populations did not support any of the hypotheses in question.

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Ovoviviparity and the structure of the brood pouch inMelanoides tuberculata (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Thiaridae)

Cited by 25 publications

References 17 publications

Population Structure of an Invasive Parthenogenetic Gastropod in Coastal Lakes and Estuaries of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Population Structure of an Invasive Parthenogenetic Gastropod in Coastal Lakes and Estuaries of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Anatomy, functional morphology, evolutionary ecology and systematics of the invasive gastropod Cipangopaludina japonica (Viviparidae: Bellamyinae)

Sex versus parasitism versus density

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