Life History and Secondary Production of Goniobasis proxima (Prosobranchia: Pleuroceridae) from Four Appalachian Headwater Streams in Western North Carolina

I investigated life history traits and secondary production of populations of Goniobasis proxima in four streams from July 2005 to June 2006. Measurements of canopy cover, conductivity, alkalinity, temperature, and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), as well as snail size, density, and occupied substrate were taken monthly for each stream. Snail growth rates were determined in an aquarium for 10 size classes and secondary production was estimated as the summed product of size class growth rates and field biomass measurements. Size class production estimates tracked biomass with intermediate to larger sized snails dominating production, despite smaller snails growing faster. Production estimates across streams ranged from 1,400 mg m-2 yr-1 to 22,183 mg m-2 yr-1 with noticeable summer highs and winter lows. Annual turnover was slow (0.43-0.49) owing to slow growth and long development time. Snails preferred leaves/wood as a substrate to occupy over rock and sand and showed no appreciable grazing effect on the epilithon community.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Department dc:contributor.department

Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Jeremiah, Nicholas G.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Benfield, Ernest F.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Valett, H. Maurice
• Voshell, J. Reese Jr.

• aquatic
• grazing
• population ecology
• parasitism
• substrate

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-11132007-155118

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35689