Reproductive Life History and Shell Shape Variation of Three Species of Elimia (Pleuroceridae) in the Lower Etowah River Basin

<p> Pleurocerid snail diversity in the Southeastern United States is thought to be high, but estimates of overall diversity are compromised by uncertain taxonomy. This is particularly true for the genus <em>Elimia</em>, where reliance on conchological characters described by early naturalists for species designation failed to recognize significant variability in shell morphology. In this study we examine three putative species of <em>Elimia </em>to determine if quantifiable conchological characters are associated with differences in life history characteristics. Individuals of <em>E. modesta</em>, <em>E. carinocostata</em>, and <em>E. carinifera</em>were collected from nine sites in three streams in the lower Etowah River Basin. Females were separated by species and placed in mono-specific tanks where egg deposition could be monitored. Shell shape was assessed using Geometric Morphometrics. Although there was some overlap, shell shapes differ significantly among the three forms. Shell sculpture differences appear early in juvenile forms and the three species are distinguishable by the establishment of the fourth whorl. Differences in egg oviposition among species were observed in the lab and in substrate samples obtained from the field. Our results suggest that there are at least three distinct species of <em>Elimia </em>occurring in lower Etowah River Basin tributaries.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Winant, Ellen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Joseph Dirnberger
• Dr. Joel McNeal

• Pleuroceridae
• Elimia
• shape
• variation
• egg
• oviposition
• Biology
• Integrative Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/37

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:integrbiol_etd-1037