کد مقاله کد نشریه سال انتشار مقاله انگلیسی نسخه تمام متن
4372664 1303071 2009 5 صفحه PDF دانلود رایگان
عنوان انگلیسی مقاله ISI
Density-dependent effects of snail grazing on the growth of a submerged macrophyte, Vallisneria spiralis
کلمات کلیدی
موضوعات مرتبط
علوم زیستی و بیوفناوری علوم کشاورزی و بیولوژیک بوم شناسی، تکامل، رفتار و سامانه شناسی
پیش نمایش صفحه اول مقاله
Density-dependent effects of snail grazing on the growth of a submerged macrophyte, Vallisneria spiralis
چکیده انگلیسی

In order to better understand the role of herbivorous snails in freshwater ecosystems, we conducted experiments investigating food preference of the snail Radix swinhoei on leaves of the submerged plant Vallisneria spiralis with and without periphyton coverage. The effects of snail grazing on the growth of V. spiralis were assessed in a no-snail control and at three snail densities (80, 160, 240 individuals m−2). Results showed that the snails chose preferentially leaves covered by periphyton. Grazing activity at low snail density (80 individuals m−2) was found to stimulate V. spiralis growth, but at higher snail density (240 individuals m−2), plant growth was apparently suppressed. An increase observed in nutrient concentrations in water column with increasing snail density may be attributed to nutrient release by snails. This study suggests that the nature of the relationship between herbivorous snails and macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems depends on the abundance of the snails. At low snail density, the relationship may be a mutualistic one, but at high density snail herbivory may impact negatively on macrophyte biomass in lakes.

ناشر
Database: Elsevier - ScienceDirect (ساینس دایرکت)
Journal: Ecological Complexity - Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2009, Pages 438–442
نویسندگان
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