Effect of temperature and egg laying depths on giant African land snail (Gastropoda: Achatinidae) viability
Keywords:
invasive, Lissachatina fulica, eradication, biologyAbstract
Summary
Giant African land snail, Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich), is currently found in 2 counties in Florida in the continental USA. Five years after their initial sightings, eradication efforts are still underway. A study was conducted to determine the upper and lower temperatures that giant African land snail can tolerate and survive. We observed 100% mortality at 2 °C and at 42 °C. Another study was conducted to ensure that dead snails and eggs collected during the eradication program will be buried at an appropriate depth with no risk of neonate emergence. We observed that hatching snails could dig through at least 81 cm of soil, but the maximum depth of soil from which they could emerge was not successfully determined.
Sumario
El caracol terrestre africano, Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich), se encuentra actualmente en 2 condados de la Florida en los EE. UU. Cinco años después de ser vista por primera vez, los esfuerzos de erradicación aún están en marcha. Se realizó un estudio para determiner la temperatura mas alta y baja que el caracol terrestre africano puede tolerar y sobrevivir. Observamos un 100% de mortalidad a los 2 °C y a los 42 °C. Se realizó otro estudio para asegurar que los caracoles muertos y los huevos recolectados durante el programa de erradicación se enterrarán a una profundidad adecuada sin riesgo de emergencia de los recién nacidos. Observamos que los caracoles nacidos podrían excavar al menos 81 cm de suelo, pero no se determinó con éxito la profundidad máxima del suelo desde la cual podrían emerger.
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