We report an intertidal, bone-rich peat deposit on the windward (Atlantic Ocean) coast of Abaco, The Bahamas. The age of the Gilpin Point peat (c. 950-900 cal. yr BP) is based on five overlapping radiocarbon dates (one each from single pieces of wood of buttonwood Conocarpus erectus and sabal palm Sabal palmetto, and single bones of the Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer, Albury's tortoise Chelonoidis alburyorum, and green turtle Chelonia mydas). The short time interval represented by the charcoal-rich peat suggests rapid sedimentation following initial anthropogenic fires on Abaco. The site's diverse snail assemblage is dominated by terrestrial and freshwater species. The peat is exposed today only during exceptionally low tides, suggesting a lower sea level at the time of deposition as well as a degrading shoreline during the past millennium. Fossils from Gilpin Point represent a late-Holocene vertebrate community at the time of first human presence; only 10 of the 17 identified species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals still live on Abaco. Numerous unhealed bite marks on the inside of the thick carapaces of the green turtle attest to consumption by Cuban crocodiles, which probably scavenged turtles butchered by humans. This concept, along with the dense concentration of bones in the peat, and charring on some bones of the green turtle and Abaco tortoise, suggests a cultural origin of the bone deposit at Gilpin Point, where the only Amerindian artifact recovered thus far is a shell bead.

In the present study, aspects of the ecological life history of Batillaria zonalis (Brugiere) has been investigated for a period of two years. Trends in population dynamics and aspects of its biology in two salt marsh localities are described. Results of studies of the feeding biology of the sympatric population of Batillaria and Cerithidea californica (an “ecological equivalent” of Batillaria (Macdonald, 1969) and their interaction with diatoms are reported with reference to food-resource partitioning. The results are discussed within the context of problems of testing hypotheses about diversity and stability in salt marsh communities. Although these basic theoretical questions cannot be answered in this study, the Batillaria-Cerithidea-diatom component of salt marsh committees is believed to have characteristics facilitating testing of specific hypotheses about community dynamics.

This study describes the structure and function of the alimentary tracts of B. zonalis and C. californica with particular emphasis on the stomach and style sac region. Both species were found to be generally similar to other styles bearing mesogastropods in that they have little or no development of glandular tissue in the esophageal region and a functional style is present in the stomach. The stomachs of both species are specialized to transport and digest a continuous supply of detritus by means of complex ridges, grooves and ciliary currents. C. californica appears more highly specialized for feeding on fine, highly organic detrital material than B. zonalis due to slightly more complex stomach morphology. A positive correlation is postulated between the length of the crystalline style, relative to shell height, and the percentage of organic matter in the detritus ingested.

No description available.

The widespread use and subsequent release of pesticides into aquatic environments have sparked concerns about how organisms within these aquatic systems are affected by pesticide pollution. While many studies have examined the effects of pesticides on individual organisms, in a series of experiments, I investigated the effects of a pesticide mixture on members of a complex host-parasite system and on host susceptibility to infection. In my first experiment in the laboratory, I examined changes in survivorship when trematode parasites (Echinostoma trivolvis) and their first intermediate host, Planorbella trivolvis snails, were exposed to a low concentration (10 ppb: 15 ppb) and high concentration (85 ppb: 100 ppb) mixture of atrazine and metolachlor, respectively. There was a significant decline in parasite survivorship in the high concentration treatment at 14 hours, while snail survivorship was unaffected across all treatments. In my second experiment, prior to infection, I exposed the parasites and/or second intermediate hosts, Rana clamitans and Rana sylvatica tadpoles, to the pesticide mixtures and examined subsequent infection levels in the tadpoles. The atrazine and metolachlor mixtures had no significant effects on parasite load in the laboratory. Newly shed parasites were more likely than 10 hours old parasites to infect tadpoles, regardless of pesticide exposure. In my final experiment, I utilized outdoor mesocosms to expose parasites, snail hosts, and Rana sylvatica tadpoles to the pesticide mixture, and I examined differences in parasite load within the tadpoles after two weeks. The pesticides had no significant effect on parasite loads in the field. Overall, my findings suggest the atrazine and metolachlor mixtures used in this study had no significant effects on disease dynamics in a system involving Echinostome parasites, snails, and tadpoles. / Master of Science

A study of the Helminthoglyptidae of Sonora was undertaken to determine the extent of their distribution and speciation. As a result, nine new species of Sonorella are described, and new ranges of the known species are given. The status of the family is reviewed and its standing is supported with the analysis of morphological characteristics of several genera. The zoogeography of the family and its distribution are shown. Possible dispersal and isolation mechanisms are discussed in order to explain the present distribution of these snails, and comments on ecological and speciation accounts are offered.

Microxeromagna armillata ( Lowe, 1852 ) is a snail introduced snail to Australia which has established populations in the Riverland and Sunraysia citrus growing regions. Citrus exported from these regions to the USA has been rejected due to contamination with M. armillata, causing significant economic losses. The life history, phenology and activity of Microxeromagna armillata has not been studied in Australia : this forms the basis of this thesis. Microxeromagna armillata employs an iteroparous egg laying strategy in semi - field conditions and lays approximately 500 eggs per year. Field populations can reach high densities ( ∼ 4000 snails / m ² ), particularly during the winter months when juvenile recruitment occurs. Snails reach sexual maturity at ∼ 6mm in shell diameter and can grow to this size from a juvenile stage ( 2mm ) within six weeks. Microxeromagna armillata can reproduce successfully by self-fertilisation, and juveniles are able to aestivate with little reduction in subsequent fecundity. These traits make control of this pest a significant challenge. Leaf litter is the preferred habitat of M. armillata, but snails do move in the tree canopy. Cues for snail activity in the leaf litter and canopy appear to differ, as does the size of active snails in these areas. Microxeromagna armillata activity was low in the tree canopy during harvest compared to post harvest, intimating that fruit contamination is either occurring infrequently or post - harvest. Copper trunk bands were shown to minimise snail movement into the canopy and may be an important preventative measure. These findings have changed the recommendations for M. armillata management in citrus groves of south eastern Australia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007.

Inaug.-Diss.--Tübingen. / Lebenslauf. Published also without thesis note. "Literature ... ": p. vii-viii.

A taxonomic revision of the Bulimulidae of Sonora, Mexico is undertaken. The existing species are redescribed and their ranges given. Four new species are described and one species synonymized on the basis of anatomical and conchological characteristics. In addition a new genus, Drymaeus Albers, 1850, is recorded for the state and several species are reassigned from Rabdotus Albers, 1850 to Naesiotus Albers, 1850. The zoogeography of the Sonoran species and genera is also presented along with their relationships to congenerics in the rest of North America. It was determined that one of these genera Naesiotus has a North American-South American disjunct distribution and that both it and Rabdotus probably had Southern Hemisphere origins. The mechanisms of isolation and dispersal are discussed and a microplate tectonics model is presented to explain them. The Gondwanaland distribution of the subfamily is also described.

Brachylaima spp. (Digenea: Brachylaimidae) are terrestrial trematodes of mammals and birds and have land snails as their first and second intermediate hosts. This thesis describes a new species of Brachylaima and investigates infection in both snail intermediate hosts and definitive host animals. A laboratory life-cycle was established using brachylaimid eggs recovered from the faeces of an infected human. Five species of introduced European helicid and hygromiid snails, Theba pisana, Cernuella virgata, Cochlicella acuta, Cochlicella barbara and Microxeromagna armillata were susceptible first intermediate hosts. These same snails and introduced Helix aspersa as well as the native snails Succinea australis and Strangesta gawleri were suitable second intermediate hosts. Field and laboratory studies revealed that in addition to humans and mice, various species of birds and reptiles were also definitive hosts. On the basis of its unique morphological and lifecycle features, a new species, Brachylaima cribbi was described. The scanning electron microscopical appearances of the various life-cycle stages were detailed. Studies of Swiss albino outbred mice and 8 strains of inbred mice revealed that C57BL/6J mice were most susceptible to B. cribbi infection. The peak infection occurred 4 weeks after inoculation with metacercariae following which worms were expelled over the next few weeks. Exposure to a second infection in C57BL/6J mice did not result in accelerated expulsion of adult worms but did significantly inhibit their fecundity. In contrast, when immunodeficient NOD SCID mice were infected with B. cribbi metacercariae the adult worms persisted for the life span of the host mice. 6,432 land snails were collected over a distance of 3,000 km across southern Australia. Sporocyst-infected snails were found in all districts of South Australia and Victoria with the percentages of infected T. pisana, C. virgata, C. acuta and C. barbara ranging from 1.7 to 4.7%. These 4 species together with M. armillata, S. australis and S. gawleri were infected with metacercariae being found in 18-63% of snails and the mean number of metacercariae per infected snail ranged from 2.1 to 6.1. Laboratory studies revealed that eggs may remain viable for almost 12 months in mouse faeces. The prepatent period for a sporocyst infection is 7-10 weeks after egg ingestion. Metacercariae 7 weeks of age are capable of developing into adult worms. Detailed studies of seasonal variations in sporocyst and metacercarial infection rates were studied at 4 ecologically diverse sites on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia. The clinical features and epidemiological circumstances of B. cribbi infections of 12 humans are detailed, as is their satisfactory response to treatment with praziquantel. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2003.