I investigated the effects of food, crowding, and weather on the behaviour of the slugs, Arion ater and Ariolimax columbianus. Field experiments demonstrated that Arion based its migratory response on the density of conspecifics and the quality and quantity of available food. Migration was most rapid from areas of high slug density and scarce poor quality food. The migration response of Ariolimax was exclusively based on density. Although high slug density induced migration by this species, its rate of migration was lower than that of Arion. Migrating Arion ater were heavier than non-migrating slugs. There was no such relationship between body weight and locomotory or migratory ability of Ariolimax columbianus. Both species exhibited seasonal variation in their behaviour. Hot, dry weather during mid-summer curtailed their foraging and migratory activity. Cooler, wetter weather in late spring and late summer lengthened nocturnal activity periods. Average daily temperature and precipitation were poor predictors of migratory activity. Multiple regression analysis of hourly activity patterns and weather showed that, time of day, air temperature, and atmospheric moisture accounted for most of the variation in hourly nocturnal behaviour. Variation in slug density and food acceptability had no effect on population activity in Arion ater. However, the treatments did influence particular kinds of behaviour. Arion provided with poor food moved and rested more, but fed less, than slugs receiving good food. The effects of density were not significant. Poor food and high slug density increased the activity of Ariolimax columbianus. This effect was also evident in the component behaviours of total activity. Ariolimax moved, rested, and fed more in high density situations. These slugs fed more when good food was available, but the other behaviours were unaffected by this factor. On an hourly basis Arion ater's activity pattern appeared to be based on food acquisition. Over days and weeks, however, this species used both population density and food acceptability to decide to migrate. Ariolimax columbianus' hourly behaviour pattern was most closely related to the density of conspecifies. This response to density persisted over days and weeks, and was the most important factor affecting the migratory behaviour of these slugs. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph.D. (Zoology & Entomology)) - Rhodes University, 2007.

The aim of the present study was to assess the ecological role of the euthecosome pteropod, Limacina retroversa, in particular, and the mesozooplankton community, in general, in the pelagic ecosystem of the Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ), Southern Ocean. Data were collected from four oceanographic surveys to the Indian sector of the PFZ during austral autumn 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Copepods, mainly Calanus simillimus, Oithona similis, Clausocalanus spp. and Ctenocalanus spp., typically dominated total mesozooplankton counts, accounting for, on average, between 75.5 % and 88.1 % (Mean = 77.4 %; SD = 13.4 %) of the total, during the present investigation. Results of the study indicate that L. retroversa may, at times, contribute substantially to total mesozooplankton abundances. During the study, L. retroversa contributed between 0.0 and 30.0 % (Mean = 5.3 %; SD = 7.1 %) to total mesozooplankton numbers. Significant small-scale variability in abundance and size structure of L. retroversa and abundance of copepods was minimal. Inter-annual variability, on the other hand, was significant between some years. Total pteropod numbers were greatest during April 2002 and 2004, while copepods exhibited greatest abundances during April 2004 only. Pearson’s Correlation analysis suggested that L. retroversa abundances were positively correlated to total surface chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations. The significantly lower chl-a concentrations recorded during April 2005 may explain the reduced pteropod numbers observed during that survey. The size class structure of L. retroversa comprised mainly small and mediumsized individuals during all four surveys. This corresponds well with records from the northern hemisphere (sub-Arctic and Arctic waters) where Limacina spp. are reported to exhibit maximum spawning during mid to late-summer. Higher abundances of large individuals only occurred during April 2005, when chl-a concentrations were very low; possibly the result of delayed spawning, due to reduced food availability. Ingestion rates of the four most abundant copepods, determined using the gut fluorescence technique, ranged between 159.32 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 728.36 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ (Mean = 321.01 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹; SD = 173.91 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day). Ingestion rates of L. retroversa were much higher, ranging from an average of 4 28.68 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ in April 2002 to 4 196.88 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹day⁻¹in April 2005 (Mean = 4157.36 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹; SD = 35.37 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹day⁻¹). Average daily grazing rates for the pteropod varied between 0.39 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ in April 2005 and 17.69 mg (pigm) m-2 day-1 in April 2004 (Mean = 6.13 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹; SD = 11.04 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹); corresponding average daily grazing impacts ranged between 8.4 % and 139.8 % of the phytoplankton standing stock in April 2005 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 48.5 %; SD = 84.5 %). Average daily grazing rates of the four copepods ranged from 4.58 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ to 8.77 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ -1, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 6.28 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹; SD = 5.94 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹). Collectively, the copepods removed an average of between 31.6 % and 89.8 % of the phytoplankton standing stock per day, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 70.8 %; SD = 86.7 %). The daily grazing impact of the copepods accounted for an average of between 40.4 % and 87.8 % of the total zooplankton grazing impact, during April 2004 and 2005, respectively (Mean = 75.0 %; SD = 65.5 %). L. retroversa was responsible for an average of 52.4 % and 59.5 % of the total zooplankton grazing impact, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively. However, during April 2005, when L. retroversa numbers were significantly lower than previous years, the pteropod contributed an average of only 7.5 % to the total zooplankton grazing impact. Thus, during the present investigation,the pteropod was responsible for removing a mean of 48.9 % of the available phytoplankton (SD = 74.9 %). The predation impact of the dominant carnivorous macrozooplankton and micronekton in the PFZ was determined during April 2004 and 2005 using daily ration estimates obtained from the literature. Additionally, gut content analysis was used to determine the contribution of L. retroversa to the diet of the dominant predators. Average predation impact ranged from 1.1 % and 5.7 % of the total mesozooplankton standing stock during April 2004 and 2005, respectively (Mean = 3.8 %; SD = 12.3 %). Chaetognaths and euphausiids dominated total carnivore numbers and made the greatest contributions to total predation impact during both years. Copepods appeared to be the main prey item of the dominant carnivorous macrozooplankton-micronekton in the region. L. retroversa was only detected in the gut contents of the amphipod, Themisto gaudichaudi, but not in either of the chaetognath species (Eukrohnia hamata and Sagitta gazellae) or the myctophid fish (Electrona spp.). The pteropod was found in 19 % of amphipod guts dissected. Pearson’s Correlation analyses showed that the four major predatory zooplankton groups found in the PFZ (chaetognaths, euphausiids, amphipods and myctophid fish) were positively correlated to abundances of L. retroversa, suggesting that the pteropod might be an important prey item for many of the carnivorous macrozooplankton/micronekton in the PFZ. To conclude, L. retroversa may play an important role in the pelagic ecosystem of the PFZ, in austral autumn. However, ocean acidification and calcium carbonate undersaturation (as a result of increased anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions), that is predicted to occur within the next 50 – 100 years, will most likely have significant implications for the Sub-Antarctic pelagic ecosystem if L. retroversa cannot adapt quickly enough to the changes.

The present work aims to familiarize students with current representatives of naked snails. In the Czech Republic there are five families of naked snails (Agriolimacidae, Arionidae, Boettgerillidae, Limacidae and Milacidae) and all their representatives are characterized by the loss of a secondary shell. Working closely represents ten of them. Part of the work is simplified determination dichotomous key and atlas. Basis of the thesis is a proposal of nine laboratory exercises, observations and experiments that pose naked snails from many angles, from basic observation of the external morphology through the food demands and sensory perception until after the autopsy. Tasks are designed for use in high school; Simplified variant may serve základoškolským hours practically oriented science. Some of the presented tasks (monitoring food preferences, sensory perception and response to stimuli) can be extended to a project day or protracted class of biologically oriented project. All designed tasks were tested. The most important model species of this thesis is the Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris (Moquin-Tandon, 1855)). It is a Czech non-native, invasive representative of the family Arionidae. Thanks laboratory exercises contained in the work of pupils, it is possible that the snail introduce in detail and...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T16:46:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 1 / Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos / Descreve-se comparativamente a anatomia, histologia e ultraestrutura do sistema digestivo de três espécies da família Agriolimacidae, duas espécies da família Limacidae, uma espécie da família Boettgerillidae e uma espécie da família Milacidae.Além disso, foram identificados histoquimicamente glicogênio, mucosubstâncias e proteína no epitélio de revestimento do sistema digestivo. Os resultados obtidos foram discutidos do ponto de vista funcional e filogenético. O sistema digestivo dos Limacoidea é formado pelos seguintes órgãos: bulbo bucal, esôfago, papo, estômago e intestino. Neste último distinguem-se, além do reto, quatro regiões histologicamente distintas. Em Lehmannia marginata, Deroceras reticulatum and Deroceras rodnae está presente ainda um ceco intestinal. Anexas ao trato digestivo encontram-se as glândulas salivar e digestiva. O relevo interno do tubo digestivo é representado no esôfago, na terceira região intestinal e no reto por dobras longitudinais. O estômago apresenta duas tiflossoles e u