Original Articles

THE EFFECT OF CONSTANT TEMPERATURES ON THE HATCHING OF EGGS AND SURVIVAL OF THE FRESHWATER SNAIL BIOMPHALARIA GLABRATA (SAY)

Published in: Journal of the Limnological Society of Southern Africa
Volume 11 , issue 2 , 1985 , pages: 75–77

DOI: 10.1080/03779688.1985.9632833

Author(s): P.H. Joubert South African Medical Research Council and Department of Zoology, South Africa , S.J. Pretorius South African Medical Research Council and Department of Zoology, South Africa

Keywords: Biomphalaria glabrata , temperature , hatching , survival

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Abstract

The incubation period and percentage hatching of eggs of pigmented and unpigmented Biomphalaria glabrata at constant temperatures were investigated in the range 14 °C to 34 °C. In order to determine the influence of extreme temperatures on adult snails, specimens of the same species were exposed to 0 °C and 40 °C for selected time periods. The results indicate that sustained temperatures below 16 °C and above 32 °C are detrimental to the development and hatching of B. glabrata embryos. The optimum temperatures for incubation period and hatching differ from each other. As far as temperature is concerned, this foreign snail species should be capable of successfully colonizing the warmer parts of southern Africa.

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