Abstract
To analyse the reproductive activity of the central-European clausiliid Cochlodina orthostoma we sampled monthly 30 adults from three sites comprising old stone walls of two abandoned castles and isolated limestone rocks. Out of the 395 dissected snails, 25.1% retained eggs. The number of eggs in the uterus ranged from 2 to 12. The highest percentages of gravid individuals were recorded in June–July, but reproductive intensity varied among populations. Almost half of the recorded eggs contained a shelled embryo. The largest embryonic shell featured approximately 1.3 whorls. The reproductive mode of the species was also studied in laboratory culture. Egg-laying was observed between May and November, the number of eggs laid on a single occasion ranged from 1 to 8, and the number of eggs produced per individual varied between 6 and 21 during the observation period. We found that eggs were laid in various developmental stages, accordingly, there were differences in egg sizes and the external incubation period varied between 6 and 15 days. Based on our results C. orthostoma should be regarded as brooding species with a short and flexible period of egg retention.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to Robert A.D. Cameron for helpful comments on the earlier draft of this paper.
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© 2016 Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Artikel in diesem Heft
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Artikel in diesem Heft
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- TK1656, an L-asparaginase from Thermococcus kodakarensis, a novel candidate for therapeutic applications
- Botany
- Dynamic change of the rhizosphere microbial community in response to growth stages of consecutively monocultured Rehmanniae glutinosa
- Botany
- Comparative root and stem anatomy of six Clinopodium (Lamiaceae) taxa
- Botany
- The alleviating effects of salicylic acid application against aluminium toxicity in barley (Hordeum vulgare) roots
- Botany
- Recovery capacity of the edible halophyte Crithmum maritimum from temporary salinity in relation to nutrient accumulation and nitrogen metabolism
- Zoology
- Reproductive strategy in rock-dwelling snail Cochlodina orthostoma (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Clausiliidae)
- Zoology
- Meteorite crater ponds as source of high zooplankton biodiversity
- Zoology
- Diel activity and use of multiple artificially constructed shelters in Astacus leptodactylus (Decapoda: Astacidae)
- Zoology
- Predictions of marbled crayfish establishment in conurbations fulfilled: Evidences from the Czech Republic
- Zoology
- High genetic diversity and a new cryptic species within the Ephedrus persicae species group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)
- Zoology
- Analysis of δ13C and δ15N isotopic signatures to shed light on the hydrological cycle’s influence on the trophic behavior of fish in a Mediterranean reservoir
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Role of FIT2 in porcine intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation