Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera

Invasive aquatic species, such as the gastropod Tarebia granifera, can cause ecological isturbances and potentially reduce biodiversity by displacing indigenous invertebrates. In South Africa, T. granifera was first recorded in an estuarine environment in the St Lucia Estuary. Its tolerance to salin...

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Main Authors: Nelson Miranda, Renzo Perissinotto, Christopher Appleton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2010-04-01
Series:South African Journal of Science
Online Access:https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10169
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author Nelson Miranda
Renzo Perissinotto
Christopher Appleton
author_facet Nelson Miranda
Renzo Perissinotto
Christopher Appleton
author_sort Nelson Miranda
collection DOAJ
description Invasive aquatic species, such as the gastropod Tarebia granifera, can cause ecological isturbances and potentially reduce biodiversity by displacing indigenous invertebrates. In South Africa, T. granifera was first recorded in an estuarine environment in the St Lucia Estuary. Its tolerance to salinity and temperature was investigated through the experimental manipulation of these factors. T. granifera can tolerate temperatures between 0 ºC and 47.5 ºC, allowing it to survive high temperature extremes. The species may also survive cold snaps and invade higher altitude areas. More remarkably, this snail survives high salinity for a relatively long time, as LS50 (lethal salinity for 50% of the population) was reached at 30 psu over 65 - 75 days. However, higher salinity adversely affected the T. granifera population. Snails acclimated to freshwater conditions and suddenly transferred to 30 psu experienced 100% mortality within 48 h. Snail activity also declined with increasing salinity. T. granifera's environmental tolerance and parthenogenetic characteristics are the keys to successful introduction and establishment. Therefore, the management of T. granifera may prove diffcult in the short to medium term. The present findings constitute a contribution to the knowledge of biological invasions in Africa and to the understanding of estuarine invasions by T. granifera.
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spelling doaj-art-b8c48e42e6024fcea5408076dd3896a02025-08-20T03:54:07ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892010-04-011063/47 pages7 pages8371Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia graniferaNelson Miranda0Renzo Perissinotto1Christopher Appleton2School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville campusSchool of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville campusSchool of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville campusInvasive aquatic species, such as the gastropod Tarebia granifera, can cause ecological isturbances and potentially reduce biodiversity by displacing indigenous invertebrates. In South Africa, T. granifera was first recorded in an estuarine environment in the St Lucia Estuary. Its tolerance to salinity and temperature was investigated through the experimental manipulation of these factors. T. granifera can tolerate temperatures between 0 ºC and 47.5 ºC, allowing it to survive high temperature extremes. The species may also survive cold snaps and invade higher altitude areas. More remarkably, this snail survives high salinity for a relatively long time, as LS50 (lethal salinity for 50% of the population) was reached at 30 psu over 65 - 75 days. However, higher salinity adversely affected the T. granifera population. Snails acclimated to freshwater conditions and suddenly transferred to 30 psu experienced 100% mortality within 48 h. Snail activity also declined with increasing salinity. T. granifera's environmental tolerance and parthenogenetic characteristics are the keys to successful introduction and establishment. Therefore, the management of T. granifera may prove diffcult in the short to medium term. The present findings constitute a contribution to the knowledge of biological invasions in Africa and to the understanding of estuarine invasions by T. granifera.https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10169
spellingShingle Nelson Miranda
Renzo Perissinotto
Christopher Appleton
Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera
South African Journal of Science
title Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera
title_full Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera
title_fullStr Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera
title_full_unstemmed Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera
title_short Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera
title_sort salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive freshwater gastropod tarebia granifera
url https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10169
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AT christopherappleton salinityandtemperaturetoleranceoftheinvasivefreshwatergastropodtarebiagranifera