Comparison of snail density,standing stock,and body size between Caribbean karst wetlands and other freshwater ecosystems |
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Authors: | Clifton B Ruehl Joel C Trexler |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st St., North Miami, FL 33181, USA;(2) Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA |
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Abstract: | Synthesizing data from multiple studies generates hypotheses about factors that affect the distribution and abundance of species
among ecosystems. Snails are dominant herbivores in many freshwater ecosystems, but there is no comprehensive review of snail
density, standing stock, or body size among freshwater ecosystems. We compile data on snail density and standing stock, estimate
body size with their quotient, and discuss the major pattern that emerges. We report data from 215 freshwater ecosystems taken
from 88 studies that we placed into nine categories. Sixty-five studies reported density, seven reported standing stock, and
16 reported both. Despite the breadth of studies, spatial and temporal sampling scales were limited. Researchers used 25 different
sampling devices ranging in area from 0.0015 to 2.5 m2. Most ecosystem categories had similar snail densities, standing stocks, and body sizes suggesting snails shared a similar
function among ecosystems. Caribbean karst wetlands were a striking exception with much lower density and standing stock,
but large body size. Disparity in body size results from the presence of ampullariids in Caribbean karst wetlands suggesting
that biogeography affects the distribution of taxa, and in this case size, among aquatic ecosystems. We propose that resource
quality explains the disparity in density and standing stock between Caribbean karst wetlands and other categories. Periphyton
in Caribbean karst wetlands has high carbon-to-phosphorous ratios and defensive characteristics that inhibit grazers. Unlike
many freshwater ecosystems where snails are key grazers, we hypothesize that a microbial loop captures much of the primary
production in Caribbean karst wetlands. |
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