The effect of temperature on the activity of three species of Helicid snail (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

The activity of the land snails Cepaea nemoralis (L.), C. hortensis (Müll.) and Arianta arbustorum (L.) was measured over 24 hours at the constant temperatures of 0, 3, 8, 17, 22 and 26°C at 100% relative humidity and with 16 hours light and 8 hours dark. The activity of all three species varies significantly with temperature and light, and there are differences in the activities of the species at each temperature. A. arbustorum is relatively more active than Cepaea at low rather than high temperatures, as is C. hortensis with respect to C. nemoralis , though to a lesser extent. There is little diurnal rhythm in activity at 0°C, but all species become more nocturnal as temperature increases; C. nemoralis is most, and A. arbustorum least nocturnal. The results obtained assist in explaining the observed geographical and local distributions of the species concerned.