Investigation of Epiphragm Mineral Composition and Formation Process in Four Land Snail Species (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Helicidae)

Abstract

The land snails form an epiphragm layer when the climatic conditions are harsh. In this study, epiphragm formation and mineral composition of Helix pomacella, Eobania vermiculata, Helix melanostoma and Helix asemnis species were investigated. Eighty snails selected from mature individuals were placed in four pens, 60 x 60 x 45 cm in size, filled with 10 cm deep humus soil. The feeding and humidification process was terminated in June to stimulate snails to aestivation. The ionic concentration (calcium, iron and phospho-rus) of the epiphragm layer formed during the aestivation process was analyzed and the formation time was investigated. The aperture width of H. pomacella, E. vermiculata, H. melanostoma and H. asemnis was measured and it was found to be 15.6 ± 0.28 mm, 8.1 ± 0.21 mm, 19.4 ± 0.21 mm and 22.8 ± 0.28 mm, respectively. Epiphragm formation time was found to be the lowest in E. vermiculata (9 ± 0.35 days) and highest in H. asemnis (15 ± 0.22 days). In terms of ionic concentration, the highest calcium content was found in H. asemnis (32.52 ± 0.22 mg / g), the highest phosphorus rate was found in E. ver-miculata (4.13 ± 0.18 mg/g) and the highest iron content was found in H. pomacella (20.78 ± 0.25 mg/g). The epiphragm weight obtained from the four snail species showed linear values with shell width, live weight and aperture width. In this study, it has been pointed out that epiphragm, which is a means of aesti-vation in the life of land snails, is a very important structure in living culture and sustainable biodiversity.

Keywords

• Helicidae,epiphragm,aperture,temperature,Ca,aestivation

Epifragma Mineral Bileşiminin ve Oluşum Sürecinin Dört Kara Salyangozu Türünde (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Helicidae) İncelenmesi

Abstract

Kara salyangozları, iklim koşullarının sert olduğu kuru veya sıcak aylarda uyku hali süreci olan estivasyon dönemine girerken, apertür kabuk açıklığını kapatan, vücut sıvısını koruyan ve yumuşak dokuların meka-nik hasarını önleyen epifragma tabakasını oluşturmaktadırlar. Bu araştırmada, Helix pomacella, Eobania vermiculata, Helix melanostoma ve Helix asemnis türü kara salyangozlarında, epifragma oluşumu ve mine-ral bileşimi araştırılmıştır. Olgun bireylerden seçilen seksen adet salyangoz, içinde 10 cm derinliğinde humuslu toprak bulunan, 60x60x45 cm büyüklüğündeki dört adet pene yerleştirilmiştir. Salyangozları estivasyona teşvik etmek için sıcaklığın yüksek olduğu Haziran ayında besleme sonlandırılmış ve nem için spreyleme yapılmamıştır. Estivasyon sürecinde oluşan epifragma tabakasının iyonik konsantrasyonu (kalsiyum, demir ve fosfor) analiz edilmiş ve oluşum süresi incelenmiştir. Araştırmada H. pomacella, E. vermiculata, H. melanostoma ve H. asemnis’in apertür genişliği ölçülmüş ve sırasıyla 15.6 ± 0.28 mm, 8.1 ± 0.21 mm, 19.4 ± 0.21 mm ve 22.8 ± 0.28 mm olduğu belirlenmiştir. Epifragma oluşum süresi en düşük E. vermiculata’da (9 ± 0.35 gün), en yüksek H. asemnis’te (15 ± 0.22 gün) olduğu görülmüştür. İyonik konsantrasyonu bakımından en yüksek kalsiyum oranı H. asemnis’te (32.52 ± 0.22 mg/g), en yüksek fosfor oranı (4.13 ± 0.18 mg/g) E. vermiculata’da ve en yüksek demir oranı ise H. pomacella’da (20.78 ± 0.25 mg/g) bulunmuştur. Araştırmada, dört salyangoz türünden elde edilen epifragma ağırlığının, kabuk genişliği, canlı ağırlık ve apertür genişliği ile doğrusal değerler gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada elde edilen veriler ışığında, kara salyangoz yaşamında estivasyon aracı olan epifragma’nın, canlı kültüründe ve sürdürülebilir biyoçeşitlilikte oldukça önemli bir yapı olduğuna dikkat çekilmiştir.

Keywords

• Helicidae,epifragma,apertür,sıcaklık,Ca,estivasyon

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