Comparative Assessment of Cadmium and Copper Toxicity to Physa acuta (Draparnaud, 1805).

Cadmium and copper toxicity was investigated using bioassays with neonates of a freshwater gastropod Physa acuta. Mortality, lethal time, and effects on shell length were studied during 28-day chronic exposure experiments. Relative toxicity was assessed from acute and chronic LC values. Copper showed significantly more toxicity at lower concentrations than cadmium ([Formula: see text] < 0.001), causing mortality at the same response levels. Conversely, cadmium affected shell length at lower concentrations than copper, although no significant differences ([Formula: see text] > 0.05) were found in affected shell length between copper and cadmium at the end of the assays. Lethal time (LT[Formula: see text]) was significantly affected by metal concentration ([Formula: see text] < 0.001), with a reduction of 8.28% and 5.90% in time per 0.001 mg/L increase of copper and cadmium, respectively. Physa acuta neonates showed medium to high sensitivity to cadmium and copper compared to other freshwater gastropod species, showing it is a suitable test organism, particularly for chronic ecotoxicological assessment.

Non-marine invasive gastropods on Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): distribution and implications for conservation / Moluscos continentais invasores na Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil): distribuição e implicação para a conservação

Abstract Invasive species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and the knowledge of their distribution is essential for conservation efforts. The present study inventoried the land and freshwater invasive molluscs of 25 villages of Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), an island with Atlantic Rainforest remnants. Three invasive species are found: Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774), Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805, both on two localities; and Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822, on 16 localities. Most records were done on the island continental side, in anthropic areas, probably due to ease of access. One record was inside a conservation area, that calls concern about the spread of those species on the island and possible effects.

Resumo As espécies invasoras são uma das maiores causas de perda de biodiversidade e o conhecimento acerca da sua distribuição é essencial para os esforços de conservação. O presente estudo inventariou os moluscos continentais invasores em 25 vilas da Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil), uma ilha com remanescentes de Mata Atlântica. Três espécies invasoras foram encontradas: Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774), Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805, ambas em duas localidades; e Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822, em 16 localidades. A maior parte dos registros foi no lado continental da ilha, provavelmente devido a facilidade de acesso. Um dos registros foi dentro de uma área de conservação, o que chama a atenção para a dispersão destas espécies na ilha, e seus possíveis efeitos.

Asymmetric evolutionary responses to sex-specific selection in a hermaphrodite.

Sex allocation theory predicts that simultaneous hermaphrodites evolve to an evolutionary stable resource allocation, whereby any increase in investment to male reproduction leads to a disproportionate cost on female reproduction and vice versa. However, empirical evidence for sexual trade-offs in hermaphroditic animals is still limited. Here, we tested how male and female reproductive traits evolved under conditions of reduced selection on either male or female reproduction for 40 generations in a hermaphroditic snail. This selection favors a reinvestment of resources from the sex function under relaxed selection toward the other function. We found no such evolutionary response. Instead, juvenile survival and male reproductive success significantly decreased in lines where selection on the male function (i.e., sexual selection) was relaxed, while relaxing selection on the female function had no effect. Our results suggest that most polymorphisms under selection in these lines were not sex-antagonistic. Rather, they were deleterious mutations affecting juvenile survival (thus reducing both male and female fitness) with strong pleiotropic effects on male success in a sexual selection context. These mutations accumulated when sexual selection was relaxed, which supports the idea that sexual selection in hermaphrodites contributes to purge the mutation load from the genome as in separate-sex organisms.

Diversity and Distribution of Peritrich Ciliates on the Snail Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 (Gastropoda: Physidae) in a Eutrophic Lotic System.

Bianca Sartini, Roberto Marchesini, Sthefane D ´ávila, Marta D'Agosto, and Roberto Júnio Pedroso Dias (2018) Freshwater gastropods represent good models for the investigation of epibiotic relationships because their shells act as hard substrates, offering a range of microhabitats that peritrich ciliates can occupy. In the present study we analyzed the community composition and structure of peritrich epibionts on the basibiont freshwater gastropod Physa acuta. We also investigated the spatial distribution of these ciliates on the shells of the basibionts, assuming the premise that the shell is a topologically complex substrate. Among the 140 analyzed snails, 60.7% were colonized by peritrichs. We observed seven peritrich species: Epistylis plicatilis and Epistylis sp. (Epistylididae); Opercularia articulata (Operculariidae); Carchesium polypinum, Vorticella campanula and Vorticella sp. (Vorticellidae) and Thuricola kellicottiana (Vaginicollidae). We observed a high prevalence of epibiosis (> 60%) when all species of ciliates were considered conjunctly. However, the prevalence was low (1-58%) when each species was considered separately, reflecting their aggregate distribution pattern. The most prevalent species were Epistylis sp. (58.60%), Vorticella sp. (14.30%) and O. articulata (13.60%). Although the epibionts were distributed through the shell's entire extension, we observed greater values of abundance, density, diversity and dominance on the dorsal surface. Only Epistylis sp. was widely distributed on the ventral surface. We also observed that the peritrichs predominantly occupied the areas of the shell delimited by the sutures. We interpreted these distribution patterns considering that the peritrichs select their attachment sites under pressures related to basibiont behavior, physical forces that may dislocate them and protective characteristics of the shell's areas.

Differences on allocation of available resources, in growth, reproduction, and survival, in an exotic gastropod of Physidae compared to an endemic one

Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 es un gasterópodo invasor que puede afectar las poblaciones de especies locales. En Argentina, se encuentra ampliamente distribuida y en altas densidades, incluso en ambientes habitados por la especie nativa Stenophysa marmorata Guilding, 1828. Su predominancia podría ser explicada por un uso más exitoso de la energía en las demandas funcionales (crecimiento, reproducción y supervivencia) con respecto a S. marmorata. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar las constantes de crecimiento de ambas especies, teniendo en cuenta también los valores de supervivencia y fecundidad, en condiciones de laboratorio. Los individuos nacidos el mismo día fueron agrupados de a cuatro por acuario y mantenidos en condiciones controladas de alimentación, luz y temperatura. La longitud máxima de conchilla de los caracoles fue medida semanalmente, y la constante de crecimiento fue calculada usando la ecuación de Von Bertalanffy. El número de huevos y sobrevivientes era contado cada semana. Los ejemplares de S. marmorata nacieron con un tamaño mayor que los de Physa acuta e invirtieron más energía en el crecimiento, retardando su madurez sexual. Esto se tradujo en una desventaja en fecundidad y supervivencia con respecto a P. acuta, la cual presentó una constante de crecimiento menor pero maduró más tempranamente y sobrevivió más tiempo. Además, P. acuta no vio afectado su crecimiento por la reproducción y presentó un período reproductivo más prolongado, depositando así una mayor cantidad de huevos que S. marmorata.

Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 is an invasive gastropod that can affect local species. In Argentina, it is widespread and abundant, even in environments inhabited by the native species Stenophysa marmorata Guilding, 1828. Its predominance raises the question whether this could be explained by a more successful energy allocation in functional requirements (growth, reproduction and survival) compared to S. marmorata. This study was aimed at comparing growth rates, as well as survival and fecundity, between both species under laboratory conditions. Individuals born on the same day were grouped in four per aquaria and kept under controlled conditions of food, light, and temperature. Snails were weekly measured (maximum shell length), and growth rates were calculated using the Von Bertalanffy's equation. The number of eggs and survivors were grouped by week. Stenophysa marmorata was larger at birth than Physa acuta and invested more energy in growth, delaying sexual maturity. This resulted in a disadvantage in fecundity and survival compared to P. acuta, which had a lower growth rate but matured earlier and survived longer. Furthermore, the growth of P. acuta was not affected by reproduction, its reproductive period was longer, consequently with more eggs laid than S. marmorata.

Differences on allocation of available resources, in growth, reproduction, and survival, in an exotic gastropod of Physidae compared to an endemic one

Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 es un gasterópodo invasor que puede afectar las poblaciones de especies locales. En Argentina, se encuentra ampliamente distribuida y en altas densidades, incluso en ambientes habitados por la especie nativa Stenophysa marmorata Guilding, 1828. Su predominancia podría ser explicada por un uso más exitoso de la energía en las demandas funcionales (crecimiento, reproducción y supervivencia) con respecto a S. marmorata. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar las constantes de crecimiento de ambas especies, teniendo en cuenta también los valores de supervivencia y fecundidad, en condiciones de laboratorio. Los individuos nacidos el mismo día fueron agrupados de a cuatro por acuario y mantenidos en condiciones controladas de alimentación, luz y temperatura. La longitud máxima de conchilla de los caracoles fue medida semanalmente, y la constante de crecimiento fue calculada usando la ecuación de Von Bertalanffy. El número de huevos y sobrevivientes era contado cada semana. Los ejemplares de S. marmorata nacieron con un tamaño mayor que los de Physa acuta e invirtieron más energía en el crecimiento, retardando su madurez sexual. Esto se tradujo en una desventaja en fecundidad y supervivencia con respecto a P. acuta, la cual presentó una constante de crecimiento menor pero maduró más tempranamente y sobrevivió más tiempo. Además, P. acuta no vio afectado su crecimiento por la reproducción y presentó un período reproductivo más prolongado, depositando así una mayor cantidad de huevos que S. marmorata.

Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 is an invasive gastropod that can affect local species. In Argentina, it is widespread and abundant, even in environments inhabited by the native species Stenophysa marmorata Guilding, 1828. Its predominance raises the question whether this could be explained by a more successful energy allocation in functional requirements (growth, reproduction and survival) compared to S. marmorata. This study was aimed at comparing growth rates, as well as survival and fecundity, between both species under laboratory conditions. Individuals born on the same day were grouped in four per aquaria and kept under controlled conditions of food, light, and temperature. Snails were weekly measured (maximum shell length), and growth rates were calculated using the Von Bertalanffy's equation. The number of eggs and survivors were grouped by week. Stenophysa marmorata was larger at birth than Physa acuta and invested more energy in growth, delaying sexual maturity. This resulted in a disadvantage in fecundity and survival compared to P. acuta, which had a lower growth rate but matured earlier and survived longer. Furthermore, the growth of P. acuta was not affected by reproduction, its reproductive period was longer, consequently with more eggs laid than S. marmorata.