Temperature and apparent habitat partitioning between a rare springsnail (Pyrgulopsis trivialis) and a common snail (Physa gyrina)

Authors: David L. Rogowski

Year: 2009 (xli)

Abstract

The Three Forks Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis trivialis) is a listed Federal candidate species that occupies two spring systems near Alpine, Arizona. The springsnail occurs in limited areas within small spring seeps. Previous research suggested that the springsnail and a physid snail partition habitat within these small spring fed streams based primarily on water depth, pH and temperature. Springsnails only occupied stream areas where temperature were lower (13-15° C), whereas the physid snail occupied sections that were considerably warmer (> 15° C). Temperature data loggers were placed at a variety of sites within the spring systems to continuously record temperature. Additionally, laboratory experiments using a temperature gradient apparatus were conducted to determine snail temperature preference. Preliminary results reveal that there is no significant difference in temperature preference between the two snail species. Both species prefer temperatures that were generally warmer (~21° C) than what was available in their native habitat.