Invasive snails and desiccation - a potential control measure?

Authors: David L. Rogowski

Year: 2010 (xlii)

Abstract

Many spring systems in the southwest have been modified for the benefit of the charismatic fauna. Modification of springs often includes channel reconstruction and recontouring, with little thought given to how habitat modifications may affect invertebrates, native or invasive. The red-rimmed melania, Melanoides tuberculatus and the quilted melania, Tarebia granifera are invasive tropical aquatic snails that have been introduced throughout the world, including Mexico, and 12 states within the US (eg. AZ, CA, NV, TX, UT, etc.). Control of these parthenogenetic aquatic gilled snails has been problematic if not impossible. In a laboratory experiment we investigated desiccation tolerance of these invasives from two spring systems in Texas. Red-rimmed melania were able to survive out of the water up to 7 and 11 days, depending on the originating spring system (Balmorhea and Diamond Y, respectively). Quilted melania were more sensitive and not able to survive more than 2 days out of the water, with one exception: one snail (out of 12) in the 6 day desiccation treatment survived. A potential control measure for these hardy invasives might be accomplished through the diversion and drying out of a spring system and the associated sediment.