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Journal Molluscan Studies Advance Access originally published online on February 21, 2007
Journal of Molluscan Studies 2007 73(1):39-43; doi:10.1093/mollus/eyl031
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Malacological Society of London, all rights reserved

Effect of light and substratum structural complexity on microhabitat selection by the snail Helix aspersa müller

Jose Perea1,, Anton Garcia1, Gustavo Gómez1, Raquel Acero1, Francisco Peña1 and Sara Gómez2

1 Animal Science Department, Veterinarian School, University of Cordoba, Spain; and 2 Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Correspondence: J. Perea; e-mail: pa2pemuj{at}uco.es


  Abstract

Terrestrial snails choose their microhabitat according to a number of environmental factors. We evaluated the effect of light intensity and substratum complexity on microhabitat preference of the terrestrial snail Helix aspersa using a multi-factorial design. The snails were offered two levels of light intensity and two types of structural complexity, hence 16 treatments in total were used: 12 in which choice was offered and 4 in which no choice was offered. The snails preferred ambient light over dim light, regardless of substratum complexity, and complex over smooth substrata, regardless of light intensity. The level of one factor did not affect the response to the other. Thus, the results revealed a preference for microhabitats with greater light intensity and that were structurally complex, and a rejection of dimly lit microhabitats with smooth substrates.

(Received 17 March 2006; accepted 21 September 2006)


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