Cycle de développement, croissance, effectifs, biomasse et production de Bithynia tentaculata L. (Gastropoda : Prosobranchia) dans le Saint-Laurent (Québec)

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Abstract
The life cycle of Bythinia tentaculata has been studied over a period of 2 years in five localities of the freshwater estuary of the St. Lawrence River. Sexual maturity is attained after 2 years and the species is iteroparous; this might prove to be a particularly advantageous reproductive strategy in this river. The main phases of individual growth are related to age and thermal variations of the water and they occur during the months of May, June, and July of the first 2 years. Eggs are laid once a year and growth stops during winter for about 6 months. These results on the life cycle and growth of B. tentaculata, particularly in the fluvial section of the St. Lawrence River, are more similar to those obtained in Europe than to those obtained elsewhere in North America. Numbers, biomass, and production are markedly higher here than the values found by other investigators on the same species.[Journal translation]