INFLUENCE OF SOIL ON THE GROWTH OF THE LAND SNAIL HELIX ASPERSA. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE ABSORPTION ROUTE FOR THE STIMULATING FACTORS
- 3 March 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Molluscan Studies
- Vol. 55 (1) , 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/55.1.1-a
Abstract
Snails reared in captivity with access to soil in a container, dug into it and ate it, even though they were receiving a compound food with a high mineral content (24% ash, of which 10% total calcium). The soils richest in calcium and magnesium were those which most favoured growth and chemical analysis demonstrated the utilization of these two cations as the snails grew. Absorption of the factors promoting growth may be either by the digestive route or by diffusion through the integument. The experiments showed that the digestive route on its own has permitted very good assimilation of the active factors.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Rearing of eight species of terrestrial gastropods (order Stylommatophora) under laboratory conditionsCanadian Journal of Zoology, 1985
- Contribution à l'élevage de l'escargot Petit-gris : Helix aspersa Müller (Mollusque gastéropode pulmoné stylommatophore). II. - Evolution de la population juvénile de l'éclosion à l'âge de 12 semaines, en bâtiment et en conditions d'élevage contrôléesAnimal Research, 1982