Abstract
The growth of the salt marsh periwinkleLittoraria irrorata (collected from Sapelo Island, Georgia in 1991, initial shell length 6.2 to 11.5 mm) on various diets was measured. Growth was highest on a diet of standing-dead leaves ofSpartina alterniflora. Periwinkles provided with marsh sediment, yellow-green, sterile, or bacteria-colonized leaves lost organic mass. Fungal-colonized leaves and pure mycelia of fungi common on standing-dead leaves allowed intermediate growth. Growth onS. alterniflora-based diets was negatively correlated with the phenolics content of the food, and positively correlated with its lipid content. No correlation was found between growth and protein content. The digestibility ofS. alterniflora leaves, estimated with the acid-insoluble ash technique, was highest when yellow-green leaves were used. Colonization by fungi or bacteria caused it to decline. ForS. alterniflora-based diets, growth rates were positively correlated with the amount of time spent on the food.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, S. D. (1976). Relationship of macrophyte detritus to the salt marsh periwinkle,Littorina irrorata (Say). Ph. D. thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Alexander, S. D. (1979). Diet of the periwinkleLittorina irrorata in a Louisiana salt marsh. Gulf Res. Rep. 6: 293–295
Atkinson, J. L., Hilton, J. W., Slinger, S. J. (1984). Evaluation of acid-insoluble ash as an indicator of feed digestibility in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sciences 41: 1384–1386
Bärlocher, F. (1985). The role of fungi in the nutrition of stream invertebrates. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 91: 83–94
Bärlocher, F., Arsuffi, T. L., Newell, S. Y. (1989a). Digestive enzymes of the saltmarsh periwinkleLittorina irrorata (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Oecologia 80: 39–43
Bärlocher, F., Newell, S. Y., Arsuffi, T. L. (1989b) Digestion ofSpartina alterniflora material with and without fungal constituents by the periwinkleLittorina irrorata (Mollusca: Gastropoda). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 130: 45–54
Bebout, B. M. (1988). The role of marine fungi in the food selection and nutrition of the salt marsh periwinkleLittorina irrorata Say (Gastropoda). M. Sc. thesis. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Bergbauer, M., Newell, S. Y. (1992). Contribution to lignocellulose degradation and DOC formation from a salt marsh macrophyte by the ascomycetePhaeosphaeria spartinicola. Fedn Eur. microbiol. Soc. (FEMS) Microbiol. Ecol. 86: 341–348
Bertness, M. D. (1984). Habitat and community modification by an introduced herbivorous snail. Ecology 65: 370–381
Bingham, F. O. (1972). Shell growth in the gastropodLittorina irrorata. Nautilus 85: 136–141
Bligh, E. G., Dyer, W. J. (1959). A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 37: 911–917
Cargill, A. S., Cummins, K. W., Hanson, B. J., Lowry, R. R. (1985a). The role of lipids as feeding stimulants for shredding aquatic insects. Freshwat. Biol. 15: 455–464
Cargill, A. S., Cummins, K. W., Hanson, B. J., Lowry, R. R. (1985b). The role of lipids, fungi, and temperature in the nutrition of a shredder caddisfly,Clistoronia magnifica. Freshwat. Invertebr. Biol. 4: 64–78
Hamilton, P. V. (1976). Predation onLittorina irrorata (Mollusca: Gastropoda) byCallinectes sapidus (Crustacea: Portunidae). Bull. mar. Sci. 26: 403–409
Jones, C. G., Hare, J. D., Compton, S. J. (1989). Measuring plant protein with the Bradford assay. 1. Evaluation and standard method. J. chem. Ecol. 15: 979–992
Kates, M. (1986). Techniques of lipidology. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Kemp, P. F., Newell, S. Y., Hopkinson, C. S. (1990). Importance of grazing on the saltmarsh grassSpartina alterniflora to nitrogen turnover in a macrofaunal consumer,Littorina irrorata, and to decomposition of standing-deadSpartina. Mar. Biol. 104: 311–319
McBride, C. J., Williams, A. H., Henry, R. P. (1989). Effects of temperature on climbing behavior ofLittorina irrorata: on avoiding a hot foot. Mar. Behav. Physiol. 14: 93–100
Newell, S. Y. (1993). Decomposition of shoots of a saltmarsh grass: methodology and dynamics of microbial assemblages. Adv. microb. Ecol. 13 (in press)
Newell, S. Y., Fallon, R. D., Miller J. D. (1986). Measuring fungal biomass dynamics in standing-dead leaves of a saltmarsh vascular plant. In: Moss, S. T. (ed.) The biology of marine fungi. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 215–229
Newell, S. Y., Fallon, R. D., Miller J. D. (1989). Decomposition and microbial dynamics for standing, naturally positioned leaves of the saltmarsh grassSpartina alterniflora. Mar. Biol. 101: 471–481
Newell, S. Y., Miller, J. D., Fallon, R. D. (1987). Ergosterol content of salt-marsh fungi: effect of growth conditions and mycelial age. Mycologia 79: 688–695
Rosset, J., Bärlocher, F., Oertli, J. J. (1982). Decomposition of conifer needles and deciduous leaves in two Black Forest and two Swiss Jura streams. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 67: 695–711
Smalley, A. E. (1959). The role of two invertebrate populations,Littorina irrorata andOrchelimum fidicinium, in the energy flow of a salt marsh ecosystem. University Microfilms 59-5678. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Stiven, A. E., Hunter, J. T. (1976). Growth and mortality ofLittorina irrorata Say in three North Carolina marshes. Chesapeake Sci. 17: 168–176
Stiven, A. E., Kuenzler, E. J. (1979). The response of two salt marsh mollusks,Littorina irrorata andGeukensia demissa, to field manipulations of density andSpartina litter. Ecol. Monogr. 49: 151–171
Suberkropp, K. (1992). Interactions with invertebrates. In: Bärlocher, F. (ed.) The ecology of aquatic hyphomycetes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 118–134
Torzilli, A. P., Andrykovitch, G. (1986). Degradation ofSpartina lignocellulose by individual and mixed cultures of saltmarsh fungi. Can. J. Bot. 64: 2211–2215
Valiela, I., Koumjian, L., Swain, T., Teal, J. M., Hobbie, J. E. (1979). Cinnamic acid inhibition of detritus feeding. Nature, Lond. 280: 55–57
Valiela, I., Reitsma, C. S. (1984). Nitrogen, phenolic acids, and other feeding cues for salt marsh detritivores. Oecologia 63: 350–356
Wilkinson, L. (1989). SYSTAT: the system for statistics. SYSTAT Inc., Evanson, Illinois, USA
Wilson, J. O. (1985). Decomposition of litter ofSpartina alterniflora in a salt marsh ecosystem; biochemical and geochemical studies. Ph. D. thesis. University of Boston, Boston
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by R. J. Thompson, St. John's
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bärlocher, F., Newell, S.Y. Growth of the salt marsh periwinkleLittoraria irrorata on fungal and cordgrass diets. Mar. Biol. 118, 109–114 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00699224
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00699224