The release of phosphorus and nitrogen by living and decomposing snails

• Autorzy: Rybak J I
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The excretion of P-PO₄ and N-NH₄ by snails (Lymnaea (Lymnaea) stagnalis, Lymnaea (Radix) auricularia and Planorbarius corneus) was measured in laboratory experiments. For L. (L.) stagnalis the release of these elements from decomposing animals and their faecal material were also determined. Amounts of nutrients excreted by the snails studied varied greatly in the ranges <1 to 70 μg P-PO₄ and <2 to over 200 μg N-NH₄ per individual. These amounts were very much related to the sizes of snails. The phosphorus and nitrogen contained in the tissues of L. (L.) stagnalis are released to the water very rapidly due to the rapid decomposition that the bodies of snails undergo. The release of phosphorus from freshly produced faecal matter is considerable - even greater than the excretion by live snails (expressed per unit weight). However, the limited mass of faeces produced as compared with the body weight of an snail, ensures that this still accounts for only 3% of daily excretion of phosphorus from the body of a live snail.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

nitrogen; fecal production; Lymnaea stagnalis; Planorbarius corneus; snail; aquatic invertebrate; phosphorus; Lymnaea auricularia; decomposition

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2002
• Tom: 50
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.17-24,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Rybak J I

• Warsaw University, Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland