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Thesis
Climbing Behavior Of Vitta Usnea Under Predation Stress And Preference Choice Between Three Species Of Emergent Aquatic Plants
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2024
Abstract
Microhabitat selection may play an important role in how a species utilizes a habitat through seasons and sizes of individuals in a population. This study documented the choice of Vitta usnea, a marsh snail, for climbing behavior among three species of emergent marsh vegetation: Juncus roemerianus, Typha latifolia, and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani. An initial observation in the field suggested that different sized V. usnea might be choosing different vegetation, with smaller snails on smaller sized vegetation. Snails climbing on vegetation over a 2.5 km section of shoreline in upper Pensacola Bay were measured for size at nine monthly time points. Data supported the hypothesis that the smaller sized snails were favoring the smaller sized vegetation, J. roemerianus, and the larger sized snails showed preference towards the larger sized vegetation S. tabernaemontani, although there was some degree of overlap across all vegetation types. The smaller snails may utilize the smaller space for camouflage benefits, while the larger snails require larger vegetation for a larger surface area for algal growth and a more efficient surface to hold on to. This preference was also tested in a laboratory setting with the addition of predation stress. Unfortunately, the snails failed to climb on vegetation under laboratory conditions, so no data were obtained.
Details
- Title
- Climbing Behavior Of Vitta Usnea Under Predation Stress And Preference Choice Between Three Species Of Emergent Aquatic Plants
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Christopher Pomory (Committee Chair)Alexis Janosik (Committee Member)Victoria Bogantes (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries; Argo Scholar Commons
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 80
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Warrington, Kaleigh
- Identifiers
- 99380599342606600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida