Title
Effects of competition on size and growth rates of Caracolus caracolla (L.) in Puerto Rico
Publication Date
2009
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Although interspecific competition has been demonstrated between some pairs of terrestrial gastropod species, little work addresses its importance in tropical assemblages, which are often characterized by high species richness or population densities. A 9-year data set was used to assess growth rates and median shell size of a common Puerto Rican snail, Caracolus caracolla, as a function of density of conspecifics and potential interspecific competitors. Neither the rate nor the magnitude of growth of C. caracolla were inhibited at high densities. No association existed over time between density and size or growth rate. In contrast, C. caracolla generally was largest at sites with high densities of conspecifics. Several factors may be responsible for the apparent unimportance of competition, including the broad, flexible diet of C. caracolla, high productivity of the study site or periodic changes in microclimate or resource availability associated with hurricane-induced disturbance and recovery.
Original Citation
Bloch, Christopher P.; Willig, Michael R. (2009). Effects of competition on size and growth rates of Caracolus caracolla (L.) in Puerto Rico. Journal of Molluscan Studies,75, 133-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyp002
Identifier
Virtual Commons Citation
Bloch, Christopher P. and Willig, Michael R. (2009). Effects of competition on size and growth rates of Caracolus caracolla (L.) in Puerto Rico. In Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. Paper 5.
Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/biol_fac/5