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Mysterysnail Projects in Nebraska
Individuals within the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the School of Natural Resources have recently begun several new projects relating to the potential invasive species: Chinese mysterysnails. Below lists the current projects.
Mysterysnail Life History
To best understand the impacts of mysterysnails, our research involves identifying some basic life history (growth rate, sex ratios and fecundity) of mysterysnails in local habitats. This basic data should be a good indicator of their potential level of impact within local habitats.
Mysterysnail population estimate
Literature suggests that population densities of Chinese mysterysnails can be quite high, but a population estimate has not been
previously reported. We tested a mark-recapture methodology to
generate a population estimate within a Nebraska reservoir. We are
using bias-adjusted Lincoln-Petersen estimation to calculate the
number of snails within the transect area sampled.
Mysterysnail Movements
Identifying species movement patterns can help us understand habitat preferences and thus help gauge the potential impact of non-native species. To identify movements of the non-native Chinese mysterysnail, we collected nearly 500 snails from around the boat ramp at Wild Plum Reservoir, NE and marked each snail. We then returned these snails to the water, all at a single point. We then returned one week and one month later, and searched for these marked snails. We recorded distance traveled, depth, and length for each snail recpatured.
Mysterysnail Dessication:
Through a series of experiments, this study examines how mysterysnails respond to dessication associated with water drawdowns. Results of this study could
be useful for predicting how mystery snails might respond to natural
dessication of wetlands via evaporation, or to lake drawdowns
associated with management actions.
Mysterysnail mortality post chemical treatment:
This study will examine
mysterysnail mortality in response to rotenone and copper sulphate
application. This experiment will help evaluate impacts of chemical treatment to manage this potential invasive species
Mysterysnail movement across dry ground.
By setting up a camera to photo the snail's placement every five minutes, this study aims to estimate snail movement patterns.
Predation on Chinese mystery snails by freshwater drum, redear sunfish, and pumpkinseed sunfish
Predation capabilities on Chineser mysterysnails by three molluscivoric fish native to Nebraska (freshwater drum, redear sunfish, and pumpkinseed sunfish) will be measured on various substrates. Preference of either Chinese mysterysnails or native snails will also be determined. The results should gives us insight into possible biological controls for Chinese mysterysnails.
Human and wildlife parasites using Chinese mysterysnails as an intermediate host
Snails are known to be intermediate hosts for many parasites of humans and wildlife. Snails will be digested with pepsin and hydrochloric acid, then examined under a microscope in attempt to identify human and wildlife parasites.
Mysterysnail strength
In order to determine how difficult mystery snails are for the local predators to crack based on shell strength, we are conducting compression tests on mysterysnail shells and comparing them to native snails.
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