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Pomacea paludosa (Florida Apple Snail) Reproduction in Restored and Natural Seasonal Wetlands in the Everglades

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Abstract

Seasonal wetlands have high variability in the timing, depth, and duration of flooding. The timing of hydroperiod relative to reproduction may be especially critical since reproductive timing may be constrained by other factors. Pomacea paludosa (Florida apple snail) is a large, aquatic snail that tolerates a range of hydroperiods. This study compared P. paludosa reproduction in depressions in natural (N = 20) and restored (N = 60) seasonal wetlands (wet 6 to 8 months) in the southern Everglades for five years. The total number of egg clusters in a year ranged from 260 to 621. Restored sites always had fewer egg clusters per year (mean±standard error of 54.6 ± 4.8 to 64.2 ± 23.1) compared to a natural site (207.0 ± 38.4). Peak oviposition occurred after the onset of the wet season, typically in July, and then decreased approximately two months later even though similar surface water levels occurred. Compared to long hydroperiod wetlands, the average number of eggs per cluster was lower and reproductive timing shifted from the non-rainy/dry season to early wet season. A combination of hydrological characteristics appeared to influence the timing and amount of oviposition. Moreover, functionality of seasonal wetlands in the southern Everglades may change depending upon cumulative hydrological conditions over several years.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful for field assistance from Michelle Davis, Michelle Delicia, Allison Lucas, Laura Collier, Britt Keith, and Nick Wasilewski. Michelle Delicia and Michelle Davis also assisted with data entry. Alice Clarke of Everglades National Park and three anonymous reviewers provided detailed and thoughtful criticism. This study was funded by National Park Service Contract 5297030065 as part of biological monitoring for the Hole-in-the-Donut Mitigation Bank.

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  1. Nancy K. O’Hare

    Present address: Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

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  1. Everglades Research Group, Inc., Homestead, FL, USA

    Nancy K. O’Hare

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  1. Nancy K. O’Hare
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Correspondence to Nancy K. O’Hare.

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O’Hare, N.K. Pomacea paludosa (Florida Apple Snail) Reproduction in Restored and Natural Seasonal Wetlands in the Everglades. Wetlands 30, 1045–1052 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-010-0110-2

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