201
Views
6
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Weather and the use of empty gastropod shells by arthropods

, , &
Pages 373-377 | Accepted 29 May 2008, Published online: 31 May 2013
 

Abstract

Arthropods frequently use empty snail shells as shelter or nesting sites. This study analyses the use of shells from the arid-dwelling land snail Sphincterochila candidissima (Draparnaud 1801) by arthropods in the Sierra Elvira (south-eastern Spain). Arthropods of 11 different orders occupied 15.6% of shells. Salticidae (54.6%) and Apoidea (21.3%) comprised the majority of arthropods. Shells were used primarily when environmental temperatures were lowest, suggesting that, in the Sierra Elvira, arthropods use shells to escape from the cold. Weather explained 73% of the variation in shell occupation. However, Apoidea used shells independently of weather, occupying shells as nesting chambers. These results suggest that snail shells may be important refugia and nesting sites for arthropod fauna.

Résumé

Conditions météorologiques et utilisation des coquilles vides de gastéropodes par les arthropodes Les arthropodes utilisent fréquement les coquilles vides d’escargots comme abris ou comme sites de nidification. Cette étude analyse l’utilisation par les arthropodes des coquilles d’un escargot aridicole, Sphincterochila candidissima (Draparnaud 1801), dans la Sierra Elvira (sud-est de l’Espagne). Les arthropodes de 11 ordres différents ont été trouvés dans 15,6% des coquilles. Les Salticidae (54,6%) et les Apoidea (21,3%) constituaient la majorité des arthropodes. Les coquilles ont été utilisées principalement lorsque la temperature de l’environnement était basse. Cela suggère que, dans la Sierra Elvira, les arthropodes utilisent les coquilles pour échapper au froid. Les conditions météorologiques expliquent 73% des variations d’occupation des coquilles observées. Toutefois, les Apoidea ont utilise les coquilles indépendamment du temps, en les occupant comme des chambres de nidification. Ces résultats suggèrent que les coquilles ďescargots peuvent être importants comme refuges et comme sites de nidification pour la faune d’arthropodes.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.