We examined the percentage of consumption of eggs of the endangered fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola, by native and nonnative snails from the San Marcos River, Hays County, Texas. Although all snails consumed eggs, non-native Marisa cornuarietis (Prosobranchia: Ampullaridae) and native Helisoma anceps (Pulmonata: Planorbidae) consumed a significantly greater percentage of eggs than non-native Tarebia granifera and Melanoides tuberculatus (Prosobranchia: Thiaridae) and the native Physella virgata (Pulmonata: Physidae). Dramatic increases in M. cornuarietis in the San Marcos and Comal springs may have an adverse affect on populations of fountain darters.
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1 March 2010
Consumption of Eggs of the Endangered Fountain Darter (Etheostoma fonticola) by Native and Nonnative Snails
C. T. Phillips,
M. L. Alexander,
R. Howard
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