title: The influence of temperature, darkness, and starvation on growth and survival of Helisoma duryi, Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus.
abstract: The influence of 10 degrees, 18 degrees, 26 degrees, 28 degrees and 33 degrees C, different periods of complete darkness and starvation on growth and survival of H. duryi, B. alexandrina and B. truncatus were studied. The optimum temperature for the growth and survival was about 26 degrees C. Survivorship and growth rates decreased proportionately according to starvation period. However, darkness had no significant effect on the growth of B. truncatus and H. duryi. Under the chosen experimental conditions H. duryi revealed higher tolerance limits and survival rates than B. alexandrina and B. truncatus. The potential of H. duryi as biological control agent of Schistosome vector snails is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000254:growth & development*; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000254:growth & development*; D002033:Bulinus / Q000254:growth & development*; D003624:Darkness; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013217:Starvation; D013696:Temperature