Photoperiod and temperature interaction in the determination of reproduction of the edible snail, Helix pomatia.
Snails were kept in self-cleaning housing chambers in an artificially controlled environment. Mating was frequent under long days (18 h light) and rare under short days (8 h light) regardless of whether the snails were kept at 15 degrees C or 20 degrees C. An interaction between photoperiod and temperature was observed for egg laying. The number of eggs laid (45-50/snail) and the frequency of egg laying (90-130%) were greater in long than in short days (16-35/snail and 27-77%) but a temperature of 20 degrees C redressed, to some extent, the inhibitory effect of short days. At both temperatures only long photoperiods brought about cyclic reproduction over a period of 16 weeks, confirming the synchronizing role of photoperiod on the neuroendocrine control of egg laying in this species of snail.
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UA CNRS 687, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature