Uptake of 59Fe as a Tool for Study of the Crowding Effect in Biomphalaria Glabrata

Abstract

Crowding of Biomphalaria glabrata simultaneously inhibits growth and iron uptake. Measurement of the absorption of 59Fe provides a simple criterion for the estimation of crowding. In this way, crowding effect was demonstrate to be related not only to poplation density but also to population size. An inhibitory factor is present in water and feces derived from crowded snail populations.