Heavy Predation on Freshwater Bryozoans by the Golden Apple Snail, Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck, 1822 (Ampullariidae)

Abstract

Laboratory feeding observations confirm that the golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck, 1822) is a voracious predator of phylactolaemate bryozoans. An invasive species in Southeast Asia since the early 1980s, the snail now occupies most freshwater ponds, lakes, and rivers throughout the region. Despite the absence of baseline data, it appears that the snail has had a profound effect on the freshwater bryozoan community, including both tubular and globular colonies. The common gymnolaemate, Hislopia, is less affected. From repeated feeding trials it appears that indigenous apple snails (Pila spp.) do not graze on bryozoans; nor does the large indigenous Cipangopaludina chinensis.