1 ecology
1.1 habitat
1.2 feeding habits
1.3 life cycle
1.4 parasites
1.5 other interspecific relationship
ecology
habitat
this snail lives in slow-running freshwater habitat such low-velocity rivers, , standing-water bodies such lakes. species flourishes in calcium-rich waters.
it commonly found in freshwater ponds, shallow lakes, , canals. species found on substrate in fall , winter (including gravel, sand, clay, mud or undersides of rocks) , on aquatic macrophytes (including milfoil, myriophyllum spicatum , muskgrass, chara spp.) in warmer months. lives in shoals, found @ depths of 5 m. bithynia tentaculata inhabits intertidal zones in hudson river in general, snail inhabits waters ph of 6.6–8.4, conductivity of 87–2320 μmhos/cm, ca of 5–89 ppm, , na of 4–291 ppm. can potentially survive in water bodies high concentrations of k , low concentrations of no3. in saint lawrence river, tends occur in relatively unpolluted, nearshore areas , amongst dreissenid mussel beds.
feeding habits
this species functions both scraper , collector-filterer, grazing on algae on substrate, using gills filter suspended algae water column. when filter feeding, algae sucked in, condensed, , passed out between right tentacle , exhalant siphon in pellet-like packages eaten. ability filter feed may play role in allowing populations of faucet snail survive @ high densities in relatively eutrophic, anthropogenically influenced water bodies. bithynia tentaculata feeds selectively on food items. faucet snail known in eurasia feed on black fly larvae.
life cycle
egg capsules of bithynia tentaculata gastropods shortly before hatching.
bithynia tentaculata dioecious (it has 2 separate sexes) , lays eggs on rocks, wood , shells in organized aggregates arranged in double rows, in clumps of 1–77. egg-laying occurs may july when water temperature 20 °c or higher, , second time in october , november females born in year. density of eggs on substrate can reach 155 clumps/m. fecundity may reach 347 eggs , greatest 2nd year class. eggs hatch in 3 weeks 3 months, depending on water temperature. oocytes develop poorly @ temperatures of 30 - 34 °c. growth not occur september may. lifespan varies regionally , can anywhere 17–39 months.
the faucet snail has potential biomonitor contaminants such cd, zn, , methylmercury (mehg) because there correlations between environmental concentrations , snail tissue concentrations respect these toxic compounds.
parasites
in native eurasian habitat, faucet snail host many different species of digeneans, cercariae, metacercariae, cysticercoids, , other parasites.
as first intermediate host prosthogonimus ovatus
as intermediate host sphaeridiotrema globulus
as first intermediate hosts , second intermediate host cyanthocotyle bushiensis.
as second intermediate host echinostoma revolutum
as intermediate host syngamus trachea
capillariidae, capillaria obsignata
bithynia tenataculata suspected intermediate host leyogonimus polyoon
parasites of bithynia tentaculata include trematode aspidogaster conchicola.
other interspecific relationship
natural dispersal of snail known occur passive transport in birds.
bithynia tentaculata capable of detecting presence of molluscivorous leeches through chemoreception , of closing operculum avoid predation.
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