| Abstract: | In the lower River Murray, Australia, populations of gastropods have declined markedly over the past 40 years. Of the native fauna of about 18 species, only the ancylid Ferrissia petterdi remains common (but in patches), and another five species feature in sporadic local resurgences. Until recently the viviparid Notopala was thought to be extinct. The introduced physid Physa acuta is widespread, but in low numbers. The decline probably is associated with flow regulation, high turbidity and the introduction of common carp. Snail populations have persisted, however, in irrigation pipelines fed from the river, where they periodically cause blockages. This paper reports the discovery of the only known populaion of Notopala hanleyi in a pipeline where the inner wall accumulates microbial and other organic matter, providing high quality food for snails. In the Murray before regulation most of the periphytic biomass was probably microbial, as fluctuating water levels would have maintained littoral communities in a highly productive, early state of succession his postulated that, by stabilizing seasonal water levels, regulation has promoted the production of filamentous green algae, an inferior food source, and so displaced snail populations from the open aquatic environment. |
