Abstract
The freshwater snail Biomphalaria tenagophila is one of the most important intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni in the Neotropical region. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite able to reproduce either by cross- or self-fertilization (SF). In this study, we investigated the mode of reproduction in a laboratory line of the snail seeking to understand the contribution of SF and cross-fertilization (CF) in the natural history of the species. Thirteen mature mutant albino B. tenagophila were paired during 24 h with wild pigmented snails (1alb:1pig). After being paired for 24 h, the albino snails were isolated in glass aquaria and during 70 days the number of albino and pigmented embryos was counted weekly. The excess rather than a deficit of albino snails obtained in the progeny supports the hypothesis that, in B. tenagophila, the mode of reproduction occurs by cross plus SF. The higher rate of selfing rather than CF progeny shows the potential of the species to colonize new, intermittent and unstable freshwater ecosystems.
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