Growth and Mortality Rates of Cornu aspersum: Organic Snail Culture System, Black Sea Region

M Yeşim Çelik,Gülşen Uzun Gören,Merve Sarıipek,Dilara Kaya Öztürk,Mehmet Bedrettin Duman,Sedat Karayücel

doi:10.15832/ankutbd.397585

Abstract

The study was aimed to examine a snail organic culture system and describe the cultivation properties of Cornu aspersum. The environmental parameters of the culture system and their effects on the growth and mortality rates of C. aspersum were determined between November 2014-October 2015. Snails were fed Spinacia sp. (spinach), Urtica sp. (nettles), Brassica oleracea sp (cabbage) and formulated diet. The feeding and growth rates increased with increasing temperature. Shell height growth rate was the highest in spring while the live weight growth rate was the highest in summer. Mortality rate of the baby snail was higher between November 2014 and May 2015 due to stress conditions such as handling and varying temperatures during their first stages of life. High mortality observed in adults could be associated with the spawning activity of the matured snails that caused physiological exhaustion. The result showed that the best culture cycle for C. aspersum was from spring to autumn in Black Sea region and in order to prevent postreproductive mortality, snails reached to marketable size should be harvested.

Highlights

Cornu aspersum, dominating the world market, are quite abundant in Turkey because of the topographical structure, favorable weather and environmental conditions of the country
Growth of snails is Growth and Mortality Rates of Cornu aspersum: Organic Snail Culture System, Black Sea Region, Çelik et al mainly determined by genetic factors, it is influenced by many other parameters such as stocking density (Dupont-Nivet et al 2000), environmental conditions (Garcia et al 2006), the management and sexual maturation
We investigated the culture of one-month-old snails in an extensive system according to Begg’s organic principles (2009) in Black sea region

Summary

Introduction

Cornu aspersum (synonym: Helix aspersa), dominating the world market, are quite abundant in Turkey because of the topographical structure, favorable weather and environmental conditions of the country. On the other hand, overharvesting, human impacts and climate change have been affecting the natural snail population and it decreased in the last decade (FAO/ Fishstatj 2018) in Turkey. Appropriate farming system for any given species provides optimal living conditions, supports growth and survival, minimizes risks and optimizes production. Growth of snails is Growth and Mortality Rates of Cornu aspersum: Organic Snail Culture System, Black Sea Region, Çelik et al mainly determined by genetic factors, it is influenced by many other parameters such as stocking density (Dupont-Nivet et al 2000), environmental conditions (Garcia et al 2006), the management and sexual maturation. Reproduction activity could affect the life history of snails. Adverse environmental conditions cause to increase maintenance costs under adverse environmental conditions and affects survival during early development stage of the gastropoda (Diederich & Pechenik 2013)

Methods

Results

Conclusion