Population Characteristics of Terrestrial Gastropods in Boreal Forest Habitats

Abstract

The relationships between terrestrial gastropod populations and five boreal forest habitat types in Alberta were quantitatively described. Species composition and abundance varied among habitat types; most species showed statistical preference for habitats with predominantly deciduous vegetation, and population densities were highest there. A notable exception to this trend was Vertigo gouldii, which had its highest percentage of occurrence and abundance in conifer-dominated habitats. Spatial distributions of snail species within habitats were analyzed by Taylor's power law and Euconulus fulvus, Nesovitrea electrina, Discus cronkhitei, Punctum minutissimum and Vertigo gouldii were aggregated in one or more habitat types. Other distributions appeared random. Population densities of E. fulvus, N. electrina, D. cronkhitei and V gouldii varied temporally in one or more habitat types, and the pattern of variation was correlated with precipitation.