Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia
This study aimed to reveal the habitat variables that determine the distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia. Seventeen plots were selected on a limestone hill to determine the effect of environmental variables on the abundance of this...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/11886.pdf |
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| author | Thor-Seng Liew Chee-Chean Phung Mohamad Afandi Mat Said Pui Kiat Hoo |
| author_facet | Thor-Seng Liew Chee-Chean Phung Mohamad Afandi Mat Said Pui Kiat Hoo |
| author_sort | Thor-Seng Liew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to reveal the habitat variables that determine the distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia. Seventeen plots were selected on a limestone hill to determine the effect of environmental variables on the abundance of this land snail. The environmental variables we considered included habitat (canopy cover and leaf litter thickness), topography (elevation, aspect, ruggedness, and slope), microclimate (soil temperature, air temperature, and humidity), and vegetation (abundance of respective vascular plant species). The correlation analyses suggested that the snails’ abundance was positively correlated with the abundance of the four vascular plant species: Diospyros toposia var. toposoides, Croton cascarilloides, Kibatalia laurifolia, and Mallotus peltatus. Plots with lower soil temperatures had more snails than plots with higher soil temperatures. Our results show that plots in the southern part of the limestone hill, in which P. elephas were absent, were similar in habitat, topography, microclimate, and vegetation to the plots in the northern part of the limestone hill, where specimens were mostly present. The absence of this species in suitable habitats may be due to their low dispersal ability rather than adverse environmental conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:33:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77a0f4d1b25c45e3b3de7f95883f4a98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:33:02Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-77a0f4d1b25c45e3b3de7f95883f4a982023-12-03T11:02:34ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-07-019e1188610.7717/peerj.11886Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, MalaysiaThor-Seng Liew0Chee-Chean Phung1Mohamad Afandi Mat Said2Pui Kiat Hoo3Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, MalaysiaInstitute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, MalaysiaAssociated Pan Malaysia Cement, Chemor, Perak, MalaysiaInstitute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, MalaysiaThis study aimed to reveal the habitat variables that determine the distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia. Seventeen plots were selected on a limestone hill to determine the effect of environmental variables on the abundance of this land snail. The environmental variables we considered included habitat (canopy cover and leaf litter thickness), topography (elevation, aspect, ruggedness, and slope), microclimate (soil temperature, air temperature, and humidity), and vegetation (abundance of respective vascular plant species). The correlation analyses suggested that the snails’ abundance was positively correlated with the abundance of the four vascular plant species: Diospyros toposia var. toposoides, Croton cascarilloides, Kibatalia laurifolia, and Mallotus peltatus. Plots with lower soil temperatures had more snails than plots with higher soil temperatures. Our results show that plots in the southern part of the limestone hill, in which P. elephas were absent, were similar in habitat, topography, microclimate, and vegetation to the plots in the northern part of the limestone hill, where specimens were mostly present. The absence of this species in suitable habitats may be due to their low dispersal ability rather than adverse environmental conditions.https://peerj.com/articles/11886.pdfElephant pupinid snailsKarstIndochinaMalay PeninsulaPerakKinta Valley |
| spellingShingle | Thor-Seng Liew Chee-Chean Phung Mohamad Afandi Mat Said Pui Kiat Hoo Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia PeerJ Elephant pupinid snails Karst Indochina Malay Peninsula Perak Kinta Valley |
| title | Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia |
| title_full | Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia |
| title_short | Distribution and abundance of the land snail Pollicaria elephas (Gastropoda: Pupinidae) in limestone habitats in Perak, Malaysia |
| title_sort | distribution and abundance of the land snail pollicaria elephas gastropoda pupinidae in limestone habitats in perak malaysia |
| topic | Elephant pupinid snails Karst Indochina Malay Peninsula Perak Kinta Valley |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/11886.pdf |
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