Introduction

Freshwater gastropods specifically snails are one of the most easily recognized creatures found roaming North American water bodies. Snails are an essential part of most water bodies making up over 50% of an ecosystems invertebrate biomass (Brown et al. 2008).  North America is not only rich in freshwater snails in terms of biomass but also in species diversity with 650 species found within this region of the world (Burch 1989; Thorp & Covich 2001). Jokinen reviewed the snail biodiversity of connecticut in 1983 (Jokinen 1983).  While this offers valuable information on these organisms, including water quality preferences, it does not account for the vast changes that could have occurred over that period of time. Even how snails move to new habitats is greatly unknown and it is possible that boat traffic into White Memorial water bodies could have brought with is new species of snail or species of other animals that like the rusty crayfish may limit snail biodiversity. A preliminary review was conducted by White Memorial staff and volunteers in fall of 2015 over a small portion of the property. These surveys contributed valuable information to those looking at snails on the White Memorial property however there is much more information that can be gathered. Additionally with habitats for snails varying so greatly on this property there is many more unique places that could be searched and may contain undocumented species. The type of habitats looked at was researched and then later described in the Study Site Description.

These snails play pivotal roles in freshwater ecosystems in numerous ways. Snails are essential in helping to control algae blooms and break down decaying materials by being grazers and detritivores (Johnson et al. 2013). They have also been shown to have positive affects on overall water quality and control of phytoplankton (Zhu, Lu, Liu 2013). Snails are very sensitive to water quality changes and pollution (Besser et al. 2016). Calcium hardness would be tested due to snails need for calcium to create shells. Dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide was looked at due to all snails need for oxygen but specifically pulmonatas who are lung breathing.  Additionally, snails make up a large portion of the biomass in aquatic systems they are a common food source for several predators. The snail darter (Percina tanasi) a specialist, has been shown to decline as snail biomass declines (Johnson 2009). Snails are also greatly affected by invasive species such as the rusty crayfish and will recover much slower than other species once they have been predated by them. In some studies after the introduction of rusty crayfish the majority of snail species disappeared (Kreps, Baldridge, & Lodge 2012). The rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticuss) is well documented in Housatonic River water shed and this makes the monitoring even more crucial.

As stated earlier one of the central problems concerning snails even more so then continued habitat destruction, and water quality degradation is the lack of knowledge around them. In White Memorial Conservation Center there is an abundance of water bodies and habitats where snails may be found. However other than Jokinen’s work in 1983 and a brief survey conducted in 2015 there is almost no data or information about freshwater snails on the property. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey that was determined to find the species and prevalence of species in White Memorial water bodies as well as attempt to understand the habitats that those snail species favored (Information found in the Tables & Figures page and Species Account page). Beyond just an overall species list several factors, such as total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, carbon dioxide concentrations, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, salinity, and temperature (Information found in Tables & Figures page). The direct manner that these test were performed and how snails were searched for can be found in the Materials & Methods page. Additionally an overall description of each of the sites where snails were found was created. This information will be useful to land managers and stake holders for conserving and monitoring purposes.