[Food consumption, production and energy evaluation in Helix aspersa müller (a terrestrial pulmonated gasteropod)].

Abstract

A quantitative study of feeding in Helix aspersa Müller (Gastropod, Pulmonate) is made in the laboratory with a view to apply the resulted obtained to its rearing in a warmed room. From the birth of the snails to six months old, two methods are applied: one ponderous, the other energetic, allowing us to draw up a nutritional budget. --The parameters are: daily rates of consommation, fecal production and assimilation; monthly production rate, efficiency of assimilation and finally gross and net growth efficiencies. The evolution of these parameters, seems to be dependant on the stage of growth of the snail, and on a physiological phenomenon present in Helix aspersa living in the field.