SHORT NOTE

CIRCADIAN VARIATION IN LOCOMOTOR AND FEEDING PERIODS OF TWO

VARIACIONES CIRCADIANAS EN LOS PERIODOS DE LOCOMOCIÓN Y ALIMENTACIÓN DE DOS ESPECIES DE CARACOLES TERRESTRES

Ademolu, K.O.*, Jayeola, O.A., Idowu, A.B. and Elemide, I.O.

Biological Sciences Department. University of Agriculture. P.M.B 2240. Abeokuta. Nigeria. *[email protected]

ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS PALABRAS CLAVE ADICIONALES marginata. achatina. . .

SUMMARY The daily locomotor activities, feeding time and horas. Las dos especies, estuvieron más activas active periods of two snail species (Archachatina entre las 22:00 y las 24:00 horas y la actividad fue marginata and Achatina achatina) were mínima entre las 11:00 y las 17:00 horas. Hubo investigated in an artificial habitat. Chemical diferencias (p<0,05) en la concentración de Cl- y analysis of the haemolymph were carried out for lípidos de la hemolinfa durante las 24 horas. the 24 hours period. There were differences (p<0.05) in the activities of the 2 snail species. The INTRODUCTION mean distance traveled by A. marginata ranged between 1.9 cm to 32.6 cm while A. achatina Snails are terrestrial shell bearing ranged from 1.0 to 18.9 cm. The peak of the feeding that belong to Phylum and the activity was at 24.00 h for both species while the Class . Land snails are normally least, was recorded between 4:00 and 20.00 h. more active after dusk and when the ground The two snail species were most active at 22:00- is damp. Seasonal and diurnal photoperiod 24:00 h and were least active at 11:00-17:00 h. have significant regulatory role on inver- The chemical analysis of the haemolymph showed - tebrate which they have exploited to adapt difference (p<0.05) in the concentrations of Cl to life on land like the vertebrate species and lipids across the 24 hours period. (Hodasi, 1982). Snails feed at night and dusk or by day when there is rain or if the sky is RESUMEN overcast, subsisting on both fresh and Fueron investigadas la actividades diarias de decomposing plant materials as well as locomoción, alimentación y periodos activos de decaying materials. dos especies de caracoles Archachatina margi- The activities of snails are controlled by nata y Achatina achatina, en un hábitat artificial. exogenous factors (Grimm and Schaum- Se realizaron análisis químicos de la hemolinfa berger, 2002) as well as internal circadian durante un periodo de 24 horas. Se encontraron and circanual rhythms. While the nutrition, diferencias (p<0,05) entre las actividades de las feeding and circulatory physiology of A. dos especies. La distancia media recorrida por A. marginata osciló entre 1,9 y 32,6 cm, mientras que marginata and A. achatina have been para A. achatina fue entre 1,0 y 18,9 cm. El máximo examined (Ademolu et al., 2006 and Ademolu de la actividad alimenticia se registró a las 24:00 et al., 2007), little is known about the daily horas para ambas especies mientras que la acti- behavior of these snail species. The vidad mínima se registró entre las 4:00 y las 20:00 knowledge of their daily behavioural pattern

Recibido: 18-2-09. Aceptado: 24-2-10. Arch. Zootec. 60 (232): 1323-1326. 2011. ADEMOLU, JAYEOLA, IDOWU AND ELEMIDE will no doubt be of vital use in the breeding protein content was determined by Biuret and rearing management.Therefore, the aim method (Henry et al., 1974), glucose by of the present study is to establish a com- colorimetric method (Baummiger, 1974) and plete daily locomotor activity, feeding lipids by method of Grant (1987). The mine- + + 2+ - 2- pattern and active periods for A. marginata ral content (K , Na , Ca , Cl , and PO4 ) was and A. achatina. determined following AOAC (1990). The data obtained from the haemolymph MATERIAL AND METHODS analysis were analyzed by ANOVA and significant means were separated by Student 30 snails (15 each of A. marginata and A. Newman's-Kuels (SNK). achatina) of an average weight of 144.55 ±0.1 g and 126.78±0.2 g respectively were RESULTS purchased from the Snailery of the Forestry and Wildlife Management Department of The farthest distance covered by A. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria marginata and A. achatina were 34.6 cm (7º 15' N and 3º 25' E). and 21.5 cm respectively and these were in Ten snails each of A. marginata and A. the night (23.00-24.00 h), locomotion started achatina were used for the experiment on reducing as from 2:00 h to the zero movement daily activities. They were acclimatized for from 10:00-17:00 h. (figure 1). A. marginata one week after which the experiment was traveled significantly more distance than A. conducted in an artificial habitat made up of achatina, nevertheless, it is of interest to cages, each measuring 60x60x24 cm for two note the similarity in the locomotor activity months. The mean temperature of the habitat pattern of the two snails species (figure1). during the experiment was 26.5 ± 0.5ºC while Most feeding occurred during the night the relative humidity was between 64-70% from 21:00-2:00 h. However, it could be (12D:12L). observed that A. marginata spent more Duration of different phases in the snails' time on feeding than A. achatina (figure 2). behaviour was recorded at 60 minute Major activity of the two snails occurred intervals. Locomotor activity was defined during the last 6 hours of the day (23:00 in as any displacement (distance, measured in A. marginata and 24:00 in A. achatina. The cm using tape rule) of individual snail. active time for A. marginata ranged between Feeding period was determined as the time 18:00-10:00 h, while A. achatina varies from spent by individual snail at the feeding place. Active time was defined as the time when the snail has released its tentacle from A.marginata A.achatina the shell. 40 The snails were fed with paw-paw leaves 30 (Carica papaya) ad libitum at 6:00 pm daily through out the experiment. 20 The snails' haemolymph was collected 10 covered (cm) from a different group of ten snails each of Mean distance A. marginata and A. achatina, by the method 0 described by Ademolu et al. (2006). The 1 6 11 16 21 haemolymph samples were transferred into Time of the day (GMT) bottle with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid Figure 1. Locomotor activity of Archachatina (EDTA, 2 mg/mL) as anticoagulant. The marginata and Achatina achatina. (Actividad collection was done at 6:00; 12:00, 18:00 and locomotora de Archachatina marginata and 24:00 h GMT over a period of 24 hours. The Achatina achatina).

Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm. 232, p. 1324. CIRCADIAN VARIATIONS IN LAND SNAILS' ACTIVITIES

19:00-9:00 h (figure 3). A.marginata A.achatina The lipids content of the haemolymph of 80

A. marginata at 24:00 hour and 6:00 hour 60 were statistically higher (p<0.05) than the other time of the day while Cl - concentration 40 (min) at 24:00 hour was statistically more than 20 other period of the day except for the 12:00 (table I). The total protein and lipids Mean active period 0 concentrations of A. achatina haemolymph 1 6 11 16 21 were significantly higher than other period Time of the day (GMT) of the day at 6:00 and 24:00 hours Figure 3. The active period of Archachatina respectively. However, the haemolymph Cl- marginata and Achatina achatina. (Periodo concentrations at 24:00 and 6:00 hours were activo de Archachatina marginata and Achatina not significantlydifferent but were signifi- achatina). cantly higher than concentrations at 12:00 and 18:00 hours. The distance traveled by A. marginata was significantly (p<0.05) more than A. DISCUSION achatina. This observation agrees with the report of Adeyeye (2001) that A.marginata The results of this study confirm that snails are nocturnal animals. They were very active at night and become inactive during Table I. Circadian variation in the haemo- the day time (Akinnusi, 2002 and Hodasi, lymph metabolites of Archachatina marginata, 1982). The peak level of locomotor activity and Achatina achatina. (Variación circadiana occurred during the night between the hours de los metabolitos de la hemolinfa de Archachatina of 23.00-24:00 h, while the snails were least marginata y Achatina achatina). active during 10:00-17:00 h. The habit of Parameters Sampling time (h), (n=10) going out at night was an adaptive 6:00 12:00 18:00 24:00 mechanism in snails. Snail collectors from the wild thus better aim at them in the night A. marginata when they are active and out of their shells Glucose (mg/dL) 10.3 13.3 10.0 14.0 Total protein (g/L) 31.3 36.5 33.2 33.9 Lipids (mg/L) 55.1a 45.7c 51.4b 57.1a A.marginata A.achatina Calcium mmol/L) 2.9 2.8 3.0 2.8 25 Phosphate (mmol/L) 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.3 Sodium (mmol/L) 98 106 110 101 20 Potassium (mmol/L) 3.6 4.2 3.9 3.0 15 Chloride (mmol/L) 42b 54a 42b 55a A. achatina 10 Glucose (mg/dL) 23.3 20.5 33.5 20.0 5 Total protein (g/L) 40.9a 32.9b 38.2b 24.5c Feeding time (min) b c b a 0 Lipids (mg/L) 30.4 15.4 30.9 38.5 Calcium mmol/L) 4.4 5.1 5.3 4.3 1 6 11 16 21 Phosphate (mmol/L) 1.3 3.1 1.8 0.9 Time of the day (GMT) Sodium (mmol/L) 132 134 131 136 Potassium (mmol/L) 4.9 5.6 6.8 6.8 Figure 2. Feeding activities of Archachatina Chloride (mmol/L) 90a 80b 82b 92a marginata and Achatina achatina. (Activida- des alimenticias de Archachatina marginata and abMeans in a row, with different leters, p<0.05. Achatina achatina).

Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm. 232, p. 1325. ADEMOLU, JAYEOLA, IDOWU AND ELEMIDE performed better than A. achatina in terms source, in the haemolymph at this time make of movement. This fact should be of energy readily available for the use of these importance to snail farmers as it helps in the snails. Olayemi et al. (2006) similarly construction of housing units for these observed a significantly higher PCV and snails' species. Total white Blood cell (TWBC) values for The main feeding period of these two African giant rat, (Cricetimys gambianus, snails' species is in the night. This runs in Waterhosue) during the day when the rats conformity with the findings of Grimm and are most active. Conversely, the least Schaumberger (2002) on the slug Arion concentrations of lipids were reported at lusitanicus. Thus, it is advisable to present 12:00h and this corresponds to the inactive snails with their feeds late in the evening so period of the animal. as to keep the feed fresh as snails are fond It is of significant to note that concen- of avoiding obsolete or old foods (Ademolu trations of Na+, K+ and Cl- were at the highest et al., 2007). value at 24:00 h in A. achatina (though not The concentrations of lipids in both snail statistically different from values at other species were significantly higher at 24: 00 h periods of the day). These ions are involved (and 6:00 hour for A. achatina) than other in the nervous transmission/communication periods of the day. The two snails species in animal tissues and their high concen- were at peak of activity between 21:00- tration at this time or period suggest a higher 24:000 h GMT, thus the presence of high activity as they invoke a significant rise in concentration of lipids; a high energy action potential of the excitable tissues.

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