Life History Studies and Habitat Requirements of the Apple Snail at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
The apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) is the exclusive food source of the Florida everglade kite (Rostrhamus sociabi/is plumbeus), an endangered species. A study of the snail at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge was initiated during 1971 to gather information needed to manage the snail to insure a food supply for the kite. Habitat studies revealed that apple snails are most abundant in alkaline waters containing an ample supply of submerged vegetation. A deficiency of dissolved oxygen may be a limiting factor in snail abundance. It was found that individual female snails will...
