EFFECTS OF INTERMITTENT STARVATION ON MATURE BIOMPHALARIA-GLABRATA (GASTROPODA, PLANORBIDAE)

Mature Biomphalaria glabrata, submitted to four weeks of varied starva tion times (0, 1, 3, 5, 6 & 7 d.week(-1), were thereafter refed during four weeks. The different intermittent starvation times had no signif icant effect on snails survival. As weekly starvation increased, the r ate of change in body weight and fecundity decreased. In snails fed on e or two d.week(-1), the rate of change in body weight was negative, w hile fecundity remained at a low level. Continuous hunger stopped ovip osition. Starvation had no further effect on body growth after the fir st week of refeeding; however, its effect on fecundity remained signif icant over the two first weeks.