The effect of pedal mucus of pond snail, Bellamya chinensis on decomposition of organic matter in paddy field sediments

Abstract

Priming effect is known as a phenomenon that the decay of inputted labile organic compounds enhances the decomposition of native organic matter in sediment. In this study, pedal mucus of pond snail Bellamya chinensis was examined whether it induced priming effect. Agar medium with sucrose and paddy field sediment were used as organic carbon sources in our laboratory experiments. Each sample was coated with pedal mucus by mean of letting snails crawl on the surface. Decomposition rate of each sample was compared with controls which doesn’t contain pedal mucus as oxygen consumption rate using by a coulometer. Oxygen consumption rates of samples which were coated with pedal mucus were larger than that of control. These results indicate pedal mucus of B. chinensis possess ability to induce priming effect.