Enamel-based mark performance for marking Chinese mystery snail Bellamya chinensis

Authors

Alec Wong, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Craig R. Allen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Noelle M. Hart, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Danielle M. Haak, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kevin L. Pope, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nicholas A. Smeenk, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bruce J. Stephen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Daniel R. Uden, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Management of Biological Invasions (2013) Volume 4, Issue 3: 231–234; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2013.4.3.05

Abstract

The exoskeleton of gastropods provides a convenient surface for carrying marks, and in the interest of improving future marking methods our laboratory assessed the performance of an enamel paint. The endurance of the paint was also compared to other marking methods assessed in the past. We marked the shells of 30 adult Chinese mystery snails Bellamya chinensis and held them in an aquarium for 181 days. We observed no complete degradation of any enamel-paint mark during the 181 days. The enamel-paint mark was superior to a nail-polish mark, which lasted a median of 100 days. Enamel-paint marks also have a lower rate of loss (0.00 month^-1 181 days) than plastic bee tags (0.01 month^-1, 57 days), gouache paint (0.07 month^-1, 18.5 days), or car body paint from studies found in scientific literature. Legibility of enamelpaint marks had a median lifetime of 102 days. The use of enamel paint on the shells of gastropods is a viable option for studies lasting up to 6 months. Furthermore, visits to a capture-mark-recapture site 1 year after application of enamel-paint marks on B. chinensis shells produced several individuals on which the enamel paint was still visible, although further testing is required to clarify durability over longer periods.