birds such as song sparrows, marsh wrens, swamp sparrows, and red- 

 winged blackbirds. (B.W.) 



Keywords: salt marshes, snails, ecology, birds 



V-D-5 



Stiven, A.E., and J.T. Hunter. 1976. Growth and mortality of Littorina 



irrorata Say in three North Carolina marshes. Chesapeake Science 



17:168-176. 



This article examines the growth and mortality of the salt marsh 

 gastropod ( Littorina irrorata Say) over a one-year period. Three 

 levels of population density were selected within three salt marshes 

 in the Morehead City region of North Carolina. 



Data were accumulated demonstrating high levels of net productivity 

 of salt marsh vegetation, particularly in the southeastern regions of 

 the United States. There is also strong evidence of the importance 

 of decomposing salt marsh vegetation in the form of enriched detritus 

 to estuarine production. Knowledge of the ecological roles of inver- 

 tebrate salt marsh consumers indicates their significance as "macro- 

 decomposers" in marsh food chains. 



The authors conclude that mortality causes reflect probable different 

 environmental conditions of each marsh rather than biological properties 

 of the snails. Findings suggest that the support of various popula- 

 tion densities is related to Spartina standing crop. However, the 

 cause of this phenomenon is not clear. (H.D.) 



Keywords: salt marsh, gastropods, productivity. North Carolina 



V-D-6 



Scheltema, R.S. 1964. Feeding habits and growth in the mud-snail 

 Nassarius obsoletus . Chesapeake Science 5:161-166. 



Nassarius obsoletus is primarily a deposit-feeder. The microflora 

 to be found on the surface of sediment of intertidal flats serves as 

 its major source of food. Living bivalves do not form part of the 

 diet as previously reported. Dead organisms such as mollusks, Crus- 

 tacea, and fish are eaten when available but are not a principal item 

 of food. Thallus algae are probably also utilized occasionally. 

 Nassarius obsoletus may be regarded largely as a herbivorous species 

 and deposit-feeder; however, it is also an omnivore and facultative 

 scavenger. 



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