Body Component Indices of an Intertidal Gastropod Morula granulata (Duclos) Subjected to Starvation

Abstract

Effect of starvation (70 days) was studied on the wet as well as dry weights, water content and body component indices (foot, gonad-digestive gland (GDG) complex and viscera) of Morula granulata. A significant (P less than 0.05) decrease was observed in the wet and dry weights of foot from 20 d of starvation. In GDG complex, the same trend was noticed for wet weights but the dry weights did not show much decrease (P greater than 0.05). Wet and dry weights of viscera started to decrease significantly (P less than 0.05) from 40 d and at 70 d of starvation respectively. Changes in percentage water content were insignificant (P greater than 0.05). A gradual decrease was observed in values of foot and GDG complex indices but this decrease was not much for visceral index values.