Harry,
 In response to your querry, you might want to look at the following paper:

Menez, Alexander. 2002. The degradation of land snail shells during the
annual dry period in a Mediterranean climate. Iberus 20(2): 73-79. Menez
looked at 8 taxa; the smallest being Ferussacia follicula (Gmelin,
1790)[mean size 8.53 mm ht., 3.48 mm width] and Caracollina lenticula
(Michaud, 1831)[mean size 3.30 mm ht., 7.20 mm width].

> Has there been any experimental work to predict the rate of
> (dis)solution of the empty shells of small (less than 5 mm.)
> gastropod shells in leaf litter. Certainly pH and other factors exert
> some influence on the process.

Tim Pearce has also done some work in this area, though he has not
finished his project. He may be able to provide you with some information.
I'm not sure of the taxa he is studying.

Regards,
Charlie
.................................................
Research Associate - Section of Mollusks
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Assistant Professor - Family Medicine

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