Submergence avoidance behavior in the periwinkleLittorina irrorata is not due to threat of drowning

An attempt to establish an LD₅₀ for submergence onLittorina irrorata casts strong doubt on the hypothesis that submergence avoidance behavior is due to the threat of drowning. Predator avoidance is offered as a more plausable hypothesis. Respiration rates of 2.73×10^?3 ml O₂/g body wt./min. for submerged snails and 2.70×10^?2 ml O₂/g body wt./min. for controls were determined.