Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of Age and Body Size on Alarm Responses in a Freshwater Snail Pomacea canaliculata

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A hypothesis that size selection of prey by predators elicits size-specific responses from prey was examined. Freshwater snails, Pomacea canaliculata, ages 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, or 60 days, were given an extract of 3-day-old snails, and 3-day-old snails were given extracts of snails of the other ages or eggs. Snails 15 days or younger crawled out of the water in response to the 3-day-old snail extract, but older ones did not. The 3-day-old snails responded to the extracts of snails of all examined ages, but not to the extract of eggs. Snails of four size classes, 3-days-old, small (shell lengths 8–12 mm), medium (13–20 mm), and large (>28 mm) were given extracts of snails of each of these four classes. The 3-day-old snails crawled out of the water in response to the extract of 3-day-old snails, but showed a lower or no response to other extracts. Larger snails buried themselves in the soil in response to the extract of snails of similar sizes. These responses are discussed in the context of the evolution of the snail's avoidance behavior in response to the size-dependent prey choice by the predator.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Alexander, J. E. and Covich, A. P. 1991a. Predation risk and avoidance behavior in two freshwater snails. Biol. Bull. 180: 387–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, J. E., and Covich, A. P. 1991b. Predator avoidance by the freshwater snail Physella virgata in response to the crayfish Procambarus simulans. Oecologia 87:435–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, S. L. and Baker, R. L. 1996. Predator-induced life history changes: antipredator behavior costs or facultative life history shifts? Ecology 77: 1116–1124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beissinger, S. R. 1983. Hunting behavior, prey selection, and energetics of snail kite in Guyana: consumer choice by a specialist. Auk 100:84–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beltzer, A. H. 1985. Ecological alimentaria de Aramides ypecana (Aves: Rallidae) en el valle aluvial del Rio Parana medio (Argentina). Rev. Asoc. Cienc. Nat. Lit. 16: 73–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boersma, M, Spaak, P., and De Meester, L. 1998. Predator-mediated plasticity in morphology, life history, and behavior of Daphnia: the uncoupling of responses. Am. Nat. 152: 237–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buskirk, J. V. 2000. The costs of an inducible defense in anuran larvae. Ecology 81: 2813–2821.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, D. P. and Mirza, R. S. 2001. Importance of predator diet cues in responses of larval wood frogs to fish and invertebrate predators. J. Chem. Ecol. 27: 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, D. P. and Smith, R. J. F. 1998. Chemical alarm signalling in aquatic predator-prey systems: A review and prospectus. Écoscience 5: 338–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, D. P., Kiesecker, J. M., Marco, A., De Vito, J., Anderson, M. T., and Blaustein, A. R. 2001. Predator-induced life history changes in amphibians: egg predation induces hatching. Oikos 92: 135–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A. 1989. Factors affecting prey choice and feeding technique in the carnivorous snail Euglandina rosea Ferussac. J. Moll. Stud. 55: 469–477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Covich, A. P., Crowl, T. A., Alexander, J. E., and Vaughn, C. C. 1994. Predator-avoidance responses in freshwater decapod-gastropod interactions mediated by chemical stimuli. J. North Am. Benthol. Soc. 13: 283–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowl, T. A. and Covich, A. P. 1990. Predator-induced life-history shifts in a freshwater snail. Science 247: 949–951.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Castellanos, Z. J. A. and FernÁndez, D. 1976. Fauna de Agua Dulce de la Republica Argentina. Volumen XV Moluscos Gasteorpodos Fasciculo 1 Ampullariidae. FECIC, Buenos Aires, p. 33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodson, S. I., Crowl, T. A., Peckarsky, B. L., Kats, L. B., Covich, A. P., and Culp, J. M. 1994. Non-visual communication in freshwater benthos: an overview. J. North Am. Benthol. Soc. 13: 268–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnay, T. J. and Beissinger, S. R. 1993. Apple snail (Pomacea doliodes) and freshwater crab (Dilocarcinus dentatus) population fluctuations in the llanos of Venezuela. Biotropica 25: 206–214. AGE INFLUENCE ON ALARM RESPONSE 2027

    Google Scholar 

  • Estebenet, A. L. and Cazzaniga, N. J. 1992. Growth and demography of Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) under laboratory conditions. Malacol. Rev. 25: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • GarcÍa, E. N. 1996. Invertebrates exploiting terrestrial and freshwater mollusks. Walkerana 8: 139–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • GuimarÃes, C. T. 1981. Algumas observa¸cões de laboratório sobre biologia ecologia de Pomacea haustrum (Reeve, 1856). Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 76: 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halwart, M. 1994. Fish As Biocontrol Agents in Rice: The Potential of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio (L.) and Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L:): Margalef Verlag, Filderstadt, p. 169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kai, S., Ando, S., and Shiozaki, N. 2001. Predation on the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, by common carp under laboratory condition. Kyushu Agr. Res. 63: 85 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kats, L. B. and Dill, L. M. 1998. The scent of death: chemosensory assessment of predation risk by prey animals. Écoscience 5: 361–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lardner, B. 2000. Morphological and life history responses to predators in larvae of seven anurans. Oikos 88: 169–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurila, A. 2000. Behavioural responses to predator chemical cues and local variation in antipredator performance in Rana temporaria tadpoles. Oikos 88: 159–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, D. B. 2001. Trade-offs between growth and survival: responses of freshwater snails to predatciouis crayfish. Ecology 82: 758–765.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mondor, E. B., Baird, D. S., Slessor, K. N., and Roitberg, B. D. 2000. Ontogeny of alarm pheromone section in pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. J. Chem. Ecol. 26: 2875–2882.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, R. C. 1955. Feeding habits of the everglade kite (Rostramus sociabilis). Auk 72: 204–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • NystrÖm, P. and Åbj Örnsson, K. 2000. Effects of fish chemical cues on the interactions between tadpoles and crayfish. Oikos 88: 181–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettersson, L. B., Nilsson, P. A., and BrÖnmark, C. 2000. Predator recognition and defence strategies in crucian carp, Carassius carassius. Oikos 88: 200–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, Y. J., Forward, R. B., JR., and Rittschof, D. 2000. Responses ofmudsnails and periwinkles to environmental odors and disaccharide mimics of fish odor. J. Chem. Ecol. 26: 679–696.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rittschof, D. 1990. Peptide-mediated behaviors in marine organisms. J. Chem. Ecol. 16: 261–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, R. J. 1987. Predatory versatility in a larval dragonfly, Hemianax papuensis (Odonata: Aeshnidae). J. Zool. 211: 193–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, S. A., Niagara, M. S., Campos, P., M. S., Magnusson, Z.W. E., and Mourao, G.M. 1996. Diets of Caiman crocodilus yacare from different habitats in the Brazilian Pantanal. Herpetol. J. 6: 11–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skelly, D. K. and Werner, E. E. 1990. Behavioral and life-historical responses of larval American toads to an odonate predator. Ecology 71: 2313–2322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slootweg, R. 1987. Prey selection by molluscivorous cichlids foraging on a schistosomiasis vector snail, Biomphalaria glabrata. Oecologia 74: 193–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, N. F. R. and Snyder, H. A. 1971. Defenses of the Florida apple snail Pomacea paludosa. Behavior 40: 175–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, A. J., Stevens, N. M., Darby, P. C., and Percival, H. F. 1999. Observations of the fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) attacking apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) exposed during dry down conditions. J. Moll. Stud. 65: 507–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, A. M., Fetterolf, S. A., and Bernot, R. J. 1999. Predator identity and consumer behavior: differential effects of fish and crayfish on the habitat use of a freshwater snail. Oecologia 118: 242–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, A. M., Bernot, R. J., and Boes, C.M. 2000. Chemical cues modify species interactions: the ecological consequences of predator avoidance by freshwater snails. Oikos 88: 148–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaz-Ferreira, R., Paulete, J., and Paulete de, S. S. 1965. Ecoetolog a alimentaria de Rostrhamus sociabilis sociabilis (Vieill). Rev. Fac. Human. Cienc. 22: 191–202. 2028 ICHINOSE

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Elert, E., and Pohnert, G. 2000. Predator specificity of kairomones in diel vertical migration of Daphnia: a chemical approach. Oikos 88: 119–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warkentin, K. M. 1995. Adaptive plasticity in hatching age: a response to predation risk trade-offs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92: 3507–3510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watt, P. J. and Young, S. 1992. Genetic control of predator avoidance behaviour in Daphnia. Freshwater Biol. 28: 263–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, R. K. and Butman, C. A. 2000. Chemical signaling processes in the marine environment. Biol. Bull. 198: 168–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, R. K., Commins, J. E., and Brozne, K. 1999. Regulatory effects of environmental chemical signals on search behavior and foraging success. Ecology 80: 1432–1446.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Agricultural Experiment Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, Suya 2421, Nishigoshi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto-ken, 861-1192, Japan

    Katsuya Ichinose

Authors
  1. Katsuya Ichinose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ichinose, K. Influence of Age and Body Size on Alarm Responses in a Freshwater Snail Pomacea canaliculata . J Chem Ecol 28, 2017–2028 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020749911877

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020749911877

Search

Navigation