DAVIS, E.C.; Columbia College Chicago: No differences in mucus-trail following was detected in Euglandina rosea predation on local versus non-local gastropods

Carnivorous snails, such as Euglandina rosea, have been used unsuccessfully as biocontrol agents in Hawaii and other Pacific islands in attempts to limit the spread of the giant African land snail, Achatina fulica. Euglandina rosea is native to the southeastern United States, and is able to follow the mucus trails of its prey. Although experiments have examined food choice, it is unknown if the ability of E. rosea to follow mucus trails differs with prey snail species. This study compared the ability of E. rosea to follow trails of two groups of gastropods: those found within its local habitat (southeastern USA) and those found outside its native range (Kansas). Each predator (n = 10) was tested against a total of 24 individuals from eight species of gastropods (four species from each area) and three individuals of each species. Unlike previous studies, E. rosea followed trails in the direction that they were laid. The results of the study indicate that prey gastropods from Florida and Kansas were followed at almost identical frequency by all ten predators tested. In addition, there were differences in the predator�s inter-tentacle angle when following or not-following a trail.