DAVIS, E. C.; University of Kansas, Lawrence: Odor tracking to a food source by the pulmonate gastropod Meridolum gulosum (Gould, 1864) from New South Wales, Australia

Environmental cues provide information that helps animals find nearby food sources. Some gastropods are able to find food sources by following airborne chemical plumes using both tropotaxis and anemotaxis. This study examined odor tracking in air to food odors with a species of gastropod found in New South Wales, Australia, Meridolum gulosum (Gould, 1864). M. gulosum is native to the rainforest in New South Wales, Australia. It was demonstrated that M. gulosum moves towards food odors (fungus) in still air, and holds its tentacles at characteristic angles when moving towards an odor source. My results indicate that they can detect odors at least 12 cm away from the source.