Periwinkle climbing response to water- and airbone predator chemical cues may depend on home-marsh geography

Abstract

The salt marsh periwinkle, Littorina irrorata, exhibits a spatial refuge from predation by climbing the stems of Spartina alterniflora in order to avoid benthic predators. Salt marsh periwinkles have a broad geographic distribution, and for many species, responses to predators also varies with biogeography. This study sought to determine if the geographical location of the home marsh influenced the response of periwinkles (climbing height) to blue crab predator cues both via air and water. Snails from Louisiana (LA) climbed higher in general than those from North Carolina (NC), regardless of chemical cue. However, LA snails climbed 11 cm higher in the presence of waterborne predators than control snails with no cue, while NC snails only climbed five cm higher in the same comparisons. Airborne chemical cue tended to have snails climbing at intermediate heights. These responses were significantly enhanced when both populations of snails were housed together. Periwinkle response to predator cues was stronger in LA than NC, and so it is possible that the behavioral response of these snails to predators varies with biogeography of the home marsh. Also interestingly, the results of this study also suggest that cue delivery is probably occurring via mechanisms other than water, and potentially via airborne cues. Therefore, salt marsh periwinkles likely respond to numerous cues that initiate behavioral responses, including airborne cues, and these responses may vary by home-marsh geography.

Predation cues amplify the effects of parasites on the personality of a keystone grazer

“…to the chemical cues of predators present in air, water and mucus (Carroll et al, 2018;Dix & Hamilton, 1993;Duval et al, 1994). L. irrorata also possess the ability to detect cues from the mucus trails produced by conspecifics (Ng et al, 2013); therefore it is possible that they utilize them as a source of information about the presence of parasitized conspecifics.…”

“…In trematode‐infected rainbow trout, chemical alarm substances are released that alert healthy conspecifics nearby, resulting in increased activity of uninfected conspecifics (Poulin et al, 1999). L. irrorata have the ability to detect and respond to crushed conspecifics (Duval et al, 1994), and to the chemical cues of predators present in air, water and mucus (Carroll et al, 2018; Dix & Hamilton, 1993; Duval et al, 1994). L. irrorata also possess the ability to detect cues from the mucus trails produced by conspecifics (Ng et al, 2013); therefore it is possible that they utilize them as a source of information about the presence of parasitized conspecifics.…”