The influence of harmful plant <i>Wedelia biflora</i> expansion on terrestrial mollusks in Xisha Islands

Abstract

It is well-documented that the expansion of Wedelia biflora profoundly impacts the structure and functions of the native plant community in the Xisha Islands, but the effects of this expansion on terrestrial mollusks remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the population density and shell features (e.g. height, width and mass) of the major groups of terrestrial mollusks: Achatina fulica, Subulinidae, Camaenidae and Ariphantidae. Mollusk conditions were assessed under different degrees of W. biflora expansion on Yongxing Island. Results showed: (1) As the coverage of W. biflora increased, the population density of A. fulica and