Pomacea maculata (Island Apple Snail) Invasion in Seasonal Wetlands on Florida Ranchland: Association with Plant-Community Structure and Aquatic-Predator Abundance

摘要

The invasive Pomacea maculata (= Pomacea insularum) ( Perry) ( Island Apple Snail) is becoming increasingly abundant in the southeastern US with potentially detrimental effects on wetland vegetation and water quality. Here, we investigate the association of plant-community structure and aquatic-predator abundance with Island Apple Snail invasion in seasonal wetlands on a cattle ranch in south-central Florida. We found a negative correlation between Island Apple Snail abundance and abundance of its preferred forage species, raising concerns that the snail may have already altered plant communities in these seasonal wetlands. We also found a negative correlation between Island Apple Snail abundance in wetlands and distance to the nearest ditch. In a snail-growth experiment, we found a negative effect of species evenness and a positive effect of total vegetation cover on Island Apple Snail weight gain. To understand Island Apple Snail invasion success in seasonal wetlands, more research is needed on the relative importance of landscape-versus local-scale wetland characteristics and how resources such as preferred forage versus egg-laying sites affect snail-population growth.