Survival, recovery, and reproduction of apple snails (Pomacea spp.) following exposure to drought conditions

AbstractClimate change has dramatically altered freshwater ecosystems and will continue to affect them further. As water-level fluctuations increase in frequency and intensity, the tolerance of aquatic organisms to abiotic stressors will become critical determinants of survival. Apple snail species in the genus Pomacea (Ampullariidae) live in freshwater throughout the tropics and subtropics, but deposit egg clutches on terrestrial substrates. Two species, Pomacea canaliculata and Pomacea maculata, are amongst the world’s most invasive species and are expanding their invasive ranges. To evaluate their survival during extreme dry-down conditions in their native range, we collected 156 apple snails (Pomacea spp.) from 4 permanent water bodies in Uruguay and buried them in dry sand to simulate drought. We placed the snails outside, sheltered from sun and rain (ambient temperature: 15.2–28.1°C, ambient humidity: 44.9–100.6% below sand surface, 34.2–98.7% in outside air), and checked survival daily. Genetic ide...