In this post, author Netta Shamir Weller offers desert snail survival tips by exploring their dietary choices when faced with predation stress. With their behind the paper post for their article “Constraints and demands interact to affect prey dietary reaction to predation”, Netta shares how fascinating and unpredictable nature can be when looking at predator-prey interactions and reiterates the importance of doing what you love.
About the Paper
Our paper investigates how the risk of beetle predation influences the foraging behavior and dietary choices of desert snails. We focused on the interplay between two mutually inclusive hypotheses, namely the Food-Safety Trade-off (FST) and Change in Nutritional Demand (CND). In the FST hypothesis, snails might choose safer, less nutritious food options when there is danger. Similarly, theCND hypothesis states that, stress from predation could alter the snails’ dietary needs, pushing them to seek sugary rich food. However, our findings revealed that snails’ choices are influenced by where food is located and their natural preference of where to eat! This was revealed despite, both safety and the need for specific nutrients playing crucial roles in shaping their dietary choices and foraging behavior. This research not only highlights the intricate survival tactics of these snails but also sheds light on the broader ecological dynamics of predator-prey interactions, offering valuable insights for the mechanisms through which predator-prey interactions can cascade to affect ecosystem processes.
In the FST hypothesis, snails might choose safer, less nutritious food options when there is danger. Similarly, the CND hypothesis states that, stress from predation could alter the snails’ dietary needs, pushing them to seek sugary rich food. However, our findings revealed that snails’ choices are influenced by where food is located and their natural preference of where to eat! This was revealed despite, both safety and the need for specific nutrients playing crucial roles in shaping their dietary choices and foraging behavior. This research not only highlights the intricate survival tactics of these snails but also sheds light on the broader ecological dynamics of predator-prey interactions, offering valuable insights for the mechanisms through which predator-prey interactions can cascade to affect ecosystem processes.
The predatory beetle Carabus impressus preying on the desert snail Xerocrassa simulata (credit: N.D. Shamir-Weller
Field survey at Loess Park (credit: S. Bloch- Lifshitz
About the Research
We collected data on the snails’ foraging behavior, metabolism, growth and dietary choices under different levels of predation risk and nutrient locations. This involved a field survey on habitat preferences, and observing the snails’ behavior in controlled environments. With this approach, we could manipulate the presence of predatory beetles and use artificial foods to monitor the snails’ dietary responses to predation.
This study required substantial preliminary work to reveal the unique natural history traits of both prey snails and predatory beetles. The preliminary work was necessary to develop the methodologies to rear both species in captivity. In this way, we could explore their (snails) dietary reactions in response to beetle predation risk.
Metabolism measurements in the laboratory (credit: N. D. Shamir- Weller)
Photographing snails in the lab (credit: Itamar Weller)
I was surprised by the extent the snails’ natural preference of where to eat influenced their foraging decisions, even at the expense of taking higher risks and jeopardizing their desired nutrition requirement! This suggested that other constraints (and not just food quality and safety) should be considered when exploring prey dietary reaction to the risk of predation. With this in mind, I believe that the next step would be to explore how our findings apply to other predator -prey species and systems in different environments.
About the author
I was interested in animals from a very young age. During high school, I volunteered in the Jerusalem Zoo and later taught school kids about ecology and conservation. I was recently awarded a PhD by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and remain there as the manager of Prof. Dror Hawlena’s Risk Management Ecology lab. My recent obsession is to understand the causes for the large intraspecific (between members of one species) variation of shell coloration and shape within and across populations of desert snails! Outside of research, I very much enjoy playing and hiking with my two toddlers. I used to play women’s basketball for many years, but had to abandon this hobby days before delivering my first son. Throughout my scientific career so far, I have experienced many challenges and obstacles but I refuse to accept them as barriers. I am fortunate to have a supportive partner that enables me to focus on my work despite those difficult times. So overall, the best piece of advice I could give to someone younger than me (or even to my younger self) is to just do what you love! Be creative, choose a supporting partner to navigate the hurdles with, and above all else, remain focused despite the scientific and personal challenges of life.
Like the blog post? Read the research here.
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