Predator-induced defenses in a salt-marsh gastropod

摘要: Abstract Predator-induced defenses are among the most ecologically important forms of phenotypic plasticity. Although predation and induced well documented in rocky-intertidal systems, they have received less attention soft-bottom communities. Shell-crushing predators common soft-bottom, vegetated habitats, which often exhibit substantial spatial heterogeneity intensity. We examined variations shell morphology salt-marsh periwinkle, Littoraria irrorata , marsh microhabitats northern Gulf Mexico that vary their accessibility to predatory blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus . from high-predation sites exhibited more extensively calcified apertural lips narrower openings relative snails low-predation sites. Thick generally increased handling time required by breach shells laboratory experiments, although method entry used crabs was dependent on crab:snail size ratio. Apertural-lip thickness not related past events field-collected snails. Snails exposed water treated with effluent crushed conspecifics produced significantly thicker than controls, a response morphological extent comparable rocky-shore counterparts. This study underscores widespread occurrence predator-induced plasticity marine gastropods emphasizes its role where shell-crushing can be as prevalent selective force rocky intertidal.