loading page

Exploring ant-mollusc interactions: insights from the Iberian Peninsula
  • +1
  • Jairo Robla,
  • Omar Sánchez,
  • Miguel Ángel Gómez-Serrano,
  • J. Manuel Vidal-Cordero
Jairo Robla
Estación Biológica de Doñana
Author Profile
Omar Sánchez
University of Oviedo
Author Profile
Miguel Ángel Gómez-Serrano
University of Valencia
Author Profile
J. Manuel Vidal-Cordero
Estación Biológica de Doñana

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Ants occupy a great variety of habitats, perform essential ecological roles, and interact with a wide variety of other organisms. However, the interaction between ants and molluscs is a lesser-explored relationship that can be categorized into a) ant predation on molluscs, b) shell collection as hoarding behaviour, c) the use of shells for nesting, and d) myrmecophilic relationships. This study reports new data about these interactions from accidental field observations, a quantitative analysis of the snail shells found in 16 Messor ant nest cleanings, and a qualitative analysis of 51 additional nests of different species. We found 1127 snail shells from 20 species, most of them belonging to juveniles of the Geomitridae and Helicidae families. Notably, Granopupa granum was the only species found alive in the collected material. Furthermore, in our qualitative assessment, we found 86.8% of the analysed nests with shell remains in the nest cleanings of ten ant species. Additional observations revealed ants transporting both empty shells and live snails to the nest, some living snail species around the nest entries, and additional interactions between snails and ants. Our results may support cases of a) predation of snails of certain species by ants, as many shells were found with perforations compatible with ant attacks and we have recorded direct predation, b) the collection of empty shells to gather the body remains of snails as a trophic resource, and c) the potential existence of more myrmecophilous snail species than currently known, capable of living in ant nests without being attacked, like Cecilioides acicula, Ferrussacia folliculum, or G. granum. Although more studies are necessary to understand the intriguing relationship between ants and snails, the study of ant nest wastes can also become a valuable tool for detecting rare native micromollusc, as well as invasive, non-native and aquatic species.
19 Sep 2024Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
24 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
24 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
01 Oct 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
30 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Nov 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor