Littoraria irrorata

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Littoraria irrorata
Littoraria irrorata.jpg
The shell of this Littoraria irrorata individual is covered in the lichen Pyrenocollema halodytes
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Littorinidae
Genus: Littoraria
Species:
L. irrorata
Binomial name
Littoraria irrorata
Say, 1822 [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Littorina irrorata (Say, 1822)
  • Turbo irroratus Say, 1822 [3]

Littoraria irrorata, also known by the common name the marsh periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae. [2] The specific epithet irrorata means 'moistened' or 'dewy.'

Contents

This species occurs in salt marshes on the Atlantic coast and Gulf Coast of North America, from Massachusetts to Texas.

Some colonies of this species of snail are the only mollusks known to practice fungiculture. [4]

L. irrorata is an essential part of the salt marsh ecosystem. This is displayed in its strong relationship with Sporobolus alterniflorus , also known as Spartina alterniflora, a grass commonly found in abundance in salt marshes. [5]

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 29.2 millimetres (1.15 in). [6] L. irrorata is extremely temperature tolerant. The snail has the ability to retract its foot into its shell when experiencing thermal stress which allows them to avoid water loss by evaporation and survive in high temperatures. [7]

Distribution

This species can be found along Ireland, the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Spatial distributions of L. irrorata in salt marshes likely depend on predation pressures and vary with geography. [5] It is possible that S. alterniflorus stem density plays a role in the local distribution of L. irrorata. [8]

Ecology

Marsh periwinkles on marsh grass Marsh periwinkle 001.jpg
Marsh periwinkles on marsh grass

Feeding habits

Littoraria irrorata feeds on fungi that it encourages to grow. It creates and maintains wounds on the grass, S. alterniflorus, which are then infected by fungi, probably of the Phaeosphaeria and Mycosphaerella genera. Such fungi are the preferred diet of the snail. L. irrorata also deposits faeces on the wounds that they create, which encourage the growth of the fungi because they are rich in nitrogen and fungal hyphae. Juvenile snails raised on uninfected leaves do not grow and are more likely to die, indicating the importance of the fungi in the diet of L. irrorata. [4] The diet of L. irrorata also consists of algal mats on the salt marsh floor, dead S. alterniflorus, live S. alterniflorus, and marsh sediment. [9] L. irrorata is capable of having a strong top-down control of S. alterniflorus production due to its grazing of the live shoots. [10]

Habitat

The minimum recorded depth for this species is 0 metres (0 ft); maximum recorded depth is 22 metres (72 ft). [6] L. irrorata can usually be found on the rootstock of S. alterniflorus and in some salt marshes on its dead, fallen leaves. [11] L. irrorata has also been observed to inhabit Sporobolus cynosuroides . [12] There were no significant differences in snail population density between S. alterniflorus and S. cynosuroides. [12] However, S. cynosuroides was observed to be a safer habitat due to its superior height. [12] The shell size of the snail has been found to increase with decreasing elevation in Virginia salt marshes but the exact opposite has been found in South Carolina and Florida salt marshes. [5]

Predation

Predators of L. irrorata include blue crabs, diamondback terrapins, clapper rail and raccoons. [13] Predator cues for L. irrorata can be water related as well as airborne. [14] It is likely that chemicals in the incoming tide cue the snails to climb S. alterniflorus. It is also possible that blue crabs give off some compound which is aerosolized and detected by L. irrorata. [14] L. irrorata responds quickest to chemicals released when the shells of other snails are broken. [15]

In order to avoid predation, L. irrorata has the ability increase the thickness of their shell ridge which in turn decreases the size of their aperture opening. [5] This makes it difficult for predators to remove them from their shell. This is an essential function to have as blue crabs are commonly seen chipping away at the shell ridge in order to feed on the snail. [5]

Another method L. irrorata uses to avoid predation is vertical climbing of the grass S. alterniflorus. The snails climb up the grass during high tide to avoid predation and descend during low tide to feed. This is a very effective defense against predators. [16]

Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Oil covered marsh periwinkles in a Louisiana salt marsh Oil covered Marsh Periwinkles .gif
Oil covered marsh periwinkles in a Louisiana salt marsh

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill had major impacts on the productivity, population density, and growth of L. irrorata in salt marshes along the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern United States. Snail densities were reduced by 80-90% on the oil covered salt marsh edges and 50% in the marsh interior. [13] The major loss of adult snails resulted in a reduced mean snail size in salt marshes. It was originally projected that it would take about 3–5 years for the L. irrorata population density to recover from the oil spill. [13] However, snail populations still have not made a full recovery nine years after the oil spill. It is now projected that it could take one to two decades for L. irrorata populations to fully recover at heavily oiled sites. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Spartina</i> Genus of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae

Spartina is a genus of plants in the grass family, frequently found in coastal salt marshes. Species in this genus are commonly known as cordgrass or cord-grass, and are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe, north-western and southern Africa, the Americas and the islands of the southern Atlantic Ocean; one or two species also occur on the western coast of North America and in freshwater habitats inland in the Americas. The highest species diversity is on the east coasts of North and South America, particularly Florida. They form large, often dense colonies, particularly on coastal salt marshes, and grow quickly. The species vary in size from 0.3–2 m tall. Many of the species will produce hybrids if they come into contact.

<i>Littorina</i> Genus of gastropods

Littorina is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Sporobolus alterniflorus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Sporobolus alterniflorus, or synonymously known as Spartina alterniflora, the smooth cordgrass, saltmarsh cordgrass, or salt-water cordgrass, is a perennial deciduous grass which is found in intertidal wetlands, especially estuarine salt marshes. It has been reclassified as Sporobolus alterniflorus after a taxonomic revision in 2014, but it is still common to see Spartina alterniflora and in 2019 an interdisciplinary team of experts coauthored a report published in the journal Ecology supporting Spartina as a genus. It grows 1–1.5 m tall and has smooth, hollow stems that bear leaves up to 20–60 cm long and 1.5 cm wide at their base, which are sharply tapered and bend down at their tips. Like its relative saltmeadow cordgrass S. patens, it produces flowers and seeds on only one side of the stalk. The flowers are a yellowish-green, turning brown by the winter. It has rhizoidal roots, which, when broken off, can result in vegetative asexual growth. The roots are an important food resource for snow geese. It can grow in low marsh as well as high marsh, but it is usually restricted to low marsh because it is outcompeted by salt meadow cordgrass in the high marsh. It grows in a wide range of salinities, from about 5 psu to marine, and has been described as the "single most important marsh plant species in the estuary" of Chesapeake Bay. It is described as intolerant of shade.

<i>Littoraria</i> Genus of gastropods

Littoraria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littorinidae</span> Family of gastropods

The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha, commonly known as periwinkles and found worldwide.

<i>Littoraria angulifera</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria angulifera or the mangrove periwinkle is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles.

<i>Melarhaphe neritoides</i> Species of gastropod

Melarhaphe neritoides, common name : the small periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Geukensia demissa</i> Species of bivalve

Geukensia demissa is a species of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mytilidae, the true mussels. This species is native to the Atlantic coast of North America. The common names for this species include ribbed mussel, Atlantic ribbed marsh mussel and ribbed horsemussel. However, the common name ribbed mussel is also used for the Southern Hemisphere mussel Aulacomya atra. The appearance of the shell is grooved and oval in shape. The interior of this mussel is tinted purple

<i>Littoraria articulata</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria articulata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

Littoraria bengalensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria carinifera</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria carinifera is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria flava</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria flava is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria intermedia</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria intermedia is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria lutea</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria lutea is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria mauritiana</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria mauritiana is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria pallescens</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria pallescens is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria scabra</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria scabra, common name : the mangrove periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littoraria undulata</i> Species of gastropod

Littoraria undulata, common name the robust shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Juncus roemerianus</i> Species of flowering plant

Juncus roemerianus is a species of flowering plant in the rush family known by the common names black rush, needlerush, and black needlerush. It is native to North America, where its main distribution lies along the coastline of the southeastern United States, including the Gulf Coast. It occurs from New Jersey to Texas, with outlying populations in Connecticut, New York, Mexico, and certain Caribbean islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt marsh die-off</span> Ecological disaster in low-elevation salt marshes

Salt marsh die-off is a term that has been used in the US and UK to describe the death of salt marsh cordgrass leading to subsequent degradation of habitat, specifically in the low marsh zones of salt marshes on the coasts of the Western Atlantic. Cordgrass normally anchors sediment in salt marshes; its loss leads to decreased substrate hardness, increased erosion, and collapse of creek banks into the water, ultimately resulting in decreased marsh health and productivity.

References

  1. ↑ "Littoraria irrorata". NCBI taxonomy. Bethesda, MD: National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 29 September 2017. Lineage( full ) cellular organisms; Eukaryota; Opisthokonta; Metazoa; Eumetazoa; Bilateria; Protostomia; Lophotrochozoa; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Caenogastropoda; Hypsogastropoda; Littorinimorpha; Littorinoidea; Littorinidae; Littoraria
  2. 1 2 Reid DG (2011). "Littoraria irrorata (Say, 1822)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Say T (24 July 1821). "An Account of some of the Marine Shells of the United States" (pdf). Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. II (2): 239–240. ISSN   0885-3479. LCCN   12030018. OCLC   1460713 . Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 Silliman BR, Newell SY (December 2003). "Fungal farming in a snail". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 100 (26): 15643–8. Bibcode:2003PNAS..10015643S. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2535227100 . PMC   307621 . PMID   14657360.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Rietl AJ, Sorrentino MG, Roberts BJ (June 2018). "Spatial distribution and morphological responses to predation in the salt marsh periwinkle". Ecosphere. 9 (6): e02316. Bibcode:2018Ecosp...9E2316R. doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2316 .
  6. 1 2 Welch JJ (January 2010). "The "island rule" and deep-sea gastropods: re-examining the evidence". PLOS ONE. 5 (1): e8776. Bibcode:2010PLoSO...5.8776W. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776 . PMC   2808249 . PMID   20098740.
  7. ↑ Iacarella J, Helmuth B (December 2011). "Experiencing the salt marsh environment through the foot of Littoraria irrorata: Behavioral responses to thermal and desiccation stresses". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 409 (1–2): 143–153. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2011.08.011.
  8. ↑ Kiehn WM, Morris JT (September 2009). "Relationships between Spartina alterniflora and Littoraria irrorata in a South Carolina salt marsh". Wetlands. 29 (3): 818–825. Bibcode:2009Wetl...29..818K. doi:10.1672/08-178.1. ISSN   0277-5212. S2CID   23611399.
  9. ↑ Alexander S (1979-01-01). "Diet of the Periwinkle Littorina irrorata in a Louisiana Salt Marsh". Gulf and Caribbean Research. 6 (3): 293–295. doi: 10.18785/grr.0603.11 . ISSN   1528-0470.
  10. ↑ Silliman BR, Zieman JC (October 2001). "Top-Down Control of Spartina alterniflora Production by Periwinkle Grazing in a Virginia Salt Marsh". Ecology. 82 (10): 2830–2845. Bibcode:2001Ecol...82.2830S. doi:10.2307/2679964. JSTOR   2679964.
  11. ↑ Crist RW, Banta WC (1983-01-01). "Distribution of the Marsh Periwinkle Littorina irrorata (Say) in a Virginia Salt Marsh". Gulf Research Reports. 7. doi: 10.18785/grr.0703.04 . ISSN   0072-9027.
  12. 1 2 3 Failon CM, Wittyngham SS, Johnson DS (October 2020). "Ecological Associations of Littoraria irrorata with Spartina cynosuroides and Spartina alterniflora". Wetlands. 40 (5): 1317–1325. Bibcode:2020Wetl...40.1317F. doi:10.1007/s13157-020-01306-4. ISSN   0277-5212. S2CID   219947420.
  13. 1 2 3 Zengel S, Montague CL, Pennings SC, Powers SP, Steinhoff M, Fricano G, et al. (January 2016). "Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Salt Marsh Periwinkles (Littoraria irrorata)". Environmental Science & Technology. 50 (2): 643–52. Bibcode:2016EnST...50..643Z. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04371 . PMID   26713547.
  14. 1 2 Carroll JM, Church MB, Finelli CM (2018-10-01). "Periwinkle climbing response to water- and airbone predator chemical cues may depend on home-marsh geography". PeerJ. 6: e5744. doi: 10.7717/peerj.5744 . PMC   6171496 . PMID   30294513.
  15. ↑ Wollerman L, Duva M, Ferrier MD (September 2003). "Responses of Littoraria irrorata say (Mollusca: Gastropoda) to water-borne chemicals: A comparison of chemical sources and orientation mechanisms". Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology. 36 (3): 129–142. Bibcode:2003MFBP...36..129W. doi:10.1080/10236240310001603756. ISSN   1023-6244. S2CID   84921653.
  16. ↑ Vaughn CC, Fisher FM (November 1988). "Vertical migration as a refuge from predation in intertidal marsh snails: A field test". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 123 (2): 163–176. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(88)90167-0.
  17. ↑ Deis DR, Fleeger JW, Johnson DS, Mendelssohn IA, Lin Q, Graham SA, et al. (November 2020). "Recovery of the salt marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) 9 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Size matters". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 160: 111581. Bibcode:2020MarPB.16011581D. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111581. PMID   32890962. S2CID   221511569.

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