Chemical Cues Released by an Alien Invasive Aquatic Gastropod Drive Its Invasion Success

Chemical cues released by the invasive gastropod Tarebia granifera trigger avoidance responses in native South African gastropods, facilitating its invasion success. The study employed in situ behavioral experiments using video cameras and demarcated arenas to quantify displacement and movement orientation of three native species—Assiminea cf. capensis, Melanoides tuberculata, and Coriandria durbanensis—when exposed to chemical cues from T. granifera. All native gastropods exhibited significant negative taxis, moving away from the invasive species' cues, while T. granifera showed random responses to conspecifics. This suggests that chemical signaling disrupts native species' behavior, creating ecological opportunities for the invader in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Raw, J. L., Miranda, N. A. F., & Perissinotto, R. (2013). Chemical Cues Released by an Alien Invasive Aquatic Gastropod Drive Its Invasion Success. PLoS ONE, 8(5), e64071. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064071