Conservation at a slow pace: terrestrial gastropods facing fast-changing climate

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Zoology
• Climate Change Biology

Background:

• Terrestrial gastropods (snails and slugs) are vital to ecosystem function and biodiversity, yet their vulnerability to climate change is understudied.
• Despite their ecological importance and endangered status, knowledge of their physiological and behavioral adaptations to changing climate conditions is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize ecophysiological insights into the responses of terrestrial gastropods to climate change.
• To categorize the threats posed by climate change to gastropod populations, focusing on physiological and behavioral adaptations.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing ecophysiological research on terrestrial gastropods.
• Categorization of climate change threats into four key areas: winter conditions, heat/drought, extreme events, and habitat alteration.

Main Results:

• Gastropods employ various strategies to survive cold, but altered snow cover increases temperature variability, impacting cold tolerance and invasion potential.
• Responses to drought and high temperatures include costly physiological protections and reduced activity, potentially increasing mortality.
• Increased frequency of extreme events like fires and floods may lead to community impoverishment, while habitat fragmentation poses significant extinction risks due to low mobility.

Conclusions:

• Terrestrial gastropods face multifaceted threats from climate change, including altered temperature regimes, extreme weather, and habitat loss.
• Further research using non-invasive methods is needed to understand phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation in gastropods for effective conservation and ecosystem management.