Everglades Florida Apple Snail Density

The Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) is found
in tropical/subtropical freshwater ecosystems climate
(Cordeiro & Perez, 2011). The Florida apple snail
is of special management interest because survival
of the endangered Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis
plumbeus) depends on a healthy populations of apple
snails. Results of this study show Florida apple
snails occur independently of habitat type (slough,
prairie etc.), which should indicate abundant foraging
habitats available to Snail Kites. However, Snail
Kites show preferences for specific foraging habitats,
which suggests that they are more restricted in available
habitat than what snail habitat use would suggest.