Florida applesnail -- Ecology

Invasion of exotic species is a global threat to native species, biological diversity, and ecological restoration projects. Pomacea maculata is a macrophyte herbivore often misidentified with one of the world’s most invasive and destructive exotic snail, Pomacea canaliculata, but has a broader geographical distribution and climate tolerance, and greater egg production. This research examines whether the exotic P. maculata and native Pomacea paludosa occupy identical vegetation communities, mechanisms of interference competition, grazing impact differences on Vallisneria americana and to develop an exploratory agent based model. This model uses historical and present data to project how differences between species in life history and grazing patterns can potentially impact South Florida ecosystems. This model examined how P. maculate invasion of South Florida could affect two of the Central Everglades Planning Project’s main environmental restoration goals: function of key vegetative communities and
conservation of endangered or threatened species.