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<p>The carnivorous snail <i>Anentome helena</i> (native to Southeast Asia) is highly favored by aquarists for its appealing esthetics. However, the unintentional or deliberate release of <i>A. helena</i> into the natural ecosystems may result in subsequent establishment and invasion. Therefore, risk assessment of <i>A. helena</i> is crucial for policy development and protecting the native biodiversity from potential ecological disruptions. The present study focused on the risk assessment of <i>A. helena</i> through the identification of climatically suitable regions in India for potential invasion using the species distribution modeling (SDM) framework and its predation on native chironomid larvae through laboratory-based experiments. The SDM output identified the Gangetic plains and parts of eastern India as a highly climatically suitable region for potential <i>A. helena</i> invasion. Laboratory experiments revealed that <i>A. helena</i> consumed a higher number of larger chironomid larvae than smaller ones and damaged larval tubes, resulting in shorter tube lengths during predation. Although habitat complexity significantly reduced the consumption rate, <i>A. helena</i> substantially preferred chironomid larvae in the presence of multiple alternative prey, regardless of varying prey densities. The per capita searching efficiency of <i>A. helena</i> decreased with increasing predator density, indicating the presence of mutual interference. Compared with native predators, <i>A. helena</i> displayed higher consumption rates and shorter handling times, suggesting a more substantial predatory effect on freshwater invertebrates. Therefore, policymakers should implement strict trade regulations to mitigate the potential impacts of <i>A. helena</i> on native fauna.</p>

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The non-native snail, Anentome helena, as a threat to native chironomid larvae: risk assessment of a potential freshwater ecosystem invader

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月8日

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  • Debjit Mondal,
  • Pranesh Paul,
  • Abhilasha Ganguly,
  • Gautam Aditya

摘要

The carnivorous snail Anentome helena (native to Southeast Asia) is highly favored by aquarists for its appealing esthetics. However, the unintentional or deliberate release of A. helena into the natural ecosystems may result in subsequent establishment and invasion. Therefore, risk assessment of A. helena is crucial for policy development and protecting the native biodiversity from potential ecological disruptions. The present study focused on the risk assessment of A. helena through the identification of climatically suitable regions in India for potential invasion using the species distribution modeling (SDM) framework and its predation on native chironomid larvae through laboratory-based experiments. The SDM output identified the Gangetic plains and parts of eastern India as a highly climatically suitable region for potential A. helena invasion. Laboratory experiments revealed that A. helena consumed a higher number of larger chironomid larvae than smaller ones and damaged larval tubes, resulting in shorter tube lengths during predation. Although habitat complexity significantly reduced the consumption rate, A. helena substantially preferred chironomid larvae in the presence of multiple alternative prey, regardless of varying prey densities. The per capita searching efficiency of A. helena decreased with increasing predator density, indicating the presence of mutual interference. Compared with native predators, A. helena displayed higher consumption rates and shorter handling times, suggesting a more substantial predatory effect on freshwater invertebrates. Therefore, policymakers should implement strict trade regulations to mitigate the potential impacts of A. helena on native fauna.