Climate Change and Jump Dispersal Drive Invasion of the Rosy Wolfsnail (Euglandina rosea) in the United States

Abstract

The rosy wolfsnail (Euglandina rosea) is a carnivorous, highly detrimental invader in many parts of the world. Although its negative impact on endemic island mollusk populations has been well documented, little is known about its range expansion in North America, where populations are not constrained by oceanic barriers. In this study, we present three compelling lines of evidence indicating significant ongoing and projected geographic range expansion of E. rosea: (1) We analyze the current range using data from iNaturalist; (2) we report on the demographics and persistence of an isolated extra-limital satellite population in Nashville, Tennessee, since its discovery in 2006; and (3) we employ a predictive ecological model that incorporates environmental variables indicating that the range expansion will continue into the central U.S. well beyond its present range. The findings of this study shed light on the underlying mechanisms behind the invasion of this species. First, the invasion is frequently associated with jump dispersal events, which are often linked to horticultural and landscaping activities. Second, the establishment and proliferation of satellite populations are facilitated by common landscape management practices, such as irrigation, as well as the urban heat island effect (UHI). Third, there is a possible synergistic interplay between the UHI effect and climate change that accelerates the range expansion via global warming.