Habitat: Garden snails prefer moist and cool environments. They are most active at night when the humidity is high. During dry and hot conditions, they seal themselves or close their shell opening. [4] They usually stay under rocks, leaves, flower pots, logs, and bushes. They are found in gardens, parks, fields, and forests. [1]
Distribution: Britain, Mediterranean area, Western Europe, North Africa, Turkey, and USA. [1] They live in temperate climates. [2] Biome: Temperate forest, grassland, coastland, wet lowland [3] Tropic Level: Garden snails are primary consumers. They mainly eat vegetation such as plants, seeds, flowers, leaves, and fruits. [5] Interspecific Interactions: Garden snails are eaten by a variety of omnivores such as raccoon, skunks, and birds. Snakes, frogs and lizards also eat this snail. They are also hosts for parasites such as trematodes. [6] Intraspecific Interactions: Garden snails mate and take care of the young until mature. Some garden snails hide in groups together. They have snail trails they follow to help them mate, or to find prey. [5] [1] http://www.arkive.org/garden-snail/helix-aspersa/ [2] http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/18 [3] http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1638&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN [4] http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/gastro/brown_garden_snail.htm [5] http://www.welcomewildlife.com/?folder=pages/urban%20wildlife/other/snails [6] http://www.ehow.com/info_8036350_snails-ecosystems.html |