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Energy Saving through Trail following in a Marine Snail Author(s): Mark S. Davies and Janine Blackwell Source: Proceedings: Biological Sciences, Vol. 274, No. 1614 (May 7, 2007), pp. 1233-1236 Published by: The Royal Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25223917 . Accessed: 21/09/2011 10:42 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The Royal Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Proceedings: Biological Sciences. http://www.jstor.org PROCEEDINGS Proc- R' Soc- B (2007) 274' 1233-1236 -OF-T?? THEROYAL doi:10.1098/rspb.2007.0046 ^ 27 February2007 online SOCIETY JXJJ Published Energy in a marine Mark S. Davies School ofHealth, Natural Most snails and we produce, and trail following snail Janine Blackwell and Social Sciences, University ofSunderland, Sunderland SRI over locomote slugs show through saving 3SD, UK a layer of mucus to the resultant mucus and although trail is expensive can be reduced over trail When fresh by following. tracking conspecific that this expense intertidal snail Littorina littorea(L.) produced only approximately 27% of themucus trails, themarine laid over weathered a to recreate snails. When their mucus trails, snails adjusted by marker tracking production convex to the trail as originally of similar and thickness trail profile laid. Maximum energy shape saving occurs when are little weathered. laid trails which and diverse roles for following recently Many ecological across trail following is have been proposed. the that role the and so saving Energy only applies Gastropoda may to explain help Littorina energy; Keywords: a well-established is such trail following why littorea', mucus; 1. INTRODUCTION snails Most and leave slugs trail as theymove. Although almost and Hawkins of locomotion is extend their obvious resolved. Yet, that in in marine, loss energy to with gastropods of mucus (e.g. Calow species acts as overhangs, production a significant terrestrial and and & snails allowed terrestrial the represents freshwater those for plants. locomotion verticals Davies themucus that evolved to habitat advantages on feed in locomotion its evolution both (1998) suggested that because a role glue, thismode in the Gastropoda, are yet to be functions ubiquitous ancillary a silvery mucus them behind 1974; Denny 1980a; Edwards & Welsh 1982; Horn 1986; Peck et al et al 1990, 1992?>; Navarro & Torrijos 1987; Davies to thishigh cost, it seems unlikely that post 1995). Owing of mucus-based benefit of mucus functions depositional locomotion, from these to relationship functions be vision moving tracking Animals difficult. home (e.g. Delia to aggregate Cook Stafford et al grazers. trail that are opportunistic, the potential existing mucus We over the which with limited find follow & Davies visual might their own trails or mate 2005) it might following might we examined to reduce to (e.g. costs energy the trap thus deliver food of benefits a more direct by locomoting benefit: over that substratum because mucus trails may both a smoother surface produce amount of mucus is produced and to move, the reduced while animals are trailfollowing.Culley & Sherman (1985) demonstrated that surface topography can influence the amount *Author Accepted of mucus costs by 35 X (Davies ?ra/. 1992b). We used the intertidal, rocky shore Littorina littorea(L.) as a model required 6 February 2007 examine of its widespread Atlantic and because energy in trail following in the East and West of information available saving distribution of the wealth on itsbiology. Its pedal mucus will begin to decay shortly after deposition (Herndl & Peduzzi 1989), perhaps as quick as 5-8 h after immersion (Davies & Beckwith 1999). Edwards & Davies (2002) suggested that the mucus of ismost littorea 1 -day or old embedded escence to conspecifics useful in terms less, we Here microalgae. when of nutritional used profile mucus trails produced tracker by marker between relationship the shore, trail and the response, animals to weathered fluor trails, a giving the thickness tracker and in terms are through conventional and thickness the trails benefit mucus to visualize microscopy of mucus thickness. We examined time of trail of animals, the exposed on of thickness, trails. for locomotion 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS A Leitz 22EB using Dialux an eyepiece in the ormer (mark. davies(a)sunderland. ac.uk). fluorescence and graticule was microscope slide calibrated calibrated to measure the diameters of six lengths of stretched wire, each taped separately to a microscope slide. Each wire was then rotated through 90?, with to the slide the slide, we calibration: transverse was its diameter rotation did not For onto the wire re-measured of the wire was assume section. brushed that its full length was ensuring and units. The focusing that to ensure the wire the re-measurement, to provide in contact in microscope a proper a circular had talcum a reference point powder on which to focus; was focused on the powder particles on the microscope the slide on which on the the wire was laid and then re-focused powder for correspondence to because re-taped trails. hypothesized stabilize snails surfaces where 1992a), While the substratum has been implicated in feeding (e.g. 1992). Mucus Davies of range is an energy-saving then any saving in device following mucus is more since the mucus production significant, costs of locomotion the metabolic production outweigh 1994) and those of conspecifics Santina (e.g. where might no shows suggested that trails (1989) in navigation over complex used on trails deposited will species a Nevertheless, has been proposed. Denny might all trail following snail; Haliotis tuberculata.Tankersley (1989) demonstrated that the locomotory force applied is reduced in trailfollowing, as opposed to trail laying, in Littorina irrorata.But if trail L. the evolution driven not occurrence whose phylogeny. for the mucus functions have since behaviour. of units 11 January Received1233 2007 particles moved This on the surface on the of the wire, fine graduated journal is ? noting the number focusing 2007 The Royal knob. Society 1234 M. Diameters recorded between wire = r2 0.999,d.f. Littorina focusing littorea mm shell UK length) slides (75X25 squares. Double with etched laid by of a single mucus snail to the beginning a trail directly on top of the single as the marker snail. direction it laid of mucus measurement For where rehydrated, trails approximately trails were trail that in the same trail, mucus thickness, trails seawater in filtered necessary, a introducing trail such for 10min. The slide was flooded with a 0.2% (w/v) solution of the fluorescent s. Small 30 volumes The hydration. on acridine orange the edge of an etch the mucus, on re-focused of the mucus, the upper of of the slide beneath surface noted. of focusing units between the two were recorded in this way thicknesses Mucus at 10% divisions of the trailwidths. assess To mucus the effect of decay, single at a semi-exposed mid-shore and trails were the rate of trails were mucus site at Sunderland, exposed UK (national to a frame fixed on near-horizontal fixed rock of wave by cages to prevent grazer ingress. Degree is not a significant factor in the rate at which covered exposure mucus littorea decays of L. and mucus recovered two tidal cycles, one week and straddle two and a half weeks. two and out in a random order over two months. = in filtered (n 10) were kept submerged measurement for microscopic = (n 10) were 10) were and of dehydration carried controls 'Laboratory' seawater until required 'Field' (a few minutes). to and from the site transported a period experienced half-life et al (Davies a half weeks and n= tidal cycle, The 12 days (for which Treatments this period. 1992a). is approximately the pedal were Slides after one measured of one week the periods 1992a): et al (Davies thickness littorea pedal mucus of L. at 412 565). Etched glass slides with single grid referenceNZ mucus on of exposure' 'period double and controls so they to prior hydration To assess the effect (typically 2 h post-laying). of mucus trails on the quantity of single mucus onshore by tracker snails, single trails were exposed produced a above. On return to the laboratory, described for the periods being measured of the decay trail was second thickness^ was of exposed (n=l0 of tracker thickness the thickness the first to create then measured the thickness determine between laid over of single these a double per double To the difference snail mucus, trails was trail whose treatment). trails the mean and fresh trails in the middle were a convex showed than thicker significantly thickness thicker of 35.4 fresh 1.5 s.e., n= single were 10, though = slightly thicker at the 60% point (mean 37.7 jam?2.3 s.e., single n= trails were 10). Double trails Mann-Whitney Proc. R. Soc. B at the 50% test (2007) point 17=3.5, thicker significantly um+1.1 s.e., (46.8 p<0.001). At the p = double 20; 0.003). By more 27% approximately i.e. a tracker snail produces of the mucus of a marker snail. than single mucus only 27% approximately When exposed onshore, the profiles of both double and single trails became thinner and progressively flattened, a trail was though detectable cases in both after one week (figure lb,c). No trail could be detected after two and a half weeks' exposure. ANO VA showed that both at the = edge (repeated measures, n 20) and at the midpoint reductions in (n= 10), trails showed significant (p<0.05) at each thickness increasing and treatment, temporal that afterone week both single and double trailshad decayed to the same 11.0 their profile: different. = double (Means 6.7 = laying =10.2 double s.e., a over trail not significantly 6.1 um?0.57 edges: single s.e. Means for midpoint: urn?0.55 urn?1.4 were thicknesses for urn?0.45 a mucus s.e., = single s.e.) that trail been had onshore for two and a half weeks (figure Id), animals produced a convex deposit which was similar in profile to that of single trails laid on glass (figure la). Statistical that showed comparison two these were trail groups not = significantlydifferent in thickness at themidpoint (L7 46, = on laid but that trails p 0.759, n=l0), single glass were 19.0 1.7 um? over s.e.; decayed w= 20 in both cases (U= 121, p = means, trail = 14.0 week = glass urn?0.7 s.e., 0.032). laying a trail over trails that had been a much or less, animals produced On over at the edges: thicker significantly for one onshore flatter deposit, markedly differentfrom thatproduced on trails exposed for two and a halfweeks (figure Id). An ANOVA on the data in = figure 1d revealed that at themidpoint (n 10), therewas a in mean difference significant thickness (F5}54 = 225.96, p < 0.001 ) and a post hoc SNK test showed trails grouped in thickness (from thickest to thinnest) as two and a half weeks > one week=two tidal cycles > one tidal cycle> field = control measures, laboratory n = 20), control. At there were also edge (repeated differences significant as two and a half trails grouping = = one tidal tidal cycle cycles In the control. then, general ? < 0.001), 21.35,p 0^5,114 > one week > two weeks control laboratory > field longer mucus the marker snail's the tracker snail mucus and example, figure energy by the trail had laid over trail been following the area by determining Id, an animal moving over onshore, the more animals can save over fresh trails. For under the it. Thus a two tidal curves cycles-old in trail produces only approximately 49% of themucus deposited over a two and a half-week-old trail. The effect of tracker snails laying a relatively flat trail over aged trails (figure Id) is to produce a total (marker+ tracker) trailprofile that is again convex (figure 2), largely restoring the original trail profile and volume. trails (50%) point single trails had a um? (7=91.0, trails than at the edges, and fresh double (figure la). At the mid mean were cross-section, 20; have inmoving calculated. 3. RESULTS All s.e., n= s.e., trails, On the number and positions the surface on a particle on focused for at pipetted to maintain being measured was microscope were seawater of filtered seawater in filtered orange the mucus onto intervals regular acridine dye 1.7 um? n= determining the area under the curves infigure 1a, double laid only once. Trails were an array of touching onto mm), 19.0 single 25.1um?0.6 and used tracker were collected grid reference NZ of 4 days at approximately seawater urn) were (national for a maximum (0.2 microscope 1X1 mm (12-18 seawater in aerated in filtered (means: atWhitburn, stored 616), 12?C (calculated for the 10 and 90% points combined), double trails were again significantly thicker than single trails 28 to 107 urn; the relationship linear (Pearson's units was ranged from diameter and = 4,?<0.001). from mid-shore 414 Snail trailfollowing saves energy S. Davies & J.Blackwell than n=l0; edges 4. DISCUSSION In making following, used claims we produced make mucus about the energy assumption a constant with is proportional costs. We to energy thus trail thickness and in turn saving that through the snails trail we and composition content to trail organic regard this assumption as Snail trailfollowing saves energy M. S. Davies & J.Blackwell (b) (a) fresh single 1235 control laboratory field control 1 tidalcycle 2 tidalcycles trail freshdouble trail lweek 20 r (d) control laboratory -laboratory control -field control field control 1 tidalcycle 2 tidalcycles -1 tidal cycle -2 tidal cycles lweek -lweek -2Vi weeks 20 h 10 10 20 10 % 30 40 50 across divisions 60 70 80 90 of the mucus the width 10 trail 20 10 % 30 50 40 across divisions 60 70 80 1. Thickness trails, (a) Fresh trails laid in the laboratory, Figure profiles of mucus single and double (b) The decay after periods of exposure onshore, of double trails after periods of exposure onshore, (c) The decay (d) Trails over decayed tracker animals at the midpoint Mucus thickness measures by subtraction). single trails (obtained did not differ reasonable between significantly because while of laboratory any pair in variations and field controls as stationary substratum. as mucus trails. In adhesive we Thus energy an attest between that locomoting over a locomoting are snails over by shell the and to able save laid mucus previously fresh the saving of trail, costs as mucus of energy 70% is consider approximately able in the context of an animal that expends much energy on mucus are not L. While values for littorea production. available, literature consumed energy of estimates on expended the in laboratory and 1998), for polyplacophorans Horn higher (68% inChiton pelliserpentis, We weeks' over were onshore exposure such a amucus to detect unable and trail which, terms in animals of its to lay a mucus appear of the was thickness, the broad substratum via mucus Nevertheless, fresh, 2005). 'full thickness' Proc. R. Soc. B (2007) to be mechanism: a minimum trails in propulsion effective since snails it appears 10 B 0 deposit 10 20 30 50 40 across divisions 60 70 80 90 of the mucus the width trail that they are unable after off mucus to trails of production to adjust warrants their production further Maximum over double periods laid exposure entirely. in the laboratory onshore. ?=10 The mechanism over in by which the snails perceive the quality of a trail and thus are able (Chan mucus 2. Resultant trails single each case. switch layerofmucus might be required for the coupling of foot to et al 15 20 Figure laid mucus trail that recreates locomotory G 30 a half profile of the trail as originally laid and this may be a requirement ? 40 10 % indistinguishable from a fresh 'single' trail. Indeed, tracker animals control 1week 21/2weeks +i 1986). trail after two and tracker even be may trails field control 1 tidalcycle 2 tidalcycles 50 gastropods inermis (Paine range from 7% in the nudibranch Navanax 1965) to 31% in the limpet Patella vulgata (Davies & Hawkins n= 0.001). of single of proportion mucus ps< trail produced by and the edges 10 in every case. mucus pedal composition in littorinid snails have been described (Smith & Morin 2002), differences have been between the mucus produced while moving and that produced while (ANOVAs, 90 of the mucus the width terms explain will benefit occur why of mucus is unknown and investigation. when recent from trails trails trail are are following recently followed in energy laid. This may more often 1236 M. Snail trailfollowing saves energy S. Davies & J.Blackwell (Chapman 1998; Edwards & Davies 2002), rather than as Edwards & Davies (2002) suggested, that snails are to responding the increased Nevertheless, nutrition enhancing content food of these trails. trail followingmay have the added benefit of for microphagous snails: food particles may be embedded in themucus (Davies & Beckwith 1999). Denny (19806) measured the thickness of themucus trail of the terrestrial typically 10-20 urn using themethod of Lissman on crawled Slugs aluminium foil a thinner mucus leave trail than those slugmay here, though the fixingtechnique may have distorted the structure of the trail. The or profile convex shape it is possible that of the trail was the shape not given here reported and could enhance the capacity of the trailforcollecting organic (food) seawater. from particles This surface a is because as opposed to a flat profile, area for organic enrichment. profile, will domed trail a greater present significant savings in energy through trail following may help to explain why trail following is such a well established behaviour. Littorinid snails usually move in The to order to forage, with compatible or shelter the purpose a mate. to find Where snails may of the movement, preferentially trail follow for the purpose of energy saving, rather than any reason functional other in littorinids following manner 2002; in an opportunistic (see Davies & Beckwith 1999; Edwards & Davies see Davies & Hawkins 1998, for review) probably because are unable snails encounter to detect mucus trails until they them. Culley & Sherman that mucus demonstrated (1985) of the sub the microtopography on rough surfaces to laying more mucus gastropods on smooth surfaces. than and Hence, crevices, varies production stratum, fill pits with on rough crawling ofmucus and thank energy requires more on a carpet of mucus surfaces trail following could circumstances We to occur tends in the claimed 1998, for review). Trail literature (see Davies & Hawkins be particularly two referees in the form under such beneficial. Calow, and P. on observations fluviatilis Ancylus contortus and Planorbis M?ll, Linn. Oecologia 16, 149-161. (doi:10.1007/BF00345579) N. A. Chan, B., Balmforth, J. & Hosoi, and adhesive better lubrication snail: E. a 2005 Building locomotion. Phys. Fluids 17, 113 101. (doi:10.1063/l.2102927) M. Chapman, G. in 1998 Variability inNodilittorina unifasciata aggregation 224, 49-71. Biol. Ecol. A. 1992 pulmonate 813-821. The of function slug,- Limax and trail-following Gray. J. Exp. Mar. 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