• Snail evolution observed over the last 20 years in the Gulf of Maine

    From Pro Plyd@21:1/5 to All on Mon Mar 17 21:35:31 2025
    https://www.earth.com/news/sea-snails-evolved-defenses-against-invasive-predators/

    Over the last 20 years, the Gulf of Maine
    has turned into a hotspot for invasive
    species, many of which arrive in ship
    ballast water. These invaders – and the
    changing environmental conditions that
    favor them – have reshaped coastal
    ecosystems, including tidal snail
    populations.

    A recent study has examined how two
    common snail species (Nucella lapillus
    and Littorina obtusata) have evolved in
    response to a major predator: the
    invasive green crab (Carcinus maenas).

    The key finding is that snails have
    developed thicker shells, reflecting a
    shift from short-term, plastic defenses
    to more durable, genetic adaptations.
    ...

    The papr is here

    https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr6947
    Evolution in changing seas: The loss of
    plasticity under predator invasion and
    warming oceans

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