Invasion
Invasion Description
Probably present by 1875-1880, based on surrounding records.
Geographic Extent
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve/ME/Webhannet and Little Rivers (Tyrrell et al. 2008)
Vectors
Level | Vector |
---|---|
Alternate | Natural Dispersal |
Alternate | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
Ecological Impact | Herbivory | |
In marsh environments in the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, ME, removal experiments showed that in a stressed site (long inundation, poor drainage), Littorina reduced the growth of the marsh grass Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass), but had no effect at a benign site (Tyrrell et al. 2008). | ||
Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
In marsh environments in the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, ME, removal experiments showed that in a stressed site (long inundation, poor drainage), Littorina reduced the growth of the marsh grass Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass), but had no effect at a benign site (Tyrrell et al. 2008). Grazing by this introduced snail could reduce the biomass of Spartina at stressed sites, increasing rates of erosion, particularly as a response to sea-level rise (Tyrrell et al. 2008) | ||