Rapid functional response tests for assessing impacts of alien snails on food crops

Several invasive alien snails are considered a threat to agriculture and horticulture. The development of rapid methods for reliable prediction their impacts on crops is major challenge in agricultural science invasion biology. use comparative functional response tests could give insight the potential impact herbivorous natural vegetation. It has been hypothesised that superior competitors resources comparison with common native species, due higher attack rates lower handling times food. Applications approach terrestrial scarce, despite offering convenient test design delivering meaningful mechanistic understanding resource species. main objectives this study were (i) determine grazing effect garden snail (Cornu aspersum) some crops, using approach, (ii) whether presence an intraspecific interspecific competitor affects food consumption (iii) assess variation standardization snails. Food C. aspersum differed significantly three crops: lettuce (Lactuca sativa), endive (Cichorium endivia var. latifolia) corn salad (Valerianella locusta). responses Lactuca sativa between individuals collected from wild cultured populations aspersum. Furthermore, (in dry weight) (i.e., Cepaea nemoralis, respectively). So, competition should be risk assessments order generate more predictions species improve our interactions other grazers.