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Winter Activity and Dormancy of Snails: Freezing and Food Shortage Avoidance Strategy Facing Snow-Cover Shortage
by
, , , and
Anna M. Lipińska
1,*,
Zofia Książkiewicz
2,
Adam M. Ćmiel
1,
Oksana Hnatyna
3,
Paulina Laskowska
4
and
Dariusz Halabowski
5,*
1
Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
2
Department of General Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
3
Department of Zoology, Biological Faculty, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Hrushevskoho Str. 4, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
4
Department of General Geology and Geotourism, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
5
Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(3), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030348
Submission received: 29 December 2024
/
Revised: 20 January 2025
/
Accepted: 22 January 2025
/
Published: 25 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Ecology and Conservation)
Simple Summary
Cold winters pose significant challenges for land snails, influencing their survival and where they can live. Our study focused on two tiny snail species, Vertigo antivertigo and V. moulinsiana, to understand how they cope with cold conditions in Poland. We investigated whether these snails stay active during winter, how their body size varies across locations, and how they avoid the freezing of body fluids. We found that snail activity decreases as temperatures drop, with much less movement at 0 °C compared to 2 °C or 5 °C. Both species avoid freezing by lowering their freezing point, but V. moulinsiana is slightly less cold-tolerant, likely due to its preference for milder climates. Differences in shell size and shape among populations suggest that local environmental conditions influence their physical traits. While limited winter activity, like finding food or shelter, can be beneficial, it also comes with risks, especially if the snails are not fully prepared for the cold. Our findings emphasize the importance of temperature and snow cover for these snails’ survival. With climate change causing warmer, snow-free winters, these tiny animals may face new challenges in maintaining their populations and adapting to changing environments.
Abstract
Cold tolerance is a key factor shaping the survival and geographic distribution of terrestrial snails, especially in regions with harsh winters. Understanding how these organisms cope with freezing temperatures is crucial for predicting their responses to changing climates. This study focused on two microsnail species, Vertigo antivertigo and V. moulinsiana, to assess their winter activity, cold tolerance strategies, and whether their body size varies with latitude. Activity patterns were observed under controlled temperatures (0 °C, 2 °C, and 5 °C), while supercooling points (SCP) were measured to evaluate freezing avoidance. Shell morphology was analyzed across populations from various sites in Poland to explore local adaptations. The results showed that snail activity decreases as temperatures drop, with the lowest activity observed at 0 °C. Both species displayed a freezing-avoidant strategy, with V. moulinsiana having slightly higher SCP values, reflecting its adaptation to milder climates. Morphological differences in shell dimensions across sites suggest potential local adaptations to environmental conditions. These findings highlight temperature as a critical driver of activity, survival, and morphological variation in terrestrial snails. Limited winter activity may allow foraging or shelter-seeking but poses risks for overwintering. As climate change leads to snow-free winters, these species may face significant challenges in maintaining their populations and distributions.
