Search for: All records

Geographic variation in metabolic resources necessary for functional trait expression can set limits on species distributions. For species that need to produce and maintain biomineralized traits for survival, spatial variation in mineral macronutrients may constrain species distributions by limiting the expression of biomineralized traits. Here, we examine whetherOreohelixland snails that express heavily biomineralized shell ornaments are restricted to CaCO₃rock regions, if they incorporate greater amounts of CaCO₃rock carbon in their shell than less biomineralized smooth forms, and if ornamentation increases shell strength.

Western United States.

Oreohelixland snails.

We used random forest classification models at multiple spatial resolutions to evaluate the contribution of topographic, vegetation, climate, and geologic variables in predicting the presence of heavily biomineralized shell ornaments across the range ofOreohelix. We then measured and compared shell biometric variables,¹⁴C/¹²C ratios, and peak force for fracture for ornamented and smooth forms from calcareous and non‐calcareous substrates.

Distance to CaCO₃rock was the most important variable in all models and closer proximity to CaCO₃rock was associated with greater probability of local ornamentation classification. Pairwise comparisons of¹⁴C/¹²C ratios in closely occurring ornamented vs. smooth population pairs revealed ornamented forms incorporate greater CaCO₃rock carbon than smooth forms. Ornamented types measured in this study were generally heavier and required greater peak force for fracture than smooth forms, except when comparing ornamented forms to smooth forms sampled from CaCO₃rock.

Biomineralization expression, species distribution, and trait function appear to be constrained by mineral supply in a highly diverse group of land snails. This trait‐environment relationship provides a basis for future investigations of CaCO₃macronutrient constraints on shell form and species distribution in other terrestrial molluscs and has a direct impact on the management ofOreohelixspecies.