Visual Detection - Capitalizing on Miami Snail Behavior
VISUAL DETECTION Capitalizing on Miami Snail Behavior
Acknowledgements • ALPHA team-Wiscounsin Gore (Team Leader), Gilberto Vasconcelos, •
• • • • • •
Mildred Cardet, Thasma Moss, David Buzzi, Frank Rivera Ch li team-Sherry Charlie t Sh St Steell (T (Team Leader), L d ) Lorenna L D it Meybel Dewitz, M b l Lopez, Robert Sims, Willie Romulus, Stephanie Torres, Melissa Belcher G lf teamGolf t M Marcus JJones(Team (T Leader), L d ) K Kenneth th A Anthony, th JJuliet li t Arechabaleta, Emilio Armas, Micah Howerton, Arabia Mirabal Eduardo Varona Scott Weihman Carmen Pineiro Tracy y Wright g Kathy Wyatt
Challenges g of Visual Detection • Snails very cryptic • Weather conditions reduce • • • •
activity Lots of vegetation and debris Limited staff time Where are the snails? Is there a pattern?
Visual Detection Detection-Miami Miami Study • Worked with Program g Teams • February 1-8, 2013 (dry season) • Documented the location and
activity ti it off snails il ffound d • Discussed experiences and observations with Team members
Miami Study Study-Locations Locations Core 1: Older neighborhoods large neighborhoods, trees, diverse spp. hedge rows, sandy
Core 10: Newer developments, p mostly y grass with fewer trees, limestone
Core 12: Large properties, large trees weedy patches trees, patches, agriculture/farm animals, sandy
Snail Activity • Dormant • Buried • Active • Irrigated properties • Become active shorty after
disturbance • Raking • Walking
Snail Activity Core
% Dormant % Dormant
% Buried % Buried
% Found by % Found by Raking
1
58.8
75.0
35.7
10
84 8 84.8
84 0 84.0
73 1 73.1
12
67 9 67.9
70 8 70.8
56 0 56.0
Resting Locations • Aggregation behavior • Touching more prevalent with juveniles (dominant) • Large snails cluster in areas with favorable microclimates/protected areas • Homing Behavior: • Returning to the same location • Age/size class dependent
Preferred locations • Protected Areas • Board plantings • Debris piles • Edges of concrete • Deep thatch • Microclimates • Shadow of large trees/buildings • Irrigated properties • Potted/watered plants • Bromeliads
Nearest Plants • Thick St. Augustine thatch • Bromeliads • Oyster y p plants • Unidentified weed • Banana • Papaya • Spanish nettle • Hibiscus • Ficus spp. • Citrus jasmine
Dusk to Dawn Study: Dry Season Nighttime Activity • Determine peak time of
activity of snails • When would be the best
‘reasonable’ time to have the eradication team in the field collecting snails • The optimal location to place bait
Study Design • March 2-3 & March 12-13 • Adult Ad lt (>50 ( 50 mm), ) intermediate i t di t (25-50 (25 50 mm)) and d
juvenile (
Acknowledgements • ALPHA team-Wiscounsin Gore (Team Leader), Gilberto Vasconcelos, •
• • • • • •
Mildred Cardet, Thasma Moss, David Buzzi, Frank Rivera Ch li team-Sherry Charlie t Sh St Steell (T (Team Leader), L d ) Lorenna L D it Meybel Dewitz, M b l Lopez, Robert Sims, Willie Romulus, Stephanie Torres, Melissa Belcher G lf teamGolf t M Marcus JJones(Team (T Leader), L d ) K Kenneth th A Anthony, th JJuliet li t Arechabaleta, Emilio Armas, Micah Howerton, Arabia Mirabal Eduardo Varona Scott Weihman Carmen Pineiro Tracy y Wright g Kathy Wyatt
Challenges g of Visual Detection • Snails very cryptic • Weather conditions reduce • • • •
activity Lots of vegetation and debris Limited staff time Where are the snails? Is there a pattern?
Visual Detection Detection-Miami Miami Study • Worked with Program g Teams • February 1-8, 2013 (dry season) • Documented the location and
activity ti it off snails il ffound d • Discussed experiences and observations with Team members
Miami Study Study-Locations Locations Core 1: Older neighborhoods large neighborhoods, trees, diverse spp. hedge rows, sandy
Core 10: Newer developments, p mostly y grass with fewer trees, limestone
Core 12: Large properties, large trees weedy patches trees, patches, agriculture/farm animals, sandy
Snail Activity • Dormant • Buried • Active • Irrigated properties • Become active shorty after
disturbance • Raking • Walking
Snail Activity Core
% Dormant % Dormant
% Buried % Buried
% Found by % Found by Raking
1
58.8
75.0
35.7
10
84 8 84.8
84 0 84.0
73 1 73.1
12
67 9 67.9
70 8 70.8
56 0 56.0
Resting Locations • Aggregation behavior • Touching more prevalent with juveniles (dominant) • Large snails cluster in areas with favorable microclimates/protected areas • Homing Behavior: • Returning to the same location • Age/size class dependent
Preferred locations • Protected Areas • Board plantings • Debris piles • Edges of concrete • Deep thatch • Microclimates • Shadow of large trees/buildings • Irrigated properties • Potted/watered plants • Bromeliads
Nearest Plants • Thick St. Augustine thatch • Bromeliads • Oyster y p plants • Unidentified weed • Banana • Papaya • Spanish nettle • Hibiscus • Ficus spp. • Citrus jasmine
Dusk to Dawn Study: Dry Season Nighttime Activity • Determine peak time of
activity of snails • When would be the best
‘reasonable’ time to have the eradication team in the field collecting snails • The optimal location to place bait
Study Design • March 2-3 & March 12-13 • Adult Ad lt (>50 ( 50 mm), ) intermediate i t di t (25-50 (25 50 mm)) and d
juvenile (
