Relationship between bivalve shell size and gastropod predation strategy Aline Raquel Gomes Guerra, Bruna dos Santos Alves, Lígia Módolo Pinto, Olívia Cristina Camilo Menossi

Abstract

The energetic cost of drilling the shell of bivalves determines the predation strategy of gastropods in search of optimal foraging. The thickness of the shells varies according to the size and region of the shell. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between these factors and the feeding behavior of gastropods, using predated shells of arcids and mytilids collected on the beach of Barra do Una, SP. There were no statistical differences between the size of the bivalves and the location of radular drilling. However, arcids were preferentially predated in the umbo regardless of size, while mytilids were more predated in the pallial cavity. Further studies are needed to determine the foraging behavior of gastropods, using greater sampling effort.