Predator - Prey Relationships: Rodent - Snail Interactions in the Central Negev Desert of Israel

Abstract

We investigated the effects of increasing rodent (Acomys cahirinus and Gerbillus dasyurus) predation efficiency on their population density and the population of their prey, the desert snail (Trochoidae seetzenii). The study was carried out on a rocky hillslope in the Central Negev Desert, Israel. Rodent predation on snails is limited by the number of shelters for rodents in the area. In most natural conditions, more shelters are found on the upper than on the lower slope. We introduced artificial shelters along the slope. We then censused the number of rodents, snails, and of eaten snails for five years