Shell-bound archives: uncovering nematode encapsulations in the Galapagos’ largest radiation

Fuster-Calvo, A, Oiler, I, MacDonald, A, Parent, C, Massol, F, Burin, G, Phillips, JG, Rae, R ORCID: 0000-0001-5843-4029 and Gravel, D Shell-bound archives: uncovering nematode encapsulations in the Galapagos’ largest radiation. The American Naturalist. ISSN 0003-0147 (Accepted)

Text Shell-bound archives- uncovering nematode encapsulations in the Galapagos’ largest radiation.pdf - Accepted Version Access Restricted Download (1MB)

Abstract

How macroevolution interacts with ecological networks remains a major question. Here, we present an empirical system with unique advantages to address this problem: nematode encapsulations preserved in snail shell collections. Land snails have recently been shown to kill and encapsulate nematodes within their shells, raising the possibility that shells act as spatiotemporal archives of host–parasite interactions. We test this idea in the Naesiotus adaptive radiation of the Galápagos Islands by quantifying encapsulations and sequencing nematode DNA from shells of 47 species across 12 islands to reconstruct a host–parasite network. Encapsulations were ubiquitous and revealed high nematode diversity. Host diversification rate did not predict their network position, suggesting a weak macroevolutionary imprint on interactions. In contrast, nematode diversity increased with shell brightness, which may reflect environmental differences affecting parasite exposure, or color adaptations related to thermal regulation or predator avoidance that indirectly influence these interactions. This system enables integration of ecological networks, traits, phylogeny, and biogeography using natural history collections.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	06 Biological Sciences; Ecology; 31 Biological sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	The University of Chicago Press
Date of acceptance:	14 August 2026
Date Deposited:	29 Sep 2026 13:53
Last Modified:	29 Sep 2026 13:53
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29562

View Item