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Snails Carry a Surprising Record of Extreme Weather on Their Backs
Developing
In Short: A University of Queensland-led study has revealed that the shells of land snails can serve as a record of prehistoric cyclones and other extreme weather events.
A University of Queensland-led study has revealed that the shells of land snails can serve as a record of prehistoric cyclones and other extreme weather events. The research, published in ScienceAlert, demonstrates that the growth rings on a snail's shell can provide detailed information about the weather conditions during the snail's lifetime.
Environmental scientist Jamie Schulmeister explained that the snail's shell responds to extreme rainfall events rather than just annual wetness. 'It was surprising and quite exciting that the humble snail could be a tool to reconstruct the paths of past cyclones even in prehistoric times,' Schulmeister said.
The shell of a snail, much like the growth rings of a tree, records the snail's life history. Tiny samples taken from the shell at millimeter intervals can reveal the age of the snail, its lifespan, and the weather conditions it experienced. Dr Nicholas Patton, one of the researchers, noted that these samples can be used to extend weather records back in time.
The study focused on the Biggenden Banded Snail (Figuladra bayensis) collected from Coalstoun Lakes National Park in South East Queensland. By examining the rings on the snail's shell, researchers were able to link these bands to specific weather records, providing a new method for understanding past climatic conditions.
This research adds to the growing field of using biological evidence to reconstruct weather patterns before modern meteorological records began. The humble snail, it turns out, could be a valuable tool in climate science, offering insights into prehistoric weather events.
What this adds
The study highlights the potential of using snail shells to extend weather records back in time, providing a new method for understanding past climatic conditions.
What's confirmed
- "But the results showed the snail was responding to extreme rainfall events rather than annual wetness," says environmental scientist Jamie Schulmeister.
- "It was surprising and quite exciting that the humble snail could be a tool to reconstruct the paths of past cyclones even in prehistoric times," Shulmeister adds.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.
Sources
- UQ Newslink