The apple snails Pomacea canaliculata, Pomacea diffusa and Pomacea maculate (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae) are invasive pests causing massive economic losses and ecological damage. We sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genomes of these snails to conduct phylogenetic analyses based on comparisons with the mitochondrial protein coding sequences of 47 Caenogastropoda species. The gene arrangements, distribution and content were canonically identical and consistent with typical Mollusca except for the tRNA-Gln absent in P. diffusa. An identifiable control region (d-loop) was absent. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the Ampullariidae species clustered on the same branch. The genus Pomacea clustered together and then with the genus Marisa. The orders Architaenioglossa and Sorbeoconcha clustered together and then with the order Hypsogastropoda. Furthermore, the intergenic and interspecific taxonomic positions were defined. Unexpectedly, Ceraesignum maximum, Dendropoma gregarium, Eualetes tulipa and Thylacodes squamigerus, traditionally classified in order Hypsogastropoda, were isolated from the order Hypsogastropoda in the most external branch of the Bayesian inference tree. The divergence times of the Caenogastropoda indicated that their evolutionary process covered four geological epochs that included the Quaternary, Neogene, Paleogene and Cretaceous periods. This study will facilitate further investigation of species identification to aid in the implementation of effective management and control strategies of these invasive species.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) pollution in poultry farming environments has become increasingly critical, primarily driven by the widespread use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Prolonged antibiotic use has led to the emergence of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, spreading via horizontal and vertical gene transfer. The complexity of ARG pollution in poultry farming arises from the unique farming practices, physiological characteristics of poultry, and manure management methods, with manure, wastewater, and air serving as significant vectors for ARG dissemination. Current research indicates that the spread of ARGs poses a significant threat to ecosystems and public health. In response to this growing concern, this review outlines the sources, distribution characteristics, and transmission mechanisms of ARGs in poultry farming environments. It also evaluates the efficacy of existing waste treatment technologies in mitigating ARG contamination. The review proposes several strategies to control ARG dissemination effectively, including reducing antibiotic usage, improving farming practices, optimizing waste management, and strengthening regulatory oversight. It also highlights the need for further research to address existing knowledge gaps and explore more efficient pollution control technologies and management measures. This review aims to provide theoretical support for protecting the environment and public health in the context of poultry farming.

Pomacea canaliculata is native to South America and has become a widely distributed agricultural and environmental pest in southern China. Previous studies have primarily focused on the tolerance of P. canaliculata to various environmental factors, and compared non-native invasive P. canaliculata with natives or non-invasive congeners. However, there has been no research concentrated on variation in innate growth and reproductive characteristics between P. canaliculata in its native and invaded areas. To address this gap, we conducted the first comparison experiment between P. canaliculata from their native area (Argentina) and from an invaded area (China). We recorded the temporal dynamics of shell height of male and female P. canaliculata, and investigated the sexual maturation and egg-related indicators in two populations from each country, rearing them under homogeneous temperature, photoperiod and food conditions. Our results showed that the shell growth rate of P. canaliculata in Argentina was significantly lower than that of P. canaliculata in China. Moreover, P. canaliculata exhibited stronger reproductive characteristics in populations from China, mainly reflected in the earlier sexual maturity, larger egg masses, higher hatching success, and a trend of shorter incubation period. These differences probably arose due to contemporary evolution in invaded areas under strong selective pressures in rice fields, and, together with more favorable climates, enable the snail populations to rapidly grow and expand in southern China.

As the frequency of droughts increases with climate change, the tolerance of aquatic organisms to abiotic stressors will become critical determinants of survival. Pomacea canaliculata has become a widely distributed agricultural and environmental pest in southern China. To evaluate their tolerance and adaptation under the drought condition, the survival, feeding, behavior, and antioxidant system changes in female and male P. canaliculata were investigated during drought stress and rewatering process through an indoor simulation experiment. The results showed that female snails laid eggs before burrowing into the soil to ensure offspring reproduction. Female P. canaliculata had higher survival rates than males under drought stress, and their recovery ability of activity after rewatering was also superior to those of males. The antioxidant system of P. canaliculata showed obvious activation with gender differences after rewatering. Overall, the survival rate of female P. canaliculata was higher after drought stress, and the resilience ability of female snails after rewatering was stronger, including in their behavior, feeding, and antioxidant system recovery. The P. canaliculata tolerance to drought and the ability to recover quickly after drought may contribute to their long-term survival and facilitate continuous invasion.

Invasive species often show greater morphological plasticity than do native species. This plasticity increases their ability to evade predation, but differences in morphological defenses between sexes, including both dimorphism and predator-induced plasticity, remain poorly understood. We measured multiple shell characteristics of male and female adults of the invasive freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata after they had been exposed to predation cues from the caged turtle Trachemys scripta elegans for 30 d. Regardless of sex, P. canaliculata individuals exhibited greater shell crushing (i.e., higher shell strength) and shell entry (i.e., smaller opercula) resistance characteristics and a narrower shape under predator-induced stress. Moreover, the snails exhibited sexual dimorphism in shell shape and strength characteristics. The shell crushing resistance capability of males was stronger than that of females in both the presence and absence of non-consumptive effects of predators, a difference that could be linked to shell thickness, mass, and calcium concentration. However, females had smaller opercula than males regardless of the presence of predators, which might allow them to better resist predator attacks on snail flesh via the aperture. The snails exhibited sex-specific body size plasticity responses to the predation threat such that shell height growth of females was inhibited in the presence of predators, whereas the shell height of males was unaffected. In general, males appeared to have stronger morphological defenses than females. These results indicate that energy allocation to shell morphological defense, growth, and reproduction differ between the 2 sexes under non-consumptive effects of predators, which might be a result of their different morphology and reproductive roles.