Current research on the environmental impact of Radix auricularia in the Great Lakes is inadequate to support proper assessment.
Potential:
This species has shown a potential to adapt to new environments within large lakes, as indicated by its recent history in Lake Baikal, Russia where it was previously restricted to shallow bays and floodplain areas but has recently been able to colonize the rocky drop-off in the lake (Stift et al. 2004). The shells of snails in the new habitat have a more inflated aperture and are more compact than those in the shallow zones, indicating that wave action may have selected for snails with a stronger suctioning foot in the newly colonized habitat (Stift et al. 2004).
Various limnaeid snails, including R. auricularia, are vectors for a diverse range of parasites—particularly trematodes (Boray 1978). In Europe and Asia, R. auricularia is a host to such parasites as Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Sohn et al. 2002), Trichobilharzia franki (Ferte et al. 2005), T. ocellata (Zbikowska 2004), T. szidati (Kolarova et al. 1997), Clinostomum complanatum (Chung et al. 1998), Mantoscyphidia radixi (Boshko 1993), and Orientobilharzia turkestanica (Tang et al. 1990), some of which may also infect birds, mammals, and amphibians (Soldánová et al. 2010). In one German survey, 20% of captured R. auricularia were infected with trematode parasites (Soldánová et al. 2010). Another study found that average snail shell height and severity of infection with Trichobilharzia spp. are positively related (Allgoewer 1990). In its native habitat, R. auricularia preys on eggs of the parasite Ascaris suum, which survive and develop after passage through the gut and are dispersed widely due to snail activity (Asitinskaya 1975).
There is little or no evidence to support that Radix auricularia has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.
Potential:
Radix auricularia is a documented host of a number of parasites that cause dermatitis known as “swimmer’s itch,” including Orientobilharzia turkestanica (Majoros et al. 2010, Tang et al. 1990), Trichobilharzia franki (Ferte et al. 2005), and T. ocellata (Zbikowska 2004). Cases related to R. auricularia have been documented in Europe (Zbikowska 2004).
There is little or no evidence to support that Radix auricularia has significant beneficial effects in the Great Lakes.
This species does not appear to have any significant commercial or research value.