Habitat
In his research on microhabitat, Asami Takahiro studied the species Triodopsis albolabris alleni in the Appalachians. Triodopsis albolabris alleni is abundant in leaf litter on the forest floor where fungi is present because it is a mycophagous snail, meaning it feeds on fungus (Takahiro, 1993). More information on the contents of its diet can be found on the Nutrition page. Although changes in physical conditions like changes in humidity, temperature, or precipitation are known to bring about activity in a variety of terrestrial snails, Triodopsis albolabris alleni demands certain requirements from its habitat (Takahiro, 1993). A few of these requirements include an adequate amount of moisture for processes like depositing eggs and osmoregulation, acidity, and calcium; all of which can be found on this page.
Neohelix alleni can be found in an acidic and calcium-rich habitat (Nekola, 2010). Terrestrial snails need calcium in their habitats for reasons like egg production and shell formation (Nekola, 2010). As far as the acidity of the soil in their habitat, the pH ranges from acidic to neutral (Nekola, 2010). In acidic to neutral conditions like this, fungi usually germinates and grows successfully (Wildman, 2004). Therefore, N. alleni thrives since they are mycophagus feeders and depend on fungus in their diets.
As seen on the map below of the habitat of Neohelix alleni, temperatures can be relatively high in the region where they can be found. In order to avoid these high daytime temperatures and low humidity and moisture levels, N. alleni fit into a temporal niche so that they can avoid the issues that these conditions pose to osmoregulation, which is the process by which they maintain suitable internal water and salt concentrations (Hickman et al., 2012). Like many terrestrial snails, they utilize a night-time temporal niche, meaning they are nocturnal (Takahiro, 1993).
Click HERE to learn more about Neohelix alleni adaptation.