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

Abstract

How macroevolution interacts with ecological networks remains a major question in eco-evolutionary science. We investigate this interplay in the Naesiotus snail radiation of the Galapagos Islands, which encapsulates parasitic nematodes within the shell--a recently discovered gastropod defense. Using a natural history collection, we examined dry shells from 47 species across 12 islands, quantified encapsulations, and sequenced nematode DNA to reconstruct a host-parasite network. Encapsulations were widespread and revealed high nematode diversity, including in snail hosts presumed extinct. Nematode diversity was shaped by habitat, while encapsulation load was better explained by host species identity, suggesting species-specific defenses. Neither trait showed phylogenetic signal, and shell brightness was unrelated to nematode interactions. Similarly, host diversification rate did not predict network position, suggesting that macroevolution may leave a weak or obscured imprint on this host-parasite network. This snail-nematode system in islands readily enables integration of ecological networks, phylogeny, functional traits, and biogeography.