Impact of urban habitat structure and weather variables on reproduction of gigant African snail <em>(Lissachatina fulica)</em>

Reproduction of the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) in urban environments is influenced by habitat structure, weather, and microclimate conditions. This study aimed to identify the primary environmental factors affecting snail reproductive rate using non-invasive methods in a Neotropical urban ecosystem. A total of 1,056 sampling plots (21.52 ha) across various urban habitats were surveyed, recording viable clutches and measuring temperature and humidity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed significant contributions from weather variables, particularly mean temperature and humidity, to reproductive rates. The strong influence of weather variables was linked to an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event during the study period. Habitat structure, indicated by the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), also played a critical role. High NDBI values, often associated with urbanized areas, correlated with increased clutch frequency due to calcium-rich substrates, while low NDVI areas facilitated clutch detection. These findings underscore the interplay of environmental factors in the reproductive dynamics of giant African snails, providing valuable insights for species control.