Melissa Harrington, Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Member of INBRE Research Committee, Delaware State University

Research Overview:

My students and I are studying the neurobiology and behavior of a predatory land snail. Euglandina rosea, the rosy wolfsnail is a carnivorous snail native to the southeast. It preys on other snails and slugs and it tracks down its prey by following the slime trails that they leave.

In the laboratory, Euglandina follow >90% of slime trails encountered. Following heterospecific trails (those left by other species) ends in predation, while following trails of conspecifics (their own species) leads to mating. Individual Euglandina do not follow their own trails even when encountered much later out of context.

She is also working Principal Investigator of Renewal of Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware

Delaware Biotechnology Institute (udel.edu)