VO: RESEARCHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT ON THE APPLE SNAIL OF EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE EVERGLADES TO ITS NATURAL STATE. THE APPLE SNAIL IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN IN THE EVERGLADES AND IS THE ONLY FOOD SOURCE FOR THE ENDANGERED SNAIL KITE. THE SNAIL IS ALSO A KEY INGREDIENT IN THE DIET OF SOME WADING BIRDS, ALLIGATORS, TURTLES, AND SEVERAL TYPES OF FISH. STUDIES ON THE APPLE SNAIL'S MOVEMENTS, REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY, AND GROWTH CYCLES REVEAL THE SNAIL IS EXTREMELY DEPENDENT ON WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS FOR ITS SURVIVAL. WATER IS FREQUENTLY DRAWN DOWN FROM THE EVERGLADES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOUTH FLORIDA RESIDENTS AND AGRICULTURE. BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE APPLE SNAIL, RESEARCHERS ARE FINDING THE SNAIL IS WELL ADAPTED TO DRY CONDITIONS AND ADULT SNAILS CAN LIVE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS DURING A DROUGHT.

SOT: PERCIVAL: " It's important to know exactly how they operate out there and practically nothing has been known about snails, so it's important to start studying basic biology, and certainly how you go about assessing populations of snails, and that's what these studies are all about." " (:19)