Abstract: The apple snail,Pomacea canaliculata, is a cosmopolitan alien invasive species. It was introduced to mainland China in 1981 and has caused serious damage to aquatic crop production and ecosystem functioning. Phenotypic plasticity may play an important role during the invasion ofP. canaliculata, which help invaders to increase their environmental adaptation and tolerance. Phenotypic plasticity frequently involves predatorinduced defenses. In this paper, the response strategies and underlying mechanisms of P. canaliculata against predator stresses were reviewed and summarized from three aspects: behaviors (defense, growth, reproduction, learned predator recognition), morphology (shell shape and strength), and physiology and biochemistry (eggs, antioxidant system). The response diversity and sexual dimorphism of P. canaliculataunder predation were highlighted, and the predator-induced energy distribution and trade-off mechanisms were discussed. Finally, we proposed research priorities on the interaction mechanisms of P. canaliculata with its predators, technological developments and performance evaluation of biological control.

Key words: comprehensive utilization, farmers’ behavior, ecological rationality, crop straw, dry farming area, Pomacea canaliculata, natural enemy, defense strategy, response mechanism, phenotypic plasticity.