The common periwinkle (Littorina littorea) is a herbivorous snail that is prevalent along North Atlantic coastlines. It feeds by grazing on algae from the benthic substrate. Along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, periwinkles aggregate and form dense feeding fronts that remove thick layers of filamentous algae from rocky intertidal habitats every year from late April to early May.

One outcome of these feeding fronts is their positive effect on barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides) populations. First, the feeding fronts free adult barnacles from algae layers and may thereby facilitate adult barnacle filter‐feeding activity. Second, the feeding fronts clear the algae layers from the rocky substrate, thus providing plenty of open space for pelagic barnacle larvae settlement, which usually happens from May to June.

Finally, feeding fronts may help pioneering barnacle larvae locate established adult barnacles, which use chemical cues to attract barnacle larvae looking for new places to settle, thereby enhancing local barnacle recruitment (that is, the occurrence of new barnacle individuals after larval settlement and metamorphosis). All of these interactions make the periwinkle–barnacle system ideal for experimentally examining feeding‐related facilitation mechanisms. Food for thought!

常见的长春花（Littorina littorea）是一种草食性蜗牛，在北大西洋沿岸很普遍。它通过放牧底栖藻类的藻类为食。沿着新斯科舍省的大西洋沿岸，长春花聚集并形成密集的觅食锋面，每年4月下旬至5月初，它们会从多岩石的潮间生境中清除厚层的丝状藻类。

这些饲养前沿的结果之一是它们对藤壶种群（Semibalanus balanoides）的积极影响。首先，饲养前线使成年藤壶脱离藻类层，从而促进成年藤壶滤食活动。其次，进食前沿清除了岩石底物上的藻类层，从而为浮游性藤壶幼虫的沉降提供了充足的开放空间，通常发生在五月至六月。

最后，饲养前线可能有助于开拓性的藤壶幼虫找到成熟的藤壶，它们使用化学线索吸引藤壶幼虫寻找新的栖息地，从而增强本地藤壶的招募（即幼虫沉降和变态后新藤壶个体的出现） 。所有这些相互作用使长春藤壶系统成为实验检查与进食有关的促进机制的理想选择。值得深思！