Land Snails of British Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum Handbook
... Its native range includes western Europe and the western Mediterranean region (Barker 1999). It has spread to other parts of the world, including North America (Forsyth 2004) Russia, North and South Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand (Barker 1999), Madeira (Seddon 2008), and Argentina (Virgillito and Miquel 2013). ...
... Its native range includes northern and western Europe (Horáčková and Juřičková 2009), Asia Minor, and North Africa (Roth and Sadeghian 2003). It has been introduced into Tasmania (Kershaw 1991), Greenland, North America (Forsyth 2004), St Helena, South Africa, Chile (Stuardo and Vega 1985), Hawaii (Cowie 1997), Australia and New Zealand (Barker 1999). ...
... Its native distribution includes Iceland, Greenland(Roth and Sadeghian 2003), and Central and Western Europe(Horáčková and Juřičková 2009). It has been reported as introduced in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Czech Republic, Spain, and Portugal(Horáčková and Juřičková 2009;Borges et al. 2010; De Oliveira and Altonaga 2010; IUCN Red List 2017), and spread to Hawaii(Cowie 1997), Tasmania(Kershaw 1991), South Atlantic(Preece 2001), North America(Forsyth 2004), Colorado, the Pacific coast states(Roth and Sadeghian 2003), South America(Hausdorf 2002), Chile(Cádiz et al. 2013), Sri Lanka(Naggs et al. 2003), Madeira(Seddon 2008), and the Philippines(Tañan and Sumaya 2024).Distribution in Mexico. Puebla (Teopancingo), Transmexican Volcanic Belt Province. ...
This paper reports the first Mexican records of Oxychilus alliarius (Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City) and O. cellarius (Mexico City), and expands the Mexican distribution of O. draparnaudi to Querétaro, Tlaxcala, and State of Mexico. These three introduced land snail species were identified by combining their genital anatomy and mitochondrial COI DNA sequence data. A two-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of shell shape variation based on both apertural and apical views showed that there were no significant conchological differences between the three species except, to some degree, size. Using locality data of newly collected specimens, information from previous studies, and data retrieved from GBIF and iNaturalist, an analysis of the potential distributions of Oxychilus species in Mexico was conducted with an R implementation of Maxent. This showed that Oxychilus tends to occupy principally the Southern Highlands and the Transmexican Volcanic Belt Province.
... Habitats : Boettgerilla pallens vit principalement dans le sol et utilise pour se déplacer les galeries de vers de terre ainsi que les diverses anfractuosités du sol (Gunn 1992, Forsyth 2004, Rowson et al. 2014) où elle peut s'enfoncer jusqu'à une profondeur de 25 cm, parfois même jusqu'à 60 cm (Gunn 1992). Une petite proportion des individus reste en surface et se réfugie sous les feuilles mortes, les pierres et le bois mort (Forsyth 2004). ...
... Habitats : Boettgerilla pallens vit principalement dans le sol et utilise pour se déplacer les galeries de vers de terre ainsi que les diverses anfractuosités du sol (Gunn 1992, Forsyth 2004, Rowson et al. 2014) où elle peut s'enfoncer jusqu'à une profondeur de 25 cm, parfois même jusqu'à 60 cm (Gunn 1992). Une petite proportion des individus reste en surface et se réfugie sous les feuilles mortes, les pierres et le bois mort (Forsyth 2004). L'espèce occupe une très grande variété d'habitats (Schmid 1963, De Wilde et al. 1983. ...
... Elle survit aux périodes sèches en s'infiltrant profondément dans le sol. Elle est principalement détritivore et se nourrit des déjections de vers de terre et de limaces ainsi que d'oeufs de limaces, d'hyphes de champignons, de végétaux et d'invertébrés en décomposition (Wiktor 1961, Daxl 1967, Gunn 1992, Reise et al. 2000, Forsyth 2004, Rowson et al. 2014. Lucifuge, elle s'enfuit rapidement lorsqu'elle est éclairée (Wiktor 1960, Gunn 1992, Seidl & Seidl 1997. ...
New records on the distribution in Alsace (Grand Est, France) of two uncommon slug species, Tandonia rustica (Millet, 1843) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Milacidae) and Boettgerilla pallens Wiktor, 1959 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Boettgerillidae)
New records of two slug species, Tandonia rustica and Boettgerilla pallens, have recently been reported in Alsace. We provide here details of their biology and the environments in which they have been found. Tandonia rustica appears to be restricted to a few localities in the Haut-Rhin region, in forest habitats, ruderal areas and vineyards. An anatomical examination rules out any possible confusion with Tandonia kusceri, a species currently expanding in Europe. Boettgerilla pallens, first recorded in the region almost 55 years ago, appears to be widespread across a wide range of habitats. The species has been recorded in both lowland and mountain environments, probably introduced with cultivated plants or wild deposits of earthy materials and plant waste. Being nocturnal and living partly underground, this slug is easily overlooked and it is likely that Boettgerilla pallens is widespread in the region.
Keywords. Slugs, Tandonia rustica, Boettgerilla pallens, new records, geographic range.
... Boettgerilla pallens is predominantly a subterranean, burrowing species, often utilizing earthworm tunnels (Forsyth 2004) and soil cracks (Rowson et al. 2014). It typically lives in the fi rst 2-20 cm of soil but has been found at depths of 60 cm (Gunn 1992). ...
... It typically lives in the fi rst 2-20 cm of soil but has been found at depths of 60 cm (Gunn 1992). It is thought that a small portion of the population remains at the ground surface (Forsyth 2004) under leaves, stones and wood. Boettgerilla pallens is predominantly a detritivore feeding on earthworm feces, dead gastropods, other carrion, Arion and Deroceras eggs, fungal hyphae, roots, decaying vegetation and detritus (Rowson et al. 2014, Forsyth 2004, Gunn 1992. ...
... It is thought that a small portion of the population remains at the ground surface (Forsyth 2004) under leaves, stones and wood. Boettgerilla pallens is predominantly a detritivore feeding on earthworm feces, dead gastropods, other carrion, Arion and Deroceras eggs, fungal hyphae, roots, decaying vegetation and detritus (Rowson et al. 2014, Forsyth 2004, Gunn 1992. It is known from a wide range of habitats including gardens, grasslands, woodlands (deciduous and coniferous), greenhouses and nurseries (Grimm et al. 2009, Reise et al. 2000 and is tolerant of a range of soil conditions (De Wilde et al. 1983). ...
... The Washingtonian Province (west of the Continental Divide) is particularly rich in endemic genera and species. The number of native land mollusk species in Montana (68) is quite similar to that for Idaho (70 species : Frest and Johannes 2001) and British Columbia (65 species : Forsyth 2004), but much larger than Wyoming (35 species : Beetle 1989). Montana land mollusk diversity reflects the presence of moister habitats in the mountainous western part of the state, especially west of the Continental Divide, which is influenced by moisture-laden weather systems approaching from the Pacific Northwest. ...
... Apparently this was a result of climatic changes and glacial advances during the Quaternary that led to a continentalinterior mesic forest refugium in northern Idaho and adjacent portions of Washington, British Columbia, and Montana (Shafer et al. 00). Land mollusks showing this disjunct pattern include the slug genera Hemphillia and Prophysaon , Forsyth 2004, Ovaska et al 2004, Wilke and Duncan 2004. In many cases, disjunct coastal and interior populations have proven to be genetically different sister taxa, which have since been elevated to full species status in recent years. ...
... Ten exotic or introduced terrestrial mollusks have been documented in Montana. Idaho has 13 exotic species (Frest and Johannes 2001), whereas the much larger and more generally mesic British Columbia has an astounding 26 species (Forsyth 2004). Exotics are likely to be introduced into Montana through agricultural and horticultural products, either as eggs or juveniles in soil, compost, and root masses. ...
... This unique area extends from southeastern British Columbia (BC) and northeastern Washington southward through the Idaho Panhandle into northwestern Montana. In BC, it encompasses the Kootenay region, which supports a diverse gastropod fauna, including species that are found nowhere else in Canada (Forsyth 1999(Forsyth , 2004. Few studies have specifically targetted this group, and until recently our knowledge of it was based on brief historical accounts, records in Pilsbry's (1939Pilsbry's ( , 1940Pilsbry's ( , 1946Pilsbry's ( , 1948 monograph, and largely serendipitous observations (reviewed by Forsyth 1999). ...
... Three specimens of Hemphillia were sent to Lyle Chichester to confirm identity through examination of distal reproductive anatomy; several species of Hemphillia occur south of the border in the USA and have not been reported from Canada. Identification was based on descriptions in Pilsbry (1940Pilsbry ( , 1948, Forsyth (2004), and Burke (2013). Nomenclature for species followed Forsyth (2004) and, for families, Bouchet et al. (2017). ...
... Identification was based on descriptions in Pilsbry (1940Pilsbry ( , 1948, Forsyth (2004), and Burke (2013). Nomenclature for species followed Forsyth (2004) and, for families, Bouchet et al. (2017). Voucher specimens were deposited in collections at the RBCM (Appendix S2); photographic vouchers were retained in personal collections by the authors. ...
The northern Columbia River basin, extending from the Kootenay region in British Columbia southward to the Idaho panhandle and northwestern Montana, contains a unique terrestrial gastropod fauna, but in Canada few surveys have specifically targetted this group. Here we report on terrestrial gastropods detected during surveys of 314 sites distributed in five biogeoclimatic zones across the Kootenay region. The surveys occurred on 65 days over seven years from 2007 to 2015, usually in September–October. We detected 45 taxa identified to species, belonging to 33 genera; micro-snails of the genus Vertigo (apart from Vertigo ovata) were combined into a single category, and snails belonging to Succineidae were not identified further. Regionally endemic species previously reported from the region included Western Banded Tigersnail (Anguispira kochi occidentalis), Coeur d’Alene Oregonian (Cryptomastix mullani), Rocky Mountainsnail (Oreohelix strigosa), Subalpine Mountainsnail (Oreohelix subrudis), and Pale Jumping-slug (Hemphillia camelus), which was widespread across the region. Magnum Mantleslug (Magnipelta mycophaga), the distribution of which extends beyond the Kootenay region, was detected at several widely spaced sites. Two species new to Canada were detected, Pygmy Slug (Kootenaia burkei) and Sheathed Slug (Zacoleus idahoensis), both of which were subsequently assessed to be of conservation concern both provincially and nationally. Other notable observations included the detection of Fir Pinwheel (Radiodiscus abietum), a regional endemic, which has been previously reported only once, and three species common in coastal forests but not previously reported from the region: Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus), Robust Lancetooth (Haplotrema vancouverense), and Northwest Hesperian (Vespericola columbianus). Further surveys, especially at higher elevations, may reveal other additional or unusual species.
... The genus Ariolimax (banana slugs) is native to the coniferous rainforests along the Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to California (mead 1943, PilsBry 1948, forsyTh 2004, Burke 2013. It comprises at least eight species (elejalde et al. 2013). ...
... It comprises at least eight species (elejalde et al. 2013). The most widely distributed and commonest species is A. columbianus (the Pacific banana slug), which has a large range, from Alaska through British Columbia, Washington and Oregon to central California (forsyTh 2004, Burke 2013. It is the largest slug of the North American continent, reaching a length of 180-260 mm when extended. ...
... It is the largest slug of the North American continent, reaching a length of 180-260 mm when extended. The ground colour ranges from ochre yellow to olive green but may also be more brownish or whitish, and the slugs are often spotted with irregular black patches of very variable shape and size (forsyTh 2004, Burke 2013. Among biologists, it is well known for its peculiar habit of sometimes biting off the partner's or its own penis at the end of copulation (reise & huTchinson 2002(reise & huTchinson , leonard et al. 2002. ...
... Habitat -Specimens of this alpine-arctic species (Forsyth 2004(Forsyth , 2005Nekola and Coles 2010) were collected from drift along the Severn River, from moist woods and the shrubby shore of former river channel at Peawanuck, and from moist tundra near the mouth of the Winisk River. ...
... comm.). This is a montane and boreal species that elsewhere in Canada, occurs from Yukon and northern British Columbia, south along the Rockies, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories (Forsyth 2004;RGF unpublished data). The Far North records are the easternmost occurrences in Canada, and probably among the easternmost in North America; D. shimekii is known as Pleistocene fossils in loess deposits in the U.S. Midwest (Pilsbry 1948;Hubricht 1985). ...
... Habitat -Specimens were collected from under logs at the transition between a coastal James Bay sedge (Carex paleacea) dominated marsh and willow thickets, and under logs and in drift on the floodplains of the Albany and Kenogami rivers. Zonitoides nitidus is often characterized as a wetland species (Forsyth 2004), although in southern Ontario, it is common in more upland habitats (RGF, pers. obs.). ...
From 2009–2014, incidental collections of terrestrial molluscs were made from the Far North of Ontario, Canada. Thirty-four species of terrestrial molluscs were identified from these collections, including one exotic species, Deroceras reticulatum, and three newly reported species from the Far North, Vallonia pulchella, Vertigo cf. genesii, and Gastrocopta similis. Vertigo cf. genesii is newly reported from Ontario. Some species have not been collected in Ontario for many years and some of these only once before. Subnational conservation ranks are discussed for higher-ranked species.
... Identification of gastropods was based on descriptions in Pilsbry (1940Pilsbry ( , 1948 and Forsyth (2004). Nomenclature follows Forsyth (2004). ...
... Identification of gastropods was based on descriptions in Pilsbry (1940Pilsbry ( , 1948 and Forsyth (2004). Nomenclature follows Forsyth (2004). Snails were identified using shell characteristics. ...
... The terrestrial gastropod fauna of Haida Gwaii is depauperate when compared to more southern areas along the Pacific coast, probably reflecting the isolation and harsh, northern climate of the archipelago; 18 native species were detected in contrast to over 35 species on Vancouver Island (Forsyth, 2004). With the notable exception of the new slug, Staala gwaii, all species of gastropods found during the surveys also occur on Vancouver Island and the coastal mainland of southern British Columbia. ...
Reflecting its isolation, geography, and glacial history, the Haida Gwaii archipelago (Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia) contains numerous endemic and disjunct taxa of various groups of organisms, but terrestrial gastropods have received scant attention. During surveys of 56 sites on Graham and Moresby Islands and 11 smaller islands, including remote mountain top locations, we detected 18 species of native terrestrial gastropods, most of which also occur in southwestern British Columbia. An undescribed species of semi-slug was found at four sites on Graham Island and six sites on Moresby Island and is formally described (Arionidae: Staala gwaii). Morphological and anatomical analyses suggest that the new slug is related to small species of Hemphillia Bland and Binney, 1872, but the differences are substantial, warranting the establishment of a new genus. The new species is of particular interest because it appears to be a northern endemic and a relict to the archipelago.
... The Pacific banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus, Gould in A. Binney 1851) is a charismatic species that is native to the Pacific Northwest Region of North America, with a distribution that extends from the central coast of California through Alaska (Harper 1988). The Pacific banana slug is the second largest slug in the world (ca 260 mm long), lives for several years, and is the most common native slug species in coastal British Columbia (BC) forests (Gordon 1994, Forsyth 2004. Little is known about the specific diet of banana slugs or most native slugs in BC forests (Forsyth 2004), but they are presumed to be generalist herbivores (Cates and Orians 1975) that feed upon a variety of plant species, berries (Richter 1976, Gervais et al. 1998, organic detritus and fungi (Forsyth 2004). ...
... The Pacific banana slug is the second largest slug in the world (ca 260 mm long), lives for several years, and is the most common native slug species in coastal British Columbia (BC) forests (Gordon 1994, Forsyth 2004. Little is known about the specific diet of banana slugs or most native slugs in BC forests (Forsyth 2004), but they are presumed to be generalist herbivores (Cates and Orians 1975) that feed upon a variety of plant species, berries (Richter 1976, Gervais et al. 1998, organic detritus and fungi (Forsyth 2004). On the other hand, Arion rufus L. (1758, hereafter referred to as 'black slugs') is native to western and central Europe (Forsyth 2004). ...
... The Pacific banana slug is the second largest slug in the world (ca 260 mm long), lives for several years, and is the most common native slug species in coastal British Columbia (BC) forests (Gordon 1994, Forsyth 2004. Little is known about the specific diet of banana slugs or most native slugs in BC forests (Forsyth 2004), but they are presumed to be generalist herbivores (Cates and Orians 1975) that feed upon a variety of plant species, berries (Richter 1976, Gervais et al. 1998, organic detritus and fungi (Forsyth 2004). On the other hand, Arion rufus L. (1758, hereafter referred to as 'black slugs') is native to western and central Europe (Forsyth 2004). ...
The impacts of invasive alien species are greatest when they become dominant members of a community,
introduce novel traits, and displace native species. Invasions by alien mollusks represent a novel context
by which to compare trait differences between generalist native and introduced herbivores in terrestrial
ecosystems. Here, we determined the abundance, habitat, feeding preferences, as well as the metabolic
rate of the native Pacific banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) and the alien black slug (Arion rufus) in the
coastal forests of British Columbia, Canada. Through a series of observational and experimental studies,
we found that alien slugs are more abundant, differ in their habitat preferences, and consumed more fungi
(mushrooms) than native banana slugs. Conversely, in an enclosures experiment we found that herbivory
damage by native slugs was higher compared to enclosures with alien only and control enclosures. Finally,
metabolic rates were similar for both slug species. These results suggest that alien black slugs possess a suite
of traits that make them functionally different from native banana slugs.
... Red List EN (SARA, Sch 1) EN (COSEWIC) DOES NOT OCCUR Although numerous records in the Fraser Valley, there are no records in the vicinity of the NWA (Forsyth 2004;ECCC 2016); critical habitat has not been identified in the vicinity of the NWA (ECCC 2016); preferred habitats, including moist deciduous forests (e.g., Bigleaf Maple [Acer macrophyllum]) with dense undergrowth often including Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) (Forsyth 2004) ...
... Red List EN (SARA, Sch 1) EN (COSEWIC) DOES NOT OCCUR Although numerous records in the Fraser Valley, there are no records in the vicinity of the NWA (Forsyth 2004;ECCC 2016); critical habitat has not been identified in the vicinity of the NWA (ECCC 2016); preferred habitats, including moist deciduous forests (e.g., Bigleaf Maple [Acer macrophyllum]) with dense undergrowth often including Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) (Forsyth 2004) ...
“Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area (NWA) is set in the largest undiked freshwater marsh in southwestern British Columbia. This protected area is part of a larger wetland complex comprising the diked marshes of the provincial Pitt-Addington Wildlife Management Area, the provincial Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve and Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve. The NWA is close to one of the world’s largest reverse deltas at the outlet of Pitt Lake. Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, which protects Widgeon Creek and its headwaters, borders Widgeon Valley NWA to the north and west while Katzie First Nations Pitt Lake Indian Reserve #4 shares the eastern boundary” (ECCC 2019).
The current management plan for the NWA (ECCC 2019) indicated that 21 species listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) are known, or have the potential to occur in the NWA; however, very little information is available on these or other species. The Canadian Wildlife Service has identified the need for “updated inventories and mapping of species at risk as a high priority for the NWA” (ECCC 2019). As a first step, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has initiated a thorough desktop analysis of potential species at risk and other sensitive species (e.g., provincially Blue- and Red-listed species) occurring in the NWA.
Of the 83 potential provincially- or federally listed species analyzed, the desktop analysis determined that 41 species were known to occur (i.e., Confirmed) or had a high probability of occurring (i.e., Possible) in the Widgeon Valley NWA. Critical habitat for two species, Pacific Water Shrew and Marbled Murrelet, has been delineated at the north end of the NWA while critical habitat for Western Painted Turtle, Pacific Coast population has been designated nearby in the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area. Although listed plant species have not been recorded within the NWA, there are records nearby in the Pitt-Addington Wildlife Management Area.
In general, the presence of vertebrate and invertebrate species at risk within the Widgeon Valley NWA has not been thoroughly surveyed. Additional field surveys of all species of risk would be beneficial.
... In Canada, Prophysaon andersonii is native to British Columbia, where it occurs along both coastal and interior areas (Forsyth 2004(Forsyth , 2005 Fig. 1). Among the species of Prophysaon, this one has the broadest geographic range, from Alaska to California and east to Idaho and Montana (Pilsbry 1948;Roth and Lindberg 1981;Smith et al. 2018), and thus, perhaps the greatest adaptability. ...
... Among the species of Prophysaon, this one has the broadest geographic range, from Alaska to California and east to Idaho and Montana (Pilsbry 1948;Roth and Lindberg 1981;Smith et al. 2018), and thus, perhaps the greatest adaptability. In British Columbia, P. andersonii lives in forests mostly, but has been seen in somewhat disturbed habitats (Forsyth 2004), as well as in retail plant nurseries, where it co-occurs with introduced and anthropophilic terrestrial snails and slugs (Forsyth pers. obs.). ...
We report for the first time the terrestrial slug Prophysaon andersonii (J.G. Cooper, 1872) from Quebec, Canada. Two specimens were collected in Parc national du Bic. The identification was determined by the external morphology and partial-COI gene sequence data. The genus Prophysaon is endemic to western North America, and the new record indisputably represents an introduction. No species of Prophysaon has, until now, been noticed in North America from outside its native range.
... Based on comparison with European material Frest (1990) reported E. alderi from Iowa fens. This entity eventually was reported throughout the north-central/north-eastern USA (Nekola, 1998(Nekola, , 2004(Nekola, , 2008 and adjacent eastern Canada (Nekola, 2009) with populations from British Columbia and Ontario being considered E. praticola (Forsyth, 2004;Forsyth & Oldham, 2016). Additionally, while Euconulus polygyratus (Pilsbry, 1899) was originally described as a subspecies of the south-eastern USA E. chersinus (Say, 1821), and without empirical validation risen to species rank (Grimm, 1971), previous DNA sequence analysis confirmed its species-level status and showed it to be a member of the E. fulvus group (Hors akov a et al., 2019). ...
... Nomenclatural notes. This species has previously been reported as E. alderi from the USA and eastern Canada (Frest, 1990;Nekola, 1998Nekola, , 2003Nekola, , 2004Nekola, , 2008Nekola, , 2009Nekola, , 2012Nekola, , 2014 and from British Columbia and Ontario as E. praticola (Forsyth, 2004;Forsyth & Oldham, 2016 shells of E. trochiformis from the Montagu collection (EXEMS Moll4313) were also examined and found to represent E. fulvus fulvus. With respect to E. callopisticus we also thoroughly revised our own southern European material (46 lots in the Hors ak collection from France, Switzerland, and Italy). ...
While among the most common Holarctic land snails, species of the Euconulus fulvus group have been subject to considerable recent taxonomic controversy. Based on 76 Euconulus populations collected across Eurasia and North America, we empirically evaluated these competing taxonomic hypotheses through an integration of nDNA and mtDNA phylogenetics, shell morphometrics and various qualitative traits. Our results support the existence of five taxa: Euconulus alderi (Atlantic Europe to western North America), E. fresti sp. nov. (North America), E. fulvus fulvus (Europe), E. fulvus egenus (central Asia to Atlantic North America), and E. polygyratus (north-eastern North America). Each species-level entity possessed a unique suite of observable shell features allowing for accurate identification without need of DNA sequence information. Our data did not support the recent erection of E. callopisticus, E. praticola, and E. trochiformis to species-level status. This work also helps illustrate the importance of using consensus across DNA and shell/soft body features in assessing species-level taxonomy and in determining those features which allow for accurate identification. It furthermore documents the importance of basing taxonomic work on samples drawn from across the entire geographic and ecological range of the study group.
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:97985479-EDF8-4B94-A825-AC42BF31F597
... In the case of Zonitoides spp. land snails, only the species Z. arboreus and Z. nitidia were combined because these are the only two species of this genus from the region (Forsyth 2004(Forsyth , 2006. Although the aquatic mollusc Physa skinneri , and, as such, contributed an unrepresentative climate response profile. ...
... This period also exhibited a proliferation of succineid snails, yielding the maximum apparent AV for this taxon. Though these snails are often considered 'wetland taxa' (Burch 1962;Forsyth 2004), their ranking in terms of modelled species preference reveals an inclination to rather drier conditions, as well as moderately warm temperatures. Galba modicella, the most thermophilic taxon, was also most productive at this time. ...
Following floods experienced in southwestern Alberta in June 2013, 36 palaeoenvironmental sediment samples were collected from the banks of four affected streams: the Kananaskis River, Highwood River, Tongue Creek and Jumpingpound Creek. The sampled layers were deposited during the Holocene, and provide evidence of riparian ecology in the region since the end of the last glacial interval. The samples were processed to extract sub-fossil macroremains (including seeds, fruits, and aquatic and terrestrial mollusc shells). Macrofossils are particularly useful for creating fine-resolution (site-specific) reconstructions. An innovative aspect of this study was the derivation of regional bioclimatic trends through time. This was achieved by applying a dual-layered weighted calibration function which incorporated the relative productivity of indicator taxa, their modelled climatic optima, and the influence of climate (temperature and precipitation) on their ecological niche. Optima and climatic influence values were calculated using the machine-learning maximum entropy environmental niche modelling tool, MAXENT, trained on global occurrence records for the taxa. This study aimed to address gaps in prior palaeoenvironmental research, allowing for a spatially explicit quantitative reconstruction of climate in the transitional foothill region near Calgary. Results indicated warm conditions immediately following glacial retreat, followed by an early to mid-Holocene cooling which coincided with the driest interval. Temperature and moisture regimes oscillated in the mid-Holocene, exhibiting the highest values for both parameters. Increased moisture was at least in part prompted by increased input from summer glacial meltwater (the result of higher summer temperatures) which added to the riparian water budget. The mid- to late Holocene, and up to modern times, showed a gradual decrease in both moisture and temperature, until stabilizing near the Holocene average.
... In the united States, where D. rotundatus is also introduced, the species was first recorded in Massachusetts in 1939 (Clench and banks 1939;pilsbry 1948) and has since been found in Maine (Gleich and Gilbert 1976;Martin 2000), Vermont (Lee 2009), new york (Jacobson 1951;Jacobson and emerson 1961), new Jersey (Freed 1953;Jacobson 1954;Steury and Steury 2011), pennsylvania (pearce 2008Steury and Steury 2011), washington, DC (Steury and Steury 2011), washington state (Forsyth 2004), oregon (anonymous 2015), and California (Roth 1982;hertz 1996). Dundee (1974) summarized some of the records from the eastern united States. ...
... Discus rotundatus was undetected in british Columbia for many years, and even extensive surveys in urban areas of Vancouver and Victoria by Forsyth (1999) failed to find it. Forsyth (2004) included it in the province based on an unpublished museum lot (CMnML 91841) purportedly collected at esquimalt (a suburb of Victoria), Vancouver Island, on 20 December 1954. however, Forsyth and williston (2012) contacted the collector of this material, D. M. wood, who was adamant that he could not have collected those specimens on Vancouver Island at that time (D. ...
First collected in North America in 1937 on the Avalon Peninsula of the Island of Newfoundland, the introduced, primarily European land snail, Discus rotundatus, has now been recorded from the Island of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. We review all known records from Canada, demonstrate that D. rotundatus is more widespread than was previously recognized on the Island of Newfoundland, and report the first record from New Brunswick.
... The penis of D. invadens is strongly and equally bilobed. Between the lobes of the penis, there is a cluster of usually 4-6 finger-like glands (Forsyth 2004;Grimm et al. 2010;Reise et al. 2011) (Figure 1). Partial or total loss of the male reproductive organs is common for D. laeve, but when a penis is present, it is a long, somewhat contorted structure with a twisted terminal gland (Pilsbry 1948;Wiktor 2000). ...
... Deroceras invadens lives in synanthropic habitats, along roadsides and in gardens, farms, nurseries and greenhouses and other disturbed and unkempt sites in cities and suburbs (Kerney 1999;Forsyth 2004;Reise et al. 2006Reise et al. , 2011Burke 2013). Its presence in North America is probably under-recorded, and Reise et al. (2006) suggested that it is more widespread east of the Continental Divide than currently known. ...
The introduced European slug Deroceras invadens Reise, Hutchinson, Schunack & Schlitt, 2011 is here reported from St. John's, Newfoundland. This new record is the first from the island of Newfoundland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from Atlantic Canada. It is the first verified record for this species living outside of greenhouses in eastern Canada.
... De Ariolimacidae en de Ariolimacinae zijn beide beperkt tot de westkust van Noord-Amerika. Van de diverse hiertoe behorende genera bereiken alleen de soorten van het genus Ariolimax lengtes die in de buurt komen van het in Nederland aangetroffen exemplaar (Pilsbry, 1948;Forsyth, 2004;Burke, 2013). Hierbij is de door Schileyko (2007) voorgestelde opwaardering van het subgenus Meadarion tot genus niet overgenomen. ...
... Kenmerkend voor het genus Ariolimax is de combinatie van de aanwezigheid van een staartklier, een kiel over het achterlijf, een naar achter het midden van het rugschild gelegen ademopening, en niet in de laatste plaats de grootte (fign. 1 en 2). De Bananenslak bereikt bijvoorbeeld in gestrekte toestand een maximale lengte van 26 centimeter (Forsyth, 2004). Onderzoek naar de anatomie van het onderschepte exemplaar kon de soorten van het subgenus Meadarion uitsluiten op basis van de cylindrische penis met een eindstandige retractorspier en de afwezigheid van een lange epiphallus. A. stramineus kon vervolgens worden uitgesloten door de relatief korte vagina en een vrij lange en gedraaide oviduct (Pilsbry, 1948) ( fig. 3). ...
A Banana slug Ariolimax columbianus (Gould, 1851) imported with Salal Summary. In 2013 a Banana slug Ariolimax columbianus (Gould, 1851) was found in a box of Salal Gaultheria shallon imported in the Netherlands. It could be established that banana slugs are regularly imported in the Netherlands with Salal. Two other Ariolimax-specimens that were found in the Netherlands in respectively a garden centre and a domestic home could not be identified to the species level, but likely were also banana slugs. The possibility of establishment in the Netherlands is briefly discussed.
... Despite being an introduced species, its invasive status and economic significance remain debated (McDonnell et al. 2020). This species has subterranean habits (Seidl and Seidl 1997;Reise et al. 2000), feeding on earthworm faeces, carrion, roots, decaying vegetation, detritus and eggs of various gastropod species (Gunn 1992;Forsyth 2004;Rowson et al. 2014), and it has occasionally been reported as a pest of ornamental plants (Godan 1983) and potatoes (Moolenbeek 2002). Additionally, its impacts may be overshadowed by the more common presence of other slugs that are significant horticultural and agricultural pests (Reise et al. 2000;McDonnell et al. 2020). ...
Invasive species are a major concern in the current scenario of biodiversity loss. Most studies focus on vertebrates and insects, while other groups have been profoundly overlooked. Particularly, terrestrial slugs are among the most understudied taxa. Here, we contribute to expanding the scarce knowledge on exotic invertebrates by reporting the occurrence of two non‐native terrestrial slugs in the Iberian Peninsula (northern Spain): Ambigolimax parvipenis, being also the first morphological confirmation for continental Spain, and Boettgerilla pallens, constituting the first record for continental Spain as well. Both species were collected in gardened urban areas or in peri‐urban areas with a high presence of exotic ornamental plants. Some individuals were used for anatomical studies, while other ones were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR amplification and sequencing, comparing their sequences with closely related species from GenBank and confirming their previous morphological identification. Early detection of exotic species is crucial to avoid potential future threats. Unfortunately, many non‐native species remain understudied or misidentified, leading to a silent invasion. Our findings entail a new step in the understanding of this neglected group and in the implications of urban gardened areas as a source of arrival of exotic fauna.
... However, the potential of this species to become a horticultural pest or compete with other species remains uncertain (Roth 1982, Pearce & Payne 2011. Besides Chile, C. minimum has been introduced in British Columbia, New Brunswick and Ontario in Canada, in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York in the USA as well as Valencia and Cadiz in Spain (Roth 1982, Holm 2010, Forsyth 2004, Martínez-Ortí & Roble 2004, Forsyth et al. 2008, Weigand & Jochum 2010, Pearce & Payne 2011, Forsyth & Williston 2012, Ríos Jiménez 2020. The first record of this species in America corresponds to specimens discovered in Massachusetts (Clapp 1912). ...
The Herald Thorn Carychium minimum, a tiny terrestrial snail native to Europe, is documented for the first time in Chile. The species was discovered in 2012 in El Totoral, near the San Antonio port in the Valparaíso Region (Central Chile). The presence of both juvenile and adult individuals depicts this species as a naturalised exotic snail. Carychium minimum is the second species of the genus Carychium recorded in Chile, succeeding Carychium biondii.
... In the temperate forests of north-western North America, from Alaska to northern California (Nekola et al. 2018), the common forest-dwelling species of Vertigo (Cameron 1986) has been known as Vertigo columbiana, attributed either to Sterki, 1892or Pilsbry & Vanatta, 1900(Pilsbry 1948Forsyth 2004). Vertigo andrusiana Pilsbry, 1899 was thought to be separate species (Pilsbry 1948), distinguished from V. columbiana by its shinier, darker shell, etc., until Nekola et al. (2018) synonymised them. ...
The correct name for a common, temperate north-western North American land snail is discussed. In a 2018 revision of the genus Vertigo O.F. Müller, 1773, “Vertigo columbiana Sterki, 1892” was used for this species by its authors, who synonymised V. andrusiana Pilsbry, 1899 with it. However, V. columbiana Sterki, 1892 is a nomen nudum and, as this name is not made available until a publication in 1900 by Pilsbry and Vanatta, the earliest available name is V. andrusiana.
... The Pacific Sideband (Monadenia fidelis) is one such Pacific Northwest endemic snail, with a range that extends from southwest British Columbia, Canada, to northern California. Within this range, M. fidelis primarily occurs west of the Cascade Mountains, where they are associated with relatively undisturbed deciduous and mixed forest areas but occur in a wide variety of habitats; they are not typically found in managed agro-ecosystems [25][26][27]. The genus Monadenia (Xanthonychidae) contains 19 recognized species, all of which are endemic to western North America. ...
Inundative biological control (biocontrol) efforts in pest management lead to the mass distribution of commercialized biocontrol agents. Many ‘biocontrol gone awry’ incidents have resulted in disastrous biodiversity impacts, leading to increased scrutiny of biocontrol efforts. The nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is sold as a biocontrol agent on three continents and targets pest gastropods such as Deroceras reticulatum, the Grey Field Slug; P. hermaphrodita is not presently approved for use in the United States. Investigations into the potential for P. hermaphrodita to infect non-target gastropod species of conservation relevance, however, are limited. We examined the effects of three strains of P. hermaphrodita on mortality in Monadenia fidelis, the Pacific Sideband, a snail species endemic to the Pacific Northwest of North America, in laboratory conditions. Across a 71-day laboratory infectivity assay, snails exposed to each of the three nematode strains, each analyzed at two doses, experienced a mean 50% mortality by days 20–42. All nematode-treated snails were dead by the end of the study. By contrast, 30/30 water-control snails experienced no mortality. Nematodes killed smaller, juvenile-stage snails significantly faster than those in larger and more developmentally advanced hosts. Our results provide direct evidence that the biocontrol nematode P. hermaphrodita infects and kills M. fidelis, a non-target gastropod species endemic to the Pacific Northwest, in laboratory conditions. This study suggests that introduction of P. hermaphrodita to new ecosystems might negatively impact endemic gastropod biodiversity and advocates for further investigation of non-target effects, including in conditions closer to the natural environments of non-target species.
... Slugs (Lehmannia valentiana; synonym Limax valentianus) were collected from mature deciduous woodland. Identification of the collected slugs was confirmed by dissection and examination of genitalia (Forsyth, 2004) of a proportion (~10%) of the population. The slugs were maintained in plastic containers with a thin layer of damp soil at 15°C and 16:8 Light: Dark for 1 week, during which time they were fed fresh vegetables and dog food kibble (Bakers Small Dog, Purina, UK). ...
Photorhabdus spp. are the only known terrestrial bioluminescent bacteria. We show that the bioluminescence produced by these bacteria reduces scavenging activity on the insect cadavers they colonize. Photorhabdus spp. are the symbiont of the insect pathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis spp. Together they kill insects and colonize the cadaver. The function of their bioluminescence has been the subject of debate, but here for the first time we demonstrate an ecological benefit. In our experiments, fewer Photorhabdus temperata -infected cadavers than uninfected cadavers were scavenged, but only in dark conditions where their bioluminescence would be visible. This was the case both in the field and in laboratory experiments with Lehmannia valentiana slugs (the primary scavengers found in our field tests). We also show that L. valentiana is innately deterred from scavenging on uninfected cadavers in proximity to light imitating the bioluminescence of Photorhabdus, indicating that luminescence can be a deterrent independent of chemical cues. We propose a multimodal defence where bioluminescence works together with the chemical defences also produced by Photorhabdus to deter scavengers, such as slugs, from feeding on the host cadaver, with the potential for aposematism.
... Mollusk identifications were based primarily on descriptions in the literature with some comparisons to a personal reference collection (CNJ) and specimens housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum. Primary literature references/descriptions used for identifications are as follows (by higher taxonomic group): Mollusks--Burch 1962;Forsyth 2004;Grimm et al. 2009;Nekola and Coles 2010;Nekola et al. 2009;Pilsbry 1946, 1948. Amphibians--Boardman and Schubert 2011Francis 1934;Holman 1995Holman , 2003Holman , 2006Jass and Gardner 2013. ...
New radiocarbon dates on biological remains from cave deposits in the Canadian Rocky Mountains range in age from infinite to modern but are largely restricted to the Holocene (9560±40 years B.P. to modern). The consistency in radiocarbon ages is interpreted as resulting from geologic processes associated with deglaciation and may reflect timeframes when cave conditions in some areas of the Canadian Rocky Mountains became suitable for deposition and preservation of biological remains. When considered at taxonomic levels permitted by morphological identification, recovered vertebrate remains from cave deposits are consistent with the modern biota of the region, suggesting early post-Late Glacial Maximum establishment of the modern biota and relative stability of mammal assemblages through the Holocene. Preliminary evaluation of recovered plant remains highlights a potentially underevaluated source of palaeoecological data for higher elevations.
... Arion intermedius (Normand 1852): Reported from Canada, New York, California and as far south as Kentucky and Virginia, this non-native species is found primarily in disturbed habitats (Burch 1962, Forsyth 2004, Dourson 2010, Hotopp et al. 2013. We found A. intermedius in secondgrowth fl oodplain forests and a former pasture at the edge of a spring (Sites 3, 13, 27). ...
The increased availability of publicly available, digitally accessioned biodiversity data and scientific literature presents the opportunity to reassess geographical associations of understudied taxonomic groups. Using these resources, in addition to occurrence data managed by the National Park Service at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and private collections, we have assembled an updated taxonomic checklist and robust geographic dataset of all records of terrestrial gastropods (land snails and slugs) within the state of Tennessee. Additionally, we quantified spatial and taxonomic biases in survey coverage and overall survey quality for terrestrial gastropods at two spatial resolutions: ecoregion and county. Our state checklist includes 301 species of terrestrial gastropods that have at least one occurrence record, which increases the number of species by 40 from previous assessments of terrestrial gastropod biodiversity in Tennessee. Spatial analyses revealed < 33% of ecoregions and < 18% of counties to be sufficiently sampled for any terrestrial gastropod group as inferred by accumulation curves and the ratio between number of records to number of genera within each spatial unit. Significant biases in survey coverage in the state were revealed at both spatial scales, and a disproportionate number of occurrence records were found in the eastern portion of the state near urban centers, universities, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Taxonomic diversity estimates were similarly biased. Moreover, larger snails comprise the vast majority of occurrence records compared to snails less than 5 mm in shell diameter and slugs. From a conservation perspective, the addition of many newly reported species requires updating status assessments, and the spatial and taxonomic bias reported here should act as an incentive for future targeted gastropod survey effort, particularly in western Tennessee.
... Specimens from the same collection site were kept together to avoid cross-contamination. Slugs were initially identified through morphological examination (Forsyth, 2004;Mc Donnell et al., 2009;Grimm et al., 2009;Vlach, 2016; https://idtools.org/id/mollusc/index.php). A molecular diagnosis was only performed on specimens when examination of external morphology and internal genital morphology was inconclusivefor example, immature specimens. ...
A survey of nematodes associated with terrestrial slugs was conducted in residential gardens, nurseries, greenhouses and agricultural sites located in and around Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A total of 2406 slugs were collected from 82 sites. Slugs were decapitated and cada-vers were incubated for two weeks, with emerging nematodes removed and processed for identification. Nematodes were identified using molecular sequence data for the 18S riboso-mal DNA. Nematodes were recovered from 20 of the 82 sites surveyed, with 24.4% of the slugs infected with nematodes. A total of seven nematodes were identified to species level, including Caenorhabditis elegans, Panagrolaimus papillosus, Pellioditis typica, Pelodera pseu-doteres, Rhabditella axei, Rhabditoides inermiformis and Phasmarhabditis californica. An additional four specimens were identified to genus level, including Oscheius sp. (9), Pristionchus sp., Rhabditis sp. and Rhabditophanes sp. (1). The two most common nematode species were C. elegans and P. pseudoteres. The facultative parasite, P. californica, was recovered from a single Arion rufus specimen, collected from a seasonal nursery. To our knowledge, this study represents the first survey of slug-associated nematodes in Canada.
... Oxyloma elegans elegans è presente in quasi tutta Europa (Bank, 2017) risultando la sottospecie maggiormente diffusa. Oxyloma elegans groenlandica (Möller, 1879) occupa le aree subartiche dei territori dello Yukon nella British Columbia centro-meridionale e ad Est verso il Canada orientale, la Groenlandia, Islanda (Harris & Hubricht 1982, Forsyth 2004) e Norvegia (Bank, 2017). Differisce dalla sottospecie nominale per avere una conchiglia con 2.5-3 spire molto convesse, suture profonde, minore altezza (7-11 mm) (Pilsbry, 1948;Burch, 1962), papilla peniale e presenza di creste anteriori, robusto dotto della borsa copulatrice (Pilsbry, 1948;Grimm et al., 2009). ...
Nel presente lavoro vengono forniti nuovi dati morfolo-gici, biologici e geonemici su Oxyloma elegans (Risso, 1826) in Sicilia (Gastropoda: Succineidae). In particolare, viene riportata la bibliografia esistente su questa specie in Sicilia, vengono censite nuove località per l'isola e vengono riportate osservazioni sulla biologia di questo mollusco terrestre. Inoltre, viene commentata la parte tassonomica relativa ai taxa descritti per la Sicilia.
In the present work, new morphological, biologic and geonemic data on the terrestrial snail Oxyloma elegans (Ris-so, 1826) in Sicily (Gastropoda: Succineidae) are provided. Particularly, the existing bibliography on this species in Sicily is summarized and new locations for the island are surveyed and observations on the biology of this terrestrial mollusk are reported. Furthermore, the taxonomic part relating the taxa described for Sicily is commented.
... Marsh Hive (Euconulus cf. prati cola (Reinhardt, 1883); = E. alderi (Gray, 1840), see Forsyth and Oldham 2016), also a wet grassland species (Forsyth 2004(Forsyth , 2005, occurred in both grassland habitats. ...
Less than 5% of the original tall grass prairie in North America remains. A portion of this remnant, composed of wetland, grassland and forest, is protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in southern Manitoba. This heterogeneous ecosystem has rich biodiversity; however, gastropods have not been surveyed in Canada’s tall grass prairie. We studied gastropods in Prairie, Wet Meadow, Forest, and Wet Forest habitats of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve that vary with respect to land management practices (prescribed burning, grazing by cattle). Gastropod community composition was unique in the Prairie where mounds of grass litter form permanently moist cavities harbouring aquatic species, while dry-habitat species colonized the upper parts of these mounds. Gastropod communities in Prairie habitats were negatively affected by grazing and burning that occurred in the five years prior to our survey. Unburned Forest patches included both forest gastropod species and edge effect influenced open-habitat species and harboured the most diverse gastropod communities. These unburned Forest patches potentially provide a species pool for post-burn prairie recolonization. The gastropod community of Wet Meadows was not affected by grazing and was composed mainly of aquatic species. In this gastropod survey five species were recorded from Manitoba for the first time. The rare Blade Vertigo (Vertigo milium) is also reported.
... Pneumostome in the postmedial region. Penis long, sinuous, with an appendage, proximal area with several small papillae more or less differentiated, the phallus glands, distally with a small internal stimulator which can be hemispheric or conical (BARKER, 1999;FORSYTH, 2004). Bursa copulatrix oval to globular, with a duct slightly longer than the bursa itself. ...
Considering the damage caused by terrestrial gastropods in strawberry producing areas in southern Brazil, this study aimed to i) identify the species associated with Fragaria x ananassa in rural properties in municipalities of Paraná State, Brazil; ii) describe and illustrate the diagnostic morphological and conchology features of the mollusk species; iii) construct an illustrated key based on these morphological and conchology features; iv) analyze two species collected in March 2017 to investigate the possible occurrence of parasitic nematodes of medical importance. Taxonomic determination of the mollusks was performed through morphological analysis of samples, and parasitological analysis was carried out using artificial digestion. The following gastropod species were identified: Bradybaena similaris (Bradybaenidae), Rumina decollata (Subulinidae), Deroceras leave (Agriolimacidae), Limacus flavus (Limacidae), and Meghimatium pictum (Philomycidae). Rumina decollata, L. flavus,and M. pictum were recorded for the first time as damaging strawberries in Brazil. No larvae of medical or veterinary importance, associated with samples, were reported. The main diagnostic features are described and illustrated. Besides, the potential of the gastropods as crop pests and vectors of nematodes associated with zoonotic diseases are discussed. Results can facilitate identification of gastropod species in strawberry crops and provide background information for future studies on bioecology and pest control.
... In British Columbia (BC), 4 species of Vallonia have been recognized using shell morphology: 2 unribbed species, V. pulchella (O. F. Müller, 1774) and V. excentrica (Sterki in Pilsbry, 1893), and 2 ribbed species, V. cyclophorella (Sterki, 1892) and V. gracilico sta Reinhardt, 1883 (Forsyth 2004). Individually, these 2 groups (ribbed and unribbed) both present difficulties for identification. ...
The minute terrestrial snail Vallonia costata (O. F. Müller, 1774) is reported for the first time from the province of British Columbia, Canada. The identification was based on shell morphology and confirmed by COI gene data. This species is presumed to be introduced to the province.
... Penis appendix and bursa copulatrix are both blunt in A. valentianus and pointed in L. marginata. Confirmation and identification of the species were done by comparison with Forsyth's (2004) study. ...
Ambigolimax valentianus (A. Férussac, 1822), the three-band garden slug, is originally native to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, and the Balearic Islands); however, it has been spread by human activities to many other parts of the world. There is no distributional record of the slug in Turkey to date. The species was recorded for the first time in Turkey during a biological survey carried out in the accommodation area of Dicle University (Diyarbakır) in October 2017. Some of the slugs were transferred to the laboratory for their morphological determination and dissection. Notably, more than 50 species of slugs dwell on Turkish lands and most of them are distributed in the Northern Anatolia Region. A. valentianus is observed here for the first time on Turkish lands. The purpose of the study is to present the first record of A. valentianus in Turkey and contribute to the checklist of Turkish gastropods.
... Outside of Europe, the large black Arion slug (unclear whether A. ater or A. rufus) has been introduced to Alaska probably within the last 20 years and is considered invasive there, with its current occurrence restricted mainly to south-eastern and south-central coastal areas (Meyers, 2006). In Canada, the first report of A. ater or A. rufus dates back to the 1940's in British Columbia (Forsyth, 2004), more recent observations are from Quebec (Allard, 2012). The occurrence of A. ater individuals has also been described from Australia after the year 2000, with one resident reporting to have collected over twenty thousand specimens (records of Museum Victoria). ...
Aim
The current volume of global trade has led to an unprecedented rate of biological invasions, causing severe problems to native ecosystems. The knowledge of species introduction routes and areas suitable for establishment is therefore an important step in preventing future invasions. The situation can be further exacerbated by climate change, which might alter the amount of environmentally suitable areas for establishment of invasive species. Here, we focus on three Arion slug species recently introduced to North America and Australia with potentially significant impact—A. ater, A. rufus and A. vulgaris.
Location
Worldwide.
Results
We combined interception records, molecular analyses and species distribution modelling to assess their introduction history and to predict which regions are at highest risk of future invasions. We found extensive sharing of mitochondrial haplotypes among continents in all three species. In concordance with the genetic analyses, interception records suggest that slugs were introduced to the USA and Australia primarily from France, the Netherlands and the UK, but also from other locations in North America. The models predicted climatically suitable regions for the three Arion species in several areas across the globe for which management actions can be targeted.
Main conclusions
While the amount of regions with climatic conditions that would be suitable for slug establishment is predicted to slightly decrease under future scenarios, new suitable areas will also emerge. We therefore recommend that prevention efforts to limit new introductions should continue in order to protect vulnerable native ecosystems.
... Arion intermedius (Normand 1852): Reported from Canada, New York, California and as far south as Kentucky and Virginia, this non-native species is found primarily in disturbed habitats (Burch 1962, Forsyth 2004, Dourson 2010, Hotopp et al. 2013. We found A. intermedius in secondgrowth fl oodplain forests and a former pasture at the edge of a spring (Sites 3, 13, 27). ...
Terrestrial mollusks (land snails and slugs) are an important component of the terrestrial ecosystem, yet for most species their distribution is not well known. This study was a comprehensive inventory of terrestrial mollusks in Knox County, Tennessee; an area within the Valley and Ridge physiographic region rich in calcareous soils and bluffs. Knox County supports a total of 151 species, including 70 newly reported to the county and 15 newly reported to Tennessee. Sixteen species non-native to North America were found, mostly in urban/ residential habitats. Limestone/sandstone bluffs were found to have the highest diversity of terrestrial mollusks.
... In Eastern Europe (from Hungary in the south to Latvia in the north), it inhabits almost exclusively anthropogenically modified environments (Domokos 2003, Sulikowska-Drozd 2008 and it has expanded its range eastwards to south-eastern Poland (Ożgo 2005), Czech Republic (Dvorak & Honek 2004, Peltanova et al. 2012 and Russia (Egorov 2008). The species was introduced overseas in the 19th Century and is currently widespread in Virginia, New York, Ontario, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Canada (Richards & Murray 1975, Chang & Emlen 1993, Forsyth 2004, Bellido et al. 2002, Whitson 2009, Örstan 2010. So far, C. nemoralis was not recorded in Romania. ...
The brown lipped snail, Ceapea nemoralis, is reported for the first time in Romania. Several individuals
were found in June 2017 in central Romania, City of Sibiu. The snails were found in a hedge of Spiraea
vanhoutei surrounding a playground area in the north-western part of the city. The location of the single
habitat where C. nemoralis is present indicates that the species has been introduced most probably accidentally
by rail or by car. This event comes a century after the deliberate introduction of Cepaea hortensis
in Sibiu. Given the poor habitat conditions, it is questionable whether C. nemoralis could expand its geographical
range or even survive in this area.
... Definitions of plant-related terms are adapted from Montgomery (1977), Moss (1983), and Harris and Harris (1994). Clarke (1981) and Forsyth (2004) were referenced for mollusc terms. ...
... Each sorted entity was identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, using a variety of published sources (Table 1), especially Montgomery (1977), Clarke (1981) and Forsyth (2004). Whenever possible, identifications were supported by consultation with the Seed and Macrofossil Reference Collections of the Royal Alberta Museum. ...
Periodic flood events are normal for rivers. These events sometimes deposit sediments that trap biological remains that can be used to reconstruct the local environment. Following the 2013 flooding of the Highwood River, southwestern Alberta, 24 organic-rich palaeoenvironmental samples were collected from the river’s banks at 14 localities. These contained a variety of mollusc and botanical remains (macrofossils). Subsamples were processed and used to reconstruct the palaeoecology of the riparian zone throughout the bulk of the Holocene. Site-by-site variability was noted across the samples, indicating several depositional environments, including flood plains, barforms, backwater channels, and splays. Each environmental setting yielded varying assemblages of terrestrial, emergent and aquatic plants, as well as terrestrial snails and aquatic molluscs. Data synthesis generated a detectable signal of climatic change throughout the Holocene. The general trend shows a progression from drier conditions in the early Holocene towards relatively moist conditions today. This study is the first detailed examination of near-river palaeoenvironmental conditions in southern Alberta.
... The snails that appeared to be tolerant to logging in our study (E. fulvus, P. randolphii, V. columbianus) are habitat generalists and almost ubiquitous along the south coast of British Columbia (Forsyth 2004). Zonitoides arboreus is similarly widespread and found in a variety of habitats. ...
Variable-retention (VR) logging practices provide an alternative to clearcutting, but much uncertainty exists on their effectiveness in maintaining biodiversity. We compared patterns of abundance of terrestrial gastropods in areas subjected to either clearcutting or VR treatments, in relation to an uncut control at six experimental sites in coastal British Columbia before and 2-4 years after logging. Gastropods sensitive to the logging treatments in most comparisons included Haplotrema vancouverense, Pristiloma stearnsii and P. lansingi (as a group), and Striatura pugetensis. Several generalist species showed no response to the treatments, and the abundance of two species (Punctum randolphii and Vespericola columbianus) increased in some logged treatments relative to the control. At sites where trees were retained in small groups (0.2-0.5 ha), the abundance of four species was depressed when compared to the control and pre-logging values. No differences among retention levels of 10%, 20%, and 30% were found. At a site where trees were retained in groups of different sizes, large groups (0.8-1.2 ha) were more effective in supporting sensitive species than were small groups (< 0.2 and 0.2-0.5 ha) and clearcuts. At a site where dispersed trees were retained, none of the logged treatments were equivalent to the control. No consistent patterns of higher abundance in the 30% retention level than in the 5% and 10% levels were found. The results contribute to the growing body of information on the complexity of responses of forest floor organisms to habitat modification by logging. © 2016 by the Northwest Scientific Association. All rights reserved.
... Carychium minimum Müller, 1774 ( Figure 1) is native over much of Europe and parts of western Asia (Egorov 2007;Welter-Schultes 2012), and is introduced to North America where it was first reported over 100 years ago (Clapp 1912). Recently, C. minimum has been included in molecular studies to understand speciation and patterns of distribution (e.g., Weigand et al. 2012Weigand et al. , 2013, and on a more basic level, new records of have been found that extend ranges and fill gaps (Forsyth 2004;Forsyth et al. 2008;Grimm et al. 2010;Weigand and Jochum 2010;Pearce and Payne 2011;Holm 2014). Some populations are known to be well established and fully naturalized and Weigand and Jochum (2010) have suggested that C. minimum could be more widespread and naturalized throughout northeastern North America. ...
The minute land snail, Carychium minimum Müller, 1774 is reported from New Brunswick, Canada. This new record further adds additional data to support the supposition that this introduced, European species is probably more widespread over temperate North America than currently known.
... Identifications were made using Pilsbry (1948), Gerber (1996), Forsyth (2004, Nekola and Coles (2010), and Nekola et al. (2014). References used for identification, as well as the citation of the original description of each species are included below. ...
There are few studies on the terrestrial molluscs of the Great Plains of Alberta. Nearly all previously published surveys have focused on the faunas of the Rocky Mountain Foothills, the Cypress Hills, the Parklands of Central Alberta, or the boreal forests. By means of hand-picking and litter samples, we surveyed for the first time the terrestrial snail fauna in the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta, Canada. From among the hoodoos (weathered rock formations) and along the cliffs on the north side of the Milk River, we found terrestrial snails at four of our five sites within the hot, dry valley of the river. Our study confirms our assumptions that the terrestrial snail fauna in these hostile habitats lacks diversity.
... 214) illustration of a paratype of P arcticum from Point Barrow also shows a large, bulbous, first embryonic whorl, a feature not seen in any samples in this study. Forsyth's (2002; 2004: 92) figure of a specimen collected in montane forest in the Babine Range, Skeena Mountains, British Columbia shows the same feature. It is also present in specimens from Attu, Aleutian Islands, Alaska (Roth and Lindberg 1981; specimens in California Academy of Sciences). ...
Extensive holdings of Pristiloma snails in the Oregon State Arthropod Collection were evaluated and reidentified as necessary. The study confirmed the distinctness of Pristiloma crateris from other species and delineated a range in Pacific Northwest National Forests, primarily along the western and eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in Oregon.
... It has been found at depths of 60 cm but it is thought that a small portion of the population remains at the ground surface under leaves, stones, and wood. It feeds on earthworm feces, eggs of other gastropods, carrion, fungal hyphae, roots, decaying vegetation, and detritus (Forsyth 2004). The worm slug is known from a wide range of habitats including gardens, grassland, woodland (deciduous and coniferous), greenhouses, and nurseries (Grimm et al. 2009, Reise et al. 2000 and is tolerant of a range of soil types, soil water content, and soil pH (De Wilde et al. 1983). ...
Boettgerilla pallens Simroth, 1912 is reported for the first time in the United States. Identification was based on combined morphological and molecular data (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I and 16S rDNA sequences) of a specimen collected in the retail garden center in northern California. We provide some background information on the biology and ecology of the slug and discuss the pest status of the species.
... The first outdoor records are from the other side of the continent on the UBC campus in Vancouver in 1974 (Rollo and Wellington 1975). Deroceras invadens is nowadays present at other sites in Greater Vancouver and around Victoria on Vancouver Island (Forsyth et al. 2001, Forsyth 2004, http://linnet. geog.ubc.ca/efauna/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Deroceras%20invadens; ...
The article reviews distribution records of Deroceras invadens (previously called D. panormitanum and D. caruanae), adding significant unpublished records from the authors’ own collecting, museum samples, and interceptions on goods arriving in the U.S.A. By 1940 D. invadens had already arrived in Britain, Denmark, California, Australia and probably New Zealand; it has turned up in many further places since, including remote oceanic islands, but scarcely around the eastern Mediterranean (Egypt and Crete are the exceptions), nor in Asia. Throughout much of the Americas its presence seems to have been previously
overlooked, probably often being mistaken for D. laeve. New national records include Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, with evidence from interceptions of its presence in Panama, Peru, and Kenya. The range appears limited by cold winters and dry summers; this would explain why its intrusion into eastern Europe and southern Spain has been rather slow and incomplete. At a finer geographic scale, the occurrence of the congener D. reticulatum provides a convenient comparison to control for sampling effort; D. invadens is
often about half as frequently encountered and sometimes predominates. Deroceras invadens is most commonly found in synanthropic habitats, particularly gardens and under rubbish, but also in greenhouses, and sometimes arable land and pasture. It may spread into natural habitats, as in Britain, South Africa, Australia and Tenerife. Many identifications have been checked in the light of recent taxonomic revision,revealing that the sibling species D. panormitanum s.s. has spread much less extensively. A number of
published or online records, especially in Australia, have turned out to be misidentifications of D. laeve.
Testacellidae are a group of carnivorous semislugs with a vestigial ear-shaped shell near the posterior end of their elongate bodies. The single genus Testacella is native to the western Mediterranean and western Europe, but some species have been introduced into temperate countries worldwide. The species are subterranean and feed on earthworms. Due to their predominantly subterranean lifestyle, Testacella species are difficult to observe. Here, I review of the distribution of introduced Testacella species in North America and compare the knowledge based on literature references and museum specimens collected over more than a century with that observed by community scientists on the web platform iNaturalist in less than 10 years. Literature references and museum specimens indicate scattered occurrences of the introduced Testacella haliotidea in the eastern USA and a few more occurrences in the Pacific states of the USA and in British Columbia. Community scientists have nearly replicated a century of knowledge about the distribution of Testacella in North America. Their records even show a more continuous distribution of T. haliotidea in the Pacific states and confirm its presence in Tennessee, but not yet in Pennsylvania. They also provided the first records of T. haliotidea in Georgia and Mexico, and discovered a second introduced Testacella species, Testacella maugei, in California. The most distant occurrences of T. maugei in California are about 100 km apart, indicating that the species was probably introduced several years ago.
The diet of land snails that are detritivores usually consists of decaying plant material and fungi. Animal carrion is also consumed, and is usually composed of invertebrates like earthworms and other snails. However, while working at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in southwestern North Carolina in 2017, I observed a land snail (most likely Cepaea nemoralis [Grove Snail]) feeding on the carcass of a Desmognathus aeneus (Seepage Salamander), a vertebrate. This is the first report of a land snail feeding on an amphibian carcass in the United States.
Temporal changes in land-use exhibit considerable influence on soil properties. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of land-use practices within landscape positions on selected soil properties at Ciales, Guanica and Luquillo forest ecozones of Puerto Rico. At each landscape positions, ridges, slopes, and foothills were delineated to measure soil moisture content using Time Domain Reflectometry. Soil core samples were collected from 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm depths, air-dried, processed, and analyzed for pH and exchangeable Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe contents. On average, pH decreased with increasing depth. The effect of landscape position on soil moisture content was more pronounced at Ciales than at Guanica and Luquillo. Soils at the Luquillo site contained significantly greater amounts of acidic cations, soils at the Ciales and Guanica sites contained greater amounts of basic and total cations. Greater amounts of Al and Mg were measured in soils from foothill soils than those obtained from ridge and slope at the Guanica site. Soils on ridges and slopes had Al saturation >70% compared to 50% in foothill soils. The amount of Al, Fe and acidic cations was greater in ridge soils at both Ciales and Luquillo, and in foothill soils at Guanica.
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