Nematodes associated with terrestrial slugs in the Edmonton region of Alberta, Canada

Abstract

AbstractA 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 cadavers were incubated for two weeks, with emerging nematodes removed and processed for identification. Nematodes were identified using molecular sequence data for the 18S ribosomal 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, includingCaenorhabditis elegans,Panagrolaimus papillosus,Pellioditis typica,Pelodera pseudoteres,Rhabditella axei,Rhabditoides inermiformisandPhasmarhabditis californica. An additional four specimens were identified to genus level, includingOscheiussp. (9),Pristionchussp.,Rhabditissp. andRhabditophanessp. (1). The two most common nematode species wereC. elegansandP. pseudoteres. The facultative parasite,P. californica, was recovered from a singleArion rufusspecimen, collected from a seasonal nursery. To our knowledge, this study represents the first survey of slug-associated nematodes in Canada.