Very little is known about the natural history of terrestrial gastropods. They are known to be important detritivores, but they are also likely important dispersers of forest fruit seeds and fungal spores (Richter 1980, Gervais et al. 1998). I hope to conduct future research on the importance of terrestrial gastropods on the consumption and potential dispersal of fungus in the Pacific Northwest of North America. The Pacific Bananaslug (Ariolimax columbianus) has been recorded eating a number of fungal fruiting bodies including Russula emetica, R. pologonia, R. placata, Lactarius obnybylus, and Boletus zelleri. However, the diversity of both terrestrial gastropods and fungus are very high in the Pacific Northwest, for example, I have regularly encountered species of Prophysaon (taildroppers) engaged in mycophagy (or fungivory). This iNat project intends to lay some natural history ground work to this future research, by providing records of what species of gastropods are eating what species of fungus. Records for this project can be world wide, though I will focus on curating records from the Pacific Northwest. Any additions, comments, suggestions, input, or other feedback on this research would be most welcome, including literature of interest.
Both observations identified as Mollusca and Fungi can be added to the project. Ideally, both of the individuals would have their own observation. If so, please link them using the Observation field "Associated observation". For Mollusca observations, the Observation field "Eating" can be used to denote the Fungi. For Fungi observations, the Observation field "Eaten by" can be used to denote the molluscan side of the interaction.
Gervais, J. A., A. Traveset, and M. F. Willson (1998). The Potential for Seed Dispersal by the Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus). The American Midland Naturalist 140:103–110. doi: 10.1674/0003-0031(1998)140[0103:TPFSDB]2.0.CO;2
Keller, H. W., & Snell, K. L. (2002). Feeding activities of slugs on Myxomycetes and macrofungi. Mycologia, 94(5), 757–760. https://doi.org/10.1080/15572536.2003.11833169
Richter, K. O. (1980). Evolutionary aspects of mycophagy in Ariolimax columbianus and other slugs. In Soil biology as related to land use practices. Proceedings of the VII International Colloquium of Soil Biology, USEPA Office of Pesticide and Toxic Substances, Washington, DC. EPA-560/13-80-038. pp. 616–636.
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Molluscan Mycophagy
