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Scientist leaping to the defence of Vancouver Island害羞草研究所檚 dwindling jumping slug

Mapping project tracks this important indicator of the health of B.C. rainforest
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The tiny warty jumping-slug, found only on Vancouver Island, is about two centimetres in length. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)

Ever thought about slugs? What about jumping slugs?

Probably not.

But they害羞草研究所檙e a thing 害羞草研究所 and they害羞草研究所檙e threatened, as by , the NPR affiliate based in Seattle.

Like the threatened spotted owl, slugs are important indicators of the health of Vancouver Island害羞草研究所檚 rainforest.

害羞草研究所淭hey are important to forests,害羞草研究所 said Jennifer Huron, provincial invertebrate conservation specialist with the B.C. Environment Ministry. 害羞草研究所淟ike all biodiversity in the forests, they deserve protection and attention.害羞草研究所

The decline of two slug species on the south Island worries scientists: the dromedary and warty jumping-slugs. The species are both listed as threatened by the federal government.

The warty jumping-slug glides through the forests of the Sooke region. In contrast, the dromedary jumping-slug slimily slides through the undergrowth of the ancient forests of Port Renfrew along the coast to Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino.

And in case you were wondering: they do jump by flopping around on the forest floor 害羞草研究所 a defence mechanism, of sorts.

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Jumping-slugs primarily inhabit mature and older temperate rainforests. They require coarse woody debris and continually moist microhabitat to lay their eggs and take cover to minimize dehydration stress.

Slugs and snails play an essential part in the ecosystem by feeding on decaying and live vegetable matter like mushrooms, constantly turning over nutrients and keeping healthy the soil and plants that grow there.

害羞草研究所淭he fungi the slugs like are in the humus layer, so something has to come up and dig them up and disperse the spores, because they害羞草研究所檙e covered up,害羞草研究所 said biologist Kristiina Ovaska. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a fascinating interaction between the fungi, the trees and the little animals, such as slugs.害羞草研究所

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 fully understand what each part of the ecosystem does or what these species do. The unique bits of DNA has been evolving for a long time. We really need to protect all parts to understand what they害羞草研究所檙e about fully.害羞草研究所

Dromedary and warty jumping-slugs are difficult to find, as they害羞草研究所檙e small and nocturnal and often hidden in leaves and fallen logs. Warty slugs are less than two centimetres in length, while the dromedary slug ranges in size from five to six centimetres.

害羞草研究所淵ou really have to look for them, especially with a species that害羞草研究所檚 rare and patchily distributed. You need to know where to look and go out at night when it is raining,害羞草研究所 Ovaska said.

A provincial mapping project is attempting to identify where the slugs live, with a view to accessing their habitat.

It害羞草研究所檚 not as simple as it sounds.

The slugs can only be found in the wet months of the year 害羞草研究所 March to May and September to October 害羞草研究所 and scientists need to be there while it害羞草研究所檚 raining heavily.

Huron said the plan over the next two years is to collect research material and create maps; they hope to leverage more money to protect the species. The maps will help to local government, industry and other property owners make informed decisions on the risk to the species.

害羞草研究所淢y job is to provide the science, and then others make those policy and socio-economic decisions,害羞草研究所 Huron said.

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Kevin Laird

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