banana_slug_biology
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banana_slug_biology [2010/04/26 20:56] karplus Added headings for subsections of bibliography |
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| ======Banana Slug Biology====== | ======Banana Slug Biology====== | ||
| + | ===== Presentation of John Pearse and Jan Leonard ===== | ||
| + | Presented to the BME235 Slug Genome class on April 23, 2010, this website [[http://compbio.soe.ucsc.edu/slugGenome/|http://compbio.soe.ucsc.edu/slugGenome/]] contains a pdf "All About Banana Slugs". | ||
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| =====Taxonomy===== | =====Taxonomy===== | ||
| The term "banana slug" refers to any member of the genus //Ariolimax//, of which there are three species. They are part of the mollusc superfamily Arionoidea, which contains most terrestrial air-breathing slugs. Within //Ariolimax//, there are three species: //A. columbianus//, //A. californicus//, and //A. dolichophallus//, which is the UC Santa Cruz mascot. | The term "banana slug" refers to any member of the genus //Ariolimax//, of which there are three species. They are part of the mollusc superfamily Arionoidea, which contains most terrestrial air-breathing slugs. Within //Ariolimax//, there are three species: //A. columbianus//, //A. californicus//, and //A. dolichophallus//, which is the UC Santa Cruz mascot. | ||
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| Banana slugs have been shown to have a mutually symbiotic relationship with the redwood tree, //Sequoia sempervirens//. The slugs do not eat the seedlings of the redwood tree, preferring even cardboard over redwood trees. Instead, they eat plant species that compete with redwoods for light, water, and nutrients. In exchange for this, the redwoods provide the slugs with the cool, moist habitat that they need.((http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall00projects/bananaslug.html)) | Banana slugs have been shown to have a mutually symbiotic relationship with the redwood tree, //Sequoia sempervirens//. The slugs do not eat the seedlings of the redwood tree, preferring even cardboard over redwood trees. Instead, they eat plant species that compete with redwoods for light, water, and nutrients. In exchange for this, the redwoods provide the slugs with the cool, moist habitat that they need.((http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/fall00projects/bananaslug.html)) | ||
| - | Banana slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female genitalia. Though they are capable of self-fertilization, cross mating is more typical slug behavior. When a slug is ready to mate, it will release pheromones into its slime as a signal to other slugs. The slugs release sperm into each other and fertilize the eggs. After mating, the slugs will gnaw off each others male genitalia to disengage. Sperm collected in this fashion can be stored internally for several months, to allow immature eggs to fully develop before fertilization. | + | Banana slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female genitalia. Though they are capable of self-fertilization, cross mating is more typical slug behavior. When a slug is ready to mate, it will release pheromones into its slime as a signal to other slugs. The slugs release sperm into each other and fertilize the eggs. Sperm collected in this fashion can be stored internally for several months, to allow immature eggs to fully develop before fertilization. After mating, one of the slugs will sometimes gnaw off the other's male genitalia to disengage (or perhaps it's own—observations are difficult), a process known as apophallation. |
| Many animals are predators of the banana slug, including birds, raccoons, snakes, and salamanders. However, due to the mucous secreted by the slug, most such predators will roll the slug around in the dirt to remove the slime before eating the slug.((http://www.greatwildoutdoors.com/2007/09/10/banana-slug/)) | Many animals are predators of the banana slug, including birds, raccoons, snakes, and salamanders. However, due to the mucous secreted by the slug, most such predators will roll the slug around in the dirt to remove the slime before eating the slug.((http://www.greatwildoutdoors.com/2007/09/10/banana-slug/)) | ||
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