THE STATUS OF INVASIVE DUSKY SLUG (ARION) SPECIES IN THE UPPER GREAT LAKES: A MOLECULAR APPROACH

<p>I update the distribution of two cryptic slug species, <em>Arion fuscus </em>and <em>Arion subfuscus</em>,<em> </em>in the Upper Great Lakes of the United States using molecular identification methods. <em>Arion fuscus </em>has not previously been reported in the literature in this region, and <em>Arion subfuscus </em>has previously been reported as abundant. However, all previous distribution studies were determined using visual identification tools, which can result in misidentification between cryptic species. To molecularly re-examine these distribution maps, I used a mitochondrial ribosomal subunit 16S PCR amplification and subsequent SSpI and MfeI restriction enzyme digest to identify slug specimens. I collected slugs in 11 locations around Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron using beer-baited pitfall traps from May to September of 2022. I collected slugs at one location in Marquette, Michigan biweekly, a total of eight times, throughout the summer to monitor fine-scale slug activity. I found <em>Arion fuscus </em>at 9 of the 11 locations and <em>Arion subfuscus </em>at no locations. <em>Arion fuscus </em>was found early in the spring before other slug species were active. This confirms the inaccuracy of previous distributions determined through visual identification, and calls for the widespread molecular re-examination of current slug distributions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Hall, Olivia W

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Alan J. Rebertus

• Arion fuscus
• Arion subfuscus
• invasive species
• distribution
• rDNA 16S
• Biology
• Entomology
• Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Other Genetics and Genomics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/751

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1795