Environment and Diet Influence the Bacterial Microbiome of Ambigolimax valentianus an Invasive Slug in California

摘要

Slugs are significant pests, physically damaging plants from their voracious appetite as well as dispersing bacteria which could be harmful to plants and humans. They produce substantial economic costs, both as a direct result of plant destruction, and indirectly through attempts of pest control. This study explored the ecological aspects of the bacterial microbiome of Ambigolimax valentianus, a slug invasive to California. We identified a core microbiome in A. valentianus and found that their bacterial microbiome can be influenced and may depend substantially on both diet and environment. We also found that A. valentianus slugs harbor ecologically important bacteria, therefore their dispersal could have environmental and agricultural implications for both crop health and plant science. Future studies that provide a better understanding of the slug bacterial microbiome may be an important step in the development of comprehensive slug management.