I’m generally big on wildlife and nature, but the slug is a decidedly unappealing creature. There is nothing here that makes me want to get to know the thing better. I mean, I’m not asking for megafauna charisma, but come on. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug
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I don't like 'em either, but exploring their niche in ecosystems helped me find interesting by proxy. Slugs are assholes https://parasiteecology.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/slugs-ruin-everything/ … and are part of interesting dynamics between plants, ants and worms (particularly among European varieties). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earthworms-in-your-garden-may-help-prevent-invasive-slugs-from-devouring-plants-63138635/ …
Well they do get a bad deal in return as well. Everything eats them, sometimes in creatively hideous ways. For example https://www.wired.com/2014/09/absurd-creature-of-the-week-disco-worm/ …
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No wait that’s a snail. Snails are marginally more interesting.
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There are other interesting ones in slugs too tho: "a possible mechanism by which P. hermaphrodita is able to manipulate parasite avoidance behaviour in host slugs is by manipulating serotonergic signalling in the brain" (is related to one in OpenWorm) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635717305661 …
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Raw slugs can contain a really nasty parasite that can kill. This was trending a few days ago: http://time.com/5445715/australia-slug-dare-sam-ballard/ … I've been exploring that in terms of garden pests. Apparently ducks love 'em https://laidbackgardener.blog/tag/ducks-to-control-grasshoppers/ … and they play a similar role as grasshoppers and snails.
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I have suspicion that there might be some weird thing going on with how that particular parasite moves thru food chains. Its one that I'm expecting to find in squirrels via their bird eating behaviors. Apparently it doesn't show up with symptoms in ducks. https://arwh.org/sites/default/files/2016-11/Common%20Diseases%20of%20Birds_Part%201.pdf …
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