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O'Hanlon A, Feeney K, Dockery P, et al. Quantifying phenotype-environment matching in the protected Kerry spotted slug (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using digital photography: exposure to UV radiation determines cryptic colour morphs. Front Zool. 2017;14:35doi: 10.1186/s12983-017-0218-9.
O'Hanlon, A., Feeney, K., Dockery, P., & Gormally, M. J. (2017). Quantifying phenotype-environment matching in the protected Kerry spotted slug (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using digital photography: exposure to UV radiation determines cryptic colour morphs. Frontiers in zoology, 1435. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-017-0218-9
O'Hanlon, Aidan, et al. "Quantifying phenotype-environment matching in the protected Kerry spotted slug (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using digital photography: exposure to UV radiation determines cryptic colour morphs." Frontiers in zoology vol. 14 (2017): 35. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-017-0218-9
O'Hanlon A, Feeney K, Dockery P, Gormally MJ. Quantifying phenotype-environment matching in the protected Kerry spotted slug (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using digital photography: exposure to UV radiation determines cryptic colour morphs. Front Zool. 2017 Jul 10;14:35. doi: 10.1186/s12983-017-0218-9. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28702067; PMCID: PMC5504635.
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Front Zool. 2017 Jul 10;14:35. doi: 10.1186/s12983-017-0218-9. eCollection 2017.

Quantifying phenotype-environment matching in the protected Kerry spotted slug (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using digital photography: exposure to UV radiation determines cryptic colour morphs.

Frontiers in zoology

Aidan O'Hanlon, Kristina Feeney, Peter Dockery, Michael J Gormally

Affiliations

  1. Applied Ecology Unit, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
  2. Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.

PMID: 28702067 PMCID: PMC5504635 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-017-0218-9

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Animal colours and patterns commonly play a role in reducing detection by predators, social signalling or increasing survival in response to some other environmental pressure. Different colour morphs can evolve within populations exposed to different levels of predation or environmental stress and in some cases can arise within the lifetime of an individual as the result of phenotypic plasticity. Skin pigmentation is variable for many terrestrial slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda), both between and within species. The Kerry spotted slug

RESULTS: Analysis of digital images of wild slugs demonstrated that each colour morph is strongly and positively correlated with the colour properties of the background in each habitat but not with the substrate of the alternative habitats, suggesting habitat-specific crypsis. Experiments were undertaken on laboratory-reared juvenile slugs to investigate whether ultraviolet (UV) radiation or diet could induce colour change. Exposure to UV radiation induced the black (bog) phenotype whereas slugs reared in darkness did not change colour. Diet had no effect on juvenile colouration. Examination of skin tissue from specimens exposed to either UV or dark treatments demonstrated that UV-exposed slugs had significantly higher concentrations of black pigment in their epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that colour dimorphism in

Keywords: Animal colouration; Camouflage; Digital photography; Disruptive patterning; Gastropoda; Mollusc; Phenotypic plasticity; Pigmentation; Polyphenism; Slug; Terrestrial mollusc; UV radiation; Visual predation

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