Litter decomposition by slugs in mixed deciduous woodland

Abstract

For the one year period considered, it is calculated that 683.5 g m ‐2 plant litter entered the study area site. Of the six slugs studied, Arion intermedius Normand, the smallest species, had the highest overall consumption rate on the nine test foods (29.1 ± 0.9 mg dry wt g live wt ‐1 d ‐1 ) and the highest overall mean assimilation efficiency (72.0 + 0.9%). The mean faecal production for each of the six slug species was very similar, ranging from 8.4 to 9.9 mg dry wt g live wt ‐1 d ‐1 . Using regression equations of food consumed on faeces produced, it is estimated that the slug fauna each year consumes 8.4% of the leaf litter input and 6.5% of the total available plant litter. Of the plant material consumed, 13.8 g dry wt m ‐2 are deposited annually as faeces. The role of slugs in decomposition processes is discussed and compared with that of other soil organisms.