Terrestrial gastropods from the Himsworth Game Preserve, Ontario, and their significance in Parelaphostrongylus tenuis transmission

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Abstract
Terrestrial gastropods were collected within the 1220-ha Himsworth Game Preserve in central Ontario during 1974 to determine their abundance and habitat preference. Collections from systematically arranged plots occurred 23 May to 4 June, 6 July to 14 July, and 26 August to 5 September. In all 16 498 gastropods were collected; 4351, in the first, 5622 in the second, and 6525 in the third collection period. Sixteen species were represented with Discus cronkhitei and Zonitoides arboreus accounting for 69.3% of the specimens. Deroceras laeve and Pallifera dorsalis were the most common slugs. Gastropods (excluding slugs) showed a significant preference for mixed forest and a significant aversion to open habitat types during all collection periods. Slugs were significantly less abundant in mixed forest and more abundant in open habitat types during the third collection period.Eight of the 16 species collected (80.1% of the specimens) have previously been identified as intermediate hosts of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. However, only 19 third-stage larvae of P. tenuis were obtained from the 16450 gastropods digested in pepsin. It is proposed that Zonitoides arboreus in association with Betula papyrifera may be important components in the transmission of P. tenuis to cervids on the Himsworth Game Preserve.