DNA sampling from body swabs of terrestrial slugs (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): a simple and non-invasive method for molecular genetics approaches

Studies on molluscan conservation genetics, phylogenetics and evolution provide important data to access the diversity, populations’ structure and dispersal patterns of these organisms (Barker, 2001). Current environmental changes associated to anthropogenic pressures may have several negative ecological impacts on molluscs (e.g. van der Meij, Moolenbeek Cameron, Pokryszko Kappes, 2006). The literature on slugs is greatly biased towards those that are agricultural pests (Barker, 2002), while there is little information about benign native species such as Geomalacus maculosus (Platts Sokolov, 2000; Pereira et al., 2011), some protocols have been proposed based on non-invasive sources of DNA in terrestrial and marine snails and slugs (Kawai et al., 2004; Armbruster, Koller Palmer, Styan Re´gnier et al., 2011). All these successful strategies were developed considering the DNA isolation from foot mucus and specific procedures for sample collection. Nevertheless, the sampling protocols are time-consuming and require the handling of the individuals. The development of simple and efficient protocols to improve these characteristics can significantly enhance its field applicability. Thus, the main goal of this study is to demonstrate and report a non-invasive, rapid, efficient and cost-effective method based on DNA isolation from body swabs of terrestrial slugs. In this perspective, the hypothesis under study is that slugs’ body surface epithelial cells provide an alternative good DNA source for genetic analysis.