Ecology and population studies of land slug, laevicaulis alte in shahada region

The land slug, Laevicaulis alte is very commonly found in and around shahada tehsils. These are hermaphrodite and reproduce by cross fertilization. The annual reproductive cycle passes through three phases. The pre-reproductive phase is the preparatory phase in which accumulation of various nutritive molecules occurs.The preparatory phase occurs before onset of monsoon. The monsoon is the breeding phase in which availability of water and moisture in the environment influences the breeding activities.They lay about 22-26 eggs in a chain of mucus like jelly found in   humus or under any substratum and decaying leaves in and around moist area. Slugs in Dongargaon (Site-A) and Manarad (Site-B) habitat were observed in Shahada city area.The population correlation studies between alkaline nature (pH) of soil and number of slugs in Site-A is r²=0.13 and in Site-B isr²= 0.61.The rainfall in the season is the prime factor that might causes fluctuations in the breeding activities. The population and breeding behaviour of Laevicaulis alte is studiedin shahada area. In present work the correlation of ecological changes and breeding cycle of a land slug Laevicaulis alte is studied during June 2015 to March 2016.