Slug Eating a Dandelion Flower

This year we delayed our garden a bit. Because although our climate supports a long growing season, it also supports a whole bunch of slugs. We've just started to work out there. And there were all kinds of dandelions. The slugs were feasting on the flowers. I am sure there is some sort of permaculture lesson in all this. In the meantime, enjoy a closeup of a slug on a flower.

Great shot!

This might be a kind of goofy question but I think it relates.

What is the role of slugs in the environment? How do they fit into the web? I'm a bit ignorant to the role they play besides being something I curse and shake my first at when they are in my gardens.