What's Inside

ISSN 1011-2375

Dear Members, announcements are the least welcome, obituary notices are still This is the new UMN, based on of interest. Sadly, we have occasion what you have told me you want to include two in this issue. (and some small refinements in the appearance). Although the present Book reviews 94 % issue of UMN was ready for Professional announcements 87 % distribution in March, it was Literature summaries 83 % decided for financial reasons to Interesting mollusc facts 80 % delay distribution until six months Dissertation announcements 70 % after the previous issue. Frequency Natural history articles 63 % (and medium) of publication is still Art 47 % under consideration; I would be Anecdotal accounts 47 % interested to hear your comments. Open queries 47 % Of the 326 current members of (e.g. identification of shells) UNITAS, I received 31 responses Personal notices 20 % to the general survey about the UMN contents. To be fair, this is Our contents, as in this issue, not particularly impressive. will focus on current reporting, However, it is guidance of a sort book reviews, and publication and and I intend to follow it. These professional announcements. But Number 22 responses to various proposed don’t forget to try out the June 2005 newsletter contents give the total crossword and send me your percentage of positive responses solution! The winner will be you gave me. announced in the next issue as well What’s Inside The majority of the you are as receiving a book prize. happy with electronic distribution Particularly welcome in this issue Special Report: of the newsletter, so postal copies is an article by Council member After the Tsunami 3 will be sent only to affiliated Somsak Panha, with a surprisingly Obituaries 4 associations, members without e- optimistic report on the post- Journal Announcements 4 mail facilities or those who request tsunami recovery in Thailand. Book Reviews 5 it. Several readers are vehemently Your submissions are very UM Research Awards 6 opposed to the presence of shell- welcome as always, and I hope that Museum Announcements 7 identification questions, so those of the new format and contents Membership 7 you who feel this way will be guidelines may inspire you. Crossword 8 relieved that open queries will not JDS Accounts Report (2001-2003) 9 be included. It was generally agreed that although personal

Our aim is to further the study of Mollusca by individuals, societies and institutions world-wide

Newsletter Editor: Julia Sigwart Collections-based Biology in Dublin (CoBiD) National Museum of Ireland, Natural History Division Merrion Street, Dublin 2, Ireland tel. +353 1 716 2195 e.mail: [email protected]

Printing and distribution: E. Gittenberger

Keeping the World of Malacology Informed www.ucd.ie/zoology/unitas/

Council of Unitas Malacologica

President Members of Council Prof. Dr Thierry Backeljau Dr. Paula Mikkelsen Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences American Museum of Natural History Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Central Park West at 79th Street, BELGIUM New York NY 10024-5192 t. +32 2 627 43 39 USA f. +32 2 627 41 41 t. +1 212 769 5244 e. [email protected] f. +1 212 769 5277 e. [email protected] Secretary Dr. Dai G. Herbert Dr. Marco Oliverio Department of Mollusca, Natal Museum Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo P. Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, Viale dell'Università 32, I-00185 Rome, SOUTH AFRICA ITALY t. +33 345 1404 t. +39 06 4991 4307 f. +33 345 0561 f. +39 06 4958 259 e. [email protected] e. [email protected]

Dr. Somsak Panha Treasurer Department of Biology Dr. Jackie Van Goethem Faculty of Science Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Chulalongkorn University Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels Phyathai Road, Patumwan BELGIUM Bangkok 10330 t. +32 2 627 43 43 THAILAND f. +32 2 627 41 41 t. +662 218 5273 e. [email protected] f. +662 218 5273 e. [email protected] Past President Dr. Fred E. Wells Dr. Guido Pastorino Western Australian Museum Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 1 Francis Street, Perth 6000, Western Australia, Avda. Angel Gallardo 470 3er piso lab. 57, AUSTRALIA C1405DJR Buenos Aires, t. +61 8 9427 2809 ARGENTINA f. +61 8 9427 2882 t. +54-11-4982 6670 e. [email protected] f. +54-11-4982 4494 e. [email protected]

2 June 2005 Newsletter No. 22

Special Report One interesting finding from these surveys is that many tree snail species A SURVEY OF THE IMPACTS OF died out because of a lack of shelter. THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN Amphidromus atricallosus and Dyakia TSUNAMI ON SOME salangana are the two species which TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES were most effected. On Kam Island, a INCLUDING MOLLUSCS small island of Ranong Province, I can see an initial vicariance phenomenon dividing two populations of A. The tsunami that hit Southeast Asia atricallosus that have been separated by and the islands near there on December tsunami erosion. However, invertebrates 26, 2004 was devastating, killing tens of living in the mangrove areas are almost thousands of people, and wiping out all safe. For example, one week after the whole communities. From the beginning, tsunami I observed fiddler crabs (Uca Chulalongkorn University has been spp.) in mangrove areas. Ghost crabs involved in assisting the victims and co- (Ocypode ceratophthalma) appear to be ordinating environmental restoration with increasing based on observations of both the Thai central government. I have their numbers and their holes. Some become involved in assisting many Ellobiidae, such as Cassidula and Pythia marine national parks through assessing were brought up to the forest fringe about the impact of the tsunami on terrestrial 1-2 kilometers away from mangrove beach flora and fauna, beach forests, forest together with Cerithidea sp. freshwater swamps, streams and mangrove forests. Some islands, such as Kam Island, were split into two or three portions In our rapid assessments, we have which are now divided by saltwater. found a lot of evidence of the impact of Some freshwater swamps now have the giant waves. The sandy beach slopes become hypersaline with salinity rising of some places in Pangnga and Phuket from freshwater to 38-40 ppt (compared have been reshaped to flat structures and to the normal 25-30 ppt in marine water). the waves washed away some polluting The only three freshwater molluscs that agents. It is likely that the condition of were present have died (i.e., Filopaludina some habitats is actually improved as a cf. javanica, Indoplanorbis exustus and result of the waves. Mole crabs (Emerita Melanoides tuberculata), but some alien emertus), mysis shrimps, olive shells species like the snail Pomacea (Olivella sp.), and some polychaete canaliculata survived. Other freshwater worms appeared in enormous numbers invertebrates are all gone (for example, a one month after the waves. Prior to the freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium sp.). tsunami these animals were reported to Some larger vertebrates such as frogs be decreasing because of pollution, and have now moved to other places or some of them are rare species. perished. These changes in salinity will Most of the trees on affected beaches have huge effects in this unique have died, except for coconuts and some ecosystem. other palm trees. The waves washed in These observations are based on a about two kilometres from the beach to rapid assessment of only some the forest fringes with the high velocity invertebrates, especially molluscs. The water about 3-4 meters per second and survey will be continued for a year to hydrodynamic pressure about 400-800 observe changing conditions and note the kilograms per square metre. This is more longer-term effects of the tsunami. In than enough to destroy all hard addition, these findings will help guide us constructions and kill people and in restoration efforts. animals. Somsak Panha [email protected]

Unitas Malacologica Newsletter 3 www.ucd.ie/zoology/unitas/

A Good Journal Made New

Historical Biology maintaining rigorous peer review www.tandf.co.uk/journals/onlinesamples.aspprocess, with the goal to build a leading international journal in the next few Recently re-launched, Historical years. The Journal is committed to open Biology (HBI) provides an international access its online version to maximise the outlet for high quality papers that deal distribution of articles. Full texts of all with systematics and evolutionary trends articles will be made available in within animal and plant groups having PubMed Central, the US National both living and fossil representatives. Library of Medicine's biomedical journal Submissions from all fields of information archive. A print version of palaeontology, evolutionary biology and the Journal is also scheduled to publish systematics will be welcomed. In the first for subscription by worldwide research place, peer-reviewed articles will be libraries. published immediately once they are accepted by the editorial team (via preview; www.tandf.co.uk/preview), full Book Reviews volume contents appearing in printed SCHULTZ, O., 2003. Bivalvia neogenica form annually. In addition to regular (Lucinoidea-Mactroidea). Catalogus peer-reviewed scientific articles, HBI Fossilium Austriae 1(2), pp. i-x, 381-690, will also publish longer monographic 1 fig., pls 57-95. Verlag der works in the field of historical animal Österreichischen Akademie der and plant systematics. Wissenschaften, Wien (ISBN 3-7001- For malacological enquiries to HBI, 3180-X). Price 146 please contact: Dr. Daniel Miller The second part (of three) of this Coordinator of Invertebrate Collections catalogue was published with an Museum of Paleontology attractive blue cover similar to that of University of Michigan part 1. The first 10 pages are devoted to 1109 Geddes Road additions and corrections and 23 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079 supplemental references to the first volume. Many of the corrections concern e-mail: [email protected] changes in the ending -acea to -oidea for superfamilies, as made mandatory in the Yet Another New Journal 1999 issue of ICZN rulings. From p. 381 onwards the systematic International Journal of Biological part is continued, following the Treatise Sciences of Invertebrate Paleontology. In this part, www.biolsci.org the families Lucinidae, Thyasiridae, International Journal of Biological Ungulinidae, Chamidae, Erycinidae, Sciences is a new peer-reviewed journal Kelliidae, Leptonidae, Montacutidae, publishing scientific papers of Galeommatidae, Sportellidae, Carditidae, significance in all areas of biological Astartidae, Crassatellidae, Cardiidae, sciences, including cell biology, Mactridae, Cardiliidae and developmental biology, structural Mesodesmatidae are treated in the same biology, microbiology, molecular biology detail as far as synonymy, and & genetics, biochemistry, biotechnology, geographical/ stratigraphical distribution ecology, and bioinformatics. are concerned. The Journal aims at rapid publication Especially the extensive listing and of high quality research results while illustration of all those interesting

4 June 2005 Newsletter No. 22

occurrences of largely endemic Central The book is organised into two main Paratethyan cardiids is very useful. The parts: on American organisations that plates, black & white photographs, are of were the predecessors to the NSA (1638- the same excellent quality as in the first 1930), and then a detailed history of the part. For some groups of smaller species NSA itself (1930 – present) including (Erycinidae, Leptonidae, Montacutidae accounts of the development of etc.) one could have wished a higher publications (Proc. NSA) and spin-off magnification to clarify details, organisations. This is an impressive especially so for the hinges. work, and affectionately done. Carricker’s work would serve as an Considering the enormous number of excellent model for others who are names and synonyms it may be hoped interested in chronicling the history of and expected that the concluding volume any organisation. Perhaps someone will 3 will contain a very extensive index, honour Unitas with a similar homage in facilitating the tracing of any name in this another 50 years’ time. voluminous catalogue.

Again, I feel the need to express my For ordering information contact admiration to Dr Schultz for his valuable Dr. Sandra Shumway contribution to European palaeontology. If we could ever have such a catalogue Department of Marine Sciences for the gastropods as well …! University of Conneticut 1080 Shennecossett Road Arie W. Janssen Groton, CT 06340 [email protected] JDS

CARRIKER, Melbourne, 2004. Student Research Awards Taming Of The Oyster: a history of evolving shellfisheries and the National The deadline for submissions was st Shellfisheries Association 31 May 2005! Two awards, each of 264 pp. ISBN 0-9752881-0-5 up to 1000, are offered every year to Sheridan Press. students engaged in research projects of a malacological nature. Winners This is a short and informative work for 2004, announced at the Unitas on the history of the National General Assembly in Perth were: Shellfisheries Association (NSA), and in Christine Parent a way it is also a history of the shellfish Simon Fraser University, Canada industry in the U.S. The emphasis is Speciation on islands – the bulimulid malacological, particularly oysters, but land snails of the Galapagos. the work of the NSA extends to crustaceans as well. The book includes Rebecca Rundell many excellent archival black and white Chicago photographs of people important to the Determinants of Diversity in the Palau early and contemporary development of diplommatinid land snails. the NSA. Beyond the "who’s who" in the For more information, contact: history of twentieth century shellfisheries biology (neatly summarised in table form Dai Herbert in the appendix) the text contains a [email protected] detailed legislative history of Check the website for updates shellfisheries regulation This is primarily on winners for 2005! dealt with in terms of the Association’s internal debates on industry regulation.

Unitas Malacologica Newsletter 5 www.ucd.ie/zoology/unitas/

Obituaries Richard Van Belle Norman Newell After a long period of various illnesses and hospital visits and stays, Norman D. Newell, a leading brought on by diabetes, our common evolutionary palaeontologist and Curator friend and mentor, Richard A. Van Belle Emeritus in the Division of Paleontology has deceased in the comfort of his home at the American Museum of Natural in March 2005. History, died at home in Leonia, New Jersey, on Monday, April 18, ending a He has been cremated and an intimate long and rich academic career. He was service was held in the presence of his 96. closest relatives and friends. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife Marguerite In 1989, Stephen Jay Gould wrote, "I who supported him in everything. was Norman Newell's student, and everything that I ever do, as long as I Richard has been a great support to live, will be read as his legacy." many of us, in our studies and research of our common interest, the During the 1930s, Dr. Newell became Polyplacophora. He has left an immense an internationally recognized authority oeuvre to all of us and his collection on fossil bivalve molluscs, his core resides since little less than a year now in specialty. His research style and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural publications served as models for young Sciences where it is currently being invertebrate palaeontologists engaged in curated for final storage. Since a couple changing the scope and image of their of years, he felt he was unable to actively discipline. continue his research and decided to Funeral services were held at the transfer his collection, library and Church of the Good Shepherd, 1576 correspondence to the RBINS where it is Palisades Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey, now under the care of Dr J. L. Van 07024 USA on Thursday, April 21. Goethem and Miss Rose Sablon. Condolences may be sent through If any of you wish to express their Niles Eldredge; gifts in memorium may condolences, please do so by mail or e- be made to the Church of the Good mail to either Bruno Anseeuw or Yves Shepherd (above) or to the Norman D. Terryn and we'll see to it personally that Newell Endowment Fund, American Richard's wife Marguerite receives your Museum of Natural History. wishes and condolences. Bruno Anseeuw & Yves Terryn [email protected] American Museum of Natural History Contact address: Central Park West & 79th Street Yves Terryn New York, NY 10023 Kortrijksepoortstraat 109 9000 Gent

Belgium (home): [email protected] (business): [email protected]

6 June 2005 Newsletter No. 22

Museum Announcements • Mr K.S. PETERSEN Geological Survey of Denmark IRELAND • Dr Gitta Solange SCHMITT The National Museum of Ireland Tallahassee (Natural History Division; NMINH) is pleased to announce a new online As you now know (see page 1) UMN catalogue of part of its Mollusca will be delivered electronically to all collections, covering more than 3,300 dry members for whom we have an e-mail (shell) lots of British and Irish origins. address. If you would like to receive Collections include material from, e.g. UMN by mail, or you anticipate a change J.G. Jeffreys. The collection database to in address (electronic or postal) please date includes less than one-third of the inform the editor (see p. 1 for contact total holdings. details)! Catalogued holdings are available in PDF format from: Membership www.ucd.ie/zoology/cobid/collections.html Current annual subscription to Unitas Malacologica is 16. However, members SWITZERLAND are encouraged to subscribe for three A new print catalogue of type years (48). collections of the Natural History Please pay your membership dues in Museum, Bern has been published, a EURO () at: Belgian Postcheque, B - second volume of nominal taxa described 1100 Brussels, on the account number by R.J. Shuttleworth, covering 000-1539068-66 of Unitas Malacologica, Polyplacophora, Caenogastropoda, and c/o RBINS, Vautier Street 29, B-1000 Bivalvia (79 pp). The book includes 20 BRUSSELS. colour plates of specimens. Contact: For international transactions you [email protected] can use IBAN code: BE07 0001 5390 6866 (account number) BIC or SWIFT code: BPOTBEB 1 (to Addresses?? characterise the Belgian Postcheque Bank) Can anyone help in giving the present address of the following members? If Visa, Eurocard and Mastercard are you have information about current accepted as are international postal contact details for any of the people money orders (available from your post below, please pass them on to the office), payment by bank draft in EURO Treasurer currency, drawn on a Belgian bank. Receipts are not sent unless requested, [email protected] except for cash transactions (which also Thank you! are accepted). • Prof. Fikret H. BILGIN A membership application form can Dicle Univ., Science Faculty be obtained from the Treasurer. Diyarbakir, Turkey • Mr Nenad C. BOJAT University of Basle • Dr. Massimo CRETELLA Pozzuoli, Napoli • Dr Beatrice MOOR, Basle

Unitas Malacologica Newsletter 7 www.ucd.ie/zoology/unitas/

Quick Crossword: “Naturalists and Expeditions”

1 2

3 4 5 6

10 11

12 13

14 15

Crossword set by: Jussi Evertsen

ACROSS 15. Latinised first name of the founder of modern taxonomy 1. German naturalist connected to the 16. French Huguenot and marine zoologist current running between Antarctica and considered founder of modern comparative South America anatomy 2. Co-author of "The Depths of the Ocean" 3. Used by Nansen et al in 1893-96 in the Northern Ice Sea DOWN 4. Surname of Albert I, Prince of Monaco 7. British food merchant and co-author of 1. Prince Albert I expeditions from 1885 the "Nudibranch Bible" 1845-55 2. "Zoologica Danica Prodromus" 9. Danish physician and malacologist 4. Danish expedition vessel who covered all known for his notorious details of anatomy the oceans 1845-1847 10. French naturalist also known for ideas 5. Danish expedition in the North Atlantic about inheritance of adaptations by outer 1895-96 stimuli 6. Eureka! 11. British expedition vessel whose 8. British expedition 1869-70 from north of voyages in 1831-36 included Charles Britain and Ireland to the Mediterranean Darwin 12. American expedition 1877-80 covering 13. German zoologist and arctic explorer the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and east coast connected with the now extinct of North America Hydrodamalis gigas 13. Norwegian zoologist renowned for his 14. British expedition vessel who covered work on crustaceans and molluscs all the oceans 1872-1876

8 June 2005 Newsletter No. 22