Newsletter 28

ISSN 1011-2375

Dear Members, applicants. In 2009 there were only two student research awards Everyone is anxious for news made, and we heartily of the exciting 2010 Congress in congratulate those two young Phuket, Thailand. Somsak Panha malacologists (p. 4). is doing a brilliant job organising what promises to be a great I am happy to see additional meeting. In particular, please note short research reports from the that the dedicated Congress ‘grown up’ membership, and as website – www.wcm2010.com – always your contributions is full of detailed information and (research, book reviews, puzzles, the full instructions for etc.) are very welcome. registration and submission of These newsletters usually abstracts. occur at intervals that may appear It has also been a busy period erratic to the casual observer, but with other UM business. which are in fact carefully timed Importantly, the UM website has at 8-monthly intervals. But moved to a permanent ‘non- occasionally, such as in this issue, denominational’ address, the sequence is genuinely without independent of any academic order. The present issue was Number 28 institution for the first time. You expected in August 2009, but was November 2009 may not notice the difference, as delayed when I moved to a new it looks exactly the same, but academic position this summer, What’s Inside please note the new URL for your where I am now in charge of the reference: marine station in beautiful Secretary’s Column 3 Strangford Lough, a giant marine www.unitasmalacologica.org WCM 2010 travel grants 3 lagoon in Northern Ireland (note Student Research Awards This issue contains excellent the new address below). New winners, 2009 4 reports on the research from our The next issue, UMN29, will Reports, 2008 (four of them!) 4 four student award winners from Member Reports be published in April 2010, with last year (volute digestion, p. 4; Snail-eating snakes 11 final information about larval dispersal and speciation, p. From Leiden with love 12 WCM2010! New publications 13 6; landsnails and leaf rot, p. 8; Treasurer’s Column 14 microsnails and habitat quality, p. JDS WCM 2010 15 9). The quality and detail of these Obituaries 16 reports should be a guideline for this years’ winners and future

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

Newsletter Editor: Dr. Julia Sigwart Queen’s University Belfast Marine Laboratory Portaferry, Northern Ireland BT22 1PF e.mail: [email protected]

Keeping the World of Malacology Informed www.unitasmalacologica.org/

Council of Unitas Malacologica

President Members of Council Dr. Somsak Panha Dr. Guido Pastorino Department of Biology Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Faculty of Science Avda. Angel Gallardo 470 3er piso lab. 80 Chulalongkorn University C1405DJR Buenos Aires Phyathai Road, Patumwan ARGENTINA Bangkok 10330 t. +54-11-4982 6670 THAILAND e. [email protected] t. +662 218 5273 e. [email protected] Dr. Mary Seddon Bracken Tor Saxon Gate Secretary Okehampton Dr. Dai G. Herbert Devon Department of Mollusca, Natal Museum EX20 1QW P. Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, U.K. SOUTH AFRICA t. +44 (0)773 888 4804 t. +33 345 1404 e. [email protected] e. [email protected]

Dr. Ellen Strong Treasurer Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Dr. Jackie Van Goethem PO Box 37012 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, MRC 163 Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels Washington DC 20013-7012 BELGIUM U.S.A t. +32 2 627 43 43 t. +1 202 633 1742 e. [email protected] e. [email protected]

Past President Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai Prof. Dr. Thierry Backeljau Universiti Sains Malaysia Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Penang, 11800 BELGIUM MALAYSIA t. +32 2 627 43 39 t. +60 (6)04 657 7888 e. [email protected] e. [email protected]

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Secretary’s Column TRAVEL GRANTS TO ATTEND THE WORLD CONGRESS OF Dear Members MALACOLOGY, PHUKET, For reasons of economy, the UM THAILAND 18-24 JULY, 2010 Council did not have a formal meeting in person during 2009. Instead a ‘mini- council meeting’ was arranged in Unitas Malacologica will provide Brussels on May 8, to coincide with a travel grants to help students of visit our President Somsak Panha was malacology attend the World Congress of undertaking in Europe. Issues for Malacology, Thailand 2010. An discussion were circulated in advance so anticipated sum of 25,000 will be set that councillors not attending could aside for this purpose. The maximum contribute their perspectives in absentia. amount for any award will be 800 for Essentially the meeting was an applicants from outside SE Asia, and opportunity for Somsak to discuss his 400 for those from SE Asia. plans for WCM 2010 with two key Anyone actively involved in the people - Thierry Backeljau [Past study of molluscs may apply, whether President] and Jackie van Goethem amateur or professional. Preference will, [Treasurer]. however, be given to registered In terms of other secretarial business, postgraduate students and malacologists Council was disappointed with the who do not have access to significant relatively low number of applications for alternative funding. A major aim is to the UM Student Research Awards for encourage wider representation at 2009, although again, it was not an easy congresses of malacology students from task to assess them since they spanned areas such as Asia, Africa, South such a spectrum of topics. In the end, America and Eastern Europe. however, there was a clear consensus Competition for these awards is high and amongst the panel regarding the two established malacologists with permanent winning applications – so congratulations institutional posts are encouraged to seek to them – make good use of UM’s funding elsewhere. money! (Further details of the winners Awards will be made on the basis of and their projects are given below). merit and need, as determined by the Election of new office bearers Council of UM. To be eligible, applicants must be a member of Unitas In the last newsletter I put out a call Malacologica or of an affiliated for the nomination of new office bearers organisation, and all applicants must (Secretary, Treasurer and one council indicate that they will present either an member), but I am afraid that as usual the oral paper or a poster. Successful response from members has been, let’s applicants will receive their awards upon say ‘disappointing’. Council has given registration at the congress venue in this matter a considerable amount of Phuket. thought - and indeed we are still thinking. Hence we are not yet in a position to In addition to the completed form, present a firm list of nominations, but applicants must send a half-page there is still a while to go and we will do summary of the proposed paper or poster, this in plenty of time before next year’s and a supporting letter from a referee or WCM. supervisor outlining the qualities of the applicant and their work.

An electronic application form is Dai Herbert available from the UM website Secretary www.wcm2010.com/travel_grants.asp The completed form, together with

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the abstract/summary of the presentation 2008 Award Reports and the letter of support should be e- mailed to the UM Secretary Four Student Research Awards were ([email protected]). made for 2008. The winners, in alphabetical order, are as follows, with some inevitable small changes to the The closing date for applications is 1 research project titles: February, 2010. Florencia ARRIGHETTI (Universidad de

Buenos Aires) Ultrastructure of the digestive gland of the marine gastropod Adelomelon beckii UM Student Research (Broderip 1836) Awards Martine CLAREMONT (Natural History Winners – 2009 Museum, London and Imperial College, University of London) Two awards, in alphabetical order, were What is the scale of phylogenetic made as follows: differentiation in a muricid with teleplanic larvae? Erin MEYER (University of California Berkeley) Marty MEYER (University of Hawaii at Phylogeography, habitat modelling, and Manoa) conservation of Cittarium pica Ecosystem services provided by terrestrial Mollusca in Hawaiian (Vetigastropoda: Trochoidea) in the rainforests Lesser Antilles.

Norhanis RAZALLI (Universiti Sains Gleisse NUNES (Universidade do Estado Malaysia, Penang) do Rio de Janeiro) The diversity and distribution of Environmental factors influencing microsnails in Langkwai Islands, Kedah, patterns of land snail diversity and Malaysia elevational distribution in a protected

forest on Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro Reports from all four students are state, southeastern Brazil. presented below.

Congratulations and the best of success to them — we look forward to receiving ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE DIGESTIVE the reports on their activities and GLAND OF THE MARINE GASTROPOD progress in a year’s time. ADELOMELON BECKII (BRODERIP 1836)

The hepatopancreas of molluscs is a large digestive gland formed by a mass of blind ending tubules that are connected to the stomach by a system of branched ducts. This organ is involved in several functions as intracellular and extracellular digestion of food material, absorption of nutrients, storage of minerals, lipids and glycogen and plays an important role in detoxification. Adelomelon beckii (Volutidae: Zidoninae) is an endemic neogastropod

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to the South Atlantic Ocean, which is description of digestive cells in the distributed from Espiritu Santo, Brazil to digestion phase. These cells are columnar Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. It is the and their apical surface bears microvilli biggest carnivore specie, often exceeding and cilias. Digestive cells are connected 40 cm in shell length, that inhabits sandy by desmosomes and septate junctions. At bottoms between 30 and 70 m water the base of the microvilli, numerous depth. This specie is selected for this pinocytotic vesicles with a size at about study because is a common and 0.23-0.4 μm were observed. The most conspicuous element of this high polluted conspicuous feature of these cells was the area and because of its economical presence of numerous membrane-bound importance for the artisanal fishery of vacuoles, which for descriptive purposes Argentina. were divided in three categories. Vacuoles type Va were small, transparent Specimens of A. beckii were and in some occasions with granular collected during commercial bottom material inside. Vacuoles type Vb trawling off Mar del Plata city, Argentina occurred in the subapical region, they (38°20´S, 57°37´W) between 30-60 m were large (1.50-2.83 μm) and contained water depth during April 2006 to March granulo-fibrillar material and crystallized 2007. After removal from the shell, needles-like. Vacuoles type Vc were pieces of digestive gland were fixed in situated in the mid-region of the cell and Bouin´s aqueous solution dehydrated in a they contained electro-dense material in graded ethanol series and embedded in different degrees of condensation. These plastic historesin. Sections (5m thick) types of vacuole predominate in cells that were stained with a modified Masson’s are in digestive phase and in some trichrome and hematoxilin-eosin. For individuals vacuoles Vc are all along the electron microscopy studies, small pieces cytoplasm of the digestive cell. of digestive gland were fixed for 2 hs at Peroxisomes and lisosomes were also 4°c in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, diluted in 0.4 observed in digestive cells. Basophilic M cacodylate buffer, pH 7.4, with 1% cells are pyramidal and occur in small sucrose After washing in buffer, the groups. No morphological changes were fragments will be postfixed with 2% observed during the different phases. The OsO in 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer 4 cytoplasm contains a vesicular for 1.5 h, again buffer-rinsed (40 min), appearance due to the presence of a ethanol-dehydrated and embedded in highly developed endoplasmatic Spurr’s resin. Ultrathin sections were cut reticulum. The cisternae are using either a Reichert or an LKB IV concentrically orientated and dominate ultramicrotome and stained with uranyl most part of the cytoplasm. Lipid acetate and lead citrate. All sections were droplets, mitochondria and autophagic examined and photographed using Zeiss vesicles are also observed. The apical (Oberkochen, Germany) EM 109T, region of the cell presents secretion Hitachi 300 and Jeol 1010 transmission vesicles of about 6 μm that are rounded electron microscopes operated at 75-80 by and electro-dense ring. kV. The presence of invaginations in the The digestive gland of A. beckii is apical surface of the digestive cells formed by a complex of numerous suggests a pinocytosis process of the tubules bounded together by connective food particles. This pinocytic vesicles tissue and muscle fibers. The tubules are may fuse giving rise to vacuoles Va, made up of two cell types: digestive and suggesting that this vacuoles are a basophilic cells. Digestive cells exhibit permanent reserve of food previous to different phases: immature, absorption, digestion. Vacuoles Vb corresponds to digestion and excretion, each with heterolysosomes, that would formed from distinct appearance, being the digestive the fusion of lysosomes with vacuoles phase the most frequently encountered.

The results present here are the

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Va. Vacuoles Vb, after fused with The marine gastropod Stramonita lysosomes, undergo a dehydratation haemastoma is thought to have teleplanic process as consecuence of lysosome larvae which remain in the water column catabolism and formed vacuoles Vc. This for about 90 days (Scheltema, 1971). vacuoles, also called residual bodies, Although this species has been described present different morphologies according from the Mediterranean and Eastern to the degree of condensation. Continue Atlantic through the Caribbean to the intracellular digestion produces the great Eastern Pacific, substantial regional accumulation of vacuoles Vc. Basophilic variation has led to the recognition of cells posses a well developed five geographical subspecies: S. h. endoplasmático reticulum indicating a haemastoma, from the Mediterranean and high secretory activity. The autophagic Eastern Atlantic to Brazil, S. h. vesicles found would be a regulation floridiana, on the east coast of Florida mechanism for the excess of protein. and in the Eastern Caribbean, S. h. caniculata on the west coast of Florida In conclusion the main functions of and the Gulf of Mexico, S. h. rustica in digestive cells are endocytosis and the Western Caribbean and S. h. posterior intracellular digestion while biserialis in the Eastern Pacific. Within basophilic cells are in charge of protein these subspecies, further cryptic variation synthesis for intracellular digestion. is suspected (Vermeij, 2001). For This research could only be realized example, S. h. biserialis is thought to be thanks to Unitas Malacologica for differentiated North/South on an even providing funds to carry out this study. smaller scale: “true” S. h. biserialis occurs from Mexico to northern Costa Florencia Arrighetti Rica, and its possible sibling species Universidad de Buenos Aires occurs from Costa Rica through Panama [email protected] to Ecuador (Vermeij, 2001). Yet the protoconch, a structure thought to be correlated with the duration of the THE MARINE SPECIATION PARADOX: planktonic phase, has been shown to be WHAT IS THE SCALE OF similar across the entire S. haemastoma DIFFERENTIATION IN A SPECIES complex, implying that all subspecies COMPLEX WITH HIGH POTENTIAL have equally long lived larvae DISPERSAL? (Scheltema, 1971). In the presence of teleplanic larvae, speciation on such a small scale seems paradoxical. A familiar problem in marine evolution is the “marine speciation Various explanations for this paradox paradox” (Palumbi, 1992). That is, how are possible. Actual (or realised) can there be so many species in the sea, dispersal of Stramonita species may be when there are no obvious barriers to more limited than presently believed, dispersal and many species have long leading to allopatric differentiation. lived larvae? Extensive phylogeographic Alternatively, morphological research has shown a high degree of both differentiation may not be a reliable phylogenetic structuring and cryptic indicator of genetic differentiation, and S. speciation in species with both long and haemastoma (sensu lato) might indeed short lived larvae (e.g. Meyer, 2003). prove to be a single species. It is also Many different factors have been possible that ecological speciation could implicated in this structuring, including result in geographical speciation on a separation of populations by ancient small scale in the presence of wide tectonic events (possibly followed by dispersal (e.g. Reid et al., 2006). secondary contact), modern barriers to dispersal and ecological specialization.

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With the aid of a Unitas Malacologica Student Research award, I have been able to travel to Mexico (Eastern Pacific coast) and Costa Rica (Eastern Pacific and Caribbean coasts) where I collected 33 specimens of S. h. biserialis and 26 specimens of S. h. rustica, as well as 20 other rapanine and ergalataxine species. Without Unitas support, I would not have had sufficient Figure 1. Bayesian phylogeny of the samples from these sites to include in a Stramonita haemastoma complex based on population study. I have also obtained combined gene sequences (28S, COI, 12S, additional samples of S. haemastoma (s.l) 16S). Support values are posterier from Brazil, Jamaica, Florida, Texas, the probabilities. Cayman Islands, Cape Verde, the Azores, Croatia, and the Canary Islands. In order to determine ESUs, I have been I am currently in the process of sequencing the mitochondrial genes COI completing sequencing of the remaining and 12S and the nuclear gene 28S for a specimens of the S. haemastoma complex minimum of six individuals from most collected in Mexico and Costa Rica, as localities following protocols in well as many other samples from the Claremont et al. (2008). Caribbean and Atlantic. Sequencing for this study is almost complete. I will also attempt to obtain a quantitative estimation of morphology I expect to produce from this work on for the specimens. Vermeij (2001), for Stramonita both a paper and a chapter in example, has discussed an easily my thesis. This work would not have measured shell character (number of been possible without the support of crenulations in the outer shell lip) which Unitas Malacologica. he uses as a diagnostic character within the S. haemastoma complex. I will use References: these crenulations as a measurable indication of morphological disparity. I Claremont M., S.T. Williams and D.G. Reid. will also use photographs of the different (2008). J. Moll. Stud. 74: 215-221. Kool, S.P. (1993).Malacologia, 35: 155-259. forms to show inter- and intraspecific Meyer, C.P. (2003). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 79: variability 401-459. I have produced preliminary results Palumbi, S.R. (1992). TREE 7: 114-118. including exemplar specimens from Reid, D.G., K. Lai, J. Mackenzie-Dodds, F. Mexico and Costa Rica that were Kaligis, D.T.J. Littlewood and S.T. Williams. (2006). J. Biogeography 33: obtained during my recent Unitas-funded 990-1006. fieldwork (Figure 1). These results Scheltema, R.A. (1971). Biol. Bull. 140: 284- suggest the presence of at least two 322. Stramonita clades, one in Eastern Vermeij, G.J. (2001). J. Paleontology 75: Atlantic and the other in Western 697-705. Atlantic/Eastern Pacific. Preliminary population-level analyses (not shown) suggest that Caribbean S. h. rustica may Martine Claremont form a clade with an amphi-Atlantic S. h. Natural History Museum, London and Imperial College, London haemastoma clade, sister to the Western [email protected] Atlantic/Eastern Pacific members of the S. haemastoma complex (S. h. biserialis, S. h. caniculata, S. h. floridiana). S. h. rustica and S. h. haemastoma appear to overlap in Brazil (not shown).

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THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND SNAILS AND entire experiment. At each site, six SLUGS IN LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN A microcosms were randomly assigned to HAWAIIAN RAINFOREST one of six treatments (one control, five experimental). The five experimental The highly diverse and endemic treatments were: Succinea spp. (native Hawaiian biota is disappearing and being snail), Arion intermedius (alien slug), replaced by a relatively small number of Deroceras leave (alien slug), Oxychilus widely distributed species. This is alliarius (alien snail) and Limax maximus particularly so for the land snails which (alien slug). Controls had no snails/slugs. were exceptionally diverse (over 750 species) and exhibited extremely high Microcosms (1.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 m) were levels of endemism (over 99 % of the constructed using PVC poles. Mesh species were endemic to the Hawaiian screen (2.0 mm) covered each Islands) (Cowie et al. 1995). Sadly, the microcosm. The mesh prevented snails majority of these unique species are now from entering or escaping, but allowed extinct (Cowie 2002), with estimates of access by soil micro-arthropods. All extinction ranging from 65-75 % (Solem microcosms were filled to a depth of 0.5 1990) to as much as 90 % (Cowie 2002). cm with soil collected from the field and Unfortunately, predicting the covered with a mix of leaves, mostly ohia consequences of this change on key (Metrosideros polymorpha) and hapuu ecosystem processes is difficult because (Cibotium spp.). Two small Peperomia the ecology of both the native and sp. plants were planted in each introduced species is largely unknown, microcosm and were allowed to especially for invertebrate groups like acclimate and grow for one month terrestrial gastropods. (December 20, 2007 to January 20, 2008) prior to addition of snails/slugs. After the The primary aim of this study was to one month acclimation period, ten litter examine the role of the most abundant decomposition bags, filled with leaf litter, terrestrial gastropods (native and were placed in each microcosm with introduced) in litter decomposition and holes (2.5 cm diameter) cut into two nutrient cycling in a Hawaiian rainforest sides to allow snails/slugs access. ecosystem. It has been suggested that snails/slugs could contribute directly (by The results indicate that the snails their own metabolism) and/or indirectly and slugs increase rates of litter (by modification of the habitat to decomposition and influence nutrient enhance either micro-arthropod or release. Litter decomposition was microbial activity) to the decomposition correlated to gastropod biomass. Only the of leaf litter and the cycling of nutrients L. maximus treatment, the treatment with (Theenhaus & Scheu 1996). The the highest gastropod biomass, differed secondary aim was to undertake stable significantly from the control. However, isotope analysis of the invertebrate only one microcosm containing snails or community to determine the trophic slugs (microcosm with A. intermedius) position of each snail/slug species, as had less mass loss than the control well as other soil invertebrate species. treatment. Elevated K concentrations were found in the O. alliarius treatment. To determine the influence of Succinea spp. and A. intermedius terrestrial gastropods on litter treatments had significantly higher decomposition rates, 42 field microcosms concentrations of Mn compared to L. were established at seven sites in the maximus and D. leave treatments. Waiakea Forest Reserve, an area with Increased nutrient concentrations in the dense canopy cover that typically litter probably reflect nutrient receives annual rainfall of 2,000 - immobilization or uptake by microbes. >10,000 mm. Multiple sites were used to This higher quality litter may later be limit the probability that disturbance more attractive to decomposers and have from pigs and humans would ruin the

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higher concentrations of microbes, which understand fully the impacts of global may then result in increased change on key ecological processes. decomposition and nutrient release. This work was funded in part by a These results indicate that although grant from UNITAS Malacologica, for gastropod species facilitate litter which I am extremely grateful. decomposition, the effects on nutrients may be species specific and dependent on timing in the decomposition process. References: No increases in micro-arthropod Cowie, R. H. 2002. Biol. Inv. 3:119-136. abundances were observed in Cowie, R. H., N. L. Evenhuis, and C. C. microcosms with snails/slugs suggesting Christensen. 1995. Catalog of the native land that snails/slugs do not facilitate micro- and freshwater molluscs of the Hawaiian arthropod recruitment. There were fewer Islands. millipedes in the Succinea spp. and the A. Cowie, R. H., K. A. Hayes, C. T. Tran, and intermedius treatments than the control or W. M. Meyer, III. 2008. Int. J. Pest Mgmt. any other snail/slug treatment. Isotopic 54: 267-276. signatures revealed that Succinea spp., A. Solem, A. 1990. How many Hawaiian land snail species are left? and what we can do for intermedius, and millipedes are primary them. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers consumers of litter, while significantly 15 30:27-40. higher N concentrations were found for Theenhaus, A., and S. Scheu. 1996. Biol. D. leave, L. maximus, and O. alliarius Fert. Soils 23:80-85. indicating that they feed higher in the Vitousek, P. M., H. A. Mooney, J. food web. Thus, it seems that gastropod Lubchenco, and J. M. Melillo. 1997. Science species interactions with other soil fauna 277:494-499. may be influenced by trophic position, an aspect of soil ecology that is poorly Wallace M. Meyer, III understood. This suggests that University of Hawaii at Manoa snails/slugs when abundant may [email protected] influence litter decomposition by both facilitation of microbes and to a lesser extent by direct consumption of leaf litter. CORRELATION BETWEEN SPECIES These results contribute to a small RICHNESS OF MICROSNAILS AND but growing literature on the influence of ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF THE terrestrial gastropods on key ecosystem HABITAT IN LANGKAWI ISLANDS, processes. While the study focused on the MALAYSIA snails and slugs on only one Hawaiian island, the effects we report may be The status of the conservation and important throughout the Hawaiian taxonomic work on the terrestrial Islands and elsewhere given the molluscs in Malaysia, or better known as widespread distribution of many of the Malaya, is still inadequate especially in invasive gastropods discussed here the islands. The lack of recent taxonomic (Cowie et al. 2008) and the important work and little subsequent work on influence of snails and slugs in key ecology or distribution of the animals ecosystem processes, such as litter also adds to the present status of the work decomposition. Extinction and biological here. As in the present study, it is one of invasions are generally seen as the main the earliest study that has ever been done drivers of human induced global on the diversity and distribution of environmental change (Vitousek et al. microsnails in the islands of Malaysia 1997), and improved knowledge of the and also its correlation with ecosystem effects of terrestrial environmental conditions. Langkawi gastropods, which are major components islands, being the least studied area of many ecosystems, is necessary to

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compared to other limestone areas in the reliable than the R2, since the latter may region, have the most complete overestimate the extent to which the Palaeozoic geological history and island sample data explain the variance in the karsts landscape which make them a dependent variable, partly because it is suitable location for this study. Hence, affected by the number of variables providing the fundamental knowledge to included in the model (Argyrous, 2005). be used in other areas of the region. From the analysis, the use of Standardized Coefficients or beta- Sixteen karsts in Langkawi and the weights in multiple regression analysis to islands surrounding it were sampled for assess the relative importance of each microsnails during the dry (Jan-Feb) and independent variable in determining the wet (Oct-Nov) season. Ecological value of the dependent variable has parameters such as ambient air resulted in which the relative air temperature and relative air humidity humidity has a stronger ‘pull’ on the were recorded at each location. The Shannon-Wiener Index than the ambient relationship between the ecological air temperature for both seasons. The parameters and the species richness of effect of relative air humidity on the microsnails were analyzed by using species richness is also more evident multivariate regression in Social Package during the dry season (Table 1). This for Social Scientist (SPSS) version 16.0. finding is supported by Auffenberg et. al Overall, 20 species from nine genera (2006) where non-marine molluscs can and five families were found at the be highly responsive to changes in local sixteen karsts sampled in Langkawi environmental conditions, such as Islands. In this study, the microsnails seasonality, amount of precipitation, were found at the ambient air water chemistry and quality, soil type, temperature ranging from 25°C to 30°C relative air humidity and temperature, in and relative air humidity ranging from 80 which three of the environmental to 90 percent. Both ecological parameters parameters mentioned above have been taken during the dry and wet season recorded in this study. A study done by showed a very strong relationship Moreno et. al (2005) also stated that the (adjusted R2 > 0.9; P < 0.05) with the most limiting factor for the geographic species richness of microsnails, which is distribution of terrestrial molluscs is in the form of Shannon-Wiener Index humidity, whereas temperature changes (Table 1). The use of adjusted R2 is more could have a long-term effect due to the buffering effect of the soils, provided plant cover is maintained. Another factor Table 1. Multivariate regression analysis showing the relationship between ecological that is not discussed in this account, parameters and Shannon-Wiener Index (H’) which is the soil parameters, are still of the microsnails. being analyzed. The importance of this study is to fill the Wet season Dry season gaps on the knowledge of the ecological Multivariate correlation coefficient, R 0.999 0.990 aspects of microsnails in this region, Adjusted R2 0.996 0.969 particularly. Given its geographic Standard error of the estimate 0.00515 0.04077 location and complex orography, Langkawi Islands offers many possibilities for microsnails research in Standardized coefficients ( -weights ) various aspects. Subsequently, the Ecological parameter s Wet season Dry season information obtained from this study can be combined with the geological history Relative air humidity (% ) 1.762 1.491 of the habitat to study the relationship Ambient air temperature (°C) 1.706 0.658 between the ecological factors and the

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distribution of microsnails as a model of adaptations presented as a consequence the interaction and evolutionary effect of of possible specific alimentary the fauna and its environment. preferences (type of consumed mollusks). I am indebted to Unitas Malacologica for providing funds mainly for boat trips An ecological study and preliminary to small islands surrounding Langkawi revision concerning the snail/slug-eating for collecting samples and also to procure snakes and potential “prey” (alimentary a few sampling equipment to carry out preferences) present in the Southern this research. Brazil region, integral geographical territory of the “Atlantic Slope of the References: Argyrous, G. (2005). Statistics for research South Cone” (see UM Newsletter no. 27, with a guide to SPSS. December 2008: 9) is presented here Auffenberg, K., I. R. Quitmyer, J. D. based on wide bibliographical revision, Williams and D. S. Jones (2006). In: First the examination of specimens contained Floridians and last Mastodons. in collections of regional natural history Moreno, J., E. Galante and M. Á. Ramos museums, consultation with specialists, (2005). In: Final Report, Project ECCE, and the eventual collection of specimens Ministry of the Environment and the in the environment. University of Castilla La Mancha. Said species present activity stimulated during more humid periods Norhanis Mohammad Razalli (under or after rains) for search of Universiti Sains Malaysia mollusks, that they are also stimulated [email protected] moving in moments of larger environmental humidity, and in moments

of drought it is possible that stay in rest, Member Reports once the caloric content of its food is low, not being advantageous to carry out SNAIL-EATING SNAKES OF SOUTHERN feeding activities in periods with small BRAZIL REGION AND THEIR probability of encounter of the preys. ALIMENTARY PREFERENCES Snail/slug-eating snakes of the genera Sibynomorphus and Tomodon (terrestrial Molluscs participate in ecosystems as forms) would be "specialist" in important agents in the re-use of consumption of native slugs of the family nutrients, forming part of the cycle of the Veronicellidae, meanwhile the genera calcium actively in the nature, besides Dipsas (arboreal forms) would be less supplying important alimentary selective, consuming slugs and/or snails supplement the one diversified number of faintly. organisms. Around 17 species of snakes Until the present moment, a total of 3 exclusively on the feed on slugs and native terrestrial slugs species were snails, belonging to the family identified (Gymnophila: Soleolifera: Colubridae, including the genus Dipsas Veronicellidae) – Belocaulus angustipes (9 species), Sibon (1 species) and (Heynemann, 1885) and Phyllocaulis Sibynomorphus (5 species) - the soleiformis (d’Orbigny, 1835), were subfamily Dipsadinae (nocturnal arboreal consumed by the snake Sibynomorphus and/or terrestrial forms) - and Tomodon neuwiedi (Ihering, 1911), and Sarasinula (2 species), the subfamily Xenodontinae linguaeformis (Semper, 1885), consumed and Tribe Tachymenini (diurnal habits, by the serpent Dipsas indica Laurenti, terrestrial forms). Many of the aspects 1768. Two snails (Pulmonata: concerning the feeding behavior of Stylommatophora: Sigmurethra) - one snail/slug-eating snakes are even today native tree snail Bulimulidae - completely unknown, among them the Mesembrinus interpunctus (Martens, functional evolutionary morphologic

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1887), was consumed by the snake diversity in the Iberian peninsula. Both Dipsas indica Laurenti, 1768, and one are calciphilous taxa, with Chondrina exotic invader snail Bradybaenidae - occurring solely on near vertical, exposed Bradybaena similaris (Férussac, 1821), rockfaces. Using DNA-barcoding data, were consumed by the serpent Dipsas we demonstrated that the current albifrons (Sauvage, 1884) - these were distribution of the genus Chondrina has positively confirmed through this study. been established by at least four waves of dispersal across the palaearctic. A group For references to studies completed of taxa that represents one of the earliest an in progress, and for taxonomic details waves is currently known as Chondrina of involved species, please contact the farinesii s.l. The extreme variation in author of this report. shell size and shape in this complex has resulted in many taxonomic rearrangements in the past, which A. Ignacio Agudo-Padrón culminated in a 'lump' into a single [email protected] species, i.e. Chondrina farinesii (Draparnaud, 1801)(Gittenberger, 1973). Strikingly, the barcoding results showed

that we deal with a radiation of (at the FROM LEIDEN WITH LOVE: very least) 14 species. Many names have MALACOLOGICAL THESES FROM LEIDEN therefore been dug out of the graveyard UNIVERSITY 1969-2008 of taxonomy. A 'Riddle (partly) resolved'.

One particular species of Abida has The National Museum of Natural attracted most time and research effort. History (Naturalis) in Leiden, The Abida secale, which is found from Great- Netherlands, has a strong track record in Britain in the northwest to Slovakia in the malacological research (Bruggen, 1977). east. The southernmost edge of its In conjunction with Leiden distribution is located in the Spanish University, many students have province of Valencia. The species is contributed to malacology by writing and morphologically very constant across its defending their doctoral theses on that range. However, an amazing exception to subject. The most recent thesis from this morphological stability is observed Leiden has been my own: "Resolving in the Spanish province of Catalunya, Riddles and Presenting New Puzzles in where currently 14 extant subspecies are Chondrinidae Phylogenetics". On recognized! The cause for the extreme december 3rd 2008, I (successfully) morphological variation in Abida secale defended my thesis before a in a relatively small part of its range is commitee which included several not yet clear. Molecular data suggest a distinguished malacologists: prof. dr. E. hybridization and introgression event of Gittenberger (promotor), prof. dr. M. Abida attenuata mitochondrial DNA into Schilthuizen, prof. dr. R.A. Bank, dr. A.J. A. secale, which obscures the de Winter and dr. J.J. phylogenetic relationships between the Vermeulen. Building on the work by subspecies. Enter a 'New puzzle'. prof. dr. Edmund Gittenberger, I tested several hypotheses derived from his The results of this project are to be thesis "Beiträge zur Kenntnis der published in the near future (keep an eye Pupillacea III, Chondrininae" on the website!). However, for those who [Contributions to the knowledge of the cannot wait, feel free to contact me for a Pupillacea III, Chondrininae] (1973) copy of the thesis! using molecular tools. The next generation of PhD students The main focus of my project has is already there; Liew Thor-Seng and been on Chondrina and Abida. Both Bastian Reijnen are working on their genera show their greatest (species)

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respective PhD projects at Publications Naturalis. Liew is working on land snails and slugs from Borneo, while Bastian explores the marine family Ovulidae in MARINE MOLLUSKS OF BERMUDA: the Indo-pacific. Malacology in Leiden is CHECKLIST & BIBLIOGRAPHY still going strong! Russell H. Jensen, Timothy A. Pearce An overview of malacological theses from Leiden 1969-2008: pub. 2009. 473 pages, 16 full page colour plates, paperback. $29.95 (USD) 2008 - Kokshoorn, B. Resolving Riddles Delaware Museum of Natural History. and Presenting New Puzzles in Chondrinidae Phylogenetics. “a complete list of modern species names 2006 - Gittenberger, A. The evolutionary that shows their taxonomic placement history of parasitic gastropods and their and points out synonyms, coral hosts in the Indo-Pacific. misidentifications, and literature 2004 - Uit de Weerd, D.R. Molecular references to the species and illustrations. phylogenetic history of eastern The book documents more than 900 mediterranean alopiinae, a group of mollusk species, including over 100 morphologically indeterminate land never before reported and 66 found only snails. in Bermuda.” 2001 - Moorsel, C.H.M. van.Molecular phylogenetics of a speciose group: Albinaria and the search for homology. WORLD OCEAN CENSUS: A GLOBAL 1994 - Schilthuizen, M. Differentiation SURVEY OF MARINE LIFE and hybridization in a polytypic snail. Darlene Trew Crist, Gail Scowcroft, 1992 - Kemperman, T.C.M. Systematics James M. Harding, Jr. and evolutionary history of the Albinaria species from the Ionian islands pub. 2009. 256 pages, colour of Kephallinia and Ithaka photographs throughout, hardcover with (Gastropoda, Pulmonata: Clausiliidae). jacket. $40.00 (CAD) 1979 - Breure, A.S.H. Systematics, Firefly Books, Richmond Hill, Ontario. phylogeny and zoogeography of ISBN-10 1554074347 Bulimulinae (Mollusca). A popular science book reviewing the 1975 - Backhuys, W. Land and fresh drama and some highlights of the global water Molluscs of the Azores. Census of Marine Life, which is drawing 1973 - Gittenberger, E. Beiträge zur to a close in 2010. kenntnis der Pupillacea III, Chondrininae. 1969 – Bruggen, A.C. van. Studies on the SNAIL Land Molluscs of Zululand. With notes on the distribution of land molluscs in Peter Williams southern Africa. pub. 2009. 168 pages, 86 illustrations (59

colour), paperback. £9.99 (GBP) References Reaktion Books, London. Bruggen, A.C. van (ed.), 1977. Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging, 1-53, Leiden. ISBN 1861895283 “a philosophical look at life from the Bas Kokshoorn point of view of a snail” [email protected] science.naturalis.nl/research/people /cv/kokshoorn

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Treasurer’s Report someone having paid mid June 2009 the sum of 320.00 euros which is good for 20 Dear members, years of UM membership! And be In my ‘Budget proposal 2008-2010’ I confident I have checked this payment had foreseen an amount of 2,000.00 and found that it was not a payment for a euros to cover the 2009 council meeting two years fee by an absent-minded costs. It was not that easy for most of our member… It deliberately was for 20 council members to make this year a years. short trip to Brussels in order to attend In the period December 2008 – July the yearly meeting without substantial 2009, several individual donations to the external funding. Trust Fund were received: three generous The only way out was to hold a ‘mini donations by Takenori SASAKI, Fred council meeting’ since Somsak was WELLS and Gary ROSENBERG, smaller travelling in Europe earlier this year and ones by Alasdair D. BERRIE, Alan J. scheduled to meet Thierry and myself in KOHN, Willy SLEURS, Jon-Arne SNELI Brussels for a one day exchange of ideas and Jesus TRONCOSO, and round-ups by and information. Thierry made the Goncalo CALADO, Mark DAVIES, Sadao minutes of the meeting and informed all KOSUGE, Julia SIGWART, Tania other council members after which SITNIKOVA, and John TAYLOR. decisions were agreed upon. It turned out Thank you all very much. that this mini council was quite fruitful and moreover had been organised Best wishes, without any financial charges for Unitas Jackie VAN GOETHEM Malacologica. Treasurer As a consequence the amount of 2,000.00 euros will be added to the proposed budget for congress travel grants in 2010. If the yearly income for Unitas continues to go smoothly during the next twelve months, the Unitas Malacologica Trust Fund will be able to offer an amount of roughly 25,000.00 euros for Phuket congress travel grants. Donations to the Trust Fund are very much appreciated since they contribute to the set up of activities to the benefit of PhD students and young researchers being active in the field of malacology. Also members paying their membership fee for multiple years in advance contribute to the wellness of our financial situation. In the past John B. BURCH, Kepa ALTONAGA SUSTATXA, Thierry BACKELJAU, Gerhard FALKNER, Donald R. MOORE, Liliane FRENKIEL- MOUEZA, Eike NEUBERT, Luitfried SALVINI-PLAWEN, Heike WÄGELE and Vollrath WIESE were very flexible and generous in this respect. The previous records in paying for 10 or 12 years in advance are at present broken by

14 November 2009 Newsletter No. 28

WCM 2010 Comprehensive up-to-date information CONFIRMED on the congress is available at: SYMPOSIA www.wcm2010.com The 17th International Congress of Ecology, Evolution and UNITAS MALACOLOGICA, the next Biology of Freshwater Bivalves by World Congress of Malacology (WCM), Arthur Bogan and Randy Hoeh will be held in the island of Phuket, The Biology and Evolution of Limpets Thailand, from the 18th to the 24th July by Alan Hodgson 2010 (inclusive) at the majestic and luxurious Royal Phuket City Hotel. This Evolution of the Bivalvia by Rüdiger is the first time that the WCM has ever Bieler, Gonzalo Giribet and Paula been held in Asia and is jointly organized Mikkelsen by Unitas, Chulalongkorn University and Community Ecology of Tropical Forest the Biodiversity Research and Training Land Snails by Dinarzarde Raheem and Program of Thailand. Phuket, often Peter Tattersfield called the “Pearl of Andaman” is one of the most beautiful islands in the The Last 50 Years of Malacology: Andaman Region, located in the Specialization, Methodological southwest of Thailand within and next to Transformation and Globalization by the Sirinath and Phang-Nga Bay National Robert Hershler and David Lindberg (Marine) Parks, respectively, and a short Studies on Opisthobranchs Molluscs boat trip away from the equally well by Manuel Malaquias, Juan Lucas known Krabi (Hat Noppharat Thara Cervera and Terry Gosliner National Park) and Phi Phi Island. Both the island of Phuket itself, as well as the Emerging Molluscan Models: nearby mainland (including Khao Sok Biological Questions in the 21st National Park) offer exciting Century by Mónica Medina Sam Loker opportunities to study a diverse range of and Sandie Degnan freshwater and terrestrial wildlife and Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics of trekking, or just explore the diverse local, Molluscan Populations by Takahiro and world famous, Thai cultures, cuisine Asami and hospitality. The Systematics of Asian Land Snails The congress will adopt the style of by Fred Naggs, Min Wu and Somsak the last highly successful Congress in Panha Antwerp, Belgium (2007) and, building Mollusc Aquaculture by Zulfigar Yasin, upon their expertise, we expect the Aileen Tan Shau-Hwai and Somchai Phuket meeting to be at least as Bussarawit successful. The congress offers a great opportunity for people who work on or Countdown 2010: Towards a Global are interested in molluscs to come to Freshwater Assessment of Threatened Phuket, Thailand. Currently thirteen Species by Mary Seddon (SSC Mollusc symposia are already arranged. Specialist Group) and Will Darwall (IUCN) IMPORTANT DATES Reproduction and Mating Systems in Travel grants: 1 February 2010 Hermaphroditic Molluscs by Kurt see p. 3, above Jordaens and Joris Koene Abstract deadline: 31 May 2010 Speciation: insights from insular see the website for instructions! isolation to global patterns by Matthias www.wcm2010.com Glaubrecht and Thomas von Rintelen

Unitas Malacologica Newsletter 15 www.unitasmalacologica.org

In Memoriam

Albert R Mead (17 July 1915 – 13 March 2009) Albert Raymond Mead, 93, passed away peacefully with his loving wife of 67 years by his side. He was born in San Jose, California, on July 17 1915. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Janet; his sister, Jenny, and his brother, Harley. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his children, Ruth and Jim; his grandchildren, Jon, Jeanna, Joshua, Al Mead (1915-2009) Jannelle and Aimee and several great- grandchildren. Al received his Ph.D. at Cornell University in 1942, where he was a John Henry Comstock scholar. During World War II, he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in British West Africa, working as a parasiotlogist in the Inter- Allied Malaria Control unit. It was there that his life-long interest in the giant African land snail and related species was sparked. Through his intense dedication for over 60 years of study and research, he is still considered the world expert on these species. After meeting and marrying his wife Eleanor, he accepted a professorship in zoology at Jørgen Knudsen (1918-2009) the University of Arizona, Tuscon, in 1946/47, where, for over 50 years, he taught and inspired students to follow Jørgen Knudsen (6 March 1918 – 6 their dreams. October 2009) Al joined Unitas Malacologica at the Jørgen Knudsen, of the Danish beginning of 1971 and was one of the Museum of Natural History, most devoted members, being present at Copenhagen, passed away last month almost all congresses and always aged 91. accompanied by Eleanor. These The museum held a special two day congresses gave them the opportunity to symposium to celebrate his 90th extend their trip and to visit over the birthday and successful malacological years, nearly all major natural history career, with publications spanning from institutions. Al was one of the founders 1944 to 2005. of the UM Trust Fund capital, making a As an active UM member, Jørgen donation of US$ 1000 in February 1991. was one of the ‘fathers’ of the idea to set up a Trust Fund within Unitas Malacologica. To enable it's start, he contributed with a donation of 1000 US Dollars. A more complete obituary will follow in the next issue of the newsletter.

16 November 2009 Newsletter No. 28