DOCSLIB.ORG

Investigation of the Factors Affecting the Population Dynamics of Captive

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Investigation of the Factors Affecting the Population Dynamics of Captive Investigation of the Factors Affecting the Population Dynamics of Captive Partula Snails. Ana Rita Peres Cardoso Gouveia Department of Life Sciences, Division of Biology, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, U.K. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Imperial College London 2011 Abstract Partula snails, also known as Polynesian tree snails, were first recorded scientifically from Captain Cook‟s voyage 236 years ago. They are small gastropod molluscs which belong to the order Stylommatophora. Their distribution is focused in the Pacific region where the majority of the species are island endemics. Half the species are found in the Society Islands of French Polynesia where most research has been carried out. Wild populations were almost annihilated following the introduction of a predatory snail, Euglandina rosea, to control the introduced giant African land snail (Lissachatina fulica) which had become an agricultural pest affecting the local economy. In 1987 the Partula Propagation Group (PPG) initiated a worldwide captive breeding programme for Partula snails in an attempt to save them from extinction. In captivity, though, episodes of high mortality have led to the extinction of some species. The causes of these declines are as yet uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the factors that have affected the survival of 15 species (including two subspecies) of Partula snails in captivity. In summary, the results indicate that both environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity and light) and diet (calcium concentration and dog and cat vitamins in the diet) significantly affect the population dynamics of Partula snails. Both excess light and unstable temperatures and humidity had detrimental impacts on the survival and reproductive success of the species. Additionaly, the low concentration of calcium and the addition of dog and cat vitamins in the diet are also significantly detrimental on the survival and reproductive success of Partula gibba. These studies are highly significant because the biology and requirements of Partula snails‟ are poorly understood, and this can jeopardise a successful captive breeding programme and future reintroductions into their natural environment. It is imperative that the factors that have affected the survival rates of snails in captivity for the last 25 years are fully understood. Partula snails face an uncertain 2 future, with the mass mortality episodes observed during the years several species were lost. It is hoped that these findings stimulate further research in this area and can be applied to other species in similar circumstances. 3 Declaration The work presented in this thesis is entirely my own, and any other material is accordingly referenced. Ana R. P. C. Gouveia 4 Acknowledgements First and foremost I want to express my gratitude to all the people who helped and supported me through these years. I would like to thank everybody who was important to the successful realization of this thesis, as well as expressing my apology for those I do not mention. In the first place I would like to record my gratitude to my supervisors Simon Leather and Donald Quicke for their enthusiastic supervision, understanding, advice and guidance during my PhD. I also want to express my gratitude to Paul Pearce-Kelly who has supported and cared for me since the moment we met. Above anything he has been the best friend I could ask for. I wish to gratefully acknowledge Professor Elizabeth Cunning, Professor Bryan Clarke, Professor Tim Coulson, Professor Mick Crawley, Dr. Tilly Collins, Dr. Daniel Reuman, Dr. Nils Bunnefeld, Dr. Joaquin Hortal, Dr. Arpat Ozgul, Dr. Navinder Singh, Dr. David Hunt, Dr. Barbara Ritchie, Dr. Jake Bundy, Dr. Mike Wilson and anyone else who contributed directly or indirectly to this thesis with advices, ideas, comments and suggestions. A special thanks to Romain Pizzi, Professor Mark Fox and Dr. Sergei Spiridonov. And also thanks to my panel (Dr. Sally Power and Dr. Rob Ewes) who gave me valuable suggestions and constructive criticism. I am indebted to Dr. Trevor Coote and Shaheed Macgregor for their wise, comforting words as well as valuable technical advice and the help they provided, with thanks also to the “Bugs Team” at London Zoo. 5 I want to express my thanks to the Silwoodian staff (technicians, cleaners, electricians the security team, the ICT team etc). Without them this could not be accomplished, in particular Diana Anderson, Christine Short, Paul Nicholas, Paul and Jim, Taru, Catherine, and John all of them, in different ways helped me during these years either with comforting and friendly words and/or with technical advice providing a stimulating and friendly environment to work in. My Silwoodian and non-Silwoodian friends deserve a place in this pages since they helped me in the up and down emotional stages of the PhD, they prevented me from losing my sanity and also gave me valuable advices, I have no words to express how much they actually helped me, I probably never told them but Ana and Joaquin, Arpat, Navinder, Manju, Francesca and Eva, Ana, Oriana, Ambika, Marcia, Diego, Jenifer, Lena, Catarina, Paula, Tania, Carla, and particularly Telmo, Claudia Nunes and Parreira, Angela and Nelson, Bertinho and Vanessa, thank you so much for being always there when I needed you. I wish express my gratitude and deep appreciation to Martin MacDowell he dried my tears several times, he gave me encouragement, emotional support and all the love one needs to overcome the rough times, and showed me that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for your love, support and putting up with my grumpiness and also thank you for providing me with a fun relaxing and fantastic environment to live in. I have no words to express my appreciation to my family whose dedication, love and belief, has given me the confidence and strength to get this far. I was extraordinarily fortunate in having them always by my side supporting my decisions and advising me. My mum and dad always motivated and supported me to pursue an intellectual and academic future. I want to thank them for raising me with buckets of love and laughter for which my two brothers also 6 contributed a big deal. I wish to thank my father and mother for all the sacrifices they went through to provide me with the chances and fantastic life I had so far. A special thanks to Nuno and Gonçalo for being the best friends and siblings I could ask for. Lastly, and most importantly, to them, my parents and brothers I dedicate this thesis. Gould, (1993) “this essay is a story of genocide in paradise, a preventable wholesale slaughter, just completed in one human generation. You do not know the tale only because it pitted snail against snail, rather than man against man” 7 Contents Pages Abstract 2 Declaration 3 Acknowledgements 4-6 Contents 7-9 List of Tables 10 List of Figures 11-13 Chapter 1. General Introduction 14-37 1.1. Partula snails 14, 16 1.2. The species and their natural habitat 17-27 1.2.1. Tahitian species 19-21 1.2.1.1. Partula affinis 19 1.2.1.2. Partula clara 20 1.2.1.3. Partula hyalina 20 1.2.1.4. Partula nodosa 21 1.2.2. Species of the Mariana Islands, Guam and Saipan 21, 22 1.2.2.1. Partula radiolata 22 1.2.2.2. Partula gibba 22 1.2.3. Species of Moorea 22-24 1.2.3.1. Partula tohiveana 23 1.2.3.2. Partula mooreana 23 1.2.3.3. Partula suturalis strigosa and P. s. vexillum 23, 24 1.2.3.4. Partula taeniata nucleola and P. t. simulans 24 1.2.4. Species of Raiatea and Huahine 25, 26 8 1.2.4.1. Partula faba 25 1.2.4.2. Partula tristis 25, 26 1.2.4.3. Partula hebe bella 26 1.2.4.4. Partula varia 26 1.2.5. Futuna and Alofi species 26, 27 1.2.5.1 Partula subgonochila 27 1.3. Wild populations 27, 28 1.4. Captive breeding programmes 29, 30 1.5. Population collapses and diseases 30, 31 1.6. Environmental 31, 32 1.6.1. Temperature and Humidity 31 1.6.2. Light 32 1.7. Diet 32, 33 1.8. And the story repeats 34 1.9. Thesis outline 35-37 Chapter 2. Effects of different calcium concentrations added to the diet of Partula gibba (Férussac) on morphometric growth parameters, weight and reproductive success. 38-51 2.1. Abstract 38 2.2. Introduction 39, 40 2.3. Methods 40-42 2.4. Results 43-48 2.5. Discussion 49, 51 9 Chapter 3. Investigation of the effect of vitamin supplement added to the diet of Partula snails. 52-60 3.1. Abstract 52 3.2. Introduction 53-56 3.3. Methods 56, 57 3.4. Results 57, 58 3.5. Discussion 59, 60 Chapter 4. Investigating the effects of environmental stress on the population dynamics of endangered Partula snails. 61-77 4.1. Abstract 61 4.2. Introduction 62, 63 4.3. Methods 64-66 4.4. Results 67-74 4.5. Discussion 75-77 Chapter 5. Investigation into the role played by light intensity on the behaviour, reproduction and mortality of Partula snails. 78-86 5.1. Abstract 78 5.2. Introduction 79-81 5.3. Methods 81-83 5.4. Results 83, 84 5.5. Discussion 85, 86 Chapter 6. General Discussion 86-90 References 91-111 Appendix 112-120 10 List of Tables Tables Pages Table 2.1. Linear model summary, for Partula gibba morphometric measurements and reproductive success against the addition of calcium 47 to the diet. Table 4.1.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Full Article 190.3KB .Pdf File
    Memoirs of" the Museum of Victoria 56(2):43 1-433 (1997) 28 February 1997 https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1997.56.34 A CONSERVATION PROGRAMME FOR THE PARTULID TREE SNAILS OF THE PACIFIC REGION Paul Pearce-Kelly. Dave Clarke, Craig Walker and Paul Atkin Invertebrate Conservation Centre, Zoological Society of London. Regent's Park. London NW1 4RY, UK Abstract Pearce-Kelly, P., Clarke, D., Walker, C. and Atkin, P., 1 997. A conservation programme for - the partulid tree snails of the Pacific region. Memoirs ofthe Museum of Victoria 56(2): 43 1 433. Throughout the Pacific numerous endemic mollusc species have either become extinct in the wild or are currently facing the threat of extinction as a result of introduction of the predatory snail Euglandina rosea and the New Guinea flatworm Platyclemus manokwari. Without determined conservation efforts, including the establishment of ex situ breeding programmes, much of the region's endemic snail fauna will be lost. Since 1986 a collabor- ative international conservation programme has been in place for partulid tree snails. The participating institutions currently maintain a total of 33 taxa in culture (comprising > 12 000 snails). The conservation status of all 1 17 partulid species has been assessed usingthe Conservation Action Management Plan (CAMP) process. Target ex situ population sizes required to maintain 90% of starting heterozygosity over 100 years have been calculated using the analytical model programme CAPACITY (Pearce-Kelly et al., 1994) The genetic management requirements of the breeding programme have necessitated the development of a colony management computer database enabling demographic management and analy- sis of the populations.
    [Show full text]
  • EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for Polynesian Tree Snails (Partula Spp)
    EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for Polynesian tree snails (Partula spp) Edition 1.0 Publication date June 2019 Partula Snail EEP Species Committee Editor Dave Clarke, ZSL 2019_Partula sp_EAZA Best Practice Guidelines EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for Polynesian tree snails (Partula spp) Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group TITAG Chair: Mark Bushell, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA [email protected] TITAG Vice-Chairs: Tamás Papp, Chester Zoo, Moston Rd, Upton, Chester CH2 1EU. [email protected] & Vítek Lukáš, Zoo Praha, U Trojského zámku 3/120, 171 00 Praha 7, Czechia. [email protected] EEP Co-ordinator: Paul Pearce-Kelly, ZSL [email protected] EEP Studbook keeper: Sam Aberdeen, ZSL [email protected] Edition 1.0 Publication date June 2019 (based on global Management Guidelines document Nov 2007 eds Pearce-Kelly, Blake, Goellner & Snider) Editor Dave Clarke, ZSL [email protected] Citation - Clarke, D., EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for Partula snails. EAZA 2019 We acknowledge the invaluable input of all Partula snail EEP Species Committee members, SSP colleagues and global participating Partula collections. EAZA Best Practice Guidelines disclaimer Copyright (June 2019) by EAZA Executive Office, Amsterdam. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in hard copy, machine-readable or other forms without advance written permission from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) may copy this information for their own use as needed. The information contained in these EAZA Best Practice Guidelines has been obtained from numerous sources believed to be reliable.
    [Show full text]
  • Mitochondrial Genome of Bulinus Truncatus (Gastropoda: Lymnaeoidea): Implications for Snail Systematics and Schistosome Epidemiology
    Journal Pre-proof Mitochondrial genome of Bulinus truncatus (Gastropoda: Lymnaeoidea): implications for snail systematics and schistosome epidemiology Neil D. Young, Liina Kinkar, Andreas J. Stroehlein, Pasi K. Korhonen, J. Russell Stothard, David Rollinson, Robin B. Gasser PII: S2667-114X(21)00011-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100017 Reference: CRPVBD 100017 To appear in: Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases Received Date: 21 January 2021 Revised Date: 10 February 2021 Accepted Date: 11 February 2021 Please cite this article as: Young ND, Kinkar L, Stroehlein AJ, Korhonen PK, Stothard JR, Rollinson D, Gasser RB, Mitochondrial genome of Bulinus truncatus (Gastropoda: Lymnaeoidea): implications for snail systematics and schistosome epidemiology, CORTEX, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.crpvbd.2021.100017. This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. Journal Pre-proof Mitochondrial genome of Bulinus truncatus (Gastropoda: Lymnaeoidea): implications for snail systematics and schistosome epidemiology Neil D. Young a,* , Liina Kinkar a, Andreas J. Stroehlein a, Pasi K. Korhonen a, J.
    [Show full text]
  • PUBLICATIONS 11 May 2021
    ROBERT H. COWIE – PUBLICATIONS 11 May 2021 Google Scholar metrics Citations – 8939 (3794 since 2016), h-index – 47 (32 since 2016), i10-index – 109 (65 since 2016) Books (5) Joshi, R.C., Cowie, R.H. & Sebastian, L.S. (eds.) 2017. Biology and Management of Invasive Apple Snails. Philippine Rice Research Institute, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. xvii + 405 p. Cowie, R.H., Rundell, R.J. & Yeung, N.W. 2017. Samoan Land Snails and Slugs – An Identification Guide. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, American Samoa Government. viii + 71 p. Cowie, R.[H.] 2014. Journey to a Waterfall. A Biologist in Africa. Lulu, Raleigh. x + 279 p. Staples, G.W. & Cowie, R.H. (eds.) 2001. Hawai‘i’s Invasive species. A guide to invasive plants and animals in the Hawaiian Islands. Mutual Publishing & Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. xii + 116 p. Cowie, R.H., Evenhuis, N.L. & Christensen, C.C. 1995. Catalog of the native land and freshwater molluscs of the Hawaiian Islands. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. vi + 248 p. Journal articles (136) 2021 Gerlach, J., Barker, G.M., Bick, C.S., Bouchet, P., Brodie, G., Christensen, C.C., Collins, T., Coote, T., Cowie, R.H., Fiedler, G.C., Griffiths, O.L., Florens, F.B.V, Hayes, K.A., Kim, J., Meyer, J.-Y., Meyer, W.M., III, Richling, I., Slapcinsky, J.D., Winsor, L. & Yeung, N.W. 2021. Negative impacts of the invasive predators Euglandina ‘rosea’ (Mollusca: Spiraxidae) and Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) when used as biological control agents against the pest snail Lisschatina fulica (Mollusca: Achatinidae). Biological Invasions 23(4): 997-1031. Rollins, R.L., Cowie, R.H., Echaluse, M.V.
    [Show full text]
  • Boletin Del Instituto Estudios Asturianos
    DIPUTACION PROVINCIAL DE OVIEDO SUPLEMENTO DE CIENCIAS DEL BOLETIN DEL INSTITUTO DE ESTUDIOS ASTURIANOS N.° 23 OVIEDO 19 7 8 SUMARIO Páginas Análisis del crecimiento de los muchachos de Oviedo, por M. Fer­ nández Rico ............................................................................................ *........................ 3 Estudio de las diferencias de la sensibilidad gustativa para la P. T. C. en unas poblaciones aisladas de la Cantábrica, por Pedro Gómez Gómez. 25 Estudio dermopapilar de una población aislada de Asturias, porPe­ dro Gómez Gómez ......................................................................................................... 39 Análisis antropológico de los pliegues de la palma en asturianos, por J. E. Egocheaga Rodríguez ........................................................................................ 55 Nota sobre la presencia de cinco especies de los géneros Trifolium, Lotus y Medicago (fabaceae) nuevas para la flora asturiana, porM. A. A lvarez y M. M orey ..................................................................................................... 99 Cinco opistobranquios nuevos para la fauna Ibérica (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) colectados en Asturias, por J. A. Ortea ........................ 107 Estudios sobre los efectos del aislamiento en poblaciones de gasteró­ podos terrestres asturianos. I.° Composición específica de las poblacio­ nes, por Nuria Anadón y Emilio Anadón .......................................................... 121 Algunos datos sobre Morfología y Biología
    [Show full text]
  • Study on the Ethiopian Freshwater Molluscs, Especially on Identification, Distribution and Ecology of Vector Snails of Human Schistosomiasis
    Jap. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., Vol. 3, No. 2, 1975, pp. 107-134 107 STUDY ON THE ETHIOPIAN FRESHWATER MOLLUSCS, ESPECIALLY ON IDENTIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF VECTOR SNAILS OF HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS HIROSHI ITAGAKI1, NORIJI SUZUKI2, YOICHI ITO2, TAKAAKI HARA3 AND TEFERRA WONDE4 Received for publication 17 February 1975 Abstract: Many surveys were carried out in Ethiopia from January 1969 to January 1971 to study freshwater molluscs, especially the intermediate and potential host snails of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium, to collect their ecological data, and to clarify the distribution of the snails in the country. The gastropods collected consisted of two orders, the Prosobranchia and Pulmonata. The former order contained three families (Thiaridae, Viviparidae and Valvatidae) and the latter four families (Planorbidae, Physidae, Lymnaeidae and Ancylidae). The pelecypods contained four families : the Unionidae, Mutelidae, Corbiculidae and Sphaeriidae. Biomphalaria pfeifferi rueppellii and Bulinus (Physopsis)abyssinicus are the most important hosts of S. mansoniand S. haematobium respectively. The freshwater snail species could be grouped into two distibution patterns, one of which is ubiquitous and the other sporadic. B. pfeifferirueppellii and Bulinus sericinus belong to the former pattern and Biomphalaria sudanica and the members of the subgenus Physopsis to the latter. Pictorial keys were prepared for field workers of schistosomiasis to identify freshwater molluscs in Ethiopia. Habitats of bulinid and biomphalarian snails were ecologically surveyed in connection with the epidemiology of human schistosomiasis. Rain falls and nutritional conditions of habitat appear to influence the abundance and distribution of freshwater snails more seriously than do temperature and pH, but water current affects the distribution frequently.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary History of a Vanishing Radiation
    Lee et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2014, 14:202 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/14/202 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Evolutionary history of a vanishing radiation: isolation-dependent persistence and diversification in Pacific Island partulid tree snails Taehwan Lee1, Jingchun Li1, Celia KC Churchill2 and Diarmaid Ó Foighil1* Abstract Background: Partulid tree snails are endemic to Pacific high islands and have experienced extraordinary rates of extinction in recent decades. Although they collectively range across a 10,000 km swath of Oceania, half of the family’s total species diversity is endemic to a single Eastern Pacific hot spot archipelago (the Society Islands) and all three partulid genera display highly distinctive distributions. Our goal was to investigate broad scale (range wide) and fine scale (within‐Society Islands) molecular phylogenetic relationships of the two widespread genera, Partula and Samoana. What can such data tell us regarding the genesis of such divergent generic distribution patterns, and nominal species diversity levels across Oceania? Results: Museum, captive (zoo) and contemporary field specimens enabled us to genotype 54 of the ~120 recognized species, including many extinct or extirpated taxa, from 14 archipelagoes. The genera Partula and Samoana are products of very distinct diversification processes. Originating at the western edge of the familial range, the derived genus Samoana is a relatively recent arrival in the far eastern archipelagoes (Society, Austral, Marquesas) where it exhibits a stepping‐stone phylogenetic pattern and has proven adept at both intra‐and inter‐ archipelago colonization. The pronounced east–west geographic disjunction exhibited by the genus Partula stems from a much older long-distance dispersal event and its high taxonomic diversity in the Society Islands is a product of a long history of within‐archipelago diversification.
    [Show full text]
  • New Pest Response Guidelines
    United States Department of Agriculture New Pest Response Marketing and Regulatory Guidelines Programs Animal and Plant Health Giant African Snails: Inspection Service Snail Pests in the Family Cooperating State Departments of Achatinidae Agriculture April 23, 2007 New Pest Response Guidelines Giant African Snails: Snail Pests in the Family Achatinidae April 23, 2007 New Pest Response Guidelines. Giant African Snails: Snail Pests in the Family Achatinidae was prepared by the Mollusk Action Plan Working Group and edited by Patricia S. Michalak, USDA–APHIS–PPQ–Manuals Unit. Cite this report as follows: USDA–APHIS. 2005. New Pest Response Guidelines. Giant African Snails: Snail Pests in the Family Achatinidae. USDA–APHIS–PPQ–Emergency and Domestic Programs–Emergency Planning, Riverdale, Maryland. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml This report was originally published by PPQ–Pest Detection and Management Programs (PDMP) on March 21, 2005. It was updated by PPQ–Emergency and Domestic Programs–Emergency Planning on April 23, 2007. Richard Dunkle, Deputy Administrator March 21, 2005 USDA–APHIS–PPQ Emergency and Domestic Programs Emergency Planning Joel Floyd, Team Leader 4700 River Road Unit 137 Riverdale, Maryland 20737 Telephone: 310/734-4396 [email protected] Program Safety Consumption of snails and slugs, or of vegetables and fruits contaminated by snails and slugs, may lead to infection by pathogens that are easily transmitted by these pests. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling mollusks, associated soil, excrement or other materials that may have come Important in contact with the snails. Immediately after removing protective gloves, thoroughly wash hands with hot soapy water and rinse well.
    [Show full text]
  • Gastropoda: Stylommatophora)1 John L
    EENY-494 Terrestrial Slugs of Florida (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora)1 John L. Capinera2 Introduction Florida has only a few terrestrial slug species that are native (indigenous), but some non-native (nonindigenous) species have successfully established here. Many interceptions of slugs are made by quarantine inspectors (Robinson 1999), including species not yet found in the United States or restricted to areas of North America other than Florida. In addition to the many potential invasive slugs originating in temperate climates such as Europe, the traditional source of invasive molluscs for the US, Florida is also quite susceptible to invasion by slugs from warmer climates. Indeed, most of the invaders that have established here are warm-weather or tropical species. Following is a discus- sion of the situation in Florida, including problems with Figure 1. Lateral view of slug showing the breathing pore (pneumostome) open. When closed, the pore can be difficult to locate. slug identification and taxonomy, as well as the behavior, Note that there are two pairs of tentacles, with the larger, upper pair ecology, and management of slugs. bearing visual organs. Credits: Lyle J. Buss, UF/IFAS Biology as nocturnal activity and dwelling mostly in sheltered Slugs are snails without a visible shell (some have an environments. Slugs also reduce water loss by opening their internal shell and a few have a greatly reduced external breathing pore (pneumostome) only periodically instead of shell). The slug life-form (with a reduced or invisible shell) having it open continuously. Slugs produce mucus (slime), has evolved a number of times in different snail families, which allows them to adhere to the substrate and provides but this shell-free body form has imparted similar behavior some protection against abrasion, but some mucus also and physiology in all species of slugs.
    [Show full text]
  • Status of Tree Snails (Gastropoda: Partulidae) on Guam, with a Resurvey of Sites Studied by H
    Pacific Science (1992), vol. 46, no. 1: 77-85 © 1992 by University of Hawaii Press. All rights reserved Status of Tree Snails (Gastropoda: Partulidae) on Guam, with a Resurvey of Sites Studied by H. E. Crampton in 19201 DAVID R. HOPPER 2 AND BARRY D. SMITH 2 ABSTRACT: Tree snails of the family Partulidae have declined on Guam since World War II. One species, indigenous to the western Pacific, Partu/a radio/ata, is still locally common along stream courses in southern areas of the island. The Mariana Island endemic Samoanajragilis is present but not found in abundance anywhere on Guam. Partu/a gibba, another Mariana endemic, is currently known only from one isolated coastal valley along the northwestern coast, and appears to be in a state ofdecline. The Guam endemic Partu/a sa/ifana was not found in areas where it had been previously collected by earlier researchers, and is thus believed to be extinct. The decline and extinction ofthese snails are related to human activities. The single most important factor is likely predation by snails that were introduced as biological control agents for the giant African snail, Achatina ju/ica. The current, most serious threat is probably the introduced flatworm P/atydemus manokwari. This flatworm is also the likely cause of extinctions ofother native and introduced gastropods on Guam and may be the most important threat to the Mariana Partulidae. TREE SNAILS OF TROPICAL PACIFIC islands have 1970). With the exception of the partulids of been of interest since early exploration of the Society Islands, all are lacking study.
    [Show full text]
  • Achatina Fulica Background
    Giant African Land Snail, Achatina fulica Background • Originally from coastal East Africa and its islands • Has spread to other parts of Africa, Asia, some Pacific islands, Australia, New Zealand, South America, the Caribbean, and the United States • Can be found in agricultural areas, natural forests, planted forests, riparian zones, wetlands, disturbed areas, and even urban areas in warm tropical climates with high humidity • Also known scientifically as Lissachatina fulica • Common names include giant African land snail and giant African snail Hosts Image citation: Cotton - Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.bugwood.org, #1116132 Banana - Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.bugwood.org, #1197011 Papaya - Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, www.bugwood.org, #5420178 Pumpkin - Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, www.bugwood.org, #5365883 Cucumber - Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, www.bugwood.org., #5363704 Carrots - M.E. Bartolo, www.bugwood.org, #5359190 Environmental Impacts • Consumes large quantities and numbers of species of native plants – May cause indirect damage to plants due to the sheer numbers of snails being so heavy that the plants beak under their weight – May also be a vector of several plant pathogens • Outcompetes and may even eat native snails • It eats so much it can alter the nutrient cycling • Their shells can neutralize acid soils and therefore damage plants that prefer acidic soils • Indirectly, the biocontrol and chemical control that is used on this species can affect native snail species as well. Structural Concerns and Nuisance Issues Image citation: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry Public Health Concerns • Intermediate host that vectors: – rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (roundworm) – A.
    [Show full text]
  • 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals
    The lUCN Species Survival Commission 1994 lUCN Red List of Threatened Animals Compiled by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre PADU - MGs COPY DO NOT REMOVE lUCN The World Conservation Union lo-^2^ 1994 lUCN Red List of Threatened Animals lUCN WORLD CONSERVATION Tile World Conservation Union species susvival commission monitoring centre WWF i Suftanate of Oman 1NYZ5 TTieWlLDUFE CONSERVATION SOCIET'' PEOPLE'S TRISr BirdLife 9h: KX ENIUNGMEDSPEaES INTERNATIONAL fdreningen Chicago Zoulog k.J SnuicTy lUCN - The World Conservation Union lUCN - The World Conservation Union brings together States, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organisations in a unique world partnership: some 770 members in all, spread across 123 countries. - As a union, I UCN exists to serve its members to represent their views on the world stage and to provide them with the concepts, strategies and technical support they need to achieve their goals. Through its six Commissions, lUCN draws together over 5000 expert volunteers in project teams and action groups. A central secretariat coordinates the lUCN Programme and leads initiatives on the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biological diversity and the management of habitats and natural resources, as well as providing a range of services. The Union has helped many countries to prepare National Conservation Strategies, and demonstrates the application of its knowledge through the field projects it supervises. Operations are increasingly decentralised and are carried forward by an expanding network of regional and country offices, located principally in developing countries. I UCN - The World Conservation Union seeks above all to work with its members to achieve development that is sustainable and that provides a lasting Improvement in the quality of life for people all over the world.
    [Show full text]