David,
You indicate an illeagal trade in Polymita.
Are Polymita and other land snails protected in Cuba?
Regards
Geoff


>From: Beatriz Lauranzon Melendez <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Polymita
>Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 11:04:28 -0500
>
>Hi coleagues, the Cuban malacologist on Eastern Cuba are studing Polymita
>in this moment.
>
>The past year we finished a project supported by WWF about some
>cuestions on ecology, distribution and the most importan topic: the
>relationship between Polymita and the different use of land.
>
>The principal cuestions are:
>
>How the differents use of land impact on Polymita?
>Where are located the populations?
>What is the use of Polymita by the local communities?
>What are the recent population densities of Polymitaïspecies in each
>plant formation?
>What are the menaces on Polymita?
>Does coffe plantation support good Polymitaïs population?
>
>These and other cuestions are answered in the report.
>
>In this project we study differents populations of all Polymitaïspecies
>for several year (last 10 years), even the never studed before P.
>brochery. Tha data shown a general declination every year, even some
>populations are dissapeared now, sorry, it is a fat. The last two year
>were very dry. P. sulphurosa is known for 5 populations only so separated,
>sorry, thatïs true.
>
>There is an ilegal trade by tourist that come to Cuba searching for
>Polymita in Baracoa, it afect P. picta mostly. This species may live on
>grassland and coconut plantation, appears in low densities on Rain forest.
>We have gotten these data also working with The Field Museum of Chicago,
>USA, on Rapid Biological Inventories.
>
>P. versicolor is used for local people to fish.
>P. brochery is protected by its different natural form to another species
>of this genus, the local people donït recognise this one into Polymita,
>It lives on xeromorphic schrubs suportin hig temperature.
>
>Polymita in this moment is distributed on different Cuban Regions, not on
>Eastern Cuba only like the people think commonly.
>
>This genus is distributed from Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma,
>Santiago de Cuba until Guantanamo provinces, that is Sabana_Camaguey
>Region, Central_Eastern Region and Eastern Region. Any way P. sulphurosa
>is only in Sagua de Tanamo, Holguin and P. brochery is only in Maisi,
>Guantanamo.
>
>The reality on Polymita is hard, sorry.
>
>There are many results during all these years, these are some ideas only.
>I am very thanksfull to all people by their interest on this Cuban genus.
>
>Thanks in advance, sorry I have used the mail of my wife for this purpose.
>
>David Maceira
>Malacologist
>Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad. BIOECO.
>Santiago de Cuba
>Cuba
>
>
>
>Polymitas are only found on the Eastern end of Cuba,
> > > Oriente Province
>
>
> > The Cuban fauna is biogeographically neotropical, not nearctic, however,
> >
>
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