Peggy/Debbie,
Could be the red tide but also Hurricane Wilma seemed to have an effect over
on the west coast of Florida.  I'm on Sand Key, right by Clearwater Beach
and after Hurricane Francis last year we had thousands of fighting conchs
wash up on the beach.  This year after Hurricane Wilma I noticed a very
large number of olive shells.  Just on one "stoop" I would pick up at least
8 specimens.
Bev Dolezal
Clearwater


>From: Peggy Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Donax variabilis
>Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 22:13:25 -0500
>
>Hi Debbie,
>
>You know, of course, that we've had a lot of red tide  this year.
>Sometimes the organism is so thick in the water that it uses up all
>the oxygen, and then other critters,  that aren't affected by the
>toxin, die of suffocation. Might this be the cause?
>
>Peggy Williams in Sarasota
>
>On Nov 10, 2005, at 6:27 PM, Debbie Freeman wrote:
>
>>Hello All,
>>
>>     I have been getting messages and questions regarding the
>>thousands of Donax variabilis that have been washing up on our
>>Englewood beach the past few days. This evening I noted that most
>>were fresh dead, and half dug into the sand at the tide line.
>>I know that we do see a lot more coquina this time of year, but not
>>to this degree. Folks are complaining about the fish smell on the
>>beach, and the birds do not seem to be as enticed as I would have
>>thought.
>>
>>Do any of you know what might be causing this sudden occurrence?
>>
>>Debbie
>>Englewood, Fl.
>
>           Peggy Williams: shell collecting trips
>          Visit my website: www.Shelltrips.com
>                               PO Box 575
>                        Tallevast FL 34270
>                           (941) 355-2291
>                   [log in to unmask]
>
>

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