Hello everyone,

The oil spill has not yet affected the shores or even the coastal waters of
West Central Florida. The minus tide that we experienced a few weeks ago
showed that our molluscan fauna is alive and well. I saw an abundance of
live healthy species in St Petersburg Beach in late June.

Unfortunately, I have seen the results of oil spills and pollution in the
past and I suspect that the BP disaster in the north central Gulf of Mexico
has caused a mass extinction of almost everything in the affected area. The
media has been focused on the higher forms of life. However, the mollusks,
crustaceans and lower forms of life can't move to avoid the spill.
Eventually the fish, birds and reptiles will leave, if they can, to go to
areas where the food chain is intact. It will take decades or centuries for
this to recover.

Sincerely,

Dennis Sargent



________________________________________
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Private Shell Collection
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 2:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Yippee!!

I hate to be the one to ask...but do you think this has anything to do with
the oil spill? How is it effecting the shell life?
-Caprice
www.PrivateShellCollection.com

________________________________________
From: kelly mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 4:22:42 PM
Subject: [CONCH-L] Yippee!!
I just wanted to share my joy with all my fellow shell lovers that yesterday
I found a 15 inch horse conch in perfect condition at the beach
on Honeymoon Island  in Dunedin.  There also were large olives, pear whelks,
apple murex, tulips, sunray clams and much more.
HIGH TIMES AT LOW TIDE,  Kelly

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