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Date: | Sun, 24 Jan 1999 03:05:41 EST |
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As per the discussion as to how many specimens one should collect, I decided
I should add my opinion and actions to the thread. I have always tried to
adhere to the collecting ethics published by the Hawaiian Malacological
Society a number of years ago.
As I thought about this I realized that the number of my "take" varies
considerably from one situation to another. In marine situations I tend to
take only the few I need. For terrestrial snails and freshwater mussels I
normally take only dead shells as these are usually readily available. When I
do take live specimens of terrestrial snails of freshwater mussels it is for a
research need, need for a voucher which cannot be taken otherwise, etc. For
freshwater snails, I realize I tend to take a larger sample (50 - 150) as
needed for comparative studies and sharing with others. Freshwater snails
tend to be so variable that I have found that a larger sample is usually
better. For those who would be or are offended by this, understand that
freshwater snails usually are found in such abundance that such a take is
minuscule. Of course, I do not do this for "protected species" regardless of
how abundant they may be in a certain area. In any environment I pick up as
many specimens of "dead shells" as I can carry as I feel they are better
spread around in various collections or museums rather than left to the
corrosive forces of nature.
Also many of the permits I have from various states specify a number or
percentage of each species I may take. Usually this is listed as 10% or less
of any given population (not that I take that many).
I am conservation conscious and try to leave a habitat as well or better than
I find it, but I also realize that as someone mentioned earlier, scientific
collecting may sometimes dictate a larger sample that the few typically taken
by collectors.
I welcome the comments of others on this thread, In particular I ask Kevin,
Tom, Andy, Marion, Harry, and others to share their views.
Doug Shelton
Alabama Malacological Research Center
2370-G Hillcrest Road #236
Mobile, AL 36695 USA
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