Re: collecting 50 Conus geographus.

Well said Masashi Yamaguchi.

As a new member (of several months) to this list I have read the passing
traffic with interest but have not contributed till now.  I am concerned
that their seems to be more of an interest in the $ value of a shell than in
the animal that made it.

Can anyone suggest another list with more of an interest in the total
package?

Masashi is rightly concerned about research farming out its dirty work
without bearing an responsibility to how / where the animals are collected,
and its affect on the environment .  There was no mention of permits or a
scientific rationale for why 50 are needed.  Just how can I get 'em without
any responsibility.

Russell Kelley



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Russell Kelley
Writer, director, producer, science communication consultant.
Watermark Films Pty. Ltd.
ABN 17 089 843 087
P.O. Box 1859, Townsville, 4810, AUSTRALIA
email: [log in to unmask]
61 (0) 747 243106 ph.
61 (0) 747 715156 fx.
61 (0) 419 716730 mob.
GMT + 10 hours
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> From: Masashi Yamaguchi <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 08:00:58 +0900
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Conus geographus for research needed
>
> Dear Guido,
>
>> we need about 50 specimens of Conus geographus, with the fresh animal
> inside for biochemical research on the venon.
>
>
> We have supplied a small number of this species for a biomedical research
> project in Japan sometimes ago. The population density of this shell is
> rather small and I worry that 50 live specimen is too much to ask because
> such heavy pressure might decimate local population. It also would take many
> weeks to collect that many. We do not know the early life history and
> reproductive biology of this species. As we find only adults, almost no
> juveniles, in the field, we should be cautious about intensive collection of
> species with such a population structure.
>
> Masashi Yamaguchi
> Univ. of the Ryukyus in Okinawa
>