Hi Paul.
In your answer to Steven I couldn´t help noticing the lack of overlap
between the fauna of your New England sites and my home shores in Iceland,
except at one site, Manomet Point. Nucella lapillus, Littorina obtusata,
Acmaea testudinalis, Hiatella arctica, Modiolus modiolus, and Buccinum
undatum are also among the most common species on most beaches in Iceland.
Any thoughts on this? What is special about Manomet Point? Temperature,
currents, tidal range?

All the best,
Pall Einarsson


At 11:45 5.6.2001 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello Steven!
>
>First of all, your question is 100% appropriate to the list, as are ALL
>conchology-related questions.  That's one great strength of Conch-L.  We
>have all kinds of "shellers" - professionals at large institutions, advanced
>collectors, beginners, shellcrafters, and dealers.  The topics we have
>discussed range from technicalities of taxonomic rules to methods of
>cleaning and storing shells; from chemistry of shell composition to
>dangerous situations we have encountered while shelling; from mechanics of
>speciation to dreams we have had which featured shells.  So feel right at
>home.
>
>We are neighbors.  I live in Rhode Island currently, but grew up in
>Massachusetts (New Bedford area), and have been collecting shells in the
>general area for about 40 years.  There are plenty of good collection spots
>in the area.  To name just a few:
>
>Seabrook Beach, New Hampshire (just over the Mass. line).  Lunatia heros is
>unusually common here, and in shallow water.  Not the big, heavy brown ones
>found farther south.  These are smaller, a pretty gray with pinkish near the
>suture.  Their main food here is Mesodesma arctata, which is also common.
>Don't try snorkling here, even in summer, unless you use a wetsuit.  The
>water is COLD.  I once got a severe case of hypothermia here by staying in a
>half hour without a wet suit, and have been very careful ever since.
>
>Manomet Point, Manomet, Mass. - Great spot for typical New England cold
>water rocky habitat.  Nucella lapillus and Littorina obtusata everywhere.
>The largest Littorina littorea I have ever seen (got a few over 35 mm).
>Acmaea testudinalis.  Hiatella arctica under rocks near low tide level.
>Modiolus modiolus.  Occasionally Neptunea decemcostata and Buccinum undatum
>near low tide level.  Also lots of urchins, brittle stars, and other
>interesting sea life.  You have to go at low tide.  Vertical tidal range is
>about 10 feet, and everything is covered at high tide.  Also, watch for the
>incoming tide!  It comes in fast, and a couple of times I had to wade
>through waist-deep, ice-cold water to get back to shore because I waited a
>bit too long.
>
>Plymouth Beach - somewhat muddy, few rocks.  Ensis directus, Macoma
>balthica, Spisula solidissima, a few other bivalves.  Not many gastropods.
>
>Barnstable Harbor - silty sand, fauna similar to Plymouth.
>
>Onset Beach, Cape Cod - muddy sand, largest Pecten irradians I have seen (up
>to 100 mm).  Various other bivalve species.  Nassarius obsoletus and
>sometimes N. vibex.
>
>Harbor Beach, Mattapoisett, Mass. - sheltered, quiet beach of muddy sand.
>Busycon canaliculatum.  Polinices duplicatus.  BIG Mercenaria mercenaria.
>Laevicardium mortoni.  Tagelus plebeius.  Geukensia demissa (the large,
>mud-dwelling form).  Anadara ovalis.  Solemya velum.  Nassarius obsoletus by
>the bucketfull.  Crepidula plana inside large dead shells.  Watch for hermit
>crabs carrying Littorina littorea shells ... about every 10th shell has a
>Crepidula convexa attached.  You can wade or snorkle WAY out from shore.
>
>Fort Phoenix, Fairhaven, Mass.  This is a state park, but no-one objects to
>shell collecting.  On the point, near the hurricane barrier, just below the
>fort itself.  Crepidula fornicata (hundreds on the beach, many of them
>fresh).  Nassarius trivittatus, Littorina littorea, Littorina saxatilis,
>Eupleura caudata, Urosalpinx cinerea, Mitrella lunata, Anachis translirata,
>Bittium alternatum, Seila adamsi, Anomia simplex.  Geukensia demissa (the
>small, rock-dwelling form)
>
>Of course, additional species are found at all the above locations.  I have
>only mentioned a few that I remember as typical of the specific areas.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Regards,
>Paul Monfils
>
>
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Páll Einarsson
Science Institute, University of Iceland
Hofsvallagata 53
107 Reykjavik

Phone +354 525 4816,  fax +354 552 1347, email [log in to unmask]
http://www.raunvis.hi.is/~palli/
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