David, You indicate an illeagal trade in Polymita. Are Polymita and other land snails protected in Cuba? Regards Geoff >From: Beatriz Lauranzon Melendez <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Polymita >Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 11:04:28 -0500 > >Hi coleagues, the Cuban malacologist on Eastern Cuba are studing Polymita >in this moment. > >The past year we finished a project supported by WWF about some >cuestions on ecology, distribution and the most importan topic: the >relationship between Polymita and the different use of land. > >The principal cuestions are: > >How the differents use of land impact on Polymita? >Where are located the populations? >What is the use of Polymita by the local communities? >What are the recent population densities of Polymitaïspecies in each >plant formation? >What are the menaces on Polymita? >Does coffe plantation support good Polymitaïs population? > >These and other cuestions are answered in the report. > >In this project we study differents populations of all Polymitaïspecies >for several year (last 10 years), even the never studed before P. >brochery. Tha data shown a general declination every year, even some >populations are dissapeared now, sorry, it is a fat. The last two year >were very dry. P. sulphurosa is known for 5 populations only so separated, >sorry, thatïs true. > >There is an ilegal trade by tourist that come to Cuba searching for >Polymita in Baracoa, it afect P. picta mostly. This species may live on >grassland and coconut plantation, appears in low densities on Rain forest. >We have gotten these data also working with The Field Museum of Chicago, >USA, on Rapid Biological Inventories. > >P. versicolor is used for local people to fish. >P. brochery is protected by its different natural form to another species >of this genus, the local people donït recognise this one into Polymita, >It lives on xeromorphic schrubs suportin hig temperature. > >Polymita in this moment is distributed on different Cuban Regions, not on >Eastern Cuba only like the people think commonly. > >This genus is distributed from Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma, >Santiago de Cuba until Guantanamo provinces, that is Sabana_Camaguey >Region, Central_Eastern Region and Eastern Region. Any way P. sulphurosa >is only in Sagua de Tanamo, Holguin and P. brochery is only in Maisi, >Guantanamo. > >The reality on Polymita is hard, sorry. > >There are many results during all these years, these are some ideas only. >I am very thanksfull to all people by their interest on this Cuban genus. > >Thanks in advance, sorry I have used the mail of my wife for this purpose. > >David Maceira >Malacologist >Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad. BIOECO. >Santiago de Cuba >Cuba > > > >Polymitas are only found on the Eastern end of Cuba, > > > Oriente Province > > > > The Cuban fauna is biogeographically neotropical, not nearctic, however, > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs >To leave this list, click on the following web link: >http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 >Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and >click leave the list. >---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------