Post by Paul on Jul 25, 2005 21:58:11 GMT
As promised, here is a list of things I think people could start tackling. I'll add more as I think of them. Feel free to add any I have missed...
Website
In terms of moving the website along there isn't a great deal that can be done until I have organised things better. But for now there is something that can be done. Help compile information on all the species. Look at the species pages, many have nothing but the shell picture. And there are many species yet to be added. Let's start compiling some info, and then I can make the pages. The same goes for the pictures, if you find a suitable picture provide the link, so I can get the correct citation etc.
Snail biology
So far the website hasn't tackled this, if anyone would like to start writing something that would be great. I must stress that the final result may not be exactly as you wrote it because we'll edit it to contain everything we know, and that is the point. But you'll be listed.
Then there is certain aspects of snails that would be good to identify, truncated and non-truncated columellas, eggs in the breathing hole, pictures documenting all the stages of reproduction to hatching.
I also think it would be good to compile a list of molluscicides, both artifical and natural. This may help us to determine which foods could be dangerous. And, it would be good if someone could check this list to see if any are deemed poisonous to humans:
www.petsnails.co.uk/docs/afulica_hostplants.html
If some are, then that would prove not all foods poisonous to us are harmful.
Laws
Tackle customs about importing snails, both DEFRA and CEFAS have given the nod that it is ok, but Customs are strange about it. We need to get to the bottom of this. The end result is to get written confirmation. With written confirmation that it is legal I'll put that on the website, you can all take a copy when sending/recieving snail packages from country to country so we can guarantee they arrive. If you live outside the UK, why not tackle this in your own country?
Research
Write, email or phone any universities, libraries, natural history museums, conservation groups you can find, to see if they have papers or publications available on snails. And try and get them to send you copies. If you try note down in a forum thread what you've done so it doesn't get repeated. And in that case, read the list first before you contact someone. Don't worry if you're not sure of the relevance of a paper, just grab what you can. Lets compile a list of contacts and sources of information like this so we can all help get stuff. If you find any mention of an article worth having, let's get it jotted down.
It'd be nice to find any snail/slug related projects we could hook into or at least help to promote.
Education
Lots of schools keep GALS, it'd be good if someone could come up with some sort of educational resource or a section for kids, for them to follow up on.
Statistics
Start keeping detailed statistics about your snails, I know I keep saying this but there will be a section where this can be recorded. It's taking time because this all has to be interconnected so the information can be compared. It's no good just letting everyone record this information free-form. I'd like it to show growth rates and feeding preferences etc.
Pests
Research information on pests, what species of animal live in the places snails do that could cause the snail to get parasites from eating it. And what can we find out about the species, life-cycle and life-span, effect on animal health, danger to us, chemicals known to kill them, natural sources of these chemicals etc.
Food
Here's one - Exactly what do snails eat in the wild? All you tend to find is "rotting food and detritus" etc. Exactly what, and I mean native plants not just where fulica have been found as a pest. What species do they eat in the rain-forests. That could help us understand their diets better. We find that out by locating botanists. They may well have observed giant snails near certain plants even if they have no interest in the snails themselves. Even if they don't know the species we could probably have a guess at what they may be from location. And I imagine GALS etc are very similar to each other in this respect.
What exactly makes a shell and what foods contain it. People need to start by reading up about it and then finding malacologists to email. Don't be frightened to pop an email over even if you don't understand it all. I mean, that is what we need really, someone in the know to explain it in layman's terms.
No-one need do all of it, just do whatever you can or feel inclined to do. And please don't be put off by thinking it's too complicated, small steps are all we need to start. This is the point of collaborating, people hunt info, we discuss it, decide what else we need to know and the cycle continues.
Website
In terms of moving the website along there isn't a great deal that can be done until I have organised things better. But for now there is something that can be done. Help compile information on all the species. Look at the species pages, many have nothing but the shell picture. And there are many species yet to be added. Let's start compiling some info, and then I can make the pages. The same goes for the pictures, if you find a suitable picture provide the link, so I can get the correct citation etc.
Snail biology
So far the website hasn't tackled this, if anyone would like to start writing something that would be great. I must stress that the final result may not be exactly as you wrote it because we'll edit it to contain everything we know, and that is the point. But you'll be listed.
Then there is certain aspects of snails that would be good to identify, truncated and non-truncated columellas, eggs in the breathing hole, pictures documenting all the stages of reproduction to hatching.
I also think it would be good to compile a list of molluscicides, both artifical and natural. This may help us to determine which foods could be dangerous. And, it would be good if someone could check this list to see if any are deemed poisonous to humans:
www.petsnails.co.uk/docs/afulica_hostplants.html
If some are, then that would prove not all foods poisonous to us are harmful.
Laws
Tackle customs about importing snails, both DEFRA and CEFAS have given the nod that it is ok, but Customs are strange about it. We need to get to the bottom of this. The end result is to get written confirmation. With written confirmation that it is legal I'll put that on the website, you can all take a copy when sending/recieving snail packages from country to country so we can guarantee they arrive. If you live outside the UK, why not tackle this in your own country?
Research
Write, email or phone any universities, libraries, natural history museums, conservation groups you can find, to see if they have papers or publications available on snails. And try and get them to send you copies. If you try note down in a forum thread what you've done so it doesn't get repeated. And in that case, read the list first before you contact someone. Don't worry if you're not sure of the relevance of a paper, just grab what you can. Lets compile a list of contacts and sources of information like this so we can all help get stuff. If you find any mention of an article worth having, let's get it jotted down.
It'd be nice to find any snail/slug related projects we could hook into or at least help to promote.
Education
Lots of schools keep GALS, it'd be good if someone could come up with some sort of educational resource or a section for kids, for them to follow up on.
Statistics
Start keeping detailed statistics about your snails, I know I keep saying this but there will be a section where this can be recorded. It's taking time because this all has to be interconnected so the information can be compared. It's no good just letting everyone record this information free-form. I'd like it to show growth rates and feeding preferences etc.
Pests
Research information on pests, what species of animal live in the places snails do that could cause the snail to get parasites from eating it. And what can we find out about the species, life-cycle and life-span, effect on animal health, danger to us, chemicals known to kill them, natural sources of these chemicals etc.
Food
Here's one - Exactly what do snails eat in the wild? All you tend to find is "rotting food and detritus" etc. Exactly what, and I mean native plants not just where fulica have been found as a pest. What species do they eat in the rain-forests. That could help us understand their diets better. We find that out by locating botanists. They may well have observed giant snails near certain plants even if they have no interest in the snails themselves. Even if they don't know the species we could probably have a guess at what they may be from location. And I imagine GALS etc are very similar to each other in this respect.
What exactly makes a shell and what foods contain it. People need to start by reading up about it and then finding malacologists to email. Don't be frightened to pop an email over even if you don't understand it all. I mean, that is what we need really, someone in the know to explain it in layman's terms.
No-one need do all of it, just do whatever you can or feel inclined to do. And please don't be put off by thinking it's too complicated, small steps are all we need to start. This is the point of collaborating, people hunt info, we discuss it, decide what else we need to know and the cycle continues.
, if you get anywhere we can back up our responses with info from DEFRA etc and phone calls I've had. It needs doing so well done.
;D
Try here:
