Snail pages by Robert Nordsieck in biology book

[Robert Nordsieck]

Hi there,

I'd like to announce that I just received a copy of "Evolutionary Biology" published by Hayden-McNeil in Plymouth, MI in the United States. Two pages about terrestrial snails in the aforementioned book are written by me, and the book, published as a biology textbook for colleges, contains some other information about snails and their evolution.

I am rather proud to have published something in the States ;D

Kind regards
Robert

[apple]

Congrats!!

[coyote]

Congrats, Robert! That is a wonderful achievement, and you should indeed feel quite proud.

[fabrizio]

Congratulation Robert!

What facts did you debate upon that, about snails and Evolution?
Kind Regards,
fabrizio

[ness]

Yes that's a great acheivement, very well done to you

Will you be planning on writing more in the future?

[Robert Nordsieck]

Hi there,

thanks for all the encouragement, I can use it
Well I have already written some things, only so far most I wrote was only in German. I was already looking for the possibility of publishing something in English, but sofar haven't found a magazine to write to.
There is a list of publications here.

I hoped to publish something in the BBC Wild Life Magazine, as they often write about snails, but, as expected, they did not answer.

fabrizio: In principle it is a reprint of my page on terrestrial snails, though sadly without the pictures. But they give the link and everyone can see them there...

Kind regards
Robert

[fabrizio]

Thank you Robert,
I knew these pages of yours, and appreciated them since years ago!

I believe the matter deserves the utmost interest. I'm particularly interested in evolution from water to land, and in the process of "limacization"/"vitrinization" : I believe both these major trends could be linked together, yet I cannot find any knowledgeable enough people to clarify that.

(I wrote -sadly only in italian- an informal article on my forum, about the whole matter -I have to correct it in several points and some images have "disappeared", too-, and I put in it a link to your semi-slug page, I found it really clear and useful).

[Robert Nordsieck]

@ fabrizio:

Thank you kindly for the encouragement, glad to hear that. I just recounted and found out that my homepage has been running for 11 years!!! Looks like I'll have to buy a cane next...

I tried to read one of your articles on your forum, but sadly my Italian is far from good enough to understand it.

Looks like we both have the same problem, having to translate everything in English.

What would you like to link - Limacization and vitrinization? I was only able to describe examples for different degrees of limacization: Let's say, from Helicidae over Zonitidae, Vitrinidae, Testacellidae to Limacidae and Arionidae. But of course those are not sufficiently related to form an evolutionary line, all being recent groups, too.

That is the problem, when I keep on describing everything quite simply.

Kind regards
Robert

PS: I definitively need that Italian course...

[fabrizio]

Thanks a lot Robert for your interest, and could I ask you what article were you interested in? I would be pleased to translate it for you -as a fact, I proposed to myself to translate at least some, yet both "laziness" and self-criticism about them kept me from doing that!
-They would need at least some correction and up-dating, yet any critics would be welcome.
Yes I referred to the said page (other being intersting, as well), about the said "shell-reduction trend" so widespreaded in Stylommatophora (and in Heterobranchia as a whole).

The very fact, "limacization/shell reduction" is seen to arise "autonomously" and in so many different lineages (although chiefly within the same few major clades), could suggest a sort of latent "predisposition/tendency", ancestral to Heterobranchia as a whole and liable to re-appear now and then, along their Evolution.
And I would really find some data, about "chronology" of the different "slug-like" lineages apparition, that would be an important issue as you suggest.

"Semplification" could make a text less clear, but it seems not the case, as for your page. Even the "layman" can deduce from rading it, that so-called "slugs" represent in facts a common evolutionary/adaptative outcome of different, although more or less related lineages.
P S
I cannot judge for myself, but I find your English absolutely clear
Kind Regards,
fabrizio

[Robert Nordsieck]

Hi, Fabrizio,

I was interested in "Pomatias e Littorina: l'Evoluzione raccontata da due chiocchole". I just printed the article and will try to understand it. I think, it will be easier on paper than on the screen, no need to translate it, unless you wanted to do that anyway.

Tried to register with the forum as well, but was not able to do so, looks like the PCs in this room will not manage... I don't have my own internet here

Kind regards
Robert

[fabrizio]

Hi Robert,
Please don't waste efforts, and as you're interested I will gladly translate it for you

Moreover, about half of the uploaded images have misteriously disappeared, and I will re-upload them; and some little adding by further data about "lung" development degrees in various Littorinidae.

-Sadly I can get right here just the two extant local species of Littorinidae, and am carrying quite informal observation about their behaviour, in a small aquarium, they seem to have adapted well to.
-Despite being for the most represented by really abundant species, and easy to collect as to their overtidal habitat, I never saw them in the sea aquarium "snail" trade...perhaps, being so small they don't entice the buyers, usually driven by mere "ornamental" purpose.
So, due to their "absence", a lot of interesting behavioural/evolutionary observation I couldn't do by myself, nor getting some "my own" pictures of them, to put ifreely nto the text...
But I will correct and translate it for you, within a very few days!
-And you're welcome to make corrections and suggestions, about less clear point.
P S Please try again to join: we would be very happy and benefit greatly, to have so an expert studious among us!
Kind Regards,
fabrizio

[Robert Nordsieck]

Hi, fabrizio,

I tried again, but it didn't work out. The thing is, I have to use a computer in the PC-room here, those are quite old and appear to lack the necessary add-on, which I may not install, as I'm not the administrator.

Would you possibly be so kind as to register me and to send me the details by email.

There would also be the problem, that I cannot write in Italian, I would have to write in English...

Thank you very much for your effort, I think I understood about most of the article, but it'll be much easier in English, of course...

Kind regards

[fabrizio]

Hi Robert,
If you wish I will try to make a registration for you, as you told me; I hope I could manage that myself, otherwise I will ask my friends, more able as to "computer matters"
I'll let you know as soon...
Please you're welcome to write in English, most of us understand enough and I could translate if needed.
-My writing style (in italian) is not very linear, so a bit difficult even for italian speakers, I'm surprised you could understand that, even if just partially -I will definitely translate it, however... in a few days I'll send you, and hope you can suggest corrections, clarifications and improvements.

-Perhaps I could put the translated text directly upon our italian forum, and give a link here: so even some possibly interested member of Petsnails Forum could have access to it, if you believe it's worthy enough...
Kind Regards,
fabrizio

[Robert Nordsieck]

Hi, Fabrizio,
what can I say - I am good...
I was good in Latin ages ago and so perhaps it is not that hard to read Italian, but I cannot speak it, nor write, so may postings would have been weird anyway...

Kind regards
Robert

[fabrizio]

good point Robert if you can read at least partially and don't bother as to writing, we would translate/correct if needed!
-The problem, seems still to rely upon your logging in...