Conservation of Fiji's Plactostylid land snails

Bogitini, Lia J.K.D. and Brodie, Gilianne D. and Barker, G.M. (2011) Conservation of Fiji's Plactostylid land snails. [Conference Proceedings]

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Abstract

The world’s biodiversity is in crisis. With this, our highly diverse land snails are of particular extinction concern globally. Pacific Island land snail diversity is significant because of its high levels of endemism and also it’s alarming past extinction record. We examined the widely scattered literature relating to Fiji’s native land snails. From the resulting information we determined priority snail groups that are likely to be in need of conservation action to prevent extinction. One of these groups is the relatively large placostylid snails which are not only endemic to the Oceania region but have several regional members that are already IUCN red-listed as endangered or extinct. Based on existing literature dating back over 100 years we have determined that Fiji has fourteen recorded endemic species of Placostylus snails, of which eight are recorded only on a single island. All species are closely associated with forest habitats, none of which has ever been studied ecologically or assessed for its conservation status. We are currently in the process of finalizing IUCN redlisting assessments for these fourteen species and are about to begin a study to assess, current species distributions and population genetics which will assist prioritization of any future conservation actions. We have also found some evidence of historic cultural linkages between Placostylus snails and Fijian people and these aspects will soon be further explored in cooperation with our local community collaborators.

Item Type:	Conference Proceedings
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Depositing User:	Users 24 not found.
Date Deposited:	15 May 2013 21:01
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2013 23:33
URI:	http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/5801

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