The Giant African Snail By Achatina Fulica

Alterations of environmental conditions appear constant to aquatic organisms that live within rocky shore ecosystems. The Zebra-top Snail was examined species within the following report, found on intertidal rocky shores of south-east and West Australia. The reaction and mass change of the Zebra-top Snail was examined whist carrying out this experiment. It was hypothesised that the Snails placed into higher salinity water will attempt to find higher ground, and their mass will be less than their original weight. The Snails were placed in water, each containing different amounts of salinity, as the rate of reaction was examined. The Snails placed in greater salinity showed a significant response in reaction within 10 minutes of observations.

Florida is the most heavily invaded state of alien species in the US, with some of the most dangerous animals in the world found at its doorstep. The Everglades are home to potential ‘man-eaters’ such as the well known Burmese and African Rock Python’s, however researchers have confirmed a new ‘man-eating’ species has come to town – The Nile Crocodile. Residents of urban areas far from the Everglades are no longer safe from the invasion of non-native species that are over taking the state. With Giant African Land Snails, Wild Pigs, Cane Toads and even some of the ‘man-eating’ species spreading into the urban areas.

Biologists Robin Seeley conducted an experiment in which she gathered periwinkle snail shells on Appledore Island and measures their thickness. The time period in which she has found the snails was before the inhabitation of the European green crab. Eighty years later, the shell thickness of the snails were measured again and recorded. This time, the inhabitation of the european green crab has increased significantly and the thickness of the snail shells has increased. She has concluded that when the crabs arrived on the island, they began to eat the thin shelled snails because their shells were easier to crack.

Cepaea nemoralis, more common known as grove snail is one of the most abundant specie of land snail. It is native from west and north to central Europe but has later been introduced to North America and New Zealand (Cain & Sheppard 1953). Grove snails are highly adaptable to a various type of habitats, they can be found in open wood, shrubs, highlands, various types of forest and even urban conditions like roadsides. They were also located at 1800 meters altitude on the Pyrenees (Schultes n.d.).

Species possibly saved as a result of population management include the Koala, Partula snails, and Sarracenia alabamensis. The koala was experiencing a population decline in Australia which prompted an initiative known as the Koala Habitat Program. The goal of this program is to increase the size of the habitat for the koala. The Queensland Government has provided $22.5 million in funding to acquire new land (Queensland Government, 2014). The Partula snail is another species very critically endangered. As this species’ population recovers in captivity, the hope is to release them into the wild. This process has to be done carefully after the African land snail was imported to a small island in the Pacific and soon got out of control. This snail was eating the crops that grow on the island. Eventually, a second species of snail, the Florida rosy wolfsnail, was brought in to prey on the Partula snail to get the population under control (Marwell Wildlife, 2014). The Sarracenia Alabamensis, also known as the Cane-brake pitcher plant, was in need of a program to stabilize its population. This plant was endangered because it was located in areas where land was cheap to acquire and when the land was developed, it reduced the number of plants. The first program

Degradation of the economy, environment and human health is caused by a variety of species. However, the most harmful types of species are known as invasive species. An invasive species is any species that is not native to the environment it is living in. European Green Crabs in particular cause mass harm to their surrounding habitat. However, there are several methods put in place to control the widespread of these creatures and minimize the harm caused by European green crabs. The European green crab can spread accidentally and then stay and cause harm to their new surroundings. Although these green crabs can cause serious harm, there are multiple measures in place to minimize the degree of harm. Confirmation of European green crabs in Canada

Another invasive species are the Nutria. The Nutria comes from South America. It is not exactly clear

Invasive species come in many forms; they can be plants, animals, insects, fish, fungus, organisms, and bacteria. Invasive plants are those which cause environmental, economic and human harm and originate from another area or region. They are a complex and difficult problem to tackle. There are more than 4,000 plants species found in Florida, of those 1300 or more are non-native or invasive. Many invasive species are taking over Florida’s waterways disrupting their natural ecosystem by outgrowing and replacing Florida’s native plants. Relieving the damage they cause is not easy, but scientists and members of the communities being affected are finding that it is achievable, as long as everyone works as a team to address the issue.

Issue: The environmental issue that I have chosen is the impact that invasive species have on the environment. The impact that invasive species have on the environment is vast, yet little is done about it. This issue is extremely important and will impact the world for generations to come. In this paper, I hope to learn about the effect they have on environment and what we can do about it.

In the past, snails have destroyed crops in many places, such as Montana, Detroit, and Washington State. David Robinson, the nation’s chief malacologist, has been battling outbreaks “around quarantine barriers for over a decade. In order to emphasize how big the snail invasion is, Robinson said “they come in on everything: cut flowers, imported fruits and vegetables.” The malacologist is also working with Florida officials to help the spread of giant African snails, which grow to become about eight inches in length. While it is known that the New Guinea Flatworm will destroy the snail population in the United States, many believe that it is

First, this mainly due to the fact that O’ahu tree snails have unique colorful shells, and as a result, many people are removing these snails and using them for scientific studies or cases (Kay and Hadfield, 1972). In other words, the snails are being taken away from their natural habitat and kept in laboratories for scientific studies. However, most humans are not aware that they are disturbing their environment and having a negative impact on the overall population of Achatinella mustelina. Moreover, many shell collectors and nature enthusiast in the late 1800s and early 1900s collected these Achatinella mustelina because of their colorful, flamboyant and patterned shells which in return negatively impacted the number of these specimen (Hadfield 1986, Hadfield et al. 1993). For this, shell collectors and nature fanatics have to be aware and appreciative of the impact and effect that wildlife animals have on the environment as well as the ecosystem as a whole. In other words, when human forces disturb a species habitat or environment, they are negatively impacting the ecosystem thus increasing the extinction rate of endangered

Georgia has been invaded by numerous species that are known as harmful exotic plants and animals. It is so costly to attempt to control invasive species and the damages they inflict cost the United States annually an estimated $137 billion (Georigia Invasive Species Task Force, 2005). For example, in South Georgia there is an estimate of 7 million acres of Kudzu vine that originated in Japan and China. The damage that arises with the Kudzu vine is that it grows up to one foot per day and overgrows and shades out trees, covers houses, barns and road signs (Georigia Invasive Species Task Force, 2005). In order to make this a top priority some things congress needs to change is the revision of current United States policy on importation of live plants and animals and when considering, reviewing, or approving trade agreements they address specific invasive species. In addition, the implementation of prescribed burnings in areas with invasive species will help eliminate and control the spreading of such invasive species.

Unfortunately, freshwater snails like many other river species across North America are threatened. The abundance and variety of snails have dramatically declined over the last 80 years, especially those species that inhabit streams and rivers. Approximately 60 species of freshwater snails are presumed extinct, 20 are on the federal endangered or threatened species list, and another 290 species are of conservation concern nationwide. The decline of freshwater snails began in the early twentieth century. Dam construction and other channel modifications, siltation, and industrial and agricultural pollution have all degraded the river habitats on which most species depend. As a result, the species richness and the abundance of freshwater snails have declined dramatically. This decline has been especially pronounced in the Southeastern United States where these animals are most diverse. The continued loss and decline of freshwater snails and other river species are testament to the fact that despite significant water-quality improvements made in the last 25 years, much work remains if we are to halt species

The Mantis Shrimp is a mid sized crustacean that can grow up to 3 to 18 centimeters in size. It is known for its bright colors of blues reds and greens, they are primarily green on the belly it has bright reds and oranges on its legs and spots on its framework, while a bright blue is on its eyes. Females are almost always more orange and red than males which are in more various colors. Their spears or clubs are what define this species, these clubs are what mantis shrimp use as a deadly weapon, they can accelerate these clubs at the speed of a bullet from a .22 caliber rifle. Their eyes can see 12 different color waves the most of any animal discovered on earth. They make their homes by burrowing into the ground or finding old burrows left

A snail is a miniature, bottom of the food chain, extremely sluggish moving ‘gastropod’; so, how can they be compared to Americans with their power and fast paced advances decade to decade.