All researchers interested in participating in a long-term, collaborative project entitled THE FRESHWATER GASTROPODS OF NORTH AMERICA are invited to contact Dr. Rob Dillon at the address(es) below.

On July 29, an informal meeting of scientists concerned about freshwater gastropod conservation was held in Washington DC, in conjunction with the World Congress of Malacology.   It was pointed out that the most recent systematic treatments of many North American taxa predate the Modern Synthesis.  While our understanding of freshwater gastropod diversity has remained static,  the consequences of decades of alteration to our lake and stream environments have gone undocumented.

The primary goal of the FWGNA project is the production of a monograph completely listing, illustrating, and redescribing all North American freshwater gastropod species (north of Mexico), giving synonymy, bibliography, ecology, and mapping current (and historic) distribution.  The project will likely include a biotic survey component (involving both museum and field work) as well as a component of primary research to confirm species identity.

To date over 40 workers have expressed interest in becoming involved at some level in the FWGNA project.  If you'd like to join us, we'd be happy to hear from you.

Rob Dillon