Mollusks

Introduces the reader to an incredible group of animals, from the common garden snail to the giant squid.

Mollusks have been important to humans since our earliest days. Initially, when humans were primarily interested in what they could eat or use, mollusks were important as food, ornaments, and materials for tools. Over the centuries, as human knowledge branched out and individuals started to study the world around them, mollusks were important subjects for learning how things worked. In this volume, the editors and contributors have brought together a broad range of topics within the field of malacology. It is our expectation that these topics will be of interest and use to amateur and professional malacologists.

The definitive resource on the biology and evolution of freshwater mollusks. There are more species of freshwater mollusks—well over 5,000—than all the mammal species of the world. Freshwater mollusks are also arguably the most endangered fauna on the planet. Yet few references exist for researchers, shell enthusiasts, and general readers who are interested in learning more about these fascinating creatures. In Freshwater Mollusks of the World, Charles Lydeard and Kevin S. Cummings fill that void with contributions from dozens of renowned mollusk experts. Touching on 34 families of freshwater gastropods (snails) and 9 families of freshwater bivalves (mussels and clams), each chapter provides a synthesis of the latest research on the diversity and evolutionary relationships of the family. The book also includes • a look at how evolving DNA sequencing data techniques help shed light on mollusk taxonomy • distribution maps of each family's biogeographic locales • a representative photo and distribution map for each of the freshwater mollusk families • the latest information on each family's conservation status—and how to reverse the habitat destruction, modification, and pollution that threatens it • a discussion of the ecological and economic damages caused by invasive mollusk species, as well as their role as disease vectors Mollusks provide us with amazing biogeographical insights: their ancient fossil record goes back over 500 million years, and their distribution patterns are a reflection of past continental and climate changes. The only comprehensive summary of systematic and biodiversity information on freshwater mollusk families throughout the world, this reference is a must for malacologists, limnologists, ichthyologists, stream ecologists, biogeographers, and conservation biologists. Contributors: Christian Albrecht, Rüdiger Bieler, Bert Van Bocxlaer, David C. Campbell, Stephanie A. Clark, Catharina Clewing, Robert H. Cowie, Kevin S. Cummings, Diana Delicado, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hiroaki Fukumori, Matthias Glaubrecht, Daniel L. Graf, Diego E. Gutiérrez Gregoric, Kenneth A. Hayes, Yasunori Kano, Taehwan Lee, Charles Lydeard, Nathaniel T. Marshall, Paula M. Mikkelsen, Marco T. Neiber, Timea P. Neusser, Winston Ponder, Michael Schrödl, Alena A. Shirokaya, Björn Stelbrink, Carol A. Stepien, Ellen E. Strong, Maxim V. Vinarski, Amy R. Wethington, Thomas Wilke

Marine biology is both essential and inspirational to human life. The bodies of mollusks in particular allow them to live aboveground, underwater, or both, depending on the species. Readers will learn about the unique contribution oysters, squid, and slugs, all of which are different classes of mollusks, make to their habitats. Their diets, their vulnerabilities, what they leave behind, and what threatens them take shape on pages that depict what mollusks are through both stunning photography and highly organized prose.

Discusses mollusks, their physical characteristics, their life cycles, their behaviors, and amazing facts about them.

What do sponges, worms, and mollusks have in common? They’re all simple animals. They are also unique, cool, slimy, fun, and (sometimes) creepy! There are hundreds of thousands of different species within these three groups of animals. From the color-changing cuttlefish to foot-long parasitic worms that infect humans and grow underneath their skin, from the colorful underwater sponge to the banana slug, sponges, worms, and mollusks are fun to learn about. In this book, you’ll explore these diverse groups of animals through hands-on activities, projects, and experiments. Whether you try the projects for fun or for a science fair, you’ll get an up-close and personal view of leeches, earthworms, snails, and more.