Cuba: Saving the 'world's most beautiful snail'
There are six known species of Polymita in Cuba, and all of them are at risk. The most endangered is the Polymita sulphurosa, which is lime green with blue flame patterns around its coils and bright orange and yellow bands across its shell.Shells are bought and sold as decorative objects, but every empty shell was once a living animal.Not only are their shells collected for trade, but also their native forest habitat in Eastern Cuba is being affected by climate change and forest loss. Now scientists from Cuba and the University of Nottingham are teaming up to try and save the species.
The biologists are curious as to how and why the snails have evolved such beautiful shells and, from that, understand how to help conservation efforts. Professor Angus Davison is one of the biologists from the University of Nottingham working on the project. He said: "You can easily imagine where people collecting shells would tip a population over into local extinction".Here in the UK, genetic research is taking place which will tell researchers all about their genome - the set of genetic material which contains all the instructions for its growth and function. It's hoped this information will help to understand how many species there are, how they are related to each other and what part of their genetic code gives them their unique colour patterns.
This data will be shared with conservationists in Cuba, Prof Davison added."Eastern Cuba is the the only place in the world where these snails are found."That's where the expertise is - where the people who know these snails, love them and understand them, live and work."We hope we can use the genetic information that we can bring to contribute to their conservation."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
UK wasp numbers soar after unusually warm and dry spring
If dodging swooping gulls trying to steal your chips wasn't already enough, you might be spending your bank holiday trying to keep wasps away from your ice cream too. Britain is in the middle of a wasp boom. Not only have they arrived earlier than expected, but there are more of them than in recent summers. Experts say 2025 is an excellent year for them. Populations have soared across the UK thanks to an unusually warm and dry spring. The UK had its warmest spring for mean temperature on record, according to the Met Office. Cooler, wetter springs help keep wasp numbers regulated by wiping out young worker colonies before they can establish themselves. But not this year. With ideal conditions, more queens survived to establish nests, leading to the early appearance of significantly larger colonies. 'The warm, dry conditions have created the ideal environment for wasps to thrive,' says Prof Seirian Sumner, a behavioural ecologist at University College London that and author of Endless Forms: Why We Should Love Wasps. 'That means more colonies, more wasps and a longer season.' Wasps don't usually cause picnic chaos until late August, when they begin craving sugar, Sumner said, but the extended warm weather means they are already here. At the start of the season, wasps are on the lookout for protein to take back to their nests, usually other insects such as flies and caterpillars. This is not ideal if you are munching on a scotch egg, but it's great for the environment, she said. Wasps are natural pest controllers, and play a key role in regulating insect populations. As the summer goes on, their preferences shift. Once the larvae are fed and the colonies mature, adult wasps begin hunting for sugar instead. Their narrow waists make them less able to digest solid food, so they gravitate towards convenient liquids, which is when sweet drinks and ice creams become prime targets. Alcohol, in particular, appears to be a magnet. 'Volatile compounds released by drinks like cider, beer and wine are highly attractive to wasps,' said Dr Tilly Collins, a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and researcher at Imperial College London. Despite their bad reputation, wasps are crucial to our ecosystem. As well as their role in pest control, they are vital pollinators. After decades of declining insect numbers, their return this year is a promising sign that experts welcome. So what should you do when one circles your sandwich? Andrew Whitehouse from the charity Buglife charity, which is devoted to the conservation of invertebrates, said: 'Don't swat, and definitely don't panic. Stay calm and move your arms in a slow and controlled manner. They should get the message.' Sumner, who carries out a Ham or Jam? survey that tracks wasp behaviour suggests a sacrificial morsel: 'Place a wasp-friendly, small portion of food a short distance away. Wasps are opportunists, and usually happy to accept a better offer.'
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Largest study on youth vaping suggests it is a gateway to smoking
Children who vape are more likely to go on to be smokers, be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health, a new analysis suggests. The largest global review on vaping in young people found 'consistent evidence' that children who vape are three times more likely to go on to become smokers. The study also pointed to links between vaping and increased odds of respiratory illness and substance abuse including drinking and marijuana use. Experts from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) analysed all available reviews on youth vaping – also known as an umbrella review. This including 56 reviews on 384 studies. Some 21 of these looked at use of e-cigarettes among young people and later cigarette smoking. Not only were vapers more likely to smoke in later life, they were also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely, experts said. Researchers also tracked breathing problems linked to youth vaping. The data suggested an increased risk among young people who vape of developing asthma or asthma exacerbation. Other harmful outcomes linked to youth vaping included pneumonia, bronchitis, lower total sperm counts,dizziness, headaches and migraines. There was also a link identified between depression and suicidal thoughts among young vapers. Writing in the journal Tobacco Control, the authors said the data available 'consistently indicated a significant association between e-cigarette use and later cigarette smoking in young people'. They said that it is difficult to 'infer causality' from their review, but said the 'repeated strong associations in prospective cohort studies are consistent with a causal relationship'. Dr Su Golder, associate professor in health science at the University of York, said: 'The consistency in the evidence is striking. 'Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping.' Dr Greg Hartwell, clinical assistant professor at LSHTM, said: 'We found consistent evidence around transitions to smoking which of course, in turn, opens the door to the multitude of harms that conventional cigarettes bring. 'As the UK Government's chief medical officer states, marketing vapes to children is always unacceptable, and our review shows exactly why further restrictions on the tobacco industry, who control the vaping market, are so important.' Dr Rebecca Glover, senior author of the study, assistant professor at LSHTM, added: 'Vaping is having a detrimental impact on the health of young people globally and vaping appears to be a gateway to other substances. 'Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that young people globally face a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping and are at higher risk of transitioning to smoking.' In June the ban on disposable vapes was introduced in a bid to curb their use among young people. The crackdown on the devices, also known as single-use vapes, makes it illegal for any retailer – ranging from corner shops to supermarkets – to sell them. The ban applies to both online and in-store sales across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and all disposable vapes whether or not they contain nicotine. Retailers are still allowed to sell reusable vapes. Commenting on the study, Jamie Strachan, operations director at VPZ, said: 'Vaping is intended solely for existing adult smokers as a less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco. It should never be marketed to, sold to, or used by children and non-smokers. 'VPZ supports strict regulation that prevents under-18s from obtaining vaping products.' Dr James Murphy, director of science and research at British American Tobacco (BAT), said: 'There is little evidence that vaping is a gateway to smoking. In fact, it has helped millions of adults move away from cigarettes. 'While not risk-free, experts agree it poses only a fraction of the risks of smoking. 'Smart regulation that gives adults access to better alternatives, while enforcing high standards and preventing under-age use, is vital to achieving the UK's smoke-free goal.'
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Major study uncovers health risks of vaping for young people
A new study has revealed the health risks associated with children who vape. Children who engage in vaping are more likely to go on to be smokers, be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health. The largest global review on vaping in young people found 'consistent evidence' that children who vape are three times more likely to go on to become smokers. The study also pointed to links between vaping and increased odds of respiratory illness and substance abuse including drinking and marijuana use. Experts from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) analysed all available reviews on youth vaping – also known as an umbrella review. This including 56 reviews on 384 studies. Some 21 of these looked at use of e-cigarettes among young people and later cigarette smoking. Not only were vapers more likely to smoke in later life, they were also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely, experts said. Researchers also tracked breathing problems linked to youth vaping. The data suggested an increased risk among young people who vape of developing asthma or asthma exacerbation. Other harmful outcomes linked to youth vaping included pneumonia, bronchitis, lower total sperm counts, dizziness, headaches and migraines. There was also a link identified between depression and suicidal thoughts among young vapers. Writing in the journal Tobacco Control, the authors said the data available 'consistently indicated a significant association between e-cigarette use and later cigarette smoking in young people'. They said that it is difficult to 'infer causality' from their review, but said the 'repeated strong associations in prospective cohort studies are consistent with a causal relationship'. Dr Su Golder, associate professor in health science at the University of York, said: 'The consistency in the evidence is striking. 'Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping.' Dr Greg Hartwell, clinical assistant professor at LSHTM, said: 'We found consistent evidence around transitions to smoking which of course, in turn, opens the door to the multitude of harms that conventional cigarettes bring. 'As the UK Government's chief medical officer states, marketing vapes to children is always unacceptable, and our review shows exactly why further restrictions on the tobacco industry, who control the vaping market, are so important.' Dr Rebecca Glover, senior author of the study, assistant professor at LSHTM, added: 'Vaping is having a detrimental impact on the health of young people globally and vaping appears to be a gateway to other substances. 'Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that young people globally face a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping and are at higher risk of transitioning to smoking.' In June the ban on disposable vapes was introduced in a bid to curb their use among young people. The crackdown on the devices, also known as single-use vapes, makes it illegal for any retailer – ranging from corner shops to supermarkets – to sell them. The ban applies to both online and in-store sales across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and all disposable vapes whether or not they contain nicotine. Retailers are still allowed to sell reusable vapes. Commenting on the study, Jamie Strachan, operations director at VPZ, said: 'Vaping is intended solely for existing adult smokers as a less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco. It should never be marketed to, sold to, or used by children and non-smokers. 'VPZ supports strict regulation that prevents under-18s from obtaining vaping products.' Dr James Murphy, director of science and research at British American Tobacco (BAT), said: 'There is little evidence that vaping is a gateway to smoking. In fact, it has helped millions of adults move away from cigarettes. 'While not risk-free, experts agree it poses only a fraction of the risks of smoking. 'Smart regulation that gives adults access to better alternatives, while enforcing high standards and preventing under-age use, is vital to achieving the UK's smoke-free goal.'
