Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells: Identification, Ecology, Distribution, and History

Acknowledgments

xi Roger Bennett (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ) provided some specimens and excellent habitat/field photos , and Russell Hooten (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) drew several specimens by hand. Personnel from the Center for Coastal Studies and Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University provided various kinds of assistance , but we individually thank Gail Sutton, Blenda Bligh, Dixie Smith, Brien Nicolau, and the late Carl Beaver. Emma Hickerson and G. P. Schmahl (Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary), Quenton Dokken (Gulf of Mexico Foundation), and Steve Gittings (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) assisted with diving and access to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. John Woelke and Jeff Janko provided photographic expertise for most macromollusks (those larger than 10 mm), and Tom C. Shirley (Harte Research Institute) made available his laboratory and digital camera that was used for some microphotography. Femorale.com (José and Marcus Coltro) provided photographs of Aliger gallus, Emma Hickerson contributed a photo of a live Nodipecten fragosus, and Doug Weaver (Harte Research Institute ) supplied images of multibeam and side-scan sonar, as well as 3-D models from offshore banks in Texas. We are especially thankful that a group of individuals and organizations provided funding so that the book could be published in full color: Will Harte; Houston Museum of Natural Science (Lillie and Roy Cullen Endowment Fund); Rotary Club of Corpus Christi (Harvey Weil Trust); Houston Conchology Society; Harley Moody; J. Oscar Robinson; San Antonio Shell Club; Suncoast Conchologists; Stephen and Nancy Browning; Richard Hardin; Lillian Murray; Jan Roberts; Coastal Bend Shell Club; Brazosport Museum of Natural Science; Sea Shell Searchers of Brazoria County; and North Texas Conchological Society. Fabio Moretzsohn also would like to remember the late Osmar Domaneschi (Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil) and E. Alison Kay (University of Hawaii at Manoa), his undergraduate and PhD advisers, respectively, both of whom recently passed away, for being such influential mentors and for introducing Fabio to malacology. Last, but certainly not least, we wish to thank our families for their continuing support during this long production process , especially Kathy Tunnell, Alma B. Barrera, and Heather Moretzsohn. It takes many people and organizations to compile the necessary information, locate and photograph specimens, and find all the pertinent literature for a volume such as this. Museum collections and the people who work with them are acknowledged , particularly for providing assistance with specimens and information: Houston Museum of Natural Sciences—Lisa Rebori , John Wise, Tina Petway, John McAlpin, Bianca Guerrero , and Eydie Rojas;Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection— Mary Wicksten; Brazosport Museum of Natural Science, and Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum—José H. Leal. Several shell collectors provided specimens from their personal collections for study, including Roe Davenport, Emilio F. García, Janie Nill, and Roger Bennett. Many others provided taxonomic assistance with certain species or groups: Gary Rosenberg (Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia); Amélie H. Scheltema (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ); Daniel Geiger (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History ); James McLean (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County); Alan Kohn (University of Washington); Emilio F. García (University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Robert Robertson (Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia); Paula Mikkelsen (Paleontological Research Institution); José Leal (BaileyMatthews Shell Museum); Bill Lyons; and Donna Turgeon. We particularly thank Paula Mikkelsen and Emilio F. García for their excellent reviews and helpful suggestions. Rebekah Thomas (Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi) did a final and thorough review of the entire book, which considerably improved the manuscript. Jochen Gerber (Field Museum of Natural History) and Stephanie A. Clark (Chicago Academy of Sciences) also made useful suggestions. Several friends from Texas shell clubs shared information, invited us to give presentations about the book, and provided good suggestions, including Leslie Crnkovic, Tina and Frank Petway, Darwin Alder, and Lucy Clampit (Houston Conchology Society); Jean Dickman and Bob Nixon (San Antonio Shell Club); Theresa Stelzig, Alice Pullin, and Teri White (Coastal Bend Shell Club); and Janie Nill, Wanda and Steven Coker, and Wayne and Patty Humbird (Sea Shell Searchers of Brazoria County). We thank Harry G. Lee of Jacksonville, Florida; Marlo Krisberg of Merritt Island, Florida; and many others at Conch-L for information on Gulf of Mexico mollusks. We also thank Tom Eichhorst, editor of American Conchologist, for helping publicize the book. Acknowledgments Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells ...