Portrait of John Slapcinsky sitting at a microscopeContact

Florida Museum of Natural History
Special Collections Building
3207 Hull Road
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
352-273-1829
slapcin@flmnh.ufl.edu

Collection

Invertebrate Zoology

Education

M.S., University of Virginia
B.S., George Mason University

Research Interests

I am interested in documenting diversity of terrestrial snails through taxonomic surveys of under-sampled geographic areas and microhabitats. Multi-year efforts to sample the terrestrial snails of the islands of New Guinea and Madagascar have uncovered many undescribed species, suggesting both islands are much more diverse than previously known. Surveys of southeastern North America focusing on small species restricted to specialized habitats including seeps and springs are also uncovering previously unreported species. Surveys also uncover exotic species that have not previously been noticed. Early detection of these exotic and potentially invasive snails facilitates efforts at interdiction and eradication before they become well established and have an opportunity to impact natural habitats and agriculture.

Publications

Research News

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