People eaters = Zoanthus gigantus

[jreimer]

taxonomy

taxonomy

Monday morning - ugh!

In answer to your questions:

1. Does that mean that what was once classified as Protopalythoa grandis is now a Palythoa grandis or something along those lines? As I understand this, the genus Protopalythoa is bunk and void now, right?

Protopalythoa is not yet bunk and void. Even once a scientific paper is published, nomenclature changes (new species, combining species etc.) have to be formally adopted by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. So as it is now Protopalythoa is a genus. BUT - from all the samples I have seen, and the paper we just put out, Protopalythoa and Palythoa are very closely related, and do not form seperate monophylies. In other words, if you made a family tree, Palythoa and Protopalythoa are not seperate branches but all jumbled together. There may be other Proto species out there that are different and form a seperate group - nothing is ever certain, but for now, as far I believe, Protopalythoa is "bunk and void".


2. How did you go about comparing the DNA? Just the whole restriction enzyme mapping and then running gels?

All the DNA methodology is in the paper - send me an email and I can send you the pdf if you want! Basically, PCR and direct sequencing was what we did, using universal and specific primers.

would love to see some pics of your "lab tanks"

I'll get on it when I can - but I assure you they aren't as beautiful as some of the pics I have seen on RC.

cheers,

James

 

[CoralNutz]

So there is no way to see this paper without belonging to a college?

 

[surfnvb7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7273006#post7273006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CoralNutz
So there is no way to see this paper without belonging to a college?

it was in a link on the first page, reef keeping magazine, and i think i saw it somewhere else too.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/snn/index.php

 

[Fcwham]

No the link goes to another paper, you will have to e-mail Jreimer to get the papaer amout PE zoas that this thread is about.
Both papers are writen by jreimer but the oher one talks about protopalythoa and palythoa and is not related to PE zoas

 

[jreimer]

Yeah, drop me a line and I can send you the pdf files for the Z. gigantus paper and the Paly/Protopaly paper, plus two others if you are interested. The only catch is I am away for a week from today on a tropical island in southern Japan - diving, bbqing, and collecting zoanthids on the reef! But if you do send me a request for the papers I will send them to you.

 

[surfnvb7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7274308#post7274308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jreimer
Yeah, drop me a line and I can send you the pdf files for the Z. gigantus paper and the Paly/Protopaly paper, plus two others if you are interested. The only catch is I am away for a week from today on a tropical island in southern Japan - diving, bbqing, and collecting zoanthids on the reef! But if you do send me a request for the papers I will send them to you.

man, the life of a researcher is tough huh? :rollface:

i do have a good question though, the equipment used for DNA research isn't cheap, thats for sure. and researching taxonomy isn't exactly lucritive. are you doing this extra research on your own time? or is this something that is being funded? (i.e. commercial interest or grant?)

 

[jreimer]

Yeah, it is really tragic isn't it?!? There are actually some busy times, but for the most part it is pretty blissful!