Fcwham
New member
Hi Reef Central Zoanthid Community,
I'm a researcher at Penn State, recently I've been working on population genetics of zoanthids. Looking generally at patterns of gene flow in the group.
While doing this I got curious as to whether or not these high priced "rare" zoanthid types are actually what they claim to be. Is there really just one lineage of "rasta" in the hobby or maybe there are just a bunch of zoos out there that look like that and they have been brought into the aquarium community several times.
Obviously the answer is a little bit of both. For example "Wham'n Watermelon" have been brought in many separate times so "Wham'n Watermelon" corresponds to a color morph rather than a linage. But what about "fruit loops" or "rastas", those are generally traded and not often or ever available at a LFS from the wild right? Would you expect that everyone's rastas are all descended from the same original genetic line?
Anyone interested in answering this with me? I've got rastas and fruit loops that forum members have sent me in the past to genotype the symbionts. I'd like to get the DNA from several more so I can compare them to the ones I have. I can send a small vial with DNA preservative and a self addressed stamped envelope to anyone that is willing to contribute a polyp to finding out. You'd just need to cut off a polyp, drop it in the vial, then drop the vial in the envelop and put it in the mail. It would also be cool if you'd provide a photo as well by posting it on here so that if there are genetic differences we can all look at the coloration in the various colonies to see if the differences are apparent visually.
If your interested, I'd invite you to post here then PM me your address. I'll get an envelope in the mail to you. If you've sent me polyps in the past, thanks! I've genotyped them already, those will be my references for any new ones I receive.
Cheers,
Drew Wham
I'm a researcher at Penn State, recently I've been working on population genetics of zoanthids. Looking generally at patterns of gene flow in the group.
While doing this I got curious as to whether or not these high priced "rare" zoanthid types are actually what they claim to be. Is there really just one lineage of "rasta" in the hobby or maybe there are just a bunch of zoos out there that look like that and they have been brought into the aquarium community several times.
Obviously the answer is a little bit of both. For example "Wham'n Watermelon" have been brought in many separate times so "Wham'n Watermelon" corresponds to a color morph rather than a linage. But what about "fruit loops" or "rastas", those are generally traded and not often or ever available at a LFS from the wild right? Would you expect that everyone's rastas are all descended from the same original genetic line?
Anyone interested in answering this with me? I've got rastas and fruit loops that forum members have sent me in the past to genotype the symbionts. I'd like to get the DNA from several more so I can compare them to the ones I have. I can send a small vial with DNA preservative and a self addressed stamped envelope to anyone that is willing to contribute a polyp to finding out. You'd just need to cut off a polyp, drop it in the vial, then drop the vial in the envelop and put it in the mail. It would also be cool if you'd provide a photo as well by posting it on here so that if there are genetic differences we can all look at the coloration in the various colonies to see if the differences are apparent visually.
If your interested, I'd invite you to post here then PM me your address. I'll get an envelope in the mail to you. If you've sent me polyps in the past, thanks! I've genotyped them already, those will be my references for any new ones I receive.
Cheers,
Drew Wham
