Southern
California
Assocation of
Marine
Invertebrate
Taxonomists
May/June, 2007 SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
This Issue
MAY 7 2007.2
UPCOMING MEETINGS.2
JUNE 11 2007.3
JUNE 25 2007.4
NINTH INTERNATIONAE POEYCHAETE CONFERENCE.5
CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES.7
BIBEIOGRAPHY.7
SCAMIT OFFICERS.9
The SCAMIT newsletter is not deemed to be a valid publieation for formal taxonomie purposes.
May/June, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
MAY 7 2007
This was a very small meeting at NHMLAC with a few of the polyehaete taxonomists present to
eontinue working on updating the SCAMIT Taxa list. Below is a list of the deeisions made and
aetions to be taken on the next portion of the polyehaete taxa list.
Magelona longicornis will be dropped from
the list and not added as a jr. syn. of authors
NEP under Magelona sp SDIO.
Aphelochaeta sp HYP4 has been eonfirmed
by Tony Phillips as A. petersenae. A. sp.
HYPS is still pending andH. sp. HYP6 is
being dropped.
Aphelochaeta sp HYP2 is the same as
Aphelochaeta sp SD2 of Riek Rowe.
Both Caulleriella alata and Caulleriella
pacifica will be left on the list for now.
Aeeording to Blake in the 1996 MMS atlas,
both are valid and he deseribes differenees
between them.
Caulleriella sp SD2 will be added. There is a
voueher sheet.
Chaetozone hedgepethi will be left on the list
for now. Sinee it is deseribed from Tomales
Bay, Riek Rowe thinks perhaps our loeal
animal might be a provisional or belong to a
eomplex. Further researeh needs to be done.
Cirratulus cirratus will be left on the list as Cirratulus sp.
Monticellina sp HYP2 will be dropped.
Notomastus sp SD2 and sp SD3 will be added and voueher sheets done by Riek Rowe. They are
not the same as N. hemipodus.
Petaloclymene sp MECl still needs more review by Larry Lovell to see if it is different from P.
pacifica. If so, a voueher sheet will be produeed so it ean be added to the taxa list.
Add Ophelina sp SD2 Rowe 2004. Riek will distribute a voueher sheet.
Eulalia sp LAI of Parker from Bight ’98 is what LACSD is ealling their pigmented speeimens of
E. levicornuta. Leslie Harris, Larry Lovell and Tony Phillips are reviewing the material and will
probably turn this name into Eulalia levicornuta Cmplx.
Nereiphylla sp 2 from San Diego Bight ’03 will beeome N sp. A and B of SCAMIT and voueher
sheets will be produeed. There is also a third provisional from Leslie Harris that will be added to
the list and a voueher sheet produeed.
Paranaitis sp SDl whieh is the unpigmented form of P. polynoides has a voueher sheet (see
UPCOMING MEETINGS
March 17, 2008: 9:30-3:00, at LACSD Marine Biology
Lab. Amphipod meeting to be led by Don Cadien.
The infraorder Bogidiellida will be the topie group.
We will diseuss the superfamilies Bogidielloidea,
Hadzioidea, and Melphidippoidea eontaining the families
Bogidiellidae, Hadziidae, Melitidae, Melphidippidae,
Homellidae, and Megaluroipidae.
April 14, 2008: 9:30 - 3:00; at Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium. Parasitie eopepods led by Dr. Julianne L.
Kalman.
12 May, 2008: at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural
History. “Bivalves 101”, led by Paul Valentieh Seott.
June 2008: Wetland arthropods to be led by Don Cadien
and Christopher Rogers (SAFIT). Date and loeation
TBA.
May/June, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
newsletter Vol. 25 No. 5). It has been seen for several years by San Diego and LACSD.
Heteropodarke sp SDl is still valid and Ron Velarde will do a voueher sheet and distribute.
Pilargis sp 2 of Harris is one of four provisionals that are all eonsidered valid and Larry Lovell is
working on a table so information ean be widely distributed.
Exogone sp A of Williams is an old provisional from Sue Williams and different from Exogone
sp A of Harris. Williams’ animal is found in shallow water embayments. Larry will update the
voueher sheet and redistribute.
Pionosyllis sp SD2, Streptosyllis sp SDl Velarde 1995 §, Syllides sp SDl Velarde 2004 §, Syllis
(Typosyllis) sp SD4 and SD5 along with SDl, SD2, SD3 all need voueher sheets done by Ron for
inelusion on the taxa list. Also, Typosyllis will be elevated to generie rank.
Nereis sp SDl is different from Nereisprocera and a voueher sheet has been issued by Bill
Furlong as Nereis sp A of SCAMIT (see newsletter Vol. 25 no. 3). It ean now be added to the taxa
list.
Glycera sp BB from Rieardo Martinez-Lara will be dropped. It is similar to G. capitata/nana and
was from a table in newsletter Vol. 21 no. 7 done by Rieardo. Rieardo also had Glycera sp C of
Harris in the table and it is similar to G. oxycephala Ehlers 1887. If this provisional is still valid a
voueher sheet will be issued. If not it will be dropped.
Also, on hold is Glycera sp. D of Harris whieh is elose to G. tesselata. Leslie believes this is a
valid provisional due to the faet that the type loeality of G. tesselata is from the Mediterranean.
See her co mm ents in newsletter Vol. 21 no. 7.
Tom Parker also has a provisional, Glycera sp LAI from 1999 and he will ereate a voueher sheet
for newsletter distribution.
Scoletoma luti, was thought to replaee Scoletoma tetraura eomplex on our taxa list. It has been
reported from the last Bight projeet and the City of San Franeiseo. For now S. tetraura eomplex
will also stay on the list.
Arabella tricolor is not properly identified in So. Cal. It should probably be listed as a eomplex.
A. endonata should also be added to the list.
Diplocirrus sp LAI, a provisional from Bight ’98, will not be added to the list.
Amphicteis sp SDl of Barwiek 2004 § will also not be added to the list.
However, Amphitritinae sp SDl Barwiek 1999 § has a voueher sheet already and will be added to
the list.
Nicolea sp A of Harris from Bight ’03 needs to have more information added to its voueher sheet
for inelusion on the taxa list.
Pista disjuncta of authors NEP should be synonymized under Pista wui.
Lysilla sp SDl of Barwiek should be added to the list. A voueher sheet has been done.
JUNE 11 2007
Our newly eleeted President, Earry Eovell, opened the meeting at the Eos Angeles County
Sanitation Distriets Marine Biology Eaboratory. He announeed the next SCAMIT meeting will
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May/June, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
be in San Diego on June 25^*" and will eover non-poly ehaete groups for Edition 5 of the Speeies
List. On July 9*, Rieh Mooi will lead a meeting in San Diego on irregular urehins. Dave Pawson
from the Smithsonian will be out this way in August, and he will lead a meeting in September on
holothurians.
Larry announeed that the end of August is the deadline for submitting doeumentation and
distribution of that doeumentation for new provisional speeies to be ineluded in Edition 5 of
the SCAMIT Speeies List. There was a diseussion about what qualifies as “distribution” for
provisional speeies doeumentation. Publieation in the newsletter is required (even if the author
was not at the meeting); this way everyone will have aeeess to the information. In addition, it will
be posted to the taxonomie toolbox on the website after appearing in the Newsletter.
It is estimated that the final version of Edition 5 will be out in early Oetober. Eleetronie eopies
will be available to members and will be password proteeted. There was a diseussion about the
distribution of Ed 5. Questions were raised about whom else it should be distributed to, how, and
for how mueh? Should there be hard eopies, CDs, and pdfs available? Should non-members be
ineluded? We also diseussed the idea of having updates to the Speeies List every 6-8 months on
the website. It was suggested to make new information on the website password proteeted and
have older material aeeessible to everyone. SCAMIT offieers have also diseussed these ideas
reeently.
Larry informed us about an upeoming meeting in Oetober that will inelude SAFIT and SCAMIT
members and Dr. Robert Hershler. Weston Solutions will host the meeting at their Carlsbad offiee.
Dr. Hershler will be talking about Trionia and Hydrobia during the morning session. Partieipants
should bring speeimens to the meeting. Some teehnieal support will probably be requested from
SCAMIT in terms of eamera and eomputer equipment.
The LACSD lab shared a eopy of a new book they reeeived entitled “Quantitative Analysis
of Marine Biologieal Communities: Field Biology and Environmenf ’ by Gerald J. Bakus. It
ineludes “quantitative methods speeifieally tailored for the marine biologisf’.
The remainder of the meeting eonsisted of eontinuing the diseussion of proposed additions and
ehanges to the poly ehaete portion of Edition 5 of the SCAMIT Speeies List led by Larry.
JUNE 25 2007
The 2""^ meeting for the month of June was a eontinuation of the Ed 5 meetings and dealt with
Miseellaneous Phyla.
John Ljubenkov gave an opening eomment to warn other attendees about trusting images found
on the web. He eited an example where 5 different speeies were pietured, but all had been
assigned the same speeies name. Just a reminder to use eaution and know the souree when using/
trusting taxonomie information gathered from various internet sourees.
However, that being said, a valuable web souree for those of you who work on nemerteans is:
http://nemertes.si.edu/
If you haven’t yet explored this site, please do so. I myself plan to try to beeome more familiar
with the site and potentially involved.
TonyThillips mentioned a new pieee of literature of interest to anyone who works on Porifera.
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May/June, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
See the new eomprehensive book, “The sponges of California” by Lee, Elvin and Reiswig.
Speaking of new literature, Philip Lambert published part 3 in his series on the eehinoderms of
the British Columbia region. This latest book eovers brittle stars, feather stars and urehins.
With that we moved on to additions and ehanges to the Miseellaneous Phyla portion of Edition 5
of the Speeies List.
- M. Lilly
NINTH INTERNATIONAL POLYCHAETE CONEERENCE
The 9th International Polyehaete Conferenee (IPC9) was held in Portland, Maine, August 12-18,
2007. It was eo-sponsored by the International Polyehaete Assoeiation and the Darling Marine
Center, University of Maine. International polyehaete eonferenees are held every three years
at international venues and draw polyehaetologists from around the world. There were a total
of 169 registered attendees from the Amerieas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Afriea with nearly
one third (56) from the USA. Sixty-seven talks and one hundred sixteen posters were presented
during the eonferenee on a broad range of topies ineluding polyehaete biology and morphology,
developmental biology, eeology and biodiversity, benthie eeology, systematies and phylogeny,
and eosmopolitan speeies. All these topies of researeh are pertinent to long-term oeean outfall
monitoring and researeh programs.
Proeeedings of the IPC9 Conferenee will be published in the seientifie journal, ZOOSYMPOSIA
in late 2008 and will be supported in part by the National Seienee Foundation’s Partnerships for
E nh ancement of Expertise in Taxonomy (“PEET” Grant Program, Award No. DEB-0118693).
University student presentations were judged and awards were given to the best six talks and
six posters during the elosing banquet. Dr. Jim Carlton, an internationally reeognized expert on
invasive marine speeies, presented the keynote address at the banquet entitled, “Ship-worms:
Global Humans and Global Polyehaetes”. He presented a faseinating look at 400 years of human-
oeean interaetions and the impaet of ship voyages as veetors for the global dispersal of polyehaete
speeies. His talk ended with a real-time world map from the Internet showing the thousands of
ships at sea, demonstrating the seale of their role as a veetor for invasive speeies dispersal.
Though the eonferenee does not allow oral presentations on polyehaete systematies and
taxonomy, there were many posters presented on these and other topies pertinent to taxonomy
and marine monitoring work. There was a poster redeseribing Dipolydora armata, a rare, but
loeal polyehaete speeies. There were several posters on the systematies of the polyehaete family
Cirratulidae, an important group in loeal monitoring programs. Major revisions to the genera and
deseription of many new speeies loeally and worldwide have eonfounded measuring population
trends within this family. This family eontinues to yield new speeies here and elsewhere in
the world. There was a poster reporting on the eapitellid genus Notomastus from the Mexiean
Paeifie region in whieh several speeies were reported in co mm on with southern California. The
authors detailed erroneous reports from Mexiean waters of two loeally oeeurring speeies as well
as five speeies possibly new to seienee. This paper, when published, may help solidify our loeal
knowledge about this diffieult and eonfused group of polyehaetes. Dr. Rodolfo Elias presented a
poster assessing urban eontamination of sandy beaehes from a fisheries faetory outfall and pluvial
effluents using intertidal polyehaetes. His preliminary data showed eontamination related impaets
to the intertidal polyehaete eommunity from the fisheries faetory outfall and one of the pluvial
effluent sites.
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May/June, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
There were nine polyehaete researehers from southern California in attendanee: SCAMIT
offieers Larry Lovell, President and Cheryl Brantley, Treasurer; Dr. Don Reish, Professor
Emeritus, California State University, Long Beaeh; Dr. Greg Rouse, Dr. Vineent Rousset, and
Guillermo Mendoza, Seripps Institution of Oeeanography; Ron Velarde and Rieardo Martinez-
Lara, City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring Division; and Veroniea Rodriquez-
Villanueva, Eeologieal Marine Researeh Eaboratory ECOMAR. Most of these attendees
presented talks and/or posters at the eonferenee. Southern California has for many years been a
nexus of polyehaete researeh in the USA, partieularly beginning with the USC Allan Haneoek
Foundation and Dr. Olga Hartman’s seminal researeh on Palos Verdes and Santa Moniea Bay
polyehaete taxonomy and eeology. The faet that 9 of the 56 eonferenee partieipants from the USA
work in southern California is validation of, and a eontinuation of, this heritage in polyehaete
researeh.
Many of the above-mentioned polyehaete workers are members of SCAMIT. The eonferenee
allowed Cheryl and Earry to assoeiate with these members in an international setting and to meet
other members who live and work out of the southern California area in person. Earry and Cheryl
set up a table at the front of the poster room to display SCAMIT related items; membership
flyers, newsletters with taxonomie voueher sheets, a eopy of the SCAMIT taxonomie speeies list,
and several examples of high-quality digital eolor photos of polyehaete speeimens provided by
SCAMIT Viee-President, Eeslie Harris. A group photo of SCAMIT members in attendanee at the
eonferenee appears below.
- Reported by Earry Eovell, SCAMIT President
SCAMIT members attending IPC9. L-R: Larry Lovell, Ricardo Martlnez-Lara, Veronica Rodrlquez-
Villanueva, Dr. Don Reish, Ron Velarde, Cheryl Brantley, Howard Jones, and Barbara Dinkins. Not
pictured: Drs. Victoria Dlaz-Castaneda, Byoung-Seol Koh, Andrew Mackie and Greg Rouse.
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SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES
There are two job aimouneements attaehed at the end of this newsletter; one is for a euratorial
assistant position at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the other is for a
Natural Seientist/Eeologist for the Marine Proteeted Areas Monitoring Enterprise.
The Department of Fish and Game also has an opening. Below is a eopy of an email from Connie
Ryan, regarding this position.
- “Yesterday, I notieed that open exams are being offered for Senior Biologist Supervisor
(Marine/Fisheries) and Senior Biologist Speeialist (Marine/Fisheries). The elosing date is Mareh
7. It is rare that we have an OPEN (i.e., open to all qualified applieants; non-promotional) exam
for a Senior Biologist. This is a great opportunity to bring researehers into the Department. I
would like to eneourage you to spread the word about the exam to the various seientists with
whom you are eooperating (professors, grad students, eonsultants, other ageney staff, people on
“soft money”). Remember that these lists ean last for a long time.
Sineerely,
Co nni e
Connie Ryan
Department of Fish and Game
350 Harbor Blvd.
Belmont, CA 94002
phone: 650-631-2536
fax: 650-631-6119
e-mail: eryan@dfg.ea.gov
For more information go to: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/jobs/exams/
EXCITING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!
An interesting volunteer opportunity for those of you so inelined...
The National Geographie Soeiety and the National Park Serviee are organizing a BioBlitz in
Santa Moniea Mountains National Reereation Area on May 30-31, 2008. We invite you to join us.
A BioBlitz is a unique eombination of taxonomie inventory, publie outreaeh, and seienee
edueation. Teams of about 8-10 volunteers, eaeh led by a biologist with partieular taxonomie
expertise, go into the field to find, identify and map as many speeies as possible within a 24-hour
period (noon to noon). While the inventory is not systematie, it ean nevertheless yield valuable
biogeographie information. Reeent BioBlitzes, for example, have revealed new undeseribed
speeies of arthropods and baeteria in the middle of eity parks. New eounty reeords and other
indiees of speeies distribution are eommon.
Apart from the inventory, other aetivities inelude presentations about biodiversity, struetured
field exereises for K-12 elasses, demonstrations of field teehnology, and exhibits ranging from
global biodiversity to loeal nature photography. These aetivities will oeeur mostly at our base
eamp at Paramount Raneh in the Santa Moniea Mountains, but also at peripheral sites around the
mountains. All told, a BioBlitz is a wonderful opportunity for seientists to meet eaeh other, eolleet
in the field, learn about possibilities for researeh in National Parks, and edueate and inspire the
publie through hands-on field work.
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SCAMIT Newsletter
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The 2008 event will be our seeond annual BioBlitz and is part of a series that we are eondueting
in different National Park Serviee units around the eountry for the next deeade. This year, we are
joined by California State Parks and the Santa Moniea Mountains Conservaney.
In addition, we are working with the City of Los Angeles to extend our range eastward to Griffith
Park and the Los Angeles River.
We very mueh hope you will join us for all or part of the BioBlitz. The sueeess of an event like
this depends greatly on the knowledge and enthusiasm of trained seientists. Your partieipation in
this festive “speeies marathon” will help make this a valuable eelebration of biodiversity, and will
eontribute immeasurably to edueating and inspiring the next generation of biologists and stewards
of California’s natural heritage.
If you are interested in partieipating or would like more information, please register on-line at
www.ngsednet.org/bioblitz/scientist, or reply to this message at bioblitz@ngs.org. Please let us
know in partieular if there are speeifie roles, like team leader, that interest you most. We hope to
have all team leaders eonfirmed ASAP. If you wish to partieipate as a team leader or otherwise,
we will keep you on our eontaet list and will be in toueh with you again this fall.
Please note:
1. On-line registration for seientists is required (www.ngsednet.org^ioblitz/seientist), and eloses
on Mareh 23.
2. We are hosting an optional (but eneouraged) orientation session for seientists at Pepperdine
University on Saturday, Mareh 1, 9:00-12:00. Please RSVP to bioblitz@ngs.org and request
details.
Please forward this message to your eolleagues, graduate students, and others who you think
would be able to provide seientifie expertise to the BioBlitz. If you would like to print the
attaehed fiyer and post it in a publie plaee, you are weleome do so.
Sineerely,
Tim Watkins, PhD
National Geographie Soeiety
BioBlitz Seienee Coordinator
and
Raymond M. Sauvajot, PhD
National Park Serviee
Santa Moniea Mtns Nat Ree Area
What do scientists do at a BioBlitz?
Biologists like you partieipate by doing one or more of the following - leading field teams on 4-
hour shifts (ineluding at night, as appropriate), identifying speeies brought baek to the base eamp,
preparing speeimens for euration, working with sehool and eommunity groups, interpreting for
the publie and media, talking about your own work and eareer, ete.
What is expected of team leaders?
Taxon team leaders will be responsible for taking volunteers into the field to find and learn about
speeies of interest. In addition, team leaders must verify speeies names, ensure the aeeuraey of
the inventory data, and eoordinate with NGS staff eoneeming eolleeted and/or eurated speeimens
after the Blitz. About a week before the Blitz, team leaders will eontaet their assigned team
members to advise about proper proeedures, eonfirm meeting loeation and time, remind them
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May/June, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 1
about appropriate field dress, ete. We will provide guidelines and support for that task.
Which biologists should participate?
Any professional or trained amateur who ean lead people safely in the field, find and identify
speeies (by sight, under a mieroseope, with a diehotomous key, ete.), and is willing to share his or
her enthusiasm for organisms. Past partieipants have ineluded aeademies, museum staff, members
of amateur naturalist soeieties, publie ageney seientists, employees of environmental eonsulting
firms, and graduate students.
Do I need to bring field supplies?
Yes. Please bring whatever field gear you need to find and identify speeies (waders, nets,
mieroseopes, taxonomie keys, ete.). We will provide tables, ehairs, general lighting, power, and
some laptop eomputers dedieated to data entry.
Can I collect specimens?
Yes. We will obtain all neeessary permits and ean provide some general euration materials (e.g.
glass vials and ethanol) on a ease-by-ease basis. Speeimens eolleeted from National Park Serviee
lands are the property of the NPS, but may be loaned for long-term euration in an approved
faeility (e.g. a natural history museum). We will provide guidanee on loan proeedures.
Can I publish my results?
Yes, you are free to publish as you see fit. Furthermore, popular media, ineluding National
Geographie print and film erews, will be present at the BioBlitz and may wish to interview you
about your aetivities and diseoveries in the field.
Will I be paid?
No, unfortunately we eannot pay partieipants so your involvement is voluntary. We will provide
gifts to reeognize your valuable eontributions of time and expertise, however, and host a dinner
for registered seientists the night before the BioBlitz starts.
Will I be fed?
Yes. Boxed meals will be provided during the 24-hour inventory, and a eelebratory BBQ will
oeeur onee the inventory is eompleted on Saturday afternoon. Coffee and snaeks will be provided
throughout the inventory.
Do I have to be present for the full 24-hours?
No, but we hope you’ll be with us for most of them! The opening and elosing eeremonies (noon
on Friday and Saturday) will be big festive events where we hope to have as many seientists
as possible. At the elosing eeremony, we will ask team leaders to take the stage and announee
their tallies, surprising or valuable finds, and tales from the field. We will provide dorm-style
aeeommodations for registered seientists. Alternatively, many hotels serve the area. Campgrounds
in the park will also be available to BioBlitz partieipants.
Do I have to stay up all night?
Only if you want to. Team leaders for noetumal speeies will, of eourse, be out in the field at night
with enthusiastie volunteers. Others may wish to use the dark hours to sort through speeimens and
enter data. The 24-hour marathon ereates a fun “esprit de eorps” that we hope you’ll enjoy. And
the longer you’re awake, the more speeies we will have identified by the elosing bell!
Your time and talent is very mueh appreeiated and we look forward to weleoming you as a
seientist at the Santa Moniea Mountain BioBlitz.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bakus, G. 2007. Quantitative Analysis of Marine Biologieal Communities: Field biology and
Environment. Publishers: Wiley-Interseienee. 435 pp.
Lambert, P. and W. Austin. 2007. Brittle Stars, Sea Urehins and Feather Stars of British
Columbia, Southeast Alaska, and Puget Sound. Royal BC Museum Handbook. Royal
British Columbia Museum. Vietoria, British Columbia. 150 pp.
Lee, W., et al. 2007. The Sponges of California. A Guide and Key to the Marine Sponges of
California. Published by the Monterey Bay Sanetuary Foundation. Monterey, CA. 130 pp.
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Please visit the SCAMIT Website at: www.seamit.org
SCAMIT OFFICERS
If you need any other information eoneeming SCAMIT please feel free to eontaet any of the offieers at
their e-mail addresses:
President Larry Lovell (310)830-2400X5613 llovell@laesd.org
Viee-President Leslie Harris (213)763-3234 lharris@nhm.org
Seeretary Megan Lilly (619)758-2336 mlilly@sandiego.gov
Treasurer Cheryl Brantley (310)830-2400x5605 ebrantley@laesd.org
Hard eopy baek issues of the newsletter are available. Priees are as follows:
Volumes 1 - 4 (eompilation).$ 30.00
Volumes 5 - 7 (eompilation).$ 15.00
Volumes 8-15 .$ 20.00/vol.
Single baek issues are also available at eost.
The SCAMIT newsletter is published every two months and is distributed freely to members in good
standing. Membership is $15 for an eleetronie eopy of the newsletter, available via the web site at
www.scamit.org, and $30 to reeeive a printed eopy via USPS. Institutional membership, whieh
ineludes a mailed printed eopy, is $60. All new members reeeive password proteeted website aeeess to
the most eurrent edition of “A Taxonomie Listing of Soft Bottom Maero- and Megainvertebrates ... in
the Southern California Bight.” All eorrespondenees ean be sent to the Seeretary at the email address
above or to:
SCAMIT
C/0 The Natural History Museum, Invertebrate Zoology
attn: Leslie Harris
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
Southern
California
Assocation of
Marine
Invertebrate
Taxonomists
July/August, 2007 SCAMIT Newsletter Vol. 26, No. 2
Brisaster townsendi - Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Trawl Survey, 9 November 2004.
(unknown cause of spine loss during this survey)
This Issue
9 JULY 2007.2
UPCOMING MEETINGS.2
AUGUST 2007.6
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT.6
BIBEIOGRAPHY.7
SCAMIT OFFICERS.8
The SCAMIT newsletter is not deemed to be a valid publieation for formal taxonomie purposes.
July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
9 JULY 2007
We began the meeting with a presentation by Dawn Olson, from the CSD IT group, on behalf
of Riek Rowe, who eouldn’t be present. Dawn gave us a synopsis and overview of morphbank,
an image based website whieh is interested in working with SCAMIT to offer a plaee for, and
toolbox to use, with our images. They are
eurrently working within an NSF grant
whieh runs through 2008, and are interested
in expanding into marine images to augment
their predominantly inseet and plant image
eolleetions. Dawn fielded a number of
questions from the group.
New President Larry Lovell gave a brief
president’s message thanking outgoing
president Kelvin Barwiek for all his serviee,
and outlining some of the direetions he
thought SCAMIT might explore. He also
summarized upeoming meetings.
Don then introdueed two pieees of new
literature. The first eoneemed the eommensal
amphipod genus Leucothoe, whieh have
been reeorded from the fioor of San Diego
Bay. Megan Lilly diseovered them during
her disseetions of simple aseidians from
that habitat. The new paper is an open
publieation item on Zootaxa, and ean be
downloaded freely from the Zootaxa site. It
is by J.D. Thomas and K.N. Klebba (2007)
and deseribes 6 new eommensal forms from invertebrates in the tropieal West Atlantie (Florida
and Belize). The diseriminatory eriteria require eareful examination of the animals, all of whieh
are relatively small, white, and shiny. The literature on the group is terribly eonfused, with large
numbers of misidentifieations, and frequent inaeeurate reports of widely distributed taxa. Current
investigations suggest that these peraearids are heavily speeiated in many areas, with hundreds of
new speeies to be deseribed. Most of these would have been identified as Leucothoe spinicarpa,
originally deseribed from north-western Europe many years ago. Jim Thomas has been working
on this for quite some time, and this is aetually the seeond paper deseribing new Leucothoe with
his eoauthor.
It is likely that the speeies in the loeal aseidians is new, and probably also introdueed along with
the host. What has been known loeally as L. spinicarpa in the past is almost eertainly not that
speeies, although L. spinicarpa may oeeur here as a paekage with an introdueed eastern North
Atlantie tunieate. Until more detailed information is available on the fine morphology of loeal
speeies, the status of NEP speeimens remains largely umesolved. Treating them as Leucothoe sp.
might be a good idea. It is not elear if the loeally deseribed L. alata is in faet a single taxon, or
represents a eluster of eryptie siblings sueh as is addressed in the paper eited above in the tropieal
West Atlantie.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 14, 2008: 9:30 - 3:00; at Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium. Parasitie eopepods led by Dr. Julianne E.
Kalman.
12 May, 2008: at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural
History. “Bivalves 101”, led by Paul Valentieh Seott.
June 2008: Wetland arthropods to be led by Don Cadien
and Christopher Rogers (SAFIT). Date and loeation
TBA.
2
July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
The second New Literature item is actually an entire constellation of items (97 different
contributions) which constitute the 4^*" edition of Light’s manual, now renamed the Light and
Smith Manual by editor Jim Carlton. He co-edited the edition with Ralph 1. Smith 32 years
ago, but handled the current new one by himself; Ralph Smith having passed on in the mean time.
The list of contributors is extensive and impressive. Collectively they have provided a slightly
uneven but very satisfying volume that represents considerable improvement in most areas
from the last edition. Most of the unevenness comes from determined contributors that pushed
the envelope established by the sub-title of the volume “Intertidal Invertebrates from Central
California to Oregon”. Many of the section authors interpret this scope broadly (“Well, it could be
found dead in the intertidal after a storm”) and include items which are almost entirely distributed
subtidally. This produces much broader utility in the resulting volume, along with unevenness in
coverage.
The book was long anticipated, and many years in the making. The fact that Jim Carlton is still
(last time I talked to him) sane is a tribute to his stamina. I know that he had many wrestling
matches with at least some of the contributors. Others died in the process, and someone had to
be found to complete their unfinished manuscripts. Myriad other problems were also overcome,
and we can now enjoy the result. I haven’t talked to Jim about this, but I assume that he can take
comfort in the fact that HE will not be the editor of the next edition. Twice is more than enough!
He deserves all our gratitude for his part in this major undertaking, as do the contributors of
the individual sections. Rich Mooi, who co-authored two sections with John Pearse, noted that
we could be very sure that Carlton expended a great deal of effort guaranteeing the taxonomic
accuracy and currency of the contributions. Several of the changes incorporated into this volume
were discussed briefly, including the return of Allocentrotus fragilis to Strongylocentrotus, and
the re-emergence of Patiria from synonymy with Asterina. We also noted that the synonymy
of Lytechinuspictus and L. anamesus, which SCAMIT has recognized for many years, was
adopted in the new manual. Anyone wishing to be sent a Pro-Cite database of the 97 individual
contributions can contact Don Cadien at dcadien@lacsd.org for a copy.
We then proceeded to the main portion of the meeting, and had a very eventful interaction with
Dr. Rich Mooi (California Academy of Sciences) regarding the discrimination of the two local
Brisaster species. We had a free interchange, rather than a programmed presentation from Rich,
with him fielding questions from the audience and loosely leading a discussion of echinoid
biology and how it might impact Brisaster identification. A mini-workshop comparison of
technique for caliper measurement of Brisaster specimens continued off and on for several hours.
Megan produced a number of specimens of Brisaster collected at various sites by CSD, and Don
Cadien brought out materials previously assembled by Lisa Haney from the LACSD collections.
Megan also recapped the results of our earlier meeting with Boris Savic (in attendance) and
used Boris’ Powerpoint to show Rich a large variety of images of Brisaster examined in that
meeting. The results of the comparative measurements of specimens from LACSD and OCSD
by Lisa were presented as an overlay to the original plot of data from Hood and Mooi (1998).
This showed that the LACSD materials, as well as those taken by OCSD, all fell within the B.
townsendi cluster based on petaloid width vs. total length. At this point in the discussions it was
still assumed that all we were getting locally was B. townsendi.
Megan continued to measure her material, and then have Rich repeat the measurements, and
before long a series of specimens that fell into the B. latifrons cluster appeared. A few other
specimens were intermediate between the clusters, and Megan decided to not identify them to
species (leaving them as Brisaster sp). Rich also reexamined some of the LACSD specimens
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July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
previously measured by both Don and Lisa, and found them to fall into the B. townsendi eluster
based on those measurements.
As part of Boris’ powerpoint, photos of the Brissopsis sp LAI speeimens were seen. These were
reviewed again (Rieh had examined the speeimens at the Cal Aeademy before returning them to
LACSD last year) although the speeimens themselves were not examined at the meeting. Don
Cadien suggested that, based on their intermediate appearanee and the nature of their spines and
faseioles, these might just be intergenerie hybrids of Brisaster!Brissopsis. Rieh agreed that this
was a reasonable hypothesis, whieh he eould support. No alternate hypotheses were advaneed,
and it is suggested that we adopt this position regarding those three speeimens. Sueh a seenario
helps explain why so few animals with this unusual appearanee have been loeated. It was pointed
out that we might be able to settle the issue with finality if the speeimens were suitable for
moleeular analysis. They were, unfortunately, formalin preserved and thus poor eandidates for
sueh researeh.
The suggestion was made that it might be very easy to miss these among the mass of material
that LACSD normally eolleets (often thousands of Brisaster per trawl), but this was rejeeted
by Don. He mentioned that the sorting protoeol used on-board was designed to find unusual
speeimens hiding among the masses of urehins present, and that obseuring mud was routinely
removed to faeilitate sueh reeognition. Boris agreed with this, deseribing his experienees during
the eruises on whieh he aeeompanied the LACSD erew prior to his 2005 presentation. Should
additional speeimens of the putative hybrid form be loeated, they will be frozen on-board rather
than formalin preserved, and should be available in the future for moleeular analysis to support
(or refute) the present position. What to do about the name of the organism (eurrently Brissopsis
sp LAI) if it is indeed an intergenerie hybrid remains for future determination. Sinee the two
genera whieh are supposedly represented in these hybrids are in different families (Sehizasteridae
and Brissidae) a moleeular analysis should prove quite interesting, and Rieh urged further
investigation if possible.
Over the next few hours the diseussion eontinued and gaps in knowledge of the basie biology of
these eehinoids were noted. There are literature reports on the spawning season of B. latifrons
(Mareh as listed in Strathmann 1987), but nothing for B. townsendi. Strathmann also provides
some information on length of larval life (67-167 days). Length of period of egg viability prior
to fertilization, or of sperm survival, is not doeumented, so it is diffieult to prediet the likelihood
of eross-fertilization and hybridization unless spawning in the two speeies is nearly synehronous.
Sueh spring reproduetion of broadeast spawners is often a matter of offering good survival
prospeets to planetivorous larvae by eoordinating their produetion with the spring phytoplankton
bloom. If this strategy is eommon to the two eongeners, they may indeed spawn in near
synehrony, or at least in strongly overlapping bouts. Strathmann also summarizes the literature on
interspeeies hybridization, whieh proves relatively eommon in West Coast eehinoids. Although
the hybridization of speeies of Strongylocentrotus was termed “ready” in the Light and Smith
Manual eehinoid seetion, no express mention was made of Brisaster hybridization. When asked
about the probability of hybridization in the two speeies of Brisaster, Rieh seemed to think that
it was quite high. In Hood and Mooi (1998) the following eomment appears in the diseussion of
B. latifrons: “To explain eonfiision of these two taxa [B. latifrons and 5. townsendi], Mortensen
(1951) raised the speeter of hybridization between them”. B. townsendi tends to be distributed
only in the southern part of the range of B. latifrons. This high level of overlap makes it diffieult
to rule out the possibility of hybridization.”
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July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
As the day progressed, and more measurements revealed the mixed population of the two
Brisaster speeies in the San Diego area, but not to the north in Orange County, or in the LACSD
area, we began to seareh for an explanation of this eounterintuitive distributional pattern. Given
the eomplex physiography and eurrent strueture in the SCB, distribution of the two Brisaster
speeies, and of hybrids between them, may hinge on the patterns of eurrent supplied larvae. We
may assume that the southward flowing California Current earries exelusively B. latifrons larvae
as it enters the SCB sinee there is as yet no evidenee for the oeeurrenee of B. townsendi above
Point Coneeption. B. townsendi larvae should be riding north on the northward flowing Davidson
Current, transported during their long larval existenee from origin points far to the south off Baja
California. Current jets driven by thermal mixing and wind should eombine these two larval
streams in the passages between the Channel Islands, providing ample larval settlers to sustain
mixed populations in the northern Santa Barbara Channel. Under sueh mixed eonditions it may
not be possible to maintain stable hybrid zones, and we should probably expeet to And hybrids
seattered throughout the entire area, rather than loeally eoneentrated.
The basie larval souree signal of B. latifrons in the California and B. townsendi in the Davidson
would, of eourse, be overlain by mixtures of loeally produeed larvae within the SCB, and by
larvae from one or the other “pure” sourees transported via persistent eddys split from the main
eurrent flow. Settlement from an eddy spinning into the San Diego area from further offshore
might explain their present mixture of the two speeies in samples. With the probable eomplexity
of larval supply, and its fluetuations over time in response to ENSO foreing and longer-term PDO
oseillations, any ageney should be prepared to And either speeies at any time.
How we would tell hybrids from both of the adults, and whether maternal or paternal souree
morphologies would be dominant or evenly mixed, is eurrently unknown. This is the stuff of
laboratory based experimental investigation, and not answerable in our held based programs.
Hopefully assistanee ean be found in loeal aeademie institutions to answer questions eoneeming
the likelihood of hybridization, its relative frequeney, its outeome in terms of pereentage
fertilization and developmental viability of erosses, and the phenotype and genotype of resulting
hybrids. By the way, MeCauley’s eontention (1967) that the two speeies are aetually one, with
B. townsendi a synonym of B. latifrons, was not eompletely diseounted. Current data, however,
ineluding the analysis of Hood and Mooi, and our own material, suggests otherwise.
Attendees began to drift away towards the end of our diseussions to begin their homeward trek.
Conversation eontinued until dinner after the meeting. A bit earlier in the day Megan had also
brought out several speeimens of Nacospatangus laevis to donate to the California Aeademy
Colleetions, for whieh Rieh was very grateful. The CSD program takes these in reliet red sands
to the south of Pt. Loma in their International Treatment Plant (ITP) monitoring. Don Cadien
deseribed the sediment and environment in whieh a series of Nacospatangus had been taken
in the Northern Channel Islands during Bight’03. These also eame from a relatively eoarse
sediment, but not from reliet red sands. It was instead strongly eurrent-swept eoarse sand
with shell hash on a saddle between two islands. The trawls at this site eontained a number of
Nacospatangus as well as large numbers of Acanthoptilum , and Florometra. Rieh pointed out
that the pedieellariae of Nacospatangus bear very effieient poison glands whieh deliver their
toxie load through terminal pores on the valves of the pedieellaria. The usefulness of this ability
was diseussed briefly, and suggested to be feeding deterrenee. Megan also brought out for our
examination (and Rieh’s eonflrmation) a series of small, juvenile Spatangus californicus. When
small these animals look like they might be immature Lovenia, but details of the faseioles prove
otherwise.
5
July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
AUGUST 2007
President Larry Lovell led the business portion of the meeting, providing details of upeoming
meetings, the looming elosure of the input window for SCAMIT Listing Ed. 5, and
announeements of upeoming symposia and meetings outside SCAMIT.
Don Cadien then took over and distributed his large review of the lysianassoid amphipods of the
North East Paeifie. This is now also posted on the SCAMIT website and ean be downloaded by
members. In retrospeet it would have been preferable to have distributed the review prior to the
meeting, and this will be done in the future. This meeting on the lysianassoids is the first of what
will be a series of meetings reviewing the status of NEP amphipods. This review, (as will others
in future), grew out of internal EACSD training doeuments. Eventually all of the Infraorders, and
their eonstituent superfamilies, of amphipods will be reviewed. Seetions of this eontinuing effort
will be posted to the Taxonomie Tools seetion of the SCAMIT website as they beeome available.
They will be periodieally updated as new speeies are deseribed, and additional information is
generated on already eompleted groups.
The Infraorder Eysianassida eontains the superfamily Eysianassoidea, with 15 eomponent
families and/or unoffieial family level groups, and the superfamily Stegoeephaloidea, with only
the Family Stegoeephalidae. Sinee no members of the latter family have ever been reeorded by
SCAMIT members in their monitoring, the review of the Stegoeephaloidea will only be posted on
the website and not diseussed in a meeting.
The superfamily Eysianassoidea was the subjeet of the day’s meeting, and Don started out with a
PowerPoint presentation giving a general overview of the lysianassoids. The systematie treatment
of the superfamily has been steadily evolving over the past 3 deeades, with most of the impetus
for ehange in treatment eoming from Jim Eowry of the Australian Museum. He, along with his
assoeiate Helen Stoddart, have been pumping out major review papers on groups of lysianassoids
in reeent years. Mueh of the ehange embodied in treatment of lysianassoids in SCAMIT Ed. 5
eomes from their efforts. Their work is ongoing, however. Several of the reeognized groupings of
genera within the superfamily do not have families into whieh they eomfortably fit. Consequently
only informal group names are available for what will eventually be either family or subfamily
level taxonomie units. Sueh a group is the “eonaeostomines”, a sizeable group of genera whieh
are all eharaeterized by their eonieal mouthpart bundles (Acidostoma hancocki is a good loeal
representative).
During his introduetion Don made note of the some of the important eharaeters of lysianassoid
families: Gnathopods 1 and 2, mouthparts, eoxae shape and size (relative and absolute),
urosome shape and ornamentation, pereopod shape. These struetures are good for distinguishing
among the families and family groups. However, the eharaeters uniting the family into the
superfamily are synapomorphies in the antennae and gnathopod 2. We then went through slides
of representative taxa as Don explained the eontents of his tome. Don’s handout ineludes details
of the various families and genera, along with referenees providing diagnoses, revisions, and/or
keys to the taxa we see in the SCB. He also pointed out eertain issues to be eautious of For
example, Doug Diener’s key to the Hippomedon (1991) (modified from Jarrett and Bousfield
1986), ineludes several speeies not reported from the NEP, ineluding H. dentatus. Hippomedon
keldyshi, a speeies deseribed from abyssal depths off Central California, would key to H. dentatus
using Deiner’s key. Also, shallow water speeimens that key to that point are of questionable
identifieation as well. Even J. E. Barnard had great diffieulty with speeies boundaries within the
July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
genus Hippomedon. Doug’s key, in eonjunetion with the presented review, should allow better
ability to speeiate members of this genus. This review took most of the morning and the afternoon
ineluded a haphazard review of different speeies and eharaeter states. Several noteworthy
observations arose from the afternoon session. The SCAMIT voueher sheet fox Aristias sp A
lists gnathopod 1 as “simple” when it is aetually sub-ehelate. Speeimens were examined and the
Gnl was definitely not simple, but as illustrated on the voueher sheet. Somehow the text of the
voueher sheet reeorded the eharaeter ineorreetly. In addition, speeimen(s) of Pacychelium sp
SDI were examined and eonfirmed, although we determined that the illustration on the voueher
sheet needed to be amended. Finally, speeimens of Lepidepecreum serraculum andL. gurjanovae
were eompared and they appeared to be the same speeies. Illustrated differenees appear to
have resulted from gnathopod 2 being mounted at an angle in one figure relative to the other.
Confirmation of this speeulation requires examination of the type material.
Both those in attendanee, and those who later download and use the lysianassoid review,
are asked to provide feedbaek to Don on errors and omissions in the text. Subsequent to the
meeting Ron Velarde of CSD demonstrated a speeimen from their monitoring that would not
fit in the generie key to the lysianassoids provided in the review, so the neeessity for ehange
and refinement is already apparent. Email questions, problems and suggested fixes to Don at:
deadien@laesd.org.
- D. Cadien
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
The following is taken from an email from member Kelvin Barwiek eoneeming professional
opportunities with the City and County of San Franeiseo.
“The City and County of San Franeiseo has two positions open in our Marine Biology seetion.
They are both taxonomy positions. The deadline is April 1, no fooling. There are also positions
open in our Fisheries and Wildlife seetion as well as Limnology. They are separate web links.
Thanks
Kelvin”
2483 Biologist I/II (Deep Class) Marine Biology Speeialty
http://sfwater.org/JobDetail.efm/MC_ID/18/MSC_ID/122/MTO_ID/368/CJOB_ID/713
2483 Biologist I/II (Deep Class) Fisheries and Wildlife Speeialty
http://sfwater.org/JobDetail.efm/MC_ID/18/MSC_ID/122/MTO_ID/368/CJOB_ID/744
2483 Biologist I/II (Deep Class) Limnology Speeialty
http://sfwater.org/JobDetail.efm/MC_ID/18/MSC_ID/122/MTO_ID/368/CJOB_ID/745
7
July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Carlton, J.T. 2007. The Light and Smith Manual Intertidal Invertebrates from Central California
to Oregon, Completely Revised and Expanded, Fourth Edition. University of California
Press, Pp 545-618.
Hood, Sarah and R. Mooi. 1998. Taxonomy and phylogeneties of extant Brisaster (Eehinoidea:
Spatangoida). Eehinoderms: San Franeiseo, Mooi and Telford (eds). 681-686.
Jarrett, Norma E., and Edward E. Bousfield. 1982. Studies on amphipod erustaeeans of the
Northeastern Paeifie region. 1. 4. Studies on the amphipod family Eysianassidae in
the Northeastern Paeifie region. Hippomedon and related genera: systematies and
distributional eeology. National Museums of Canada, Publieations in Biologieal
Oeeanography, no. 10: 103-128.
MeCauley, J.E. 1967. Status of the heart urehin, Brisaster latifrons. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada,
24(6): 1377-1384.
Mortensen, Theodore. 1951. A Monograph of the Eehinoidea. 5.2. Spatangoida IT Copenhagen:
C. A. Reitzel. 593pp.
Strathmann, Megumi F. 1987. Reproduetion and development of marine invertebrates of the
North Paeifie eoast - data and methods for the study of eggs, embryos, and larvae. Seattle,
Washington, U.S.A.: University of Washington Press. 670pp.
Thomas, J.D. and K.N. Klebba. 2007. New speeies and host assoeiations of eommensal
leueothoid amphipods from eoral reefs in Florida and Belize (Crustaeea: Amphipoda).
Zootaxa 1494: 1-44.
8
July/August, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 2
Please visit the SCAMIT Website at: www.seamit.org
SCAMIT OFFICERS
If you need any other information eoneeming SCAMIT please feel free to eontaet any of the offieers at
their e-mail addresses:
President Larry Lovell (310)830-2400X5613 llovell@laesd.org
Viee-President Leslie Harris (213)763-3234 lharris@nhm.org
Seeretary Megan Lilly (619)758-2336 mlilly@sandiego.gov
Treasurer Cheryl Brantley (310)830-2400x5605 ebrantley@laesd.org
Hard eopy baek issues of the newsletter are available. Priees are as follows:
Volumes 1 - 4 (eompilation).$ 30.00
Volumes 5 - 7 (eompilation).$ 15.00
Volumes 8-15 .$ 20.00/vol.
Single baek issues are also available at eost.
The SCAMIT newsletter is published every two months and is distributed freely to members in good
standing. Membership is $15 for an eleetronie eopy of the newsletter, available via the web site at
www.scamit.org, and $30 to reeeive a printed eopy via USPS. Institutional membership, whieh
ineludes a mailed printed eopy, is $60. All new members reeeive password proteeted website aeeess to
the most eurrent edition of “A Taxonomie Listing of Soft Bottom Maero- and Megainvertebrates ... in
the Southern California Bight.” All eorrespondenees ean be sent to the Seeretary at the email address
above or to:
SCAMIT
C/0 The Natural History Museum, Invertebrate Zoology
attn: Leslie Harris
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
Southern
Cali fornia
Assocation of
Marine
I NVERTEBRATE
Taxonomists
September/October, 2007 SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
Thrissacanthias penicillatus. Sampled by LACSD during B’03 trawls.
This Issue
9 SEPTEMBER 2007 2
UPCOMING MEETINGS 2
15 OCTOBER 2007 4
ATTACHMENTS 6
LITERATURE CITED 6
SCAMIT OFFICERS 8
The SCAMIT newsletter is not deemed to be a valid publication for formal taxonomic purposes.
September/October, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
9 SEPTEMBER 2007
The business portion of the September SCAMIT meeting was opened by attending President,
Larry Lovell. He started by telling us of something he’d recently read in the Proceedings of the
Biological Society of Washington. In Vol 120 no. 2, there was a mention that this publication
has now hnalized a contract to have its
journals made available on-line. It will be
available along with a collection of other
journals under BioOne. To learn more about
BioOne and to see if you belong to another
organization that already subscribes, and
therefore allows you access to other on-line
journals, go to:
http: //ww w.bioone. org
Don Cadien had the floor next. He
announced that Edition 5 of the Taxonomic
Listing is in its final phase. The deadline
for submitting new/provisional species for
addition to Ed. 5 has come and gone. Stay
posted for the expected publication date.
The Taxonomic Listing will be posted in
the Members Only section of the website
where it can be downloaded and printed
by members in good standing. However,
SCAMIT unfortunately is no longer in
a financial position to provide a printed,
spiral bound copy, free of charge to all its
members. We wifi only be trying to recover the production costs for those who order a hard copy,
bound version, and as of now Cheryl Brantley, our treasurer, is predicting less than $10. Plans for
Edition 6 are already underway and the hope is to have an added, “habitat” category in that future
List.
A picture from the International Polychaete Conference in Portland Maine was passed around by
Larry Lovell. There was a total of 12 SCAMIT members present at this conference which was a
sizeable turnout and one of which SCAMIT should be proud.
Speaking of polychaete conferences, Ron Velarde then announced that the location for the next
International Polychaete Conference is being proposed as Lecce, Italy. For those of you who love
Polychaetes and Italy, this is your chance to really enjoy the “best of both worlds”.
Megan Lilly then had the floor and mentioned that Philip Lambert has published a new edition of
his guide to the brittle stars, sea urchins and feather stars of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska,
and Puget Sound (Lambert 2007). There were a few things of concern during her initial review of
the book. It was agreed that at a meeting to review the Echinoderm Chapter in the new edition of
Light’s Manual (Carlton 2007) we would also review Lambert’s new Echinoderm book; date of
UPCOMING MEETINGS
July - Due to the Bight ‘08 field sampling activities,
there wifi be no SCAMIT meeting this month. Most
of our regular membership will be on the high seas
collecting.
August 11 - City of San Diego Laboratory. A discussion/
reminder of non-polychaete changes in Edition 5 of the
SCAMIT species list.
September 8 - LACSD Marine Biology Laboratory. A
discussion/reminder of polychaete changes in Edition 5
of the SCAMIT species list
November 10 - This date is currently open with a topic
to be determined.
December 6th - We may not have a regular meeting in
December, because.back by popular demand, the
SCAMIT Christmas Party at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
wifi be held again. Details to follow.
2
September/October, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
the meeting is pending.
With that we were introduced to Dr. Dave Pawson, the guest speaker for the day. Dr. Pawson
had graciously prepared not one, but two wonderful presentations for his visit that day. The hrst
presentation was given in the morning to the SCAMIT members in attendance for the echinoderm
meeting. It was an overview of holothuroid anatomy, physiology and natural history. He had
some beautiful video clips showing bizarre deep sea forms. In one clip, we were treated to a
video of an animal called Enypniastes swimming and feeding. The animal has well-developed
veils which seem to be the result of a fusing of the tube feet. These veils are undulated to create
lift. The animal is almost always seen swimming in a vertical position. During the course of the
video, the animal slowly lowered itself to the sea bottom where it proceeded to “stuff its face” at
an alarming rate. The feeding tentacles were rapidly reaching for the sediment, grabbing a portion
of mud, and then shoving said portion into the mouth. With many of the tentacles working at
once, and shoveling mud as fast as it could, the animal was able to hll its entire gut in a matter
of seconds. The sight made most of us laugh out loud. It reminded me of a small, greedy child
shoving in birthday cake as fast as possible before being told they’d had “enough”. Once the
gut was full, the animal raised its body, “flapped” its veils, and resumed its vertical swimming
behavior. Dr. Pawson said it is postulated that a sediment laden intestinal tract may act as ballast
to help the animal maintain its vertical position in the water column.
We were treated to a second video of another deep-sea, swimming holothuroid, whose name
I could not begin to spell or pronounce. This animal did not have swimming veils, but rather,
large, elongate tube-feet which were modihed for swimming. It initially reminded me of a very
large polychaete the way it undulated through the water and appeared to have “parapodia”, this
obviously was not the case however.
Dr. Pawson touched on the subject of holothuroid hsheries. In many parts of Asia and Indonesia,
holothuroids are considered a delicacy. In some instances, with rare species, they can fetch as
much as $ 140/lb, which can be equivalent to the cost of blue hn tuna. A bizarre thought to most
of us “westerners”. Sadly though, there is one species in particular, in Indonesia, which has
been highly prized for food and it is now on the verge of extinction. It would appear that the
holothuroid hshery is over-due for regulation.
Some of the deep water species are so rare with regards to sightings that they have only been
seen in video and no specimens have ever been collected. One such species, Peniagone leander
Pawson and Foell 1986, had to be described based only on photographs and video. Dr. Pawson
was very hesitant to publish on a species for which he had no specimen to designate as a type.
However, he was encouraged to do so by his peers at the Smithsonian Institution, as in this
instance, photo and videos are currently the only information available on an animal which is
obviously a new species.
Another new discovery that was quite unusual involved a deep-sea species of Molpadid,
Ceraplectana trachyderma (Clark, 1908). Upon examination of specimens, it was discovered
that their tentacles were coated with chitin, which previous to this, chitin was unknown in
echinoderms. In fact, chitin is a material that has always been associated with protostomes, and
this is the hrst discovery of its development/use in deuterostomes.
Speaking of strange chemistry. Dr. Pawson briefly discussed how some holothuroids, again with
the Molpadids as an example, change their calcium carbonate ossicles into ferric phosphate, often
as the animal grows and ages. This ability to change calcium carbonate into ferric phosphate is
September/October, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
unique to the Echinoderms. At this point no one knows how or why this feature has evolved.
As for reproduction, most holothuroids are seasonal spawners. They often have a pore near
the anterior end of the body through which the gametes are released. During spawning season
they will raise their bodies up off the sediment to send their gametes into the water column. Dr.
Pawson had images showing this phenomenon.
With that, the hrst of Dr. Pawson’s talks was over and we broke for an early lunch at the Museum
Cafe. We returned by 12:00 for his second talk titled: “A distant mirror: deep-sea research on
board the Albatross 100 years ago”. Many other people from LACMNH joined us to hear this
second presentation. It was another delightful and interesting lecture. He covered the history of
deep-sea research and shared some insight into the lives of some famous historical researchers
such as Alexander Agassiz, Walter Fisher, and Austin Clark. Dr. Pawson’s talk was peppered
with wonderful anecdotes and humor and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. He was asked
after the talk if he was working on a book detailing the history and lives of some of these famous
researchers and his answer was in the affirmative. I, for one, look forward to the completion and
publication of this book. If he writes as well as he lectures, it should be a wonderful read.
With that, many of the museum staff left and the remaining SCAMIT attendees spent the
afternoon looking at specimens with Dr. Pawson and discussing holothuroid taxonomy. It was
noted that there is a paucity of young, “up and coming” individuals who are working on the
systematics of this group. There is much to be done, but this is sadly the situation with taxonomy
in general. There are not enough new recruits to the held to replace the “old guard” as they retire
and leave their posts. Hopefully a new trend for students to again become interested in applied
taxonomy and systematics will develop.
- M. Lilly
15 OCTOBER 2007
The October 2007 SCAMIT meeting dealt with mollusks and was held at the Los Angeles County
Museum of Natural History. Our guest speaker for the day was Dr. James McLean.
Larry Lovell had the hoor and discussed the new changes to SCAMIT’s Publication Support
Policy. A copy of the new Grant Guidelines, as well as a Publication Support application, are
attached at the end of this newsletter.
Rick Rowe (who has since retired and moved to Oregon) was working on a project which
involved scanning older SCAMIT newsletters. In their new pdf format they are now searchable
and can be safely and easily electronically archived. They are currently being reviewed for OCR
scanning errors and will be placed on the website as soon as possible. They will be available to all
visitors of the SCAMIT website under the section of past newsletters.
Larry had the floor again and mentioned an interesting taxonomic organization in South Carolina
named SERTC (Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center). SERTC was created by the South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), with funding from the National Marine
Fisheries Service. It is housed within the SCDNR’s Marine Resources Research Institute as well
as the College of Charleston’s Grice Marine Lab. It is a very interesting organization and I urge
4
September/October, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
SCAMITeers to go their website and see some of the resources available and learn more about the
organization. There arose a discussion as to the possibility of a “SWRTC”, as this region could
use such a center to standardize, even further, the efforts of local taxonomists. Of course, there
are always the issues of funding and support to consider, but in at least one instance, a taxonomic
center seems to be succeeding. For more information on SERTC go to their website at:
http ://w w w. dnr. sc. go v/marine/sertc/
Tony Phillips then had the floor and brought a nemertean problem (with apologies to those
present who were strict “malacologists”), to the floor. For those interested, what we locally refer
to as Tubulanus nothus is the not the actual T. nothus of (Burger, 1892). Tony had sent 5 or 6
specimens to the Smithsonian for examination. The conclusion is that our local T. nothus is an
undescribed species. A provisional species designation and ID sheet are pending.
With the business meeting concluded, we moved on to the talk by Dr. McLean. He gave a detailed
over-view of his pending publications and showed many wonderful plates and discussed a few of
the upcoming changes to the systematics of our local molluscan fauna. Be afraid, be very afraid,
as there will be over 400 new species described when his books are published. The book dealing
with the southern fauna is scheduled to be out first and its impact will be great. I’ve copied below
an abstract from the World Congress of Malacology, which provides a better idea of what to
expect.
- M. Lilly
Updating the Gastropod fauna of the Northeastern Pacific
McLean. James H
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd.,
Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, Email: jmclean@nhm.org
The northeastern Pacific marine mollusks were once considered well known, but we of the
western U.S. now lag behind because a database approach to the entire fauna is years away, to be
done by the next generation. Bivalves were monographed in 2000 by Coan, Scott, and Bernard,
but no new species were included. A full revision of the shell bearing gastropods is underway,
taking into account the large number of new species, and following recent advances in phylogeny
and classification. Numerous new species result from deep sea sampling by the University of
Oregon and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and fishery monitoring expeditions along
the Aleutian Islands from the Baxter collection and Roger Clark. With the exception of David
Lindberg’s collaboration with patelliform limpets, I remain the only person committed to revision
on a faunistic scale, so I am without collaborators to hasten the process. This is in contrast to the
fauna of the northwestern Pacific for which there have been major checklists and well illustrated
manuals produced by collaborating teams in Japan and Russia within the last eight years. Time
is too short to begin with a checklist or with separate publication of the new species, so it is
necessary to include them in my books. There are to be two separate but overlapping taxonomic
manual/revisions, the first to treat the species from British Columbia south to central Baja
California, the second to treat the north Pacific species from British Columbia and Alaska, west
to Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands, and Hokkaido, considering that the north Pacific represents a
continuous faunal region connected by the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. The northwestern
Pacific species can now be integrated with the northeastern Pacific species, thanks to the
publication in 2006 of Kantor & Sysoev’s Illustrated Catalog of Russian gastropods. With the
help of a part-time imaging assistant over the last five years, the working illustrations of about
5
September/October, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
400 half-page plates (for placement next to the text) for the southern book have been completed;
work on the illustrations for the northern book is well underway. Publication of the first volume
that treats 1400 species should be possible in two years.
- Reprinted (pp. 142-143) from: Abstracts, World Congress of Malacology, Antwerp, Belgium,
15-20 July 2007
Edited by K. Jordaens, N. Van Houtte, J. Van Goethem & T. Backeljau
ATTACHMENTS
This newsletter has two additional attachments to those I mentioned previously. First, you
will find SCAMIT’s annual treasury summary. Secondly, I’ve copied a flyer and membership
application for SAFIT (Southwestern Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists), a
“sister” taxonomic organization. SCAMIT has now had two joint meetings with SAFIT and
we are finding the relationship both enjoyable and benehcial. If any of you are interested in, or
conduct, any freshwater research, please take time to review the information provided on SAFIT.
LITERATURE CITED
Carlton, J.T. 2007. The Light and Smith Manual. Intertidal Invertebrates from Central California
to Oregon, Completely Revised and Expanded, Fourth Edition. University of California
Press. 1001 pp.
Lambert, Philip and William C. Austin. 2007. Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins and Feather Stars of
British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Puget Sound. The Royal British Columbia
Museum. Victoria, Canada. 150 pp.
Pawson D.L. and E.J. Foell, 1986. Peniagone leander new species, an abyssal benthopelagic
sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the eastern central Pacific Ocean.
Bulletin of Marine Science 38(2): 293-299.
6
September/October, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 3
Please visit the SCAMIT Website at: www.scamit.org
SCAMIT OFFICERS
If you need any other information concerning SCAMIT please feel free to contact any of the officers at
their e-mail addresses:
President Larry Lovell (310)830-2400X5613 llovell@lacsd.org
Vice-President Leslie Harris (213)763-3234 lharris@nhm.org
Secretary Megan Lilly (619)758-2336 mlilly@sandiego.gov
Treasurer Cheryl Brantley (310)830-2400x5605 cbrantley@lacsd.org
Hard copy back issues of the newsletter are available. Prices are as follows:
Volumes 1 - 4 (compilation).$ 30.00
Volumes 5 - 7 (compilation).$ 15.00
Volumes 8-15 .$ 20.00/vol.
Single back issues are also available at cost.
The SCAMIT newsletter is published every two months and is distributed freely to members in good
standing. Membership is $15 for an electronic copy of the newsletter, available via the web site at
www.scamit.org, and $30 to receive a printed copy via USPS. Institutional membership, which
includes a mailed printed copy, is $60. All new members receive password protected website access to
the most current edition of “A Taxonomic Listing of Soft Bottom Macro- and Megainvertebrates ... in
the Southern California Bight.” All correspondences can be sent to the Secretary at the email address
above or to:
SCAMIT
C/0 The Natural History Museum, Invertebrate Zoology
attn: Leslie Harris
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
SCAMIT Treasury Summary
2007 - 2008
Below is the treasurer’s report for 2007-08. As you can see our expenses for the year
were more than our income, however that is due to the extra workshops SCAMIT
organized this year, (i.e. SAFIT, Morphbank and Specify). These are not only of benefit
to our members but also helps expose our organization to the greater science community
at large. The figures below represent our current balances as of 6/16/2008 and our
expenses to date since our newsletter is a little behind. SCAMIT is still spending almost
twice as much for printing and mailing newsletters to hardcopy members as electronic
members. We greatly appreciate the extra membership dues our hardcopy members pay
to help us make up that difference. SCAMIT did not award any publication grants this
year but as stipulated in our new grant policy (seen in this newsletter) we do have 25% of
our budget ($18,019.04) available for grants, which is currently about $4,000. SCAMIT
did host another holiday luncheon last December for all its members and we hope to host
an evening event at the Cabrillo Marine Aquaiium this year. Also, we are at an all time
high for memberships (145). We keep growing every year. I know the income below
doesn’t reflect that but I’m confident renewal cheeks will keep trickling in. -Cheryl
Account Balances (as of 6/16/08)
Checking
Certificate of Deposit
Cash
$ 5,081.52
$12,843.75
$ 93.77
Total
$18,019.04
Income
2008 Membership dues
Interest from CD
$ 1,020.00
$ 301.83
Total
$ 1,321.83
Expenses
Electronic newsletter
(website/domain name)
Hardcopy newsletter
(printing/postage)
Workshop expenses
Holiday luncheon
$ 310.39
$ 554.70
$ 742.80
$ 655.26
Total
$ 2,263.15
SCAMIT’s Taxonomic Publication Support Policy
1. The officers will decide at the beginning of each grant season whether there
are sufficient funds to offer grants. The amount available for any grant
season will not exceed 25% of the total moneys in the SCAMIT accounts as
of the first day of the grant season. The available amount will be determined
by the Treasurer. This policy is subject to change at the discretion of the
duly elected officers.
2. If money is available, applications for publication support will be accepted
between June and December of each year. An announcement to this
affect will be posted on the members-only portion of the SCAMIT web site.
3. Accepted grants will be announced and the disbursement of funds will be
completed prior to April 30^^ of the following year.
4. Support will be limited to publications that are pertinent to the purpose and
goals of the Association as outlined in Article 2 of the constitution.
5. Disbursement of funds directly to the party or parties providing the
professional services is preferred.
6. Funds shall only be granted in support of costs associated with the
completion of works intended for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
7. Funds shall be offered for the defraying of costs to prepare a manuscript
(e.g. typing, text processing), illustrations (e.g. drawings, photos, SEM) and
journal page charges.
8. No support will be provided for travel, time, or any costs incurred in the
development or conduct of the research leading to the preparation of the
manuscript.
9. Authors receiving SCAMIT support shall agree to acknowledge that support
in the publication.
10. Support is provided only to members in good standing.
11. Applications are available from the Secretary at:
Megan Lilly, SCAMIT Secretary
City of San Diego EMTS Laboratory
2392 Kincaid Rd.
San Diego, CA 92101-0811
Southern California Association of
Marine Invertebrate Taxonomists
Publication Support Fund Application
1. Authors(s) name:
2. Address:
3. E-mail:
4. Phone:
5. Title of manuscript:
6. Topic, scope, and size of manuscript:
7. Estimated date of manuscript completion:
8. Estimated date of submission:
9. Name and address of publisher to which it will be submitted:
10. Submit evidence that manuscript is complete or nearing completion. A folder
containing a copy of the text, drawings or photos, and literature section would be
adequate to determine the degree to which the paper is completed.
11. Submit an itemized list of all work for which you are seeking support. Include the
names and addresses of those parties providing the services, with a written quotation
of their fees.
12. All authors must sign and date this entire form and return it to the SCAMIT
Secretary. This signature demonstrates the applicant's agreement to the terms and
conditions contained within the application form.
1) Name:
2) Name:
Signature
Date
Signature
Date
3) Name:
4) Name:
Signature
Date
Signature
Date
13. Please return this completed form and any attached sheets to the SCAMIT Secretary:
Megan Lilly
City of San Diego Marine Biology Lab
2392 Kincaid Rd.
San Diego, CA 92101
mlilly@ sandiego.gov
Below is for official use
only. _
Date received:
Date reviewed:
Comments:
Accepted: Yes / No
Grant Number:
Amount:
Payee (s):
Date:
Treasurer's Signature:_ Date:
Southwest Association of
Freshwater Invertebrate
Taxonomists
Promoting
taxonomic
standardization &
coilaboration
throughout the
southwestern United
States
The Mission of the Southwest Association of Freshwater in¬
vertebrate Taxonomists (SAFiT) is to promote a better un¬
derstanding of the taxonomy and systematics of macroin¬
vertebrates in support of the assessment of biotic condi¬
tions in the inland aquatic ecosystems of the southwest
United States. Fundamental to this mission is the stan¬
dardization of the identification and reporting of taxa.
SAFIT fosters research, education, training and profes¬
sional development of environmental scientists, as they
pertain to inland aquatic macroinvertebrates.
SAFIT Membership Benefits
• Annual Meetings with the latest updates in our field
• Taxonomic Training and Workshops
• Procedural Workshops Hazardous Materials Shipping, QA/QC and others
• Free or Reduced Fees at Workshops, Training and Fieldtrips
• Latest Literature Announcements
• Employment and Business Opportunities
• Members Email List
• Listing in Membership Directory
• Collecting Trips
• Collaboration Opportunities
• Access to Taxonomic Experts
• Opportunities to Participate in Establishing Taxonomic Guidelines for the
southwestern US
Application For SAFIT Membership
Please start my SAFIT membership for the year January, 20_
(Memberships apply to the calendar year.)
Payment in U.S funds drawn on U.S. bank is required. Checks and Money Orders
should be made payable to the Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate
Taxonomists (or SAFIT).
Name
Dr/Prof/Mrs/Ms/Mr
Address_
Address_
City_St_Zip
Tel. ( )_FAX ( )_
E-mail_
I enclose my check or money order for $_
Mail this application to: SAFIT Secretary
Dr. Kim Kratz
17114 Tualatin St.
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Information for SAFIT Membership Directory (see codes listed below)
Employment:_(select all applicable codes)
Education:_(select all applicable codes)
Professional Profile (select three codes for each category, preferred first):
Taxa Group(s):_
Primary Interest Area:_
Habitat:_
Membership Category
_Regular Member (voting).$25
_Student.$15
_Agency or Institution.$75
Employment:
A - Academic
C - Consulting
F - Federal Government
S - Stale/ Provincial/ Regional Government
T - Tribal Government
P - Private Industry
Education:
B - Bachelor's Degree
M - Master's Degree
P - Doctoral Degree
O - Other
Taxa Group:
XOl - Aquatic insects/invertebrates
X02 - Oligochaela, Polychaeta, Hirudinea,
Branchiobdellida, Acanthobdellida
X03 - Zooplankton
X04 - Cmsiacea
X05 - Ephemeroptera
X06 - Odonata
X07 - Plecoptera
X08 - Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Hemiptera
X09 - Coleoptera
XIO - Trichoptera
XI1 - Cliirouomidae
X12 - Diptera: other
X13 - Mollusca
X14 - Other aquatic organisms
Primary Interest Area:
AOl - Environmental impact assessment
A02 - Toxicology / bioassay
A03 - Fisheries biology
A04 - Power plant / industrial impacts
A05 - Taxonomy / systematics
A06 - Primary / secondary production
A07 - Nutrient / organic matter processing
AOS - Life history / behavior studies
A09 - Statistics / computer science
A10 - Administrative
All - Teaching
Habitat:
HOI - Rivers/streams
H02 - Lakes / reservoirs
H03 - Marshes / estuaries
H04 - Oceans
H05- Wetlands
H05 - Other
Southern
California
Assocation of
Marine
Invertebrate
Taxonomists
November/December, 2007 SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 4
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This Issue
1-2 NOVEMBER 2007 HYDROBIIDAE WORKSHOP.2
CAECOFI MEETING - NOVEMBER 2007.2
UPCOMING MEETINGS.2
13 DECEMBER 2007 - MORPHBANK MEETING.3
SAFIT ANNUAE MEETING - NOVEMBER 2007.4
POEYCHAETE VOUCHER SHEET.6
MARINE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION PORTAE.6
SCAMIT OFFICERS.8
The SCAMIT newsletter is not deemed to be a valid publieation for formal taxonomie purposes.
November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 4
1-2 NOVEMBER 2007 HYDROBIIDAE WORKSHOP
The November 2007 SCAMIT meeting was a two-day workshop on Hydrobiid snails hosted by
Weston Solutions Ine in Carlsbad California. SCAMIT was fortunate enough to have Dr. Hershler
from the Smithsonian teaehing attendees the fine intrieaeies of trying to speeiate snails in the
family Hydrobiidae.
There are no detailed notes on the two-day
workshop as your Seeretary was struggling
mightily with the task of disseeting small
snails and looking for delieate soft parts.
However if you visit the Taxonomie Tools
Seetion on the SCAMIT website you will
find doeuments, images, and a PowerPoint
presentation whieh deal with information
eovered at the workshop.
This meeting was a joint venture with
our sister organization SAFIT (Southwest
Assoeiation of Freshwater Invertebrate
Taxonomists). Hydrobiid snails are mostly
fresh water in habitat, but there are those
speeies that exist in estuarine environs. It
is here the worlds of SCAMIT and SAFIT
overlap. Of partieular eoneem is being able
to identify Potamopyrgus antipodarum, the
New Zealand mudsnail, whieh is an invasive
known from mueh of the transmontaine west,
ineluding the Santa Moniea Mountains. This
animal, to the untrained eye, ean be mistaken
for the loeal, native hydrobiid, Tryonia imitator, whieh is a speeies of eoneem. For bioassessment
and monitoring purposes the ability to reeognize a foreign invasive speeies from an indigenous
speeies is of obvious import. I think most attendees left the two-day workshop with at least the
tools in hand to attempt this task.
Our gratitude goes to Dr. Hershler for his invaluable assistanee in this matter and to Sheila Holt of
Weston Solutions Ine for organizing the meeting.
CALCOEI MEETING - NOVEMBER 2007
UPCOMING MEETINGS
17 November 2008 - SCCWRP. A meeting of the
Taxonomie Database Group. Guest Speaker - Deb Paul
from Morphbank. Subsequent Morphbank workshops:
18 November (Tues) at CSD; 19 November (Wed) at
LACSD; 20 November (Thurs), at OCSD. Contaet Larry
Lovell for more information or to sign up: llovell@laesd.
org.
6 December 2008 (Saturday) - Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium. SCAMIT Christmas Potluek Party. Hours:
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm. Bring the kids! Santa will be there
with bells on.
14 January 2009, Wednesday - Venue TBD. Diseussion
of the Amphipod ehapter in Light’s Manual and
examination of problem speeimens. Guest Speaker -
John Chapman.
It was with pleasure that I was able to attend the speeial symposium on the squid, Dosidicus
gigas, at the annual CalCOFI meetings. The “Red Devil” or “Diablo Rojo” has been showing
up in more northern elimes with greater frequeney in the last deeade and has been seen in
sporadieally high abundanees sinee 2003. This reeent range extension phenomenon has lead to a
renewed interest in its biology and life history.
The first talk by Hatfield and Hoehberg, looked at the historieal range expansion of D. gigas and
found evidenee of the animal periodieally moving northwards sinee as early as 1858. It would
appear that historieally Dosidicus has likely ranged north as far as Alaska during large, multi-year
ineursion events, sueh as those in 1910-1913, 1934-1936, 1974-1976, and 1997-1999.
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November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26 No. 4
Another talk dealt with diet and life history. Gut eontent analyses of animals eaught loeally,
showed a diet of hake, small pelagie flatfishes, roekfish (the heads are not eonsumed), sardines,
northern anehovies, and market squid. Many individuals of these prey speeies were juveniles, but
some were market size. There is eoneem about the potential impaet of D. gigas on the market
squid fishery. However, it is hard to prediet with any aeeuraey whether or not an effeet wifi be
seen.
As for loeal mass strandings, they seem to happen frequently during the summer months and
are often synehronous with the grunion runs, but the eorrelation is not one hundred pereent.
Another variable that was eonsidered was loeal oeeanographie eonditions. However, no obvious
eorrelation arose between the strandings and the oeeurrenee of either El Nino or La Nina.
However, the problem with this aspeet of the study is that the presenee of D. gigas is noted as
the animals start to strand, whieh does not neeessarily refleet when they arrived in the region.
Preliminary data seems to suggest that the Mexiean populations have been moving north. One
eonelusion is there are now established populations in the Southern California Bight that reside
here year around, as evideneed by the presenee of mature and spawning speeimens.
There was a very interesting talk by Carmen Yamashiro whieh dealt with a southern population of
D. gigas off the eoast of Peru. In Peru there is an aetive fishery for this squid and many years of
data have been eolleeted with regards to their life history and biology. Large, healthy eohorts of
D. gigas are assoeiated with eold water temperatures and high salinity readings. During the strong
1997-1998 El Nino, the Dosidicus fishery suffered a erash. It seems however, that temperature
and salinity affeets have more of an impaet on paralarvae survival and subsequent reeruitment
sueeess, than on mature adult animals.
It will be interesting to see, as our world elimate shifts and oeean eonditions ehange and fluetuate,
if large strandings of “The Red Devil” wifi be co mm on plaee here in southern California as well
as more northern regions.
- M. Lilly
13 DECEMBER 2007 - MORPHBANK MEETING
The meeting began with an update by member Wendy Storms (CSD). Wendy has been working
on plaeing the SCAMIT Speeies List into an Aeeess database. Onee this projeet is eomplete it wifi
be easier to “hang” information off a speeies name, sueh as eeology notes, digital images, keys,
ete. The ultimate goal wifi be to have the SCAMIT Speeies List beeome a web-based interaetive
database, but for now Wendy works on the task of reformatting the list to work within the Aeeess
database program.
Tony Phillips (CLAEMD) then had the floor and announeed that he had eompleted a rough draft
of a key to the Polyeladida from our SCB monitoring programs. He requested “testers” for his
key. In other words, he would like people working on polyelad speeimens to take them through
his key and provide feedbaek on the proeess. If you are interested in being a “tester” for Tony,
please eontaet him at: Tony.Phifiips@laeity.org
Long time member and friend to many, John Ljubenkov, then had the floor with a speeial request.
He sadly lost his home in the Oetober 07 wildfires and mueh of his eherished literature was
destroyed. He is asking any SCAMIT members who have extra reprints of papers eoneeming
his areas of expertise (Mollusea and Miseellaneous Phyla) to please send them, so he ean start
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November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 4
rebuilding his library. If you would like to make a literary donation and help John rebuild his
literature eolleetion, you ean eontaet him at: ljubenko@paebell.net.
Our speaker for the day, Katja Seltman, was then introdueed by Riek Rowe. Katja eurrently
works for the Sehool of Computational Seienee at Florida State University. Katja presented
an introduetion to Morphbank and its benefits. Morphbank is an online repository for
biologieal images of all types, from plants, to inseets, to fish, to mammals, ete. They have poor
representation of marine invertebrates and are interested in SCAMIT and its members using
Morphbank as an image repository. They provide the advantage of storage spaee that is baeked up
nightly without having to take up hard-drive spaee on one’s home or offiee eomputer. They also
provide aeeess to those images (should they be designated as “published” by the submitter) to the
Morphbank user eommunity.
Luneh was the SCAMIT Holiday Luneheon provided by SCAMIT. Megan Lilly and Kathy
Langan of the City of San Diego Lab organized a great spread of food offerings with plenty of
variety to go around. Thanks Megan and Kathy!!
After luneh the group moved upstairs to a room that had been set up with banks of eomputers
and work spaees for personal laptops. Internet eonneetions and WiFi were available for all
to be able aeeess Morphbank’s website. Katja had already provided many of those attending
with Morphbank usernames and passwords. Others were able to obtain their own that day. The
afternoon was spent in loading images that members brought to the meeting. It was diseovered
that there was a learning eurve in working with the user eommands, but many were able to get a
few images loaded on to the Morphbank website.
It is hoped that SCAMIT and Morphbank will be able to further develop a relationship that will
benefit both organizations.
SAFIT ANNUAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 2007
I attended the meeting on The Los Angeles County Sanitation Distriets’ time in my eapaeity
both as an LACSD employee and President of SCAMIT. My travel expenses were provided
by SCAMIT. This was the seeond annual meeting for SAFIT and funetioned largely as an
organizational meeting.
SAFIT emerged two years ago from a California Department of Fish and Game sponsored
taxonomie workgroup, California Aquatie Maeroinvertebrate Laboratory Network (CAMLnet).
Those who had been aetive partieipants in CAMLnet formed SAFIT. SAFIT is eurrently
mandated to provide guidanee to the California State Water Resourees Control Board’s Surfaee
Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). A Standard Taxonomie Effort (STE) doeument
is maintained and distributed by SAFIT to provide guidanee to, and standardization between,
taxonomists working on SWAMP program samples.
President Joe Slusark [a taxonomist at the Aquatie Bioassessment Eaboratory (ABE), a part of the
Department of Fish and Game’s Water Pollution Control Eaboratory] ealled the meeting to order
at 10:20. There were 20 persons in attendanee. Most were from the Central California area, with
some from as far away as Oregon and Southern California. Most were taxonomists who proeess
freshwater bioassessment samples for private eonsulting eompanies or government ageneies.
There was a professor with three students from CSUEB and one SWRCB employee (EA offiee). I
report below on agenda items of interest.
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November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26 No. 4
SAFIT held two workshops last year (Hazardous Materials DOT shipment training and one
eo-sponsored with SCAMIT on hydrobiid snails). Joe diseussed offering Hazardous Materials
DOT shipment training in Southern California and I eommented that the eurrent eertifieation
of SCAMIT members would be expiring in the next year or so and that there would be interest.
They announeed several taxonomie workshops they have planned for 2008/2009. There is another
joint SAFIT-SCAMIT workshop on estuarine arthropods to be jointly led by Christopher Rogers,
SAFIT (Eeo-Analysts) and Don Cadien, SCAMIT (LACSD) that is in the planning stages.
I eommented that as SWAMP, and partieularly SQO State of California mandated sampling
programs get implemented in eoastal wetland areas, a workshop would be needed to provide
taxonomist training in the resolution of oligoehaetes.
SAFIT has aequired the domain name SAFIT.org and has a brief informational page posted.
Future plans for the SAFIT website inelude general information about the organization and links
to labs and websites of interest. When fully developed, their website will also have links to the
STE doeument developed by SAFIT members and an online referenee eolleetion of biologieal
images (developed by SAFIT members working at ABE) designed to assist in the identifieation
of taxa eited in the STE. The SWAMP website eurrently provides a link to the STE doeument.
(Seeretary’s note: As of this newsletter’s publieation, whieh is almost year after the meeting,
SAFIT.org has aeeomplished most of the items listed above).
Ken Sehiff (SCCWRP) reported that SAFIT has nearly eompleted the proeess of ineorporation
and obtaining non-profit 501-e-3 elearanees with both the State of California and the Federal
government. They will be aeeepting membership applieations beginning January 1, 2008. The
annual eost will be $25 for Regular Members (voting), $15 for Students, and $75 for Ageneies or
Institutions.
Brady Riehards (ABE) reported on the STE, the guidanee doeument used by all taxonomists
working on State Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) samples. The revision released
28 Nov 2006 is the third version and eontains updates in name usage and level of identifieation
from the previous doeument released in 2003.
Mueh diseussion was devoted to Quality Assuranee (QA) of samples, ineluding both sorting and
taxonomie analysis. Currently ABE aets as the unoffieial QA lab for freshwater samples in the
state. Taxonomie eertifieation programs and the pros and eons of the eurrent program offered
by the North Ameriean Benthologieal Assoeiation were also diseussed. Both POTW’s and
SCAMIT have an interest in sample QA and I volunteered to be on the SAFIT QA workgroup.
The workgroup will eommunieate via emails and eonferenee ealls to develop a QA guidanee
doeument that ean be used by labs and State ageneies to fulfill mandated QA requirements.
The ereation of an edueation/outreaeh/student seholarship eommittee generated eonsiderable
diseussion, resulting in four members volunteering to partieipate on that eommittee. As with
SCAMIT, SAFIT members see the need for generating interest in the field, training new
taxonomists, and providing assistanee to students.
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November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 4
SAFIT has five officers that serve two-year terms. Election of two and then three officers in
alternate years assures that there are always experienced officers present on the board.
My impression of the meeting and the organization was that much like SCAMIT, SAFIT is
composed of a group of dedicated, experienced individuals who recognize the need for such
an organization and have the desire to collectively push forward on the goals of their mission
statement, “promoting taxonomic standardization and collaboration throughout the southwestern
United States”. As taxonomic organizations that work in differing watery realms, our faunas don’t
have much in common, but we do share in the goal of resolving taxonomic issues in estuaries
where fresh and ocean waters meet and their respective faunas overlap.
Submitted by - Larry Lovell, Marine Biologist II
December 3, 2007
POLYCHAETE VOUCHER SHEET
Please see the attached voucher sheet on Petaloclymene pacifica produced by Larry Lovell and
Karen Green
MARINE SPECIES IDENTIEICATION PORTAL
The following information was kindly provided by member Lisa Haney (LACSD).
Launched: Marine Species Identification Portal
(MarBEF /Key ToN ature)
This is to announce the launch of the Marine Species Identification Portal (www.marinespecies.
eu), an initiative of ETI Bioinformatics under MARBEF (an EC funded network of Excellence)
and KeyToNature (a project in the EC e-contentPlus Programme). This website provides open
access to scientific information on marine species, including identification keys, to support the
scientific community in activities such bio-monitoring programs, and to provide students and
other interested parties with general information on marine biodiversity.
The Marine Species Portal unlocks information on 9,875 marine species and 5,545 higher taxa,
most with descriptions and illustrations. A total of 7,932 taxa are keyed out in 52 identification
keys. Furthermore 19,876 synonyms plus 2,782 vernacular names in English, and 8,389 names in
25 other languages, facilitate searching.
The information was compiled over a period of 10 years by a global network of collaborating
taxonomists started with UNESCO support. Currently 31 species documentation projects are
included; information on authors and other contributors can be found for each section under the
menu item ‘credits’. Most projects are also available on CD-ROM published in ETI’s World
Biodiversity Database series. The information and identification systems presented here were
constructed using the Linnaeus II taxonomic data management package that is downloadable
from the ETI website. Differences in geographic coverage and taxonomic treatments are
the consequence of a decentralized, author-driven mechanism that ETI set up for species
documentation; a process that is still ongoing.
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November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 4
The Marine Speeies Portal is very mueh a work in progress; other funetionality sueh as dynamie
maps will be added as well as more taxa. Your partieipation to improve, enhanee and inerease the
eontent of this site is mueh appreeiated and eneouraged! If you have keys on missing taxa, hold
better illustrations or more detailed deseriptions, don’t hesitate to eontribute! This is your site; we
merely faeilitate the information sharing proeess! We are interested in your feedbaek to improve
the information serviee.
Relevant URLS
Marine Speeies identifieation Portal: www.marinespeeies.eu
MarBEF: www.marbef org
KeyToNature: www.keytonature.eu
ETI: www.eti.uva.nl
Dr. Peter H Sehalk
Managing Direetor
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hatfield, E.M.C. and F.G. Hoehberg. 2007. Dosidicus gigas: northern range expansion events.
California Cooperative Oeeanie Fisheries Investigations. Annual Conferenee 2007.
Program and Abstraets.
Yamashiro, Carmen, et al. 2007. Distribution and abundanee of jumbo squid {Dosidicus gigas)
off Peruvian eoasts and their relationships to environmental eonditions. California
Cooperative Oeeanie Fisheries Investigations. Annual Conferenee 2007. Program and
Abstraets.
November/December, 2007
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 4
Please visit the SCAMIT Website at: www.seamit.org
SCAMIT OFFICERS
If you need any other information eoneeming SCAMIT please feel free to eontaet any of the offieers at
their e-mail addresses:
President Larry Lovell (310)830-2400X5613 llovell@laesd.org
Viee-President Leslie Harris (213)763-3234 lharris@nhm.org
Seeretary Megan Lilly (619)758-2336 mlilly@sandiego.gov
Treasurer Cheryl Brantley (310)830-2400x5605 ebrantley@laesd.org
Hard eopy baek issues of the newsletter are available. Priees are as follows:
Volumes 1 - 4 (eompilation).$ 30.00
Volumes 5 - 7 (eompilation).$ 15.00
Volumes 8-15 .$ 20.00/vol.
Single baek issues are also available at eost.
The SCAMIT newsletter is published every two months and is distributed freely to members in good
standing. Membership is $15 for an eleetronie eopy of the newsletter, available via the web site at
www.scamit.org, and $30 to reeeive a printed eopy via USPS. Institutional membership, whieh
ineludes a mailed printed eopy, is $60. All new members reeeive password proteeted website aeeess to
the most eurrent edition of “A Taxonomie Listing of Soft Bottom Maero- and Megainvertebrates ... in
the Southern California Bight.” All eorrespondenees ean be sent to the Seeretary at the email address
above or to:
SCAMIT
C/0 The Natural History Museum, Invertebrate Zoology
attn: Leslie Harris
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
SCAMIT VOUCHER SHEET
Species name: Petaloclymene pacific a Green 1997 SCAMIT Vol. 26 No. 4
Family: Maldanidae
Prepared by: Larry Lovell, LACSD and Karen Green, SAIC
SYNONYMY: Euclymene grossa newporti, not Berkeley & Berkeley 1941; Maldanidae sp A of CSD
1984; Maldanidae sp A of Phillips 1987; Petaloproctus type rear ends, of Green 1985 (SCAMIT
voucher sheet Vol. 3, No. 12). Note: These are historical synonymies of usage in Southern California
sampling programs.
LITERATURE: Green 1997; SCAMIT Newsletter 2001, Vol. 20, No. 5; Rodriguez-Villanueva,
Martmez-Lara & Macias-Zamora 2003.
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS:
1. Rostrate uncini in neuropodia setigers 1-3.
2. Paired dorsal pores present on setigers 7-9 (see figs. 2, 3), (not in original description, not
reported for Maldanidae; KG). Pores are posterior to and slightly dorsal to the notosetae.
3. Methyl green staining pattern is present in pre and post-setal areas on setigers 4-7, with
strong ventral staining patch on setiger 8 extending pre- and post-setal (see fig. 4).
4. Prostomium forms cephalic plaque with margins slightly incised posterolaterally and
posteriorly (more pronounced in larger individuals). Nuchal organs long and parallel.
Reticulate pattern visible on large individuals (see fig. 1).
5. Pygidium forms asymmetrical anal plaque; margin well developed with dorsal notch (see
figs. 5,6). Anus near ventral margin of plaque. Unfortunately pygidium is usually lost due
to fragmentation, but can sometimes be found in the polychaete “fragments”.
RELATED SPECIES AND CHARACTER DIFFERENCES:
1. Axiothella sp - Rostrate uncini in neuropodial setigers 1-3, dorsal pores absent, MG staining
presetal on setigers 1-4 and pre and postsetal on setigers 5-8, symmetrical anal plaque with
central anus and circlet of pygidial cirri. Note: The taxonomy of the local species of
Axiothella is poorly understood.
2. Euclymeninae sp A SCAMIT 1987 - Single acicular spines in neuropodial of setigers 1-3,
dorsal pores absent, MG staining pattern on pre-setal areas only in setigers 4-7, MG ventral
and lateral racing stripes present in early abdominal setigers, symmetrical anal plaque with
central anus and circlet of pygidial cirri.
3. Praxillella pacifica E. Berkeley 1929 - Neuropodial spines setigers 1-3, dorsal pores absent,
MG staining pattern setigers 4-8 is solid with no post-setal stain on setiger 8, symmetrical
anal plaque with anal cone and circlet of pygidial cirri.
4. Praxillella gracilis (M. Sars 1861) - Neuropodial spines setigers 1-3, dorsal pores absent,
prostomium with long thin anterior palpode, MG staining pattern setigers 4-8 is solid with no
post-setal stain on set 8, symmetrical anal plaque with anal cone and circlet of pygidial cirri.
5. Petaloproctus sp - no cephalic plaque, neuropodial spine on first setiger, dorsal pores absent,
anal plaque asymmetrical.
COMMENT: Identification of anterior fragments (the condition of most specimens) is confirmed by
presence of dorsal pores on setigers 7-9 and MG staining pattern on setigers 4-8. Presence of the
unique pygidial sections in samples indicate occurrence of this species.
SCAMIT VOUCHER SHEET, cont.
Species name: Petaloclymene pacifica Green 1997 SCAMIT Vol. 26 No. 4
Family: Maldanidae
Prepared by: Larry Lovell, LACSD and Karen Green, SAIC
DEPTH RANGE: 10-200m
HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION: Silty-sandy sediments; Santa Barbara to NW Mexico.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Figure 1. Head end, lateral view, MG staining.
Figure 2. Dorsal pores, set 7,8; MG staining.
Figure 3. Dorsal pore, set 9, MG staining. Figure 4. Ventral MG staining area setiger 8
Figure 5. Pygidium, lateral view. Figure 6. Pygidium, dorsal view.
Material examined: Figs 1-3, large specimen, LACSD Station IB, 150m, July 2007; Figs 4-5,
LACSD Station 6D, 30m, July 2007.
Southern
California
Assocation of
Marine
Invertebrate
Taxonomists
Jan/Feb-Mar/Apr, 2008 SCAMIT Newsletter Vol. 26, No. 5/6
Aphrodita longipalpa, prostomium and palps, note no eyes visible. From LACSD collection. Photo credit
This Issue
JANUARY 14, 2008.2
UPCOMING MEETINGS 2009.2
11 FEBRUARY 2008.5
18 MARCH 2008 .6
7APRIE2008 .9
MEETINGS OF INTEREST.10
EIEJEBORGIIDAE KEY.10
NEW EITERATURE .10
EITERATURE CITED.11
SCAMIT OFFICERS.12
The SCAMIT newsletter is not deemed to be a valid publieation for formal taxonomie purposes.
Jan/Feb-Mar/Apr, 2008
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 5/6
JANUARY 14, 2008
The meeting was held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. President Larry
Lovell opened the business part of the meeting by thanking Riek Rowe for organizing the
sueeessful Deeember meeting, and he thanked everyone who attended.
Larry gave us an update from Ken Smith’s
group; they have reels of time-lapsed
photography from deep Station M that they
plan to digitize and then possibly submit to
MorphBank.
We diseussed the printing of the SCAMIT
Speeies List Edition 5. The Los Angeles
County Lab has printed it in-house, and
Cheryl Brantley eommented that it’s about
twiee as large as Edition 4.
We have a new eontaet person at Cabrillo
Museum, Dr. Julianne Kalman. She works
on parasitie eopepods of trawl-eaught fish,
and she is reeeptive to hosting a SCAMIT
meeting at the Museum.
There was a diseussion about the possibility
of having training workshops. Some
members at Orange County are interested
in reeeiving advaneed taxonomie training.
Earry talked about the aging eohort of
taxonomists, many of who will be retiring in
the next few years, and the need for training
younger taxonomists. One option for training
elasses is to have two SCAMIT meetings
per month where one meeting would be
speeifieally for training purposes. The
ehallenge is to reeruit people to do the training sinee most people are very busy with their own
jobs and/or eonsulting projeets.
Eeslie talked about a reeent eonferenee she attended in Monterey, Mexieo, and she observed
many young, eager taxonomists who are looking for work in polyehaete taxonomy. She sees this
as a viable souree of next generation taxonomists. The question was asked if anyone knew of
other taxonomists in Mexieo who are interested in working on non-polyehaete groups.
We diseussed the new sediment quality objeetives and the idea of a taxonomie eertifieation
program. Earry said that England already has sueh a eertifieation program, as does the North
Ameriean Benthologieal Soeiety. We reiterated a point we all know; good quality taxonomy
produees good quality data. Tony eommented that for the upeoming Bight ’08 and Bight ’ 13
UPCOMING MEETINGS 2009
March 9 & 10. LACMNH. 9:30-3:30. A two day review
of Cumaeea by Drs. Ees Watling and Sarah Gerken. Onee
again a review of that ehapter in Eight and Smith’s Manual
will be part of the meeting. Bring any speeimens you are
having diffieulty IDing from Bight ‘08 samples
April date TBA. LACMNH. 9:30-3:30. Dr. Regina
Wetzer, is hosting a peraearid meeting at Catalina Island
in early April. There will be several experts in various
peraearid groups attending and Leslie Harris will be
arranging a SCAMIT meeting with one of them. Further
information will be fortheoming as a date and topie are
determined.
May 11. SCCWRP. 9:30-3:30. The database group will
be meeting again to report on and diseuss progress and
direetion on the taxonomie database. Dawn Olson and
Wendy Storms will provide a report on their development
work with Katja Seltmann.
May 26. Orange County Sanitation Districts. 9:30-
3:30. Diseussion of eirratulids, a long overdue topie, will
finally begin. We will begin with a review of the following
genera; Cirmtulus, Cirriformia, Protocirrineris, and
Timarete. Tony Phillips will be leading the meeting. Bring
your voueher speeimens, voueher sheets, and literature to
the meeting for a eomplete review on these genera.
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Jan/Feb-Mar/Apr, 2008
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 5/6
projects there will be fewer and fewer qualified taxonomists unless we can recruit and train new
taxonomists soon. Rick pointed out the benefits of online training and how it could attract more
people and be more accessible.
Don Cadien is working on a proposal for financial support for taxonomic training. He is modeling
his proposal after the Southeast Training Center, which has been in operation for approximately 8
years.
Tony Phillips gave an update from the Bight ’08 meeting. There will be a total of 360 grabs taken
during the survey. There was a discussion of the availability of taxonomists and how to proceed
with QA/QC. Leslie Harris offered to perform the QA/QC on all the polychaetes instead of every
polychaete taxonomist exchanging samples with each other.
With the business portion of the meeting complete, we got to the taxonomic purpose of the day.
Leslie led the discussion which reviewed the Annelida chapter of the new Light and Smith’s
manual authored by Jim Blake and Gene Ruff. She commented that there are species limitations
due to the geographical range covered. The annelid chapter is expanded considerably from the
previous edition with inclusion of information and species that were presented in the MMS Atlas
Series chapters by Blake and Hilbig. It contains good introductory sections reviewing the general
morphology, collection and preservation, dissection of jaws, mounting of parapodia, staining,
the fauna and the keys, and a glossary of terms with definitions. There is an illustrated key to the
polychaeta families, followed by a brief review of the meiofaunal families. The macrofaunal and
epifaunal family sections, with a review of each family including an illustrated key to the species,
are then presented. The following co mm ents to theses families were made:
Aphroditidae: SCAMIT agrees that Aphrodita parva may be a juvenile of A. japonica and that
A.japonica is a “catch-all” species name. Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and Hyperion
Treatment Plant labs use ''A. japonica complex”.
Polynoidae: Kristian has commented to Leslie that he believes Halosydna brevisetosa and
H. johnsoni are separate species. H. johnsoni is distinguished by having brown stripes. Leslie
said that there are 6 species in Japan that key out to Harmothoe imbricata. H. imbricata is a
species complex and Imagima talks about plasticity in reproductive mode. We also see a variety
of pigmentation in this species complex. Leslie uses “//. imbricata complex”. Lepidonotus
squamatus is listed, but not L. spiculus, which Leslie finds is the most common Lepidonotus in
San Francisco Bay. Malmgreniella macginitiei could be a number of different species.
Pholoidae: Blake states that Pholoe glabra was misidentified in part as P. tuberculata in the
previous edition. Leslie doesn’t think we get P. tuberculata here, and we’re not sure what Blake
means by “in part” in this case.
Sigalionidae; Sthenelais berkeleyi can easily be distinguished from S. fusca by a “thickly
papillated ventral surface”. It was suggested that we need a SCAMIT meeting on Sthenelais.
Pisionidae: Leslie uses Pisione spp; the setae are very fragile and difficult to examine. However,
there are several different species.
Phyllodocidae: The dorsal cirri pictured for Clavadoce splendida do not match those in
Hartman. Leslie has examined the type specimen and all but 2 dorsal cirri were missing. We
questioned the occurrence of Eteone balboensis. We accept the synonymy of Eulalia aviculiseta
with Eulalia quadrioculata for now. Leslie believes there are up to 4 species with a combination
of different characters and intermediates. Leslie has not seen true Eulalia viridis or Eumida
sanguinea in San Francisco Bay or anywhere else.
Hesionidae: We agree with the synonymy of Micropodarke amemiyai with Micropodarke
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Jan/Feb-Mar/Apr, 2008
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 5/6
dubia. With regards to our local species, Leslie is not convinced it’s M. dubia, and she uses
Micropodarke sp.
Syllidae: Myrianidapachycera is a new species for SCAMIT. Ame synonymized Autolytus
and Myrianida. The color patterns fox Amblyosyllis spp are species diagnostic. SCAMIT’s
Amblyosyllis sp A is the same as Dorsey’s old A. speciosa, which matches Figure D in Imajima.
Ehlersia should now be included as a junior synonym under Typosyllis. Licher put Typosyllis
pulchra into synonymy with a European species.
Nereididae: We have not recorded Neanthes limnicola in S. California. Although Blake
synonymizes Nereis mediator with Nereis grubei, Leslie suggested that we should look at
material from Chile before we accept the synonymy. Nereis pelagica neonigripes should be
elevated to species level. SCAMIT uses Nereis sp A instead of N. procera.
Goniadidae; SCAMIT follows Boggemann. We question the occurrence of Goniada brunnea
since it is normally a deeper water species.
Nephtyidae: We don’t agree with the synonymy of Aglaophamus neotenus with Nephtys
cornuta. Larry has examined the types of N. parva and found them to be N. cornuta. It is not
known whether N. parva is valid or not.
Eunicidae: Leslie believes that Marphysa sanguinea is a true cosmopolitan species.
Dorvilleidae: We do not distinguish between species of Dorvillea and have agreed to use sp.
Oenonidae; We do not distinguish between species of Arabella and have agreed to use sp.
Orbiniidae: Scoloplos armiger should be 'Ncoloplos armiger complex”.
Paraonidae: We use Aricidea sp A instead of A. ramosa.
Spionidae: We follow the recent work of Yokoyama (2007) and use the name Paraprionospio
alata instead of Paraprionospio pinnata. Blake synonymized Polydora ligni with Polydora
cornuta although there is still some controversy about whether they are two separate species.
Leslie uses "Npiophanes bombyx complex”; Messner has found four different forms of S. bombyx.
We don’t use Rhynchospio glutaea in S. California, choosing to follow Radashevsky (2007) and
use R. arenicola. Our specimens of Spio filicornis do not fit this description; we probably get an
undescribed species. The occurrence of Spiophanes kroeyeri is questionable because it’s usually
found in deeper water. We noted the absence of Spiophanes kimballi, which might represent the S.
kroeyeri material.
Chaetopteridae: We disagree with the synonymy of Spiochaetopterus costarum with S. pottsi.
S. pottsi is from British Columbia and Leslie showed us an image of S. pottsi with its distinct
pigment pattern.
Cirratulidae: Om Aphelochaeta sp SD2 is the same as A. elongata. Caulleriella hamata is
questionable. Our Chaetozone hedgpethi is probably something different. Leslie commented that
only large specimens of Cirriformia moorei can be identified confidently.
Cossuridae: The depth range listed for Cossura rostrata was questionable. There seems to be
some confusion with the depth ranges of C. rostrata and C. Candida.
Ctenodrilidae: Leslie has seen Ctenodrilidae that are red and also other colors; however, within
the same population all worms are the same color.
Flabelligeridae: Sergio Salazar-Vallejo is publishing a paper on Flabelligerids. He’s splitting up
some species and will be describing some new species.
Acrocirridae: Sergio is also working on this family and will be making some modifications.
Opheliidae: Leslie believes there is more than one species of Polyophthalmus, so she uses
Polyophthalmus spp complex.
Capitellidae: The occurrence of Dasybranchus lumbricoides and Heteromastusfiliformis are
questionable. Leslie commented that there are many undescribed species of Mediomastus. M.
acutus is a good species, but the others listed are questionable.
Jan/Feb-Mar/Apr, 2008
SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 5/6
Maldanidae: Axiothella rubrocincta is a species complex.
Sabellariidae: SCAMIT uses Neosahellaria cementarium following Kirtley (1994), instead of
Sabellaria cementarium.
Ampharetidae: Leslie prefers to use Mugga sp A instead of M. wahrbergi.
Terebellidae: Lanice conchilega is described from the Netherlands. Leslies feels we get
something different here, so she uses L. sp A. Nicolea zostericola is described from the east coast,
and Leslie prefers to use N. sp A. Leslie disagrees with Proclea graffi. Leslie requested good
specimens of Proclea, Lanassa venusta venusta, and L. gracilis for study at the Museum.
Sabellidae; We use Myxicola spp or M. sp A for our local species.
11 FEBRUARY 2008
The meeting was held at SCCWRP. President Larry Lovell opened the meeting by announcing
upcoming meetings. He then opened the floor to nominations for election of officers for the
2008-09 year. Don Cadien nominated the current officers; Tony Phillips seconded the nomination.
Hearing no other nominations, Larry closed the nominations.
Wendy Storms gave an update on her progress converting the Excel Ed 5 species listing into
Access. She is making good progress and has run into limited problems so far. The group then
discussed how we should next proceed, our priorities, and timeframes. Earry presented the
idea that as a volunteer organization there is a lack of available time to devote to this project.
He suggested that we secure funding for this effort so that consultants could be hired to speed
up the process. The group agreed and several avenues of funding were discussed with persons
volunteering to pursue them. Next Rick Rowe briefly presented his idea of a taxonomic bench
sheet that could be derived from the taxonomic database. He sees such a tool as being a valuable
aid to sample processing. Ananda Ranasinghe then discussed having the database function as
the source for P-codes with a held on the species page for such. We reviewed the Visio diagram
outlining the original conceptual design for the database to reassess our priorities. It was decided
that our efforts should be concentrated on preparing and organizing old newsletters, voucher
sheets, and training documents as well as securing funding.
After lunch we continued our discussion regarding direction and progress. Fund sources were
a primary topic with Earry presenting an idea that came from William Van Peeters (Federal
Highways) for approaching Federal agencies for funding. Bill suggested that we come up with a
demonstration unit that could be presented. It would be needed by April/May and to be presented
in June near the close of the current fiscal year. Earry has also been in discussion with Russ Moll
at Sea Grant regarding grant funding. There are two grant options available with Sea Grant: small
up to $10,000, and large up to $100,000. Several members suggested that the POTW’s should be
asked for funding support since their labs will directly benefit from the database.
The meeting ended with all present presenting an action item they would work on for the next
meeting. Those items are presented below. The next meeting was scheduled for April and would
be held at SCCWRP again.
Action Items from the February 2008 SCAMIT Database Meeting:
Cheryl Brantley - will check on the status of a project which is digitizing older, archived
SCAMIT newsletters.
Wendy Storms - will keep working on getting the SCAMIT Species Eist into an Access database.
She will also create some demo queries for people to test.
Earry Eovell - will talk to Katja at Morphbank as well as Dave Montague and Steve Weisberg,
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about finding funding for ongoing SCAMIT database projects.
Rick Rowe - will work with Wendy on the database.
Shelly Walthers - will scan the database visiograph and notes and post them to the Google Group.
Dawn Olson - will start organizing the Taxonomy Training Resources and be a liaison with Katja
at Morphbank with regards to technical discussions.
Don Cadien - will provide Wendy Storms with feedback on her current efforts at databasing the
SCAMIT List; will provide Wendy with an “emend” spreadsheet, and will talk to Moss Landing
about funding.
Tony Phillips - will talk to Scott and Sheila about funding.
Dean Pasko - will talk to the S. Cal POTW’s about funding.
Nick Harking - will try to find some local funding; potentially City of San Diego.
Ananda Ranasinghe- will add Nick to the “batman” list; will coordinate P-codes with Wendy.
Veronica Rodriguez - help create descriptors and terms for the Morphbank site, which will make
up loading our images easier. She will post these to the Google Group.
Megan Lilly - will write up the minutes of the meeting.
18 MARCH 2008
The meeting was well attended: Don Cadien, Lisa Haney, and Larry Lovell from LACSD; Jim
Roney and Tony Phillips from Hyperion; Dean Pasko and Ken Sakamoto from OCSD; Ron
Velarde from CSD; D. Christopher Rogers from Ecoanalysts; and Dot Norris from the City of San
Francisco.
Larry opened with announcements regarding the status of Ed. 5, upcoming meetings including
the Second Joint SAFIT/SCAMIT Workshop on Estuarine arthropods in June, his trip to the
morphbank meeting in Florida, and the upcoming SCAS meetings. Earry discussed the possibility
of SCAMIT having a presence at SCAS via a SCAMIT information table and to show case a
new SCAMIT poster (courtesy of Eeslie Harris). The possibility of the creation of a calendar by
Eeslie was also raised. Earry indicated that it might be beneficial for SAFIT to share our table,
and for the two organizations to present a united front at the SCAS meetings. He then turned to
Christopher Rogers, SAFIT Vice-President, to have him report on the current status of the SAFIT
organization. It was reported that Non-Profit paperwork had been completed, and the organization
was now able to solicit membership. Earry passed around SAFIT membership forms, which were
grabbed by several of the participants.
Don Cadien was asked to report on the SCUM XII meeting in January, and the Joel Hedgpeth
Memorial gathering at SIO on the 8* of March. After these reports Don also mentioned some new
web-based literature resources. The first was the on-line availability of Mary Wicksten’s long
awaited Decapods of California volume. This is available on-line at http://repositories.cdlib.
org/sio/lib/26 for free download. Mary had been having difficulty in getting such a large work
printed, so the on-line availability circumvents that problem. After we have all had a chance to
work with the tome for a while, we will consider it at a future SCAMIT meeting. The goal of such
examination is, as in the past, the locations of differences from agreed SCAMIT nomenclatural
approaches, editorial review, and preparation of a feedback letter to the author. Christopher
Rogers has already found a number/typological problem in the pagurid key which makes all
couplets after 15 inaccessible. Such issues can be resolved once recognized, and we will attempt
to find and remedy all such inadvertent errors during our review. The scope of this volume is far
greater than that of the recently released Decapoda portion of the new Eight and Smith Manual.
It will be instructive to evaluate both of these new resources side-by-side to see where the
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respective authors provide different views of the current state of decapod taxonomy in California.
The second new web-based offering is through a newly established isopod site, http://www.
marinespeeies.org/isopoda which will be edited by a group of international experts on
individual groups. One of the items made available on this new site is a complete set of pdfs of
the Kussakin five volume monograph on North Pacific isopods. These are not widely available
in the west, and although in Russian, are extremely valuable (read indispensable) tools for any
isopod taxonomist.
We then pushed on to the meeting topic. Don handed out two additional documents (attached to
this NL) to supplement the three superfamily documents at issue (Bogidelloidea, Hadzioidea, and
Melphidippoidea) available in the Taxonomic Tools section of the SCAMIT website. Paper copies
of these three were made available to those who had not already downloaded them before the
meeting. Comments on the documents were solicited in the hope that some of the errors which
inevitably creep in to such reviews had been detected by the audience. None were received at the
meeting, but hopefully they will come in later. As errors, new species, and omitted old species
are detected, the documents will be revised to include them. One such revision had already
taken place in the Hadzioidea, so the distributed hard copies were more comprehensive than
those down-loaded from the SCAMIT Web-site (the revised version will soon be posted). This
revision refiected the addition of another species to the NEP fauna, Bathyceradocus wuzzae, from
hydrothermal vent areas off Washington and Oregon.
After going over some of the major features of the group, and examining our first specimen, we
broke up and circulated among three microscope stations to view the materials prepared for the
meeting. The first specimen referred to was a Paraceradocus miersi taken by trawl from off King
George Island in the South Shetland Islands off the end of the Antarctic Peninsula. This is a rather
large animal, so it was passed around during the exposition on the group. The specimen is about 2
inches long and fully intact with both antennae and the magniramous third uropods (many thanks
to SCAMIT Webmaster Jay Shrake for provision of the specimen).
In addition to the material listed in the attached examined species list. Dot Norris had brought
down specimens and a voucher sheet for a provisional taxon from the San Francisco Lab,
Melphisana sp SF1. Since melphidippids were on the menu, this was a delightful addition.
Examination of the voucher sheet, a very nice microphotograph of the telson, and eventually the
specimens, showed that it was not a melphidippid but rather a dexaminid. After considerable
searching through the available literature it was decided that Melphisana sp SF 1 was actually
the same as Paradexamine sp SDl. Several persons pursued this further while other specimens
were being examined, eventually concluding that P. sp SDl and M. sp SFl were similar to P.
pacifica as noted initially by Dean Pasko on his sheet for SDl. This intersected nicely with recent
requests to evaluate records of exotic peracarids in California received from Dr. Paul Fofonoff of
the Smithsonian. He provided notes on other Paradexamine species in California. Don Cadien
continued to pursue this after the meeting and the result is presented elsewhere in the Newsletter
(see “Consideration of Paradexamine spp. in the NEP”).
Several misidentified lots were detected during the examinations. The most interesting of which
were specimens of Gibberosus from the Gulf of California supposedly representing both G.
myersi and G. falciformis. They had been separated from a single light-trap sample taken at
Bahia Kino on the mainland side of the Gulf by Todd Haney and Dave Jacobs. The characters
which had been used in the separation; eye shape/size/color, telsonic setation, and structure of
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Vol. 26, No. 5/6
the third epimeron proved to be less reliable than thought when other eharaeters were evaluated.
These ineluded the strueture of the elongate spines on the distal segments of P3 and P4, whieh
are variously simple, elavate, and hooded in different Gibberosus speeies. Jim Roney noted
an additional eharaeter involving the end of the rami of the third uropods whieh proved highly
diagnostie. The identity of the two lots as separated was ineorreet, but eonsistent. Those identified
as G. myersi proved to be G. falciformis, and those identified as G. falciformis proved to be yet
another undeseribed Gibberosus from the speeies eomplex. Comparison with loeally eolleeted
speeimens of G. myersi provided by Ron Velarde from San Diego helped elarify the differenees
between the speeies examined. We also had speeimens of Gibberosus devaneyi from the northern
Channel Islands for eomparison (also from Haney eolleeted light trap samples). Fortunately
neither the new speeies nor G. falciformis appear in loeal POTW sampling. We must be eautious,
however, beeause Dean Pasko has seen what he believes to be G. falciformis in some samples
from within San Diego Bay. It appears that the four taxa ean be reliably separated on the strueture
of the rami of the third uropods, but more material from a wider area should be examined.
Unfortunately third uropods in megaluropids are deeiduous and if subjeeted to rough handling,
are lost. It remains for the future to sort out other eharaeters whieh ean be relied upon to separate
these elosely related Gibberosus taxa if the third uropods are absent. Until then eonsider the
following key based on third uropods:
1. Uropodal rami laneeolate, spinose on both mesial and lateral borders Gibberosus devaneyi
Uropodal rami fiabellate, spinose only on lateral border.2
2. Uropodal rami broadly fiabellate, bearing a minute setule distally, whieh barely indents
the margin. Gibberosus myersi
Uropodal rami narrowly fiabellate, bearing a distal invagination with
a single large seta, or a eomplex morphology.3
3. Uropodal rami with a narrow invagination bearing a single well
inserted seta. Gibberosus falciformis
Uropodal rami bearing a eomplex invagination whieh expands basally, and bears a basal
eentral protrusion whieh terminates in two reeurved eusps, eaeh bearing small seta.
. Gibberosus sp GCl
When examining NEP megaluropids one must remember that there are several other genera
whieh may oeeur; Resupinus, and the new genus represented by Megaluroidae sp A SCAMIT
1987. Both ean be separated from Gibberosus by laeking a sharp anterior eusp on the oeular lobe
of the head.
Ron Velarde brought speeimens of Megaluropidae sp A SCAMIT, whieh were not examined
due to time eonstraints. The distributed voueher sheet for this animal is quite adequate for
distinguishing it from other megaluropids in the area.
Speeimens listed in the materials examined as Quadrimaera reishi proved to be Maera bousfieldi,
so no speeimens of Quadrimaera were examined during the meeting. Speeimens identified as
Elasmopus antennatus proved to be several speeies, and were not fully resolved by the end of the
meeting. The speeimens of Melita sp A Cadien examined turned up an error in the key to Melita
provided on pg. 20 of the review of the Superfamily Hadziioidea. Couplet 4 of that key should be
revised to read:
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Vol. 26, No. 5/6
“Urosomite 1 bearing three marginal teeth; urosomite 2 laeking marginal teeth, but
bearing a pair of lateral reeurved teeth; one on eaeh side.sp A
Urosomite 1 marginally smooth; urosomite 2 with or without teeth or spines .5”
Thanks to Christopher Rogers who ealled the lateral teeth on the seeond urosomite of this speeies
to our attention. These lateral teeth are eurved upward towards the dorsum, and bear a seta on
their eoneave side. A revision will be posted to the website, so only those who have downloaded a
hardeopy of the key need modify it.
7 APRIL 2008
The April monthly SCAMIT meeting was held at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (CMA) in San
Pedro, CA. SCAMIT has held many meetings at CMA in the past, but it has been several years.
Sinee that time, CMA has a new building; the Aquatie Nursery and the Exploration Center on the
ground floor, and a researeh library and administration offlees on the seeond floor. The meeting
was held in the library. This meeting spaee is very niee with a large monitor for presentations that
was also hooked up to a video eamera attaehed to a disseeting mieroseope for speeimen display.
This new, very aeeommodating spaee should be utilized as a venue for future meetings.
President Larry Lovell opened the meeting with business of the organization. He announeed the
upeoming meeting sehedule noting that meetings in August, September, and Oetober are likely
to involve an interealibration taxonomie review of Edition 5 of the SCAMIT speeies list by those
who will partieipate in the Bight ’08 program. Then he provided an update on the aetivities of the
Taxonomie Database Committee. The Committee had met on April L/ At that meeting Wendy
Storms gave an update on her progress on eonverting Edition 5 of the speeies list into Aeeess.
She will be ineorporating final ehanges and additions by the end of April and have a final version
of the database to present at the next meeting on June 3'"^. Edition 5 of the speeies list, ineluding
index, will be generated from the database and distributed to members by the end of June. Larry
and Wendy have been invited to attend the Morphbank Usability and Ontology Workshops May
1-4 at Tallahassee, EL. Their attendanee will further develop the relationship between Morphbank
and SCAMIT and eontinue SCAMIT’s interaetion with Katja Seltmann at Morphbank. Next
he announeed that SCAMIT Newsletter Volume 25 Number 8 was now posted at the website
and those reeeiving hardeopies would get them soon. He reminded everyone that the Southern
California Aeademy of Seienees is holding their annual meeting May 2"^^ and at Cal State
Dominguez Hills. Larry has been diseussing with the offleers that there should be a SCAMIT
outreaeh table at this meeting. He will be eheeking with SCAS offleers regarding this possibility.
Don Cadien announeed his reeeipt of a new mollusk publieation entitled “Phylogeny and
Evolution of the Mollusea” edited by Winston F. Ponder and David R. Lindberg. It eontains
seventeen artieles eovering all mollusk groups produeed by a notable list of experts in the held of
mollusk researeh. It is available through UC Press or, as noted by Don, at Amazon.eom.
The program was then turned over to Dr. Julianne Kalman for her presentation on parasitie
eopepods. Dr. Kalman opened with a review of her own history with eopepods beginning when
she took a elass from Dr. Ho at CSULB during her Baehelors program. She did her Masters
thesis on the eopepod fish parasites of Santa Moniea Bay working elosely with Dr. Mas Dojiri
and utilizing speeimens eolleeted by the Hyperion Treatment Plant Environmental Monitoring
Division. She went on to get her Ph.D. at UCLA under Dr. Don Buth. Her dissertation took an
expanded look at a broader range of fish parasites. The material for her researeh eame from the
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Vol. 26, No. 5/6
Bight ’03 program. She did much of her work during her tenure as an intern at OCSD.
She then turned her attention to the major scientists who have worked in the field of parasitic
copepod systematics and reviewed their major publications. Giants in the field include these four,
Dr. Ho at CSULB, Dr. Humes (deceased) at Woods Hole, Dr. Kabata at the Pacific Biological
Station in British Columbia, and Dr. Boxshall at the Natural History Museum in London. Major
publications include Boxshall and Halsey (2004), Huys and Boxshall (1991), and Kabata (1979).
In addition, there is a NOAA parasite-host checklist produced by Love and Moser (1983) that is
useful.
Dr. Kalman then presented an overview of copepods as a group, including the varied habitats
where they may be found and their morphology and reproduction. Most parasitic copepods occur
as ectoparasites, but some are endoparasitic (typically on invertebrates). Parasitic copepods are
found in two of the nine orders within the class Maxillopoda, Cyclopoida and Siphonostomatoida.
Mandibles are the primary taxonomic character. She reviewed the local species of parasitic
copepods, providing host information and infection sites and general illustrations of the copepod
body including key taxonomic features.
The small but interested group broke for a great lunch provided by CMA and a post lunch tour
of the Exploration Center, main Exhibit Hall, and invertebrate/fish collections area. Dr. Kalman
is in charge of curating all collections and has great plans for rearranging the collection in the
current and new space. She plans to make the collections database available via a website so that
knowledge of the holdings is accessible to researchers and students.
After lunch and the tour, we were shown specimens of many of the local parasitic copepods she
had referred to earlier in the day. The specimens came from a variety of host sources, but all were
all from the southern California area.
This was the first meeting SCAMIT has had at CMA in many years. CMA staff is interested in
providing this new meeting space for SCAMIT meetings. Members who attended were very
impressed and hope to return there soon.
MEETINGS OE INTEREST
Speaking in current time again (Feb 2009), the Annual WSM meeting will be held at Cal State
Fullerton this summer. Please see the attached fiyers for more details.
LILJEBORGIIDAE KEY
Please see the attached key to the Eilliborgiidae produced by Dean Pasko and Don Cadien.
NEW LITERATURE
At the January meeting Don Cadien had graciously resumed his habit of bringing new literature
to the attention of attendees. Below are the articles he shared.
Hietanen, Susanna, Eaine, Ari O., and Eukkari, Kaarina. 2007. The complex effects of the
invasive polychaetes Marenzelleria spp. on benthic nutrient dynamics. Journal of
Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Vol 352:89-102.
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SCAMIT Newsletter
Vol. 26, No. 5/6
Larsen, Kim, and Krapp-Schickel, Traudl. 2007 Amphipoda (Crustacea: Peracarida) from
chemically reduced habitats; the hydrothermal vent system of the north-east Pacific.
Part II. Melitidae and Eusiridae. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, United
Kingdoms?: 1207-1217.
Nakano, Tomoyuki, Spencer, Hamish G. 2007. Simultaneous polyphenism and cryptic species
in an intertidal limpet from New Zealand. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45:
470-479.
Negreiros-Fransozo, M.E., Wenner, E.E., Knott, D.M., and Fransozo, A. The megalopa and early
juvenile stages of Calappa tortugae Rathbun, 1933 (Crustacea, Brachyura) reared in the
laboratory from South Carolina neuston samples. Proceedings of the Biological Society
of Washington. Vol 120 No 4, pp. 469-485.
LITERATURE CITED
Allen, M. J., T. Mikel, D. Cadien, J. E. Kalman, E. T. Jarvis, K. C. Schiff, D. W. Diehl, S. E.
Moore, S. Walther, G. Deets, C. Cash, S. Watts, D. J. Pondella II, V. Raco-Rands, C.
Thomas, R. Gartman, E. Sabin, W. Power, A. K. Groce and J. E. Armstrong. 2007.
Southern California Bight 2003 Regional Monitoring Program: IV. Demersal Fishes
and Megabenthic Invertebrates. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
Technical Report. Costa Mesa, CA.
Boggemann, M. 2005. Revision of the Goniadidae (Annelida, Polychaeta). Abhandlungen des
Naturwissenschaffichen Vereins in Hamburg 39: 1-354.
Boxshall, G. A. and Halsey, S. H. 2004. An Introduction to Copepod Diversity. Ray Society,
Eondon. 966 pp.
Hartman, O. 1968. Atlas of the Errantiate Polychaeteous Annelids from California. Allan
Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California Eos Angeles, California. 828 pp.
Humes, A.G. and Gooding, R.U. 1963. A method for studying the external anatomy of copepods.
Crustaceana. 6:238-240.
Huys, R. & Boxshall, G.A. 1991. Copepod Evolution. The Ray Society, Eondon. 468pp.
Kabata, Z. 1979. Parasitic Copepoda of British fishes. Ray Society, Eondon.
468 pp., 199 pis.
Kalman, J. E. 2001. Parasites of demersal fishes as potential indicators of wastewater discharge
in Santa Monica Bay. M. S. Thesis. California State University, Eong Beach. 98 pp.
Kalman, J. E. 2006. Ectoparasites of demersal marine fishes in Santa Monica Bay, California,
U.S.A., with 31 new host records and three range extensions. Comparative Parasitology.
73(2):201-213.
Kalman, J. E. 2006. Parasites of marine fishes associated with wastewater discharge in the
Southern California Bight. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of California, Eos Angeles.
245 p.
Eove, M. S. and Moser, M. 1983. A checklist of parasites of California, Oregon, and Washington
marine and estuarine fishes. NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF-777:1-576.
Meissner, K. 2005. Revision of the genus Spiophanes (Polychaeta, Spionidae). Mitteilungen aus
dem Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin - Zoologische Reihe 81: 3-65.
Nygren, A. 2004. Revision of the Autolytinae (Syllidae: Polychaeta). Zootaxa 680: 1-314.
Yokoyama, H. 2007. A revision of the genus Paraprionospio Caullery (Polychaeta: Spionidae).
Zoological Journal of the Einnean Society 151: 253-284.
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Vol. 26, No. 5/6
Please visit the SCAMIT Website at: www.seamit.org
SCAMIT OFFICERS
If you need any other information eoneeming SCAMIT please feel free to eontaet any of the offieers at
their e-mail addresses:
President Larry Lovell (310)830-2400X5613 llovell@laesd.org
Viee-President Leslie Harris (213)763-3234 lharris@nhm.org
Seeretary Megan Lilly (619)758-2336 mlilly@sandiego.gov
Treasurer Cheryl Brantley (310)830-2400x5605 ebrantley@laesd.org
Hard eopy baek issues of the newsletter are available. Priees are as follows:
Volumes 1 - 4 (eompilation).$ 30.00
Volumes 5 - 7 (eompilation).$ 15.00
Volumes 8-15 .$ 20.00/vol.
Single baek issues are also available at eost.
The SCAMIT newsletter is published every two months and is distributed freely to members in good
standing. Membership is $15 for an eleetronie eopy of the newsletter, available via the web site at
www.scamit.org, and $30 to reeeive a printed eopy via USPS. Institutional membership, whieh
ineludes a mailed printed eopy, is $60. All new members reeeive password proteeted website aeeess to
the most eurrent edition of “A Taxonomie Listing of Soft Bottom Maero- and Megainvertebrates ... in
the Southern California Bight.” All eorrespondenees ean be sent to the Seeretary at the email address
above or to:
SCAMIT
C/0 The Natural History Museum, Invertebrate Zoology
attn: Leslie Harris
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
CONSIDERATION OF PARADEXAMINE SPP IN THE NEP
Many years ago SCAMIT noted the introduction of a species of Paradexamine to
Catalina Island. This was first based on collections of specimens by NMFS through
Tony Chess. Don Cadien examined these and concluded they were Paradexamine, and
definitely introduced, but did not characterize them further than genus. The animal was
reported by various monitoring agencies in the SCB before long, usually collected in
embayments such as San Diego or Mission Bays, or in harbor complexes. It was only
rarely encountered in open coastal samples. Eventually Dean Pasko prepared a voucher
sheet on the animal, giving it the designation Paradexamine sp SDI Pasko 1999. At the
time he noted similarities to P. pacifica Thompson 1879, a species known from subtidal
collections in New Zealand. This is a good ecological match for the California
occurrences of Paradexamine, which are generally associated with algal growth on rocks
or artificial substrates. Dean noted several points of difference from the described
species in the material at hand, however, and maintained the provisional status of the
taxon.
Since Paradexamine is a speciose genus, with 33 morphotypes worldwide
(distributed among 28 nominate taxa - the rest being inappropriate use of established
names for undefined species of differing morphology see J. E. Barnard 1972) we have not
previously attempted further identification. Recently others have applied other names in
the process of identifications of taxa outside of the SCB area. During regional WEMAP,
ISS and other efforts the following nomenclatural uses have been introduced;
Paradexamine sp (in Chapman 2007), Paradexamine churinga, and Paradexamine cf.
chiiringa. According to the cuiTent draft NEMESIS introduced species compilation these
three are synonymous and can be combined. I would submit that it is highly likely, given
the potential for coastal transport in the areas between San Diego and San Francisco, that
this is the same taxon as Paradexamine sp SDI in the SCB. It remains possible that there
have been multiple introductions, with several exotic members of the genus present in the
NEP. This will only be resolved if more detailed taxonomic description of the northern
recorded form becomes available. A voucher sheet for Paradexamine sp SDI exists, has
been distributed through SCAMIT to member agencies, and can be made available to
other interested parties. This describes a sufficient number of character states that we can
reject many (but not all) of the described species as being equivalent.
At a recent SCAMIT meeting specimens of a form provisionally reported as
Melphisana sp SF1 were examined. These come from the area where Paradexamine
sp!churinga!cf. churinga has been reported. Examination of the material during the
meeting showed it to not be a melphidippid, but a dexaminid which could not be
separated from Paradexamine sp SDI. If the examined specimens represent the form
found in the San Francisco area and reported as ‘spichuringa!cf. churinga, specimens so
reported are equivalent to sp SDI of SCAMIT member agencies.
The genus was most recently discussed in detail world-wide by J. E. Barnard
(1972), where he listed the 33 morphotypes mentioned above. Since that time ten
additional species have been described in the genus, bringing the list of potential source
populations to 43. Attempts are underway to relate the introduced Paradexamine to a
source population. In the interim I propose that usage be unified on this coast, since all
available data point to a single introduced taxon both south and north of Pt. Conception. I
further suggest that Paradexamine sp SDl be that unified usage, as it is the only one of
the current names applied which has a distributed (and further distributable) description
base. Use of P. churinga is not appropriate for the specimens from southern California or
the examined materials from San Francisco based on the structure of the telson and the
ocular lobe of the head.
Chapman (2007) used an illustration of P. frinsdorfi to represent the introduced
taxon he was seeing (supposedly the same as P. churinga and P. cf churinga). P.
frinsdorfi, however, has a different structure to the first urosomite than do the specimens
examined in California, or P. churinga. These species have a single median tooth on the
first urosomite, while P. frinsdorfi (illustrated on pg. 583 of Chapman 2007) has this
median tooth flanked by a pair of lateral teeth. Specimens examined from the San
Francisco area at the recent meeting will key properly to Paradexamine sp in the
Chapman key, but will not match the illustration provided to represent the genus.
Many of the potential source populations for the NEP Paradexamine specimens can be
eliminated by the morphology of those animals. The process of source identification
continues, but species which can already be eliminated from consideration by their
incompatible character states are listed below:
ocular lobe of head bearing acute cusp f goornai, frinsdorfi, lanacoura, flindersi,
otichi, maunaloa, ronggi, quarallia, muriwai, windarma, alkoornie, narluke, fissicauda,
thadalee, dandaloo, churinga, echuca, bisetigera, mozambica, excavata
urosomite 1 (pleonite 4 of J. L. Barnard 1972 phyletic key) with dorsomedial tooth
only, not bearing flanking lateral teeth f goornai, frinsdorfi, lanacoura, flindersi,
otichi, maunaloa, ronggi, quarallia, muriwai, windai^a, alkoornie, narluke, mozambica,
excavata
taxa not excluded by these characters = moorhousei, barnardi, marlie, houtete, linga,
pacifica, orientalis, micronesica, gigas, setigera, fraudatrix, rewa,
taxa not yet evaluated = miersi, nana, sexdentata, pacifica (ID of Nagata), barnardi (ID
of^digditd), flmdersi (ID of Nagata),(ID of Pirlot), indentata, tafunsaka,
serraticrus.
Nearly half of the morphotypes have already been contraindicated as potential sources for
the California specimens, but considerable work remains. Many of the remaining species
are likely to differ in details of the terminal serration/spination/setation of the telson,
which is the next character to be compared.
INFRAORDER BOGIDIELLIDA - a component of the old Gammaridae S. L.
Don Cadien - SCAMIT Meeting 17 March 2008
I imagine that most of you are here just to try and find out what Bogidiellids are!
None of our regional literature makes reference to members of the Family Bogidiellidae
as part of our fauna, and the same is true of the Superfamily Bogidielloidea. Well, as you
will learn today, we actually do have a member of the family within the bounds of the
North East Pacific, but only at its southern most extent in Panama. There are also some
family members in fresh waters further north in North America, but no marine or even
brackish water representatives (as yet reported) on the Pacific Coast.
We are, however, richly supplied with members of the infraorder placed in two
other superfamilies composing it, the Hadzioidea and the Melphidippoidea. Members of
the first of these groups are common in the NEP, particularly in intertidal and rocky
subtidal/piling/dock habitats, while members of the second are exclusively found on
sedimentaiy bottoms. All thi*ee of these superfamilies, the entire content of the
infraorder, are fragments of the old eoneept of Gammaridae sensu lato. Some would still
prefer to see the old broader concept maintained, but its major proponent died a number
of years ago. Elis contention was that it is impossible to exclusively diagnose all of the
subdivisions here adopted, and that therefore they should not be used as formal
nomenclatural units. He (this being, of course, J. L. Barnard) was perfectly comfortable
with use of informal nomenclatural units to group together similar forms into more
convenient (and considerably smaller) aggregations of species. He proposed many of the
informal groups which have subsequently been formalized by others. Diagnoses of the
superfamilies and their component families are now available and are included in your
handouts. They are not entirely satisfactory, but represent the best that can currently be
produced. There is no diagnosis of the Infraorder. As heirarchical levels become larger,
and included forms more diverse, diagnosis becomes ever more difficult.
Rather than try to eke out a primitive diagnosis of the Infraorder, let us just accept
it as offered here, with its only definition its contents. Using that approach a
bogidielloidean is a member of one of the following families; Allocrangonyctidae,
Hadziidae, Melitidae, Carangoliopsidae, Bogidiellidae, Melphidippidae, Hornelliidae,
Megaluropidae, and Phreatogammaridae.
The materials distributed here are all available for download from the SCAMIT
website in the Taxonomic Tools section. Hard copies are available for those who did not
download the material prior to the meeting. Each of the three superfamilies comprising
the Bogidiellida are represented in the handouts. They cover all marine forms known
from the area (as far as I can tell ) of the NEP between to Equator and the Aleutian island
chain, and east of the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This coverage is meant to be inclusive
enough that whatever any SCAMIT member finds anywhere in the NEP should be
covered in the keys and species lists provided. New species are introduced into the area
with frequency, however, and new species are deseribed. As they are, these documents
will be updated, hopefully maintaining full coverage.
Most of the species listed will not be eneountered during the average POTW
monitoring program, but anyone using these materials will be ready for anything new that
shows up, or any expansion of regional monitoring, such as the current further expansion
into eoastal wetlands not previously monitored. Those of you who wish to use these keys
Maera nelsonae Krapp-Schickel and Jarrett 2000
Veiy uncommon on upper slopes in our area, and also ranging to the north. This
would have been identified in the past as Maera loveni, so if old reeords of that animal
exist in your databases, they should be reexamined. M. loveni is valid, and does occur in
the northern reaches of the NEP, but reaehes its southern limit at Puget Sound.
Quadrimaera reishi (J. L. Barnard 1979)
Originally identified in 1959 as Maera inequipes of Costa from Newport Bay. It
is likely that this species will be encountered in embayment samples during B’08. It is
very similar to a second species, Quadrimaera carla Krapp-Schiekel and Jarrett 2000
which occurs to the north.
Hornellia occidentalis (J. L. Barnard 1959)
Originally described as Metaceradocus occidentalis from Newport Bay, this is an
animal likely to be encountered in estuarine and perhaps even the wetlands sampling
efforts undertaken in Bight ’08.
Gibberosus myersi (MeKinney 1980)
Found on shallow fine-sorted sandy bottoms. An active swimmer, it is often
taken in light-trap samples. Difficult to distinguish from its congener G. devaneyi, which
is largly sympatric but occupies a slightly differing niche. If the third uropods are on the
animal the distinetioin is clear, but in their absenee it beeomes quite difficult to
distinguish the two species.
Gibberosus devaneyi Thomas and J. L.Barnard 1986
Generally less commonly encountered in the SCB than G. myersi, although
locally common. Usually in even shallower fine sand bottoms than G. myersi, and
perhaps even into the intertidal. Like G. myersi an active swimmer. Specimens for
examination are from light trap samples in the Northern Channel Islands.
Gibberosus falciformis J. L. Barnard 1969
Not distributed in the SCB, these specimens are from the Gulf of California.
They were eollected in a mixed population with Gibberosus myersi by light trap
sampling. This species is provided to show the small differences that allow
diserimination of species in this genus in the NEP. Compare with the myersi specimens
and you will find differences in the eye, in the eyelobe, in the telsonic spination, and in
the ornamentation of the third epimeron.
Melphisana bola J. L. Barnard 1962
Carried in the past as part of the Melphisana bola complex on the SCAMIT Ed. 4
list due to variability in the tel son, and possible confusion with Melphidippa amorita on
that character. The two genera can, however, easily be distinguished on the basis of the
accessoiy Ilagellum, and we no longer need to maintain the complex designation. The
telsonic variability still remains, and still creates difficulties in the absence of the
LIST OF BOGIDIELLOID MATERIAL FOR EXAMINATION DURING 17 MARCH
MEETING
Paraceradocus miersi Pfeffer 1888 - 1 large male
This species is known only from the southern ocean. This specimen was taken by
trawling near King George Island in the South Shetland group, off the end of the
Antarctic Peninsula. It is out for examination because it shows some of the common
features of animals in this group, and is extraordinarily large...to assist in viewing.
Elasmopiis antennatus (Stout 1913)
The species is quite common in fouling communities in bays throughout southern
California, but does not stray much from that habitat.
Elasmopus barnpo J. E. Barnard 1979
Also taken in quiet waters like its congener above, but more commonly on soft
bottoms than in fouling communities.
Desdimelita desdichada (J. E. Barnard 1962)
Found not infrequently in bottom samples from areas bearing or near to areas with
rocks. The animals live in association with algae, but can easily be dislodged and
transported onto soft bottoms. They may also be found on the algae associated with
polychaete tube caps such as Diopatra on soft bottoms. In any case they are a constituent
of our benthic samples from time to time.
Melita nitida Smith 1874
This is an introduced species normally ranging in the northwest Atlantic. It is not
uncommon in fouling communities in some parts of Central California, and has been
taken in the San Gabriel River tidal prism here in southern California. It is not likely to
be taken offshore, but it is best to keep ones eyes open.
Melita sp A Cadien 2007
Probably not to be encountered in the SCB as yet. Currently known only from a
few sites in Central California. A close match grossly to M. oregonensis, but differing in
detail. Points up the necessity for close examination of these animals, and the probability
that additional cryptic sibling species will be encountered in future.
Maera jerrica Krapp-Schickel and Jarrett 2000
A common constituent of open coastal soft bottom samples within the SCB,
originally identified as the following species as one of its two forms. This form was
elevated to specific level by Krapp-Schickel and Jarrett in 2000. The two differ in detail,
but are very close in overall appearance.
Maera similis Stout 1913
Also occurring in the literature as Maera simile, but similis is the correct
orthography. Another shallow water form we will probably encounter in Bight ’08
samples.
Maera nelsonae Krapp-Schickel and Jarrett 2000
Very uncommon on upper slopes in our area, and also ranging to the north. This
would have been identified in the past as Maera loveni, so if old records of that animal
exist in your databases, they should be reexamined. M. loveni is valid, and does oecur in
the northern reaches of the NEP, but reaehes its southern limit at Puget Sound.
Quadrimaera reishi (J. L. Barnard 1979)
Originally identified in 1959 as Maera inecjuipes of Costa from Newport Bay. It
is likely that this species will be encountered in embayment samples during B’08. It is
very similar to a second species, Quadrimaera carla Krapp-Schickel and Jarrett 2000
whieh oeeurs to the north.
Hornellia occidentalis (J. L. Barnard 1959)
Originally deseribed as Metaceradocus occidentalis from Newport Bay, this is an
animal likely to be encountered in estuarine and perhaps even the wetlands sampling
efforts undertaken in Bight ’08.
Gibberosus myersi (McKinney 1980)
Found on shallow fine-sorted sandy bottoms. An active swimmer, it is often
taken in light-trap samples. Difficult to distinguish from its congener G. devaneyi, whieh
is largly sympatric but occupies a slightly differing niche. If the third uropods are on the
animal the distinctioin is elear, but in their absence it becomes quite difficult to
distinguish the two species.
Gibberosus devaneyi Thomas and J. L.Barnard 1986
Generally less commonly encountered in the SCB than G. myersi, although
loeally common. Usually in even shallower fine sand bottoms than G. myersi, and
perhaps even into the intertidal. Like G. myersi an active swimmer. Speeimens for
examination are from light trap samples in the Northern Channel Islands.
Gibberosus falciformis J. L. Barnard 1969
Not distributed in the SCB, these specimens are from the Gulf of California.
They were collected in a mixed population with Gibberosus myersi by light trap
sampling. This species is provided to show the small differences that allow
discrimination of species in this genus in the NEP. Compare with the myersi specimens
and you will find differences in the eye, in the eyelobe, in the telsonic spination, and in
the ornamentation of the third epimeron.
Melphisana bola J. L. Barnard 1962
Carried in the past as part of the Melphisana bola complex on the SCAMIT Ed. 4
list due to variability in the telson, and possible confusion with Melphidippa amorita on
that character. The two genera can, however, easily be distinguished on the basis of the
accessory flagellum, and we no longer need to maintain the complex designation. The
telsonic variability still remains, and still creates difficulties in the absence of the
antennal flagellum. Why the animals are so variable in characters of the telson remains
unelear, and worthy of further researeh.
Key to the species of the Liljeborgiidae recorded by SCAMIT
Dean Pasko, September 2006 (rev. 10/24/08)
(Adapted from Barnard 1959, and Cadien 2006)
1. Gnathopod 1 larger than gnathopod 2. Idunella^
— Gnathopod 2 larger than gnathopod 1.2
2. Article 5 of gnathopods 1 and 2 weakly produced, thick, blunt, and not produced along
posterior margin of article 6; outer ramus of uropod 3 bi-articulate. (Listriella) .. 3
— Article 5 of gnathopods 1 and 2 strongly produced, slender and elongate; outer ramus of
uropod 3 simple (uni-aiticulate). (Liljeborgia) ..10
3. Pigmentation and eyes absent. Listriella albina Barnard 1959
— Pigmentation and eyes (pigmented or not) present.4
4. Antennae 1, article 2 with pigment distally.5
— Antennae 1, article 2 without pigment distally.6
5. Antenna 1, article 2 distinctly shorter than article 1 (<2/3 the length of article 1),
accessory flagellum approximately equal to flagellum article 1, flagellum article 1
subequal to article 2; pereonites 2-5 typically darkly pigmented; epimeron 1 rounded
(female) or sub-acute (male); male gnathopod 2 strongly oblique with blunt distal
process. Listriella melanica Barnard 1959
— Antenna 1, article 2 subequal to article l(>3/4 the length of article 1), accessory
flagellum approximately one-half of flagellum article 1, flagellum article 1 about one-
third longer than article 2; pereonites 2-5 typically diffusely pigmented with
characteristic thin band of pigment along posterior margins; epimeron 1 posterior
margin sinuous, sub-acute distally (male & female); male gnathopod 2 oblique, slightly
convex. Listriella goleta Barnard 1959
6. Epimeron 3 notched.8
— Epimeron 3 without notch (distal tooth present/absent).7
7. Head with pigment; epimeron 3 rounded, tooth absent; uropod 3 outer ramus
approximately one-third of inner ramus. Listriella eriopisa Barnard 1959 (in part)
— Head without pigmented; epimeron 3 with distal tooth; uropod 3 rami subequal.
. Listriella sp A SCAMIT 1987§
^ Not reported by SCAMIT as of date of this key.
Macintosh HD;Users:thepaskos:Documents:Dad's stuff:Taxonomy:Oedicerotidae:Key to Southern California Species ofLiljeborgidae.doc
Last printed 10/24/2008 3:32 PM Page 1 of 2
Key to the species of the Liljeborgiidae recorded by SCAMIT
Dean Pasko, September 2006 (rev. 10/24/08)
(Adapted from Barnard 1959, and Cadien 2006)
8. Uropod 3 outer ramus approximately one-third of inner ramus.
. Listriella eriopisa (juveniles)
— Uropod 3 rami subequal.9
9. Antenna 1 accessory flagellum approximately one-half of flagellum article 1, flagellum
article 1 about one-third longer than article 2; antenna 2 reaching slightly beyond
gnathopods; uropod 2 rami reaching end of uropod 3 peduncle; rami of uropod 3
elongate, narrow. Listriella sp SDl Pasko 2001§
— Antenna 1 accessoty flagellum approximately equal to flagellum article 1, flagellum
article 1 subequal to article 2; antenna 2 reaching just reaching gnathopods; uropod 2
rami extending to end of uropod 3 rami; uropod 3 rami broad, tear-drop shaped (male) to
slightly broadened proximally and tapering distally (female)L/s^nW/a diffusa Barnard 1959
10. Telson cleft nearly to base, lobes with imbedded terminal spine; basis of P5-7 only 1-
1.5x as long as wide; with eyes .11
— Telson cleft only 'A to 1/3, lacking terminal spines on telsonic lobes; basis of P5-7
more than twice as long as wide; blind.13
11. Epimeron 1 concave above posterio-ventral tooth. Liljeborgiapallida Bate 1857
— Epimeron 1 convex above posterio-ventral tooth.12
12. Cusps of telsonic lobes longer medially than laterally; eyes reniform.
. Liljeborgia marcinabrio Barnard 1969
— Cusps of telsonic lobes subequal to longer laterally than medially; eyes oval to
subquadrate. Liljeborgia geminata Barnard 1969
13. Epimeronal segments 1-3 and urosomal segments 1 and 2 with large spine, dactyl of
G2 not serrate. Liljeborgia sp CSl Cadien 2004§
— Epimeronal segment 1 with small spine or spine absent, other Epimeronal and
urosomal segments with spines large, small, or absent; dactyl of G2 serrate.
. Liljeborgia cota Barnard 1962
Macintosh HD;Users:thepaskos:Documents:Dad's stuff:Taxonomy:Oedicerotidae:Key to Southern California Species ofLiljeborgidae.doc
Last printed 10/24/2008 3:32 PM Page 2 of 2
Western Society
Malacologists
-taimini
June 23-27, 2009
Califounia State University, Fullerton
Meeting:
The Western Society of Malacologists (WSM) is a society of professional and
amateur mollusk researchers and enthusiasts. We encourage anyone interested in
learning more about mollusks to attend! If you would I ike to present your research
on mollusks, please register to give a talk or a poster.
Conference Highlights:
^ Symposium on conservation of mollusks.
^ Field trip to Santa Catal ina Island.
^ Bivalve Workshop: learn the basics of identifying marine bivalves worldwide.
Micromollusk Workshop: learn techniques of working with tiny mollusks.
Students and Enthusiasts Welcome!
Registration and abstracts are due April 30, 2009.
Registration form and more information available on the website.
- WW.DIVERSIFORMA.COM -
Questions? Contact Michael Vendrasco mvendrasco@fullerton.edu or 562-645-2644
The 2oog WSM annual meeting is sponsored by the Department of Biological Science, CSUF.
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