Searching for New Species

A very interesting article here on scientists in search of rare and new species.

Deathworm2009

I think that just about says it all.

New Bird

Some details here on the Togian white-eye and its discoverer. And a quote of interest:

"Joel Cracraft, the curator in charge of the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, said there's a popular perception that most bird species are widespread, that, like the American robin, they inhabit huge ranges.
"'But, in fact, most birds, most organisms are very narrowly distributed,' he said. 'They're found only in small areas and nowhere else in the world. When you have a situation like that, then you are likely to discover new species.'
"And, he added, 'There's just so much on this planet that hasn't really been investigated scientifically, lots of areas in the Andes, in Himalayas, in southeast Asia, in the big, big rainforest areas of South America and Congo.
"'We have not truly explored this earth, in terms of all the life forms that are on it. We are nowhere near complete in that effort.'"

New Fish

A marine biologist with the Benthic Crozet project near the Crozet islands (southern Indian Ocean) has discovered six new species of deep sea fish. (News source.)

Celebes Sea Expedition

Notes on a recent 2007 expedition to the Celebes Sea, with plenty of photos.

Celebes Sea Expedition

An ocean explorer with the New England Aquarium will be exploring the Celebes Sea, renowned for its diversity. From the press release:

"Stone is part of an undersea expedition which will explore the unique Celebes Sea, just south of the Philippines. The Celebes Sea is unlike anywhere else on the planet. With a shallow rim that protects it from deep-running frigid currents, it is one of the only deep ocean areas filled with warmer, life-sustaining water from its surface to its great depths. Scientists believe that most of the Earth’s oceans were similar 25 million years ago. The deep waters of the Celebes Sea just might be an ancient, biological time capsule. There has been little exploration of the deeper waters of the Celebes Sea. From September 24 to October 16, a joint expedition of the New England Aquarium, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Geographic Magazine, in cooperation with the Philippine government, will do a top-to-bottom exploration of the twisted trenches and seafloor basins of this strange sea. Operating from a 175 foot research vessel, the scientists will use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that can descend to 10,000 feet and is also outfitted with HDTV and biological collecting equipment. They will also use baited deep sea cameras and deep sea trawl nets. Dr. Stone is a veteran National Geographic expedition leader, yet he exclaimed, 'We expect to make spectacular findings, including discovering new species and capturing images of beautifully strange creatures.'"

Bader, Moneymaker and Beckjord - Upper Peninsula Letters to the Editor

Most people who read this type of entry are all to familiar with the internal bickering and name-saying that goes on in Bigfoot and related studies.

Most are also familiar with the BFRO (Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization) and their work and expeditions, including the one from July 12-15, 2007 in Michigans Upper Peninsula. It has been in the news, and mentioned at various Internet locations.

On July 3, 2007 a Paul Bader had a letter to the editor of the Daily Press posted. Entitled There's no bigfoot in the U.P. . Within this editorial letter, Bader explains his background and briefly why he feels no Bigfoot exists in the Upper Peninsula. He concludes his letter with the following:

I feel Matthew Moneymakers’ search for bigfoot in the U.P. is a folly. The real people to ask about bigfoot are the lumberjacks and the foresters, as they are in the woods a lot and know the difference between a bear and bigfoot or any other animal.

If there were bigfoot in the U.P., I would have found a track or some sort of evidence during that time as I have walked many miles of muddy and dry logging roads of all sorts, new and old ones, or would have heard from other foresters of a bigfoot sighting or track.

Mathew Moneymaker in response has a letter to the editor published on July 7, 2007. His letter, Why bigfoot hasn't been seen offers a challenge to Bader as follows:

My questions to Mr. Paul Bader: How many times has he explored the U.P. woods at night? Has he seen at least one specimen of every mammal species that is known to live in the U.P.?

This is all well and good. Freedom of speech, freedom to speak ones mind and challenge others to express or follow-up on their viewpoints.

Also on July 7, 2007 Erik Beckjord had a response letter printed as well. Beckjord's letter, Bigfoot, elusive, is still here touched on the non-flesh and blood mindset within some Bigfooters. Beckjord states at the letter start the following:

It is our experience at the National Cryptozoological Society that a special type of bigfoot exists in Michigan, either upper or lower, but it is more of a space-time creature, ala Einstein and parallel universes, rather than a trappable being.

Bigfooters attack each other, there is a sense of ownership to the work to the methodologies and to the collected reports. The theories bounce around, and holy grails are held to a flame ala the Patterson-Gimlin Film (read Darren Naish's well put together entry Frame 352, and all that at Tetrapod Zoology).

It is good, in a sense, to see newspapers (even if they may not all be paper based now) use the age old method of letters to the editors to demonstrate civic debate. It may not be the most common public debate, but none-the-less the venue is beneficial and it reaches an audience.

We have, therefore, in three (3) small letters to a regional press, the context of Bigfoot and his kingdom. The skeptic, the challenger and the non-mainstream challenger. Who is correct?

Dwarf Killer Whale?

The killer whale is familiar to us all due in part to its popularized appearance in media attractions, like Shamu from Sea World. However, there has been much debate over how many species of these whales actually exist in the worlds oceans.

The killer whale, Orcinus orca, is the only species formally accepted at this time. However, not the only one described. Orcinus nanus was described in 1981 and Orcinus glacialis was described in 1982, both by Soviet researchers. O. nanus was based on body measurements with no maintained holotype, while O. glacialis was based on at least 6-specimens, unfortunately the holotype and paratypes were later discarded .

Later three (3) subcategories of killer whales were broken out based on observed specimens as well as photographic evidence.

Type A – the classic killer whale that inhabits the open Antarctic waters, primarily feeding on minke whales

Type B – gray, black and white form that lives in the loose pack ice areas and feeds primarily on pinnipeds.

Type C – gray, black and white form that lives in the hard pack ice and feeds primarily on fish.

Each of these types varies in eye patch coloration as well, leading researchers such as Pitman and Ensor to speculate that type B and C may well be distinct species based on ecological and morphological differences.

Recently researchers R.L. Pitman, W.L. Perryman, D. LeRoi and E. Eilers took the task on of evaluating the whales, and have thus had their paper “A dwarf form of killer whale in Antarctica” published in the Journal of Mammalogy 88 (1): 43-48, 2007.

The researchers conducted helicopter flights, 10 in total, starting in January 2005. Taking images from 8 of the flights, the researchers collected 252 images of unique specimens. The Type C specimen was the only one observed during the flights, and 220 of the images were viable for measurement analysis.

The results suggest that the Type C specimens are distinctly smaller than Orcinus orca, being up to 50% smaller in size. While the results do not support these whales being a distinct species, they are suggestive of a reproductive isolation of the Type C wherein adult females Type A’s are an average 0.8 metres larger than adult Type C males, making it less likely the female would mate with the smaller male.

The researchers do not go as far as stating these Type C whales are new species, rather suggest that additional morphological and genetic analysis must be done to determine whether a secondary species exists in the Antarctic waters. Until then one can only speculate that at a minimum there are at least two distinct groupings of whales, with the Type B category being either a potential third group, or a grouping of mixed Type A’s and Type C’s.

New shark, ray species found

Please note, the article below details some basic data on 20 new species of sharks and rays from Indonesia between 2001 and 2006, some have been formally described, others are pending. You can purchase a hard copy of the referenced field guide through the ACIAR, or also download a copy (over 6 mb) freely of "Economically important sharks and rays Indonesia "


Twenty new species of sharks and rays have been discovered in Indonesia during a five-year survey of catches at local fish markets, Australian researchers said on Wednesday.

The survey by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, or CSIRO, represents the first in-depth look at Indonesia's sharks and rays since Dutch scientist Pieter Bleeker described more than 1 100 fish species from 1842-1860.

Researchers said six of their discoveries have been described in peer review journals, including the Bali Catshark and Jimbaran Shovelnose Ray, found only in Bali, and the Hortle's Whipray, found only in West Papua.Papers on the remaining 14 are being prepared.

"Indonesia has the most diverse shark and ray fauna and the largest shark and ray fishery in the world, with reported landings of more than 100 000 tons a year," said William White, a co-author of the study. "Before this survey, however, there were vast gaps in our knowledge of sharks and rays in this region."

Based on the survey's findings, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research has published a 330-page, full-colour, field guide titled: "Economically Important Sharks and Rays of Indonesia."From 2001 to 2006, researchers photographed and sampled more than 130 species on 22 survey trips to 11 ports across Indonesia.

More than 800 specimens were lodged in reference collections at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense at Cibinong, Java, and the Australian National Fish Collection at Hobart.The survey was part of a broader project working toward improved management of sharks and rays in Indonesia and Australia, researchers said.

"Good taxonomic information is critical to managing shark and ray species, which reproduce relatively slowly and are extremely vulnerable to overfishing," White said in a statement. "It provides the foundation for estimating population sizes, assessing the effects of fishing and developing plans for fisheries management and conservation."

Colossal Squid Caught

New Zealand Fishermen Catch Rare Squid

A fishing crew has caught a colossal squid that could weigh a half-ton and prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed, a fisheries official said Thursday.

The squid, weighing an estimated 990 lbs and about 39 feet long, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.

The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, sold under the name Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," Anderton said.

The fishing crew and a fisheries official on board their ship estimated the length and weight of the squid: Detailed, official measurements have not been made. The date when the colossus was caught also was not disclosed.

Colossal squid, known by the scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, are estimated to grow up to 46 feet long and have long been one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep ocean.
If original estimates are correct, the squid would be 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen ever found.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology.

If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires, he added.
Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet and are extremely active, aggressive hunters, he said.

The frozen squid will be transported to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, in the capital, Wellington, to be preserved for scientific study.

Marine scientists "will be very interested in this amazing creature as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment," Anderton said.

Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found round the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet long, but are not as heavy as colossal squid.

New Sponges - Cancer and Other Disease Aids?

Scientists soak up sponges knowledge

Divers have uncovered a treasure trove of underwater animals new to science off the coast of Rathlin Island - but warned that Spongebob Squarepants and his family are already under threat.

The scientists from the Ulster Museum have uncovered 128 different sponge species in the seas off the North Channel island - including nine which are new to Northern Ireland, three which have never been seen in UK waters and 28 which are new to science altogether.

And although most of us are familiar with Spongebob as the bath accessory we use to scrub our backs, it turns out he could be the granddaddy of us all.

New DNA research suggests a sponge could well have been the ancestor of all multi-celled animals - everything from seahorses to dinosaurs to humans.

Bernard Picton, who led the research at Rathlin, says our sponge ancestor probably existed 500 or 600 million years ago. Its descendants could hold the key to future medical research.
The new species found at Rathlin could contain chemicals that are potential antibiotics or anti-cancer drugs, he said.

"It's not just blue sky research," he said.

"We knew that Rathlin Island was an important area for sponges but the results of the project have surpassed our expectations.

"These findings make it one of the most important areas in Europe for sponges and this discovery is particularly important because it will aid other researchers in their study of sponge communities in the future."

Scientists first realised that the sponge communities of Rathlin were unusually rich during a study of Ulster's wildlife 20 years ago, but it was only during the recent six-week scuba diving survey that the four-strong team realised how special the spot is.

The team has collected 849 specimens, taken more than 3,000 photographs and are investigating another 19 species

DNA genetic "barcodes"

Genetics reveal 15 new N.American bird species

OSLO (Reuters) - Genetic tests of North American birds show what may be 15 new species including ravens and owls -- look alikes that do not interbreed and have wrongly had the same name for centuries, scientists said on Sunday.

If the findings from a study of birds' DNA genetic "barcodes" in the United States and Canada hold true around the world, there might be more than 1,000 new species of birds on top of 10,000 identified so far, they said.
A parallel study of South American bats in Guyana also showed six new species among 87 surveyed, hinting that human studies of the defining characteristics of species may have been too superficial to tell almost identical types apart.

"This is the leading tip of a process that will see the genetic registration of life on the planet," said Paul Hebert of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, a co-author of the report in the British Journal Molecular Ecology Notes.

"You can't protect biodiversity if you can't recognise it."

The scientists found 15 potential new species among 643 types of bird studied from the Arctic to Florida. The sample covers almost all 690 known breeding species in North America.

"North American birds are among the best studied in the world," said co-author Mark Stoeckle of the Rockefeller University in New York. "Even in a group where people have been looking very carefully there are genetically different forms that appear to be new species."

Look alike species were of the Northern Fulmar, Solitary Sandpiper, Western Screech Owl, Warbling Vireo, Mexican Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, Hermit Thrush, Curve Billed Thrasher and Eastern Meadowlark.

"It would be a reasonable guess that there are likely to be at least 1,000 genetically distinct forms of birds (worldwide) that will be recognised as new species," Stoeckle said.

The genetic tests, for instance of a feather, give a readout of a "barcode" for each creature similar to the black and white parallel lines on packages at supermarkets.

They said DNA diverged by at least 2.5 percent -- enough, they said, to define a species despite almost identical shape, plumage and song. A one percent difference typically indicated a million years without interbreeding, they said.

The study also found 14 pairs of birds with separate identities that were almost genetic "twins", two trios of birds were DNA triplets and eight gull species were almost identical.

"Some of these on close inspection may really be better considered as a single species," said Stoeckle. "Others are probably very young species at the borderline."

The Snow Goose and Ross's Goose, for instance, shared 99.8 percent of DNA and the black-billed magpie and the yellow-billed magpie 99.6 percent. Gulls such as the Glaucous and Iceland Gulls were 99.8 percent the same.

The scientists said there was no clear scientific definition of a species -- inability to interbreed was often favoured.

"But that's difficult -- we're not watching bats mate in caves, we're not often watching small life forms," Hebert said.

The scientists are hoping to raise $100 million to compile a barcode of life -- 10 million DNA records of 500,000 animal species by 2014.


Please note, the entire published paper is entitled BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data System (www.barcodinglife.org) by Sujeevan Ratanasingham and Paul D. Hebert through Molecular Ecology Notes , 2007. This was originally submitted in July 2006, revised in November 2006, and awaiting final print publication in 2007. However, the paper is available through OPEN ACCESS online in PDF format through Blackwell Synergy.

Rare marine species discovered in Philippines

Rare marine species discovered in Philippines

Manila - A French-led marine expedition has discovered thousands of new species of crustaceans and mollusks in waters around the central Philippines, officials and scientists announced Monday.

The discovery was made by the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project, which has been conducting "an intensive inventory" of the complex coastal ecosystem off Panglao island for the past two years.

Some 80 scientists, students and volunteers from 19 countries took part in the ground-breaking research.

"Numerous species were observed and photographed alive, many for the first time," the scientists, led by Philippe Bouchet, of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in France, said in a statement.

"It is estimated that 150-250 of the crustaceans and 1,500-2,500 of the mollusks are new species," the statement said.

"To put it in perspective, the whole decapod crustacean (shrimp or prawn) fauna of Japan barely exceeds 1,600 species.

"The Mediterranean (300 million hectares) has 340 species of decapods and 2,024 species of mollusks," the statement said.

Some 50 species were presented to the Philippine National Museum on Monday.
Bouchet said data was collected using both academic and traditional methods such as dredging and trawling, diving and deep-water nets which Panglao fishermen traditionally use.
Bouchet said the international science expedition in Panglao is the most comprehensive coral reef mollusk survey ever undertaken worldwide.

To push the research forward, the French embassy has announced a five-year programme to explore the deep-water fauna of the Philippines titled "Census of Philippines Deep-Sea Biodiversity."

The embassy said that, with a total of 80 participants from the Philippines, other Asean countries, Europe and the United States, the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project was the most comprehensive survey of deep-sea invertebrates ever conducted anywhere in the tropics.

National Museum to get new species’ specimens

National Museum to get new species’ specimens
By HELEN FLORES
The Philippine Star
February 3, 2007

Specimens of newly discovered marine species found by a joint Filipino-French research project on the island of Panglao in Bohol will be turned over Sunday to the National Museum, the French embassy in Manila said.

Some 50 species of holotype specimens will be turned over to the museum.

A holotype is single specimen or "illustration" designated as the type for naming a species or subspecies. It is also used as the basis for naming a species or subspecies when no type has been selected.

The French embassy said a year-long research of fauna conducted in the deep-sea and coastal ecosystems of Panglao Island resulted in the discovery of over 1,200 species of decapod or 10-legged crustaceans and some 6,000 species of mollusks.
Decapod crustaceans characteristically have five pairs of locomotor appendages each joined to a segment of the thorax, such as crab, shrimp and lobster. Marine mollusks are also called shellfish.

The Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project was conducted as a joint effort of the University of San Carlos and the French National Museum of Natural History from 2004 to 2005. It was funded by the French government and Total Foundation, which is based in the French capital of Paris.

The embassy said holotypes must be kept in museums or reputed institutions where they will be made available to scientists worldwide.
To push the research forward, the French embassy said a five-year program to explore the deep-water fauna of the Philippines titled "Census of Philippines Deep-Sea Biodiversity" will be formally announced during the turnover ceremony.

On its own, Panglao has a higher level of biodiversity compared to Japan, which barely exceeds 1,600 species, and the Mediterranean, which covers 300 million hectares and has 340 species of decapods and 2,024 species of mollusks, the French embassy said.

The embassy said that, with a total of 80 participants from the Philippines, other ASEAN countries, Europe and the United States, the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project was the most comprehensive survey of deep-sea invertebrates ever conducted anywhere in the tropics.
The Philippines is located in the "Coral Triangle," which contains the highest number of known marine species.

The turnover ceremony will be witnessed by French Ambassador Gérard Chesnel, National Museum Director Corazon Alvina, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Malcolm Sarmiento, and Dr. Tin-Yam Chan of the Taiwan University of Oceanography, among other guests.

Antarctic Seafloor Videos

You can view video footage taken from recent Antarctic seafloor exploration at the Costeau Society website.