Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Mon May 26, 2014 12:04 pm

Hi all.
I'm a Spanish scientist studying the ballan wrasse population genetics all over Europe. For the purposes of my study, I' need samples from many locations around the Atlantic, and I've not been able yet to get samples from the Irish coast.
In case any of you (expert wrasse fishers I guess!) is willing to help, I'd appreciate it very much.
The sample I need is very small and easy to get: just a small finclip (a small portion of caudal fin) in a tube with ethanol 96ยบ (the commercial one). Then I need cacth location and date, total length (if possible) and, very important, a photo of the specimen.

In total, I'd need ~40 individuals. If anyone thinks that can help me with this project, I'd appreciate and send him a T-shirt of our research group.

Thanks in advance.

David

Re: Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Mon May 26, 2014 1:27 pm

PM sent.

Re: Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Mon May 26, 2014 1:33 pm

David

You may want to list where the samples shoudl be sent to and also an illustrationof exactly where to take the sample and how much of a sample to include... photos?

cheers

Re: Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Thu May 29, 2014 3:54 pm

Thanks to both of you.
Tom, I cannot send PM yet since I'm new in the forum, but I could read yours.
I only need samples for one person. Or better, I need 40-50 samples. If one person alone can do that, perfect! If not, I could receive samples from two persons, as long as the fish are captured no very far ones from the others (let's say no more than 10-20 km).
I need a small piece of caudal fin, that you can cut with a scissors. This is called a "fin clip". The size of the sample it's approximately half the size of a finger nail. You don't need to be worried about that. With this sample size I can analyse DNA up to 10 times.
As for the photos, place the fish with the left side up, make sure there is enough light, and just take the photo. If you place a meter in the photo ,then I can have a measurement of the total length of the specimen, which is interesting.

Since my works it's related to the different colorations of the ballan wrasse, I'd ideally need 20-25 samples of each one of these colorations:
http://www.farodevigo.es/mar/2013/05/23 ... 15475.html

In Spain it's very clear, ones are spotted and the other are not (they are plain coloured, although they can be reddish, greenish or brownish). Sometimes there are middle colorations (plain individuals with some spots in the fins), but since I'll have the photos, you can collect a sample too. Important: please label the tubes with the samples and the photos in the same way so then I can match samples and colorations! And just if you can, make sure the fins are extended when you take the photo so I can see if there are spots on them or not :)
Once you have the sample, you can keep it in the freezer at home (-24 degrees I guess) until you can send them.

If you are keen to collaborate, please contact me at chirleu@gmail.com and I'll give you the address where the samples should be sent.

MANY THANKS for your interest!! Please ask me anything you want before start collecting the samples.

Re: Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Fri May 30, 2014 8:10 am

Hi and thanks!
Those who are interestet, could you please contact me at chirleu at gmail.com ?? I'll then send you the protocol of sampling and the address to send the samples.

Thanks a lot!!

Re: Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Fri May 30, 2014 3:49 pm

Count me in David, i will email you now.

Re: Ballan wrasse samples for scientific project

Sat May 31, 2014 9:38 pm

I may be a cynic, but I'd want to know the purpose of the research first before taking part in it.

Who's going to have access to the results? Who's funding the project? Is there any commercial interests involvement in this? Who does the researcher work for?

Etc etc etc.