Island Biodiversity Race

Category: Biodiversity, Gulf of Guinea, Island endemics, Sao Tome, Uncategorized, barnacles, biogeography, coral, invertebrates, principe | Date: Feb 20 2009 | By: islandbiodiversityrace

I have just heard that Alex Kim, the student at Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology in Virginia has received the new freshwater prawns GG III (B) collected for him and is in the process of extracting DNA from the fresh tissues. As I mentioned in the last couple of blogs, Alex is a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search, and we are very interested in his progress.  His results will add to our understanding of our own work and the biodiversity of these islands.  When Alex first contacted me, I had some concern that we might have neglected to bring prawns back with us from GG I and II.  We had, of course, and Alex has been studying some of the preserved specimens er brought to him in December.  Just yesterday I found an image of Dr. Tomio Iwamoto carefully processing these some of these same prawn specimens in 2006 on São Tomé (during GG II). This will give you an idea of the size of the critters Alex is studying (although there are two species on the islands – I am not sure which one this is!)

Tomio Iwamoto on Sao Tome.   RCD phot. GG II

The marine biologists of GG III (B) are busily sorting through their material, and I thought an early update was in order.   In the last blog I mentioned that the Dr. Williams had done very well with his octocorals (also known as gorgonians or sea fans), and so had Dr. Van Syoc and Dana Carrison with their barnacles. Dana is Bob Van Syoc’s graduate student at San Francisco State University.

Dana Carrison during a more northerly field trip. NOAA photo  

Bob Van Syoc found an undescribed barnacle species on São Tomé during GG II, and it appears that Dana has now confirmed this for Príncipe as well.  And there may well be other new barnacle species; it is just too soon to tell.  Dana is studying the relationship between these barnacles and Dr. Williams’ sea fans.  This is an obligate relationship – some species of sea fans are always found in association with certain species of barnacles.

 The barnacle Conopea calceola on a gorgonian.  D. Carrison phot. GG III

Note that the barnacle settles on the gorgonian, and the gorgonian’s tissue (red, in this case) grows up around it.  Along with describing new species and adding to our island biodiversity list, Dana is testing the hypothesis that the different species of barnacles have a preference for certain species of gorgonian upon which to settle. Dana got about 30 different Príncipe barnacles but has not yet begun identifying them or comparing them to the GG II barnacles collected in São Tomé.  Also included in her collections are at least three different gorgonians and their associated barnacles that were not collected previously by the Academy expeditions.

  Undescribed species of Conopea on a different species of gorgonian.  D. Carrison phot. GG III

New barnacle species or the relationships of freshwater prawns may not sound exciting to you.  In our biodiversity race, we are studying everything we can, as biodiversity is the sum of all living species in a given area; thus, everything is important as a measure of the uniqueness and past history of these ancient islands.  Think of our mushroom work: before we started, there were only four species known from São Tomé and none from Príncipe; now the people of the islands know that there are at least 220 species, many of them undescribed and unexpected.  The same is true for the ant lions I have documented earlier, and I fully expect similar results when analysis of our collections of diatoms and spiders are completed.  The story of biodiversity can never be told by the study of furred and feathers critters alone. 

Here’s the parting shot:  

Incipient Dr. Uyeda with collecting party, Nova Cuba, Principe. Weckerphoto GG III 

PARTNERS 

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the G. Lindsay Field Research Fund, Hagey Research Venture Fund of the California Academy of Sciences, the Société de Conservation et Développement  (SCD) for logistics, ground transportation and lodging, STePUP of Sao Tome http://www.stepup.st/, Arlindo de Ceita Carvalho, Director General, and Victor Bomfim, Salvador Sousa Pontes and Danilo Bardero of the Ministry of Environment, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe for permission to export specimens for study, and the continued support of Bastien Loloumb of Monte Pico and Faustino Oliviera, Director of the botanical garden at Bom Sucesso. Special thanks for the generosity of private individuals, George F. Breed, Gerry F. Ohrstrom, Timothy M. Muller, Mrs. W. H. V. Brooke and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Murkami for helping make these expeditions possible.   

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Category: Biodiversity, Sao Tome, Uncategorized, coral, fish, invertebrates, nudibrachs, principe | Date: Feb 10 2009 | By: islandbiodiversityrace

 This is a brief update on the return of our people last weekend from Gulf of Guinea III (B). They were the marine component of the 2008-2009 expeditions (see Send in the Marines).  The focus of four of the group was the waters of Príncipe, the much older of the two islands.  The two fish people, Dr. John McCosker and David Catania went a week earlier to dive in São Tomé; neither had been to the islands before, and much of our earlier fish work was freshwater in nature. After the second group of four arrived, the whole expedition flew to Príncipe courtesy of SCD, one of our main sponsors (see “Partners,” below).   

As I posted earlier, our first nudibranch (sea slugs) specialist, Dr. Marta Pola-Perez, was on the GG III (B) expedition.  Below are photos of a few of the critters she found.

A possible new species of Phidiana, Principe. Pola-Perez phot. GG III

Flabelina arveloi, Principe.  Pola-Perez phot. GG III

Hypselodoris bilineata, Principe. Pola-Perez phot. GG III

As I wrote before, Dr. Bob Van Syoc, his graduate student, Dana Carrison and Dr. Gary Williams are looking at corals and barnacles and the association between the two life forms.  Dana’s dissertation topic concerns the relationship between what we think is a new species of barnacle and one of Gary’s octocorals (sea fans). 

A Sao Tome sea fan (Eunicella). G. Williams phot. GG III

This group did quite well on Príncipe; Bob and Dana collected a barnacle species previously known only from the Azores and Cape Verde Islands, Megabalanus azoricus, thus adding to the island diversity list.  Gary thinks he has now collected more species of octocorals in São Tomé and Príncipe than are found on the Galapagos Islands. 

Grad student, Dana Carrison, with sea fan on Principe. B. Van Syoc phot. GG III

 Dana, Gary Williams and John McCosker, Principe. B. Van Syoc phot. GG III

Of particular interest is that Bob found a species of shore barnacle at Bom Bom on Príncipe otherwise known only from South Africa. He thinks it was probably brought in by barge carrying building supplies.  So far it seems to be confined to the vicinity of the Bom Bom pier. 

Bom Bom pier at night, Principe. Weckerphoto GGIII

John and Dave also well.  Although they said the diving was “spotty” they did manage to sample a bunch of neat stuff, including at least one definite new species. 

A new species of Serranus from both islands.  D. Catania phot. GG III 

Ichthyologists frequently find new species just by exploring fish markets.  Below is a pot of jacks for sale which John and Dave cannot identify to species.  They will need to compare the DNA of these fishmarket critters with other known species in the genus.

Unidentified species of Caranx in the fishmarket.  J. McCosker phot. GG III

As I have written before, another way for ichthyologists to sample the marine fauna is to get permission to buy odd specimens directly from beach seiners.

 Sao Tome beach seine. J. McCosker phot. GG III] 

This group was fishing in the bay near Omali Lodge (Marlin Beach Hotel), and like Dr. Iwamoto did during GG I,  John and Dave dealt directly with the seiners for unique specimens.  Detirmining the identity of all of this material takes a great deal of time, but for now it looks as though the Marines of GG III (B) did quite well. 

I received some great news while the group was gone. Recall that I mentioned the marine group was going to collect some freshwater prawns for DNA work in a project by high school student Alex Kim in Virginia.  Well, the group got the prawns and by now they are back east being investigated by Alex and his mentor from George Mason University, Prof. Patrick Gillevet.  But the great news is that Alex is one of 40 finalists in the INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH; his project and scholarship are obviously gaining recognition, and we at the Academy are proud to be able to help out.

Alex has his own website: http://amphidrome.wordpress.com/  

Here’s the parting shot:  

Growing up on Principe. R. Wenk photo. GG III 

PARTNERS We gratefully acknowledge the support of the G. Lindsay Field Research Fund, Hagey Research Venture Fund of the California Academy of Sciences, the Société de Conservation et Développement  (SCD) for logistics, ground transportation and lodging, STePUP of Sao Tome http://www.stepup.st/, Arlindo de Ceita Carvalho, Director General, and Victor Bomfim, Salvador Sousa Pontes and Danilo Bardero of the Ministry of Environment, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe for permission to export specimens for study, and the continued support of Bastien Loloumb of Monte Pico and Faustino Oliviera, Director of the botanical garden at Bom Sucesso. Special thanks for the generosity of private individuals, George F. Breed, Gerry F. Ohrstrom, Timothy M. Muller, Mrs. W. H. V. Brooke and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Murakami for helping make these expeditions possible.        

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Category: Biodiversity, Gulf of Guinea, Sao Tome, Uncategorized, fish, principe | Date: Sep 12 2008 | By: islandbiodiversityrace

Having read my previous blogs, you might have the impression that all of our efforts of discovery on these unique islands are limited to the high forests and other habitats of the terrestrial environment, and that most of the neat unknown and undescribed stuff is to be found on land.  Such is definitely not the case.  The marine and freshwater realms have not escaped our attention, and they probably contain as many biological mysteries as the land does, maybe more.  Let’s not forget that the inshore marine communities, just like the aerial parts of the islands, have been isolated for millions of years. 

 M. Campbell (Willamette Univ.) and Dr. Iwamoto on Sao Tome GG II (Photo. RCD)

The offshore fisheries of São Tomé and Príncipe are very rich but poorly protected; I have been told that the government cannot afford to monitor the trawling of other countries within their exclusive economic zone, and this is a tragedy not only for economic reasons. The fact is that we still do not fully understand the inshore marine fauna of this unique archipelago.

Tomio off  the Jockey’s Bonnet, Principe. GGII (Photo RCD) 

Dr. Tomio Iwamoto, chair of the CAS Ichthyology Department was a member of both GG I and GG II.  Much of his work in 2001 and 2006 involved sampling the many freshwater rivers of both islands (which I will describe later); but he made some of his most interesting discoveries simply by interacting with the local fishermen.  

Fisherman way offshore, Principe. GG I (RCD Photo).

Fishermen off Ilhéu das Cabras, Sao Tome.  GGII (photo: R. Van Syoc)

For instance one day during GG I , Tomio and I watched a group of fishermen seining from Praia Lagarto on the northwest cove of São Tomé island.  Tomio asked them if he could examine their catch and discovered several species of fish not known to occur in São Tomé and Príncipe. He bought them from the fishermen on the spot and preserved them as specimens.

 [Beach seining, Sao Tome.   GGI (RCD photo)

 Each day in the afternoon , the fishing boats arrive on the beach of Baia de Ana Chavez, directly adjacent to the central market of São Tomé city. Many of the city’s citizens flock to the beach to buy directly from the fishermen.  

Arrival of the fishing fleet.  GG I (J. Ledford phot) 

  Buying directly off the boats. GG I (J. Ledford phot.)

 We discovered that the fishermen would allow us to examine the contents of their nets while they were sorting through their catch for sale and would sell us whatever we wanted.  Tomio employed the same “field technique” on Príncipe during in 2006 and as a result, he was able to add more than sixteen species of marine fishes to the current list of species known from the islands! 

 Tomio heads for the beach and the boats.  GG I (J. Ledford phot.)

 In 2006 (GG II), the team was joined by Drs. Gary Williams and Robert Van Syoc, both of the Academy’s  Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology.  Bob is a specialist on the world’s barnacles and Gary is one of the foremost authorities on various groups of corals. Together the two surveyed the waters of São Tomé with the expert help of Jean-Luis Testori, owner, divemaster and skipper of Club Maxel on the big island.  

Dr. Gary Williams. GG II B Van Syoc photo) 

[Gary (left) and Jean-Luis collecting, Sao Tome.  GGII (B.Van Syoc phot.)

Eunicella, a sea fan of Sao Tome.  GG II (B. Van Syoc phot.)

Gary collected twelve species of octocorals including eleven sea fans, also known as gorgonians; all of these species are endemic to the eastern tropical Atlantic.  At the same time, Bob Van Syoc made a synoptic survey of the São Tomé barnacles.  All of the barnacle species so far identified are known from oceanic islands (see the first blog on oceanic vs continental islands), none of the intertidal genera or species commonly associated with continental shores have been found on Sao Tome.  Bob and Gary will return to São Tomé and Príncipe on GG III(B) in January, 2009 and both are eager to sample and compare the same kinds of organisms inhabiting the much older inshore marine communities of Príncipe. 

Dr. Bob Van Syoc, barnacle specialist (R. Van Syoc phot!)

Stony coral with barnacle (arrow) Sao Tome.  GG II (B. Van Syoc phot)

One of the most exciting events during GG II was the discovery by Bob of what appears to be an undescribed species of barnacle of the genus Conopea, which may be symbiotic with one or more of Gary’s sea fans.  Dana Carrison, Dr. Van Syoc’s graduate student at San Francisco State University, is in the process of describing this new species for her MSc. degree and will join GG III(B) on the expedition to Príncipe to search for similar species and relationships. 

Gorgonian (sea fan) with Conopea (arrow).  GG II B. Van Syoc phot) 

Dana Carrison, Bob’s graduate student from San Francisco State U. (NOAA phot)

Dr. Marta Pola-Perez is an authority on nudibranchs, or sea slugs, and will be along on GG III (B) as well. Marta is a post-doctoral fellow of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology and will be making the Academy’s first survey of these spectacular creatures in the Gulf of Guinea. 

Dr. Marta Pola Perez in Cuba 

Tambja tentaculata, a nudibranch from Guam (M. Pola-Perez phot) 

Finally, the Gulf of Guinea III marine expedition of early 2009 will include two additional new scientists:   Dr. John McCosker, Chair of Aquatic Biology at the Academy, is perhaps most famous as an authority on great white sharks; in reality he is one the world’s leading experts on eels, his real love. After the group finishes work on Príncipe, John will probably return to São Tomé to look for eels.

  Dr. John McCosker, eel specialist (P. McCosker phot)

 Brachisomophis, a snake eel described from Principe. (P. Wirth phot)

Dr. McCosker will be joined and assisted by David Catania, Collections Manager of our Ichthyology Department.  David has collected fish all over the world, and while accompanying Dr. McCosker during SCUBA operations, he also plans to continue combing the São Tomé fish market and meeting the fishing boats as did Dr. Iwamoto during GG I and GG II. 

Catania electroshock fishing in Yunnan.  (D LinPhot)

Who knows how many undescribed species are caught each day by the hard-working fishermen of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe?  The islands continue to amaze and enchant– There is much more coming.

 The parting shot: 

 Nova Cuba, Principe.  GG III (Weckerphoto)

PARTNERS 

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the G. Lindsay Field Research Fund and the Research Investment Fund of the California Academy of Sciences, the Société de Conservation et Développement  (SCD) for logistics, ground transportation and lodging, STePUP of Sao Tome http://www.stepup.st/ and especially the generosity of three private individuals, George F. Breed, Gerry F. Ohrstrom and Timothy M. Muller, for making these expeditions possible.

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