call for flatworm infested coral

dlynford · 09/12/2007, 10:22 AM

Hello Coral Enthusiasts and Experts,

I am reaching out to the online community for assistance in my masterâ€™s thesis research.
Currently, I am studying an Acropora eating flatworms at Hofstra University in Hempstead NY. These pervasive predators have spread across the country from wholesaler to retailer to hobbyist, and most of the time goes unnoticed until the Acropora colony or frag begins to degrade. Typically, an infected colony will have small pock marks over the tissues starting from the underside of the coral from the wormsâ€™ pharyngeal bite marks. Another great indicator of an infestation is the presence of very small brown eggs on the underside of a colony. They look like symmetrical specs of dirt and are very easy to miss unless inspected up very close. Over the last several months I have maintained several experimental tanks but my worm connection has dried up. I am looking for worm infested coral to begin my research.

The flatworm is in the genus Apidioplana, and you can check out a great new illustrative article on line at the following website http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/mc/index.php. I only need this one genus so please look at the web site if you need a visual reference. Feel free to contact me at dlynford@hotmail.com and I will get back to you asap.

Thanks very much,

Sincerely

-Drew Lynford

Graduate Biology
Hofstra University
Hempstead NY

robwsup · 09/12/2007, 07:33 PM

Thanks for doing research on this pest. Will you be keeping an up to date article online, or posting your thesis on the net?

TravelDave · 09/14/2007, 11:47 PM

hmmm..... a website thats down and only 2 posts

me thinks its someone who wants free frags but I am a noob on this site myself so what do I know?

JCTewks · 09/15/2007, 02:08 PM

dave...why on earth would anyone want free ***s of pest infested corals if they weren't doing research?

IslandCrow · 09/15/2007, 09:28 PM

Yeah, I'd imagine this is legit.

dlynford, you will of course be giving us updates on your research, I trust. I haven't been unlucky enough to have an encounter with these pests, but I know there are certainly a lot of people out there who would love to know more about them.

aquarius77 · 09/19/2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelDave
hmmm..... a website thats down and only 2 posts

me thinks its someone who wants free frags but I am a noob on this site myself so what do I know?

The site is not down he just put a period in the link at the end.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/mc/index.php

redox · 09/22/2007, 05:45 PM

good luck shipping and receiving a live infested colony. Youd be better off finding someone local who has the problem

09/12/2007, 10:22 AM	#1
dlynford Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Long Island New York Posts: 7	call for flatworm infested coral Hello Coral Enthusiasts and Experts, I am reaching out to the online community for assistance in my masterâ€™s thesis research. Currently, I am studying an Acropora eating flatworms at Hofstra University in Hempstead NY. These pervasive predators have spread across the country from wholesaler to retailer to hobbyist, and most of the time goes unnoticed until the Acropora colony or frag begins to degrade. Typically, an infected colony will have small pock marks over the tissues starting from the underside of the coral from the wormsâ€™ pharyngeal bite marks. Another great indicator of an infestation is the presence of very small brown eggs on the underside of a colony. They look like symmetrical specs of dirt and are very easy to miss unless inspected up very close. Over the last several months I have maintained several experimental tanks but my worm connection has dried up. I am looking for worm infested coral to begin my research. The flatworm is in the genus Apidioplana, and you can check out a great new illustrative article on line at the following website http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/mc/index.php. I only need this one genus so please look at the web site if you need a visual reference. Feel free to contact me at dlynford@hotmail.com and I will get back to you asap. Thanks very much, Sincerely -Drew Lynford Graduate Biology Hofstra University Hempstead NY

09/12/2007, 07:33 PM	#2
robwsup Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 2,434	Thanks for doing research on this pest. Will you be keeping an up to date article online, or posting your thesis on the net? __________________ Robert Current Tank Info: I own a LFS, so a bunch!

09/15/2007, 09:28 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Yeah, I'd imagine this is legit. dlynford, you will of course be giving us updates on your research, I trust. I haven't been unlucky enough to have an encounter with these pests, but I know there are certainly a lot of people out there who would love to know more about them. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

09/22/2007, 05:45 PM	#7
redox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SOBX Posts: 2,091	good luck shipping and receiving a live infested colony. Youd be better off finding someone local who has the problem __________________ There is something we can all do about it Current Tank Info: starting fresh with new ideas

09/14/2007, 11:47 PM	#3
TravelDave Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chester County, PA Posts: 55	hmmm..... a website thats down and only 2 posts me thinks its someone who wants free frags but I am a noob on this site myself so what do I know?

09/15/2007, 02:08 PM	#4
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	dave...why on earth would anyone want free ***s of pest infested corals if they weren't doing research?