Hello All,
I posted a request for information on polychaete ecology several weeks
ago. Unfortunately, a few days afterwards our mail server went down for
a few weeks, and in the meantime my mailbox filled up and exploded, so I
lost everything. If anyone replied to me specifically, and I didn't
reply, please retry. I promise to respond back.
A synopsis: I am looking for information on the ecology of Alaskan
polychaetes. Specifically, Mediomastus californiensis (Capitellidae),
Myriochele oculata (Oweniidae), Glycera cf. tenuis (Glyceridae),
Prionospio steenstrupi (Spionidae), Nephtys cornuta (Nephtyidae),
Lumbrineris luti (Lumbrineridae), Tenonia priops (Polynoidae), Polydora
cardalia (Spionidae), Magelona berkeleyi (Magelonidae), and Nephtys
caeca (Nephtyidae). If this list differs from my original, it is
probably because our "top ten" list is changing and the fact that I left
my data sheets at work, so this is off of the top of my head.
We are also reaching a point in the study where I need to start putting
names on all of our species. I am doing okay (using Washington state,
British Columbia, and Eastern USSR keys) with the very large and some of
the very small (small enough to mash under a cover slip). The problem
lies with the in-betweens. Too small to remove the uncinii and too large
to put the whole thing on a slide. Are there any keys to NE Pacific
polychaetes that would utilize some other characteristics that would be
more obvious? For example, we are getting this little Polydora (under
5 mm). I cannot find a way to remove the uncinii from the 5th setiger.
However, it is white with a row of tiny black dots that nearly encircle
every setiger. This feature would seem to be fairly unique, and just
might id it to species with any micro-dissection. Either that or I would
appreciate any tips on micro-dissection of the "in-between" worms.
Thanks,
Aaron Baldwin
