mogurnda April 18, 2016 Share April 18, 2016 I can't believe how much the gals are eating right now. Until last week, my production had been keeping up, and ERC just dropped off some beautiful algae yesterday, but they are like a small herd of cows. I am starting a second dedicated algae propagation tank, so if you have a good growth you would like to dump off, let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 18, 2016 Author Share April 18, 2016 Yummmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkiboy April 20, 2016 Share April 20, 2016 that's a really neat photo and they look very different than in your original post in the other thread. very beautiful specimens. eager to see updates on their work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmerek2 April 20, 2016 Share April 20, 2016 Does hair algae work? I'm not sure if I can make it but if I can I'll harvest you some of this Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 20, 2016 Author Share April 20, 2016 (edited) that's a really neat photo and they look very different than in your original post in the other thread. very beautiful specimens. eager to see updates on their work! They're slurping away. We'll see how quickly they can take care of the new mass of food. Does hair algae work? I'm not sure if I can make it but if I can I'll harvest you some of this The it looks like the babies eat it, but the adults won't seem to touch it. Thanks, though. Edited April 20, 2016 by mogurnda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR-Tanked150 April 21, 2016 Share April 21, 2016 I think we have that in our main tank around the overflows. We can try and bring some to the meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 23, 2016 Author Share April 23, 2016 I think we have that in our main tank around the overflows. We can try and bring some to the meeting. That would be great. Any little bit helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 25, 2016 Author Share April 25, 2016 (edited) Look ma, no Bryopsis! (sam field as above) Edited April 25, 2016 by mogurnda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkey18 April 27, 2016 Share April 27, 2016 Ok, so do you rent these guys out? I have Bryopsis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkey18 April 27, 2016 Share April 27, 2016 So it looks like they cleared that rock in about a week, is that correct? And questions about your project: Are the primers you are using random primers or are they specific to a certain region that you know you can use to identify genus species differences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 28, 2016 Author Share April 28, 2016 So it looks like they cleared that rock in about a week, is that correct? And questions about your project: Are the primers you are using random primers or are they specific to a certain region that you know you can use to identify genus species differences? If you can find a way to keep them from being sucked into pumps, I might loan you a few while I am traveling this summer. And yes, they cleared those zoanthids in a few days. They eat like pigs, and are now enormous. The primers are specific to the rbcL gene. I designed primers for both Halimeda discoidea and Bryopsis plumosa (because I had identified both species, and because the sequence in available for both). Turns out the reverse primer is identical for both species. To geek out a little further, I used a pretty low annealing temp so that I would get product even if there were a few differences in sequence. Rather than using the primers to figure out who's who, which can be a slow process, I will just send the amplified DNA off for sequencing and use the database to figure out the species. It will be a little tricky for some species, but sequencing is so cheap that I can mess around a bit. Today, the students finally got to the point we have been aiming for all semester. I knocked out a slug, snipped off a piece of parapodium, and they did an extraction and ran PCR. Given how full they are of Bryopsis chloroplasts right now, we should get a nice signal. Then I can be sure it will work on the Pacific species, E. diomedea, when I am in Baja this summer. Amazing that people are still just guessing at what they eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM April 28, 2016 Share April 28, 2016 How did you knock it out? With a tiny little hammer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 28, 2016 Author Share April 28, 2016 How did you knock it out? With a tiny little hammer? Isotonic MgCl2. Molluscs are nice, in that they rapidly absorb whatever you soak them in. If you replace all the other salts with MgCl2, impulse propagatioon and synaptic transmission stop, and they don't have a care in the world. In the literature, it is called "relaxing" them. She woke up after about an hour, and did not seem too traumatized by the event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkey18 April 29, 2016 Share April 29, 2016 Totally cool. So are these just the "procedure" slugs. The real interest is in the pacific species? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkey18 April 29, 2016 Share April 29, 2016 And if you need it I can bring you some bryopsis covered rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR-Tanked150 April 29, 2016 Share April 29, 2016 Very interesting, looking forward to more updates on them and of course lots of pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda April 30, 2016 Author Share April 30, 2016 (edited) Totally cool. So are these just the "procedure" slugs. The real interest is in the pacific species? For this particular experiment, we are just working out kinks using E. clarki, because other people have already used them and we know what to expect. This is helping in a huge way as we are assembling equipment and protocols for E. diomedea in Baja. We only have five weeks down there, and are about 12 hours from molecular biology supplies. When the fun experiments start (neurobiology and behavior), E. clarki will be the star of the show, because they can be obtained easily and I have been able to rear them. And if you need it I can bring you some bryopsis covered rock. Yes! More is better. Very interesting, looking forward to more updates on them and of course lots of pictures. You asked for it. This is what a "relaxed" slug looks like. Basically a frilly green pancake with rhinophores (a.k.a., bunny ears). After surgery, a small divot on her left side (bottom). The next day, zooming around and looking for food. We did not get a signal this time around, either because we did not take a big enough piece or (more likely) the mucus interfered with the extraction or PCR reaction. It was really slimy and disgusting. Other labs have figured out workarounds, so I need to write a few emails. Edited April 30, 2016 by mogurnda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkey18 May 10, 2016 Share May 10, 2016 I have some bryopsis rocks I can bring you. Are you around Thursday during the day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda May 11, 2016 Author Share May 11, 2016 I have some bryopsis rocks I can bring you. Are you around Thursday during the day? I have some flexibility. Sending PM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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