Dear Marmam community, For the last few years at this time of year I have sent requests for live samples of the barnacle Xenobalanus which lives in association with dolphins. It is that time of year again. Many thanks to those who have supplied samples in the past. My primary objective is to obtain barnacles bearing eggs so that the larval stages can be reared in the laboratory. It may be a little early for their reproduction in the northern hemisphere right now but I suspect they will be reproducing in the next month (and throughout the summer) if not now. If you encounter in the next few weeks or months individuals that seem large (about 4cm or larger) and plump then they might very well contain eggs. I do not need large numbers and even one individual with eggs would be useful. I have copied my collection protocol below but am happy to send a PDF version on request along with my NMFS Parts Authorization letter. In brief, the barnacles should be collected live and shipped overnight wrapped in a moist paper towel inside a ziplock bag. Prior to shipping do not keep the animals immersed in seawater. They do best wrapped loosely in moist paper towel and kept in the refrigerator. They can survive for several days this ways. Freshly dead individuals are useful as well as long as they are sent right away. I would appreciate advance notice if you have material to send and I will pay for shipping by FedEx with prior arrangement. It is preferable to keep the samples under refrigeration for several rather than sending them to arrive on a Friday or Saturday. They should be sent to my address listed below. Kind thanks, John Zardus PROTOCOL Tassel barnacles attach by embedding their small shell into host tissue and can be cut with shell intact from dead cetaceans with a sharp blade. Barnacles on living cetaceans can be clipped at the base, leaving the embedded shell behind without injury to the host. SHIPPING LIVE SPECIMENS 1) Remove from host as described above. 2) Loosely wrap specimen(s) in paper towel moistened with seawater but not dripping wet. Individuals can remain refrigerated for several days (maybe as long as a week if uninjured and if separated and given occasional fresh ventilation and re-moisturization) until ready to ship. 3) For shipping, place barnacles in a ziplock bag with some airspace and ship overnight. No more than 3-4 individuals per ziplock bag. If weather is hot include an ice pack if possible. 4) Host cetacean species name, case ID number, locality, and date should all be included. 5) Send samples to the address listed below (be sure to include 'Biology Department' in the address) ____________________ John D. Zardus Associate Professor Department of Biology The Citadel 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409 ph. 843-953-7511 fx. 843-953-7264 e. john.zardus@citadel.edu