Shalom All,
We would
like to bring to your attention that in the past 10 years, IMMRAC -Israel
Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center, has collected in its tissue bank
7 samples of rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) from
the Mediterranean Israeli coastline. The species is considered rare in the
Mediterranean as a whole and seemingly has a relatively high sighting rate in
the Levantine Basin
An
interesting option is that individuals sighted here are Lessepsian (through the
Suez Canal) migrants from Red Sea populations with Indian Ocean origin.
We would
like to examine this possibility using molecular analysis. So far we have
samples from the East Mediterranean and from the East Atlantic Ocean (Canary
Is.) and are therefore eager to contact laboratories which have access to
samples from the West Mediterranean and Red Sea/Indian Ocean. Co-authorship on
ensuing publications would be offered to providers of a substantial
contribution.
Any
cooperation or suggestions would be appreciated.
Aviad
Scheinin and Dan Kerem
Contact
e-mail: scheinin@013.net.il
IMMRAC
- Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance center
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Aviad Scheinin, Ph.D
scheinin@013.net.il
Chairman, IMMRAC - Israel Marine
Mammal Research & Assistance center
ECS council member
Home address: Tirat Shalom, P.B. 1356,
Nes-Ziona 74052, Israel
Tel 972-8-9406584 Mobile 052-3571193
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