SYMPOSIUM ON FISH PHYLOGENY

[International Symposium]

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PHYLOGENY AND CLASSIFICATION OF

                    NEOTROPICAL FISHES


                     July 20-26, 1997



             FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION



To be held at MUSEU DE CIENCIAS E TECNOLOGIA,
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL


              Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil


ABOUT THE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
     The neotropical fish fauna is the most diverse
epicontinental fish fauna in the world. Our knowledge its
species, their distribution and interrelationships is far
from complete. Descriptions of species and supraspecific
taxa has accelerated in the last three decades, both because
of an upsurge in the number of researchers and as a
consequence of accelerating collecting efforts throughout
South and Central America. The results of these studies have
typically been incongruent with classifications proposed
through the middle of this century. Classifications based on
explicit methods of phylogenetic reconstruction have only
relatively recently been proposed for the neotropical
freshwater fish fauna. These have resulted in new hypothesis
of higher level phylogenetic relationships and in many
dramatic modifications to previous classifications. These
results furthermore, permit for the first time biogeographic
and evolutionary studies within the framework of explicit
phylogenetic hypothesis. These advances make it an ideal
time to convene an International Symposium devoted to the
phylogeny and classification of Neotropical fishes, which
would bring together for the first time the majority of
researchers involved in such studies.


THE MEETING SITE
----------------------------------------------------------
PORTO ALEGRE
     The capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Southernmost
Brazilian state, is located in the margins of rio Guaiba,
100 km from the Atlantic Ocean. July is usually cool,
occasionally with rain. The average high temperature is 19.7
C degrees and the low is 10.7 C degrees. The Aeroporto
Internacional Salgado Filho is located 7 km from downtown
and 8 km from the University.

MEETING SITE
     All the symposium meetings will be held on the campus
of the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul
(PUCRS) from Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 26, 1997.
Symposium sessions will largely take place in a new
facility, the Centro de Ciencia e Cultura, which includes
the Museu de Ciencias e Tecnologia with labs and
collections, a theater with 600 seats, a snack bar, a
restaurant, a small theater and several rooms.


PARTICIPATION
----------------------------------------------------------
     All researchers on phylogeny and classification of
Neotropical Fishes are invited to present contributions.
Registration is opened to researchers interested in the
subject of the meeting.


CONTRIBUTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------
     Contributions must be related to the subject of the
meeting: presentation of new and updated knowledge on
phylogeny and classification of neotropical fishes. The
contributions will be grouped into theme areas and will
constitute mini-symposia.
     All contributions will have available 30 minutes for
presentation, plus 15 minutes for questions and discussion.
Contributions will be published in a Symposium volume. The
aim of the organizers is to publish the symposium volume as
soon as possible after the meeting. We consequently request
that contributors have their manuscripts ready at the time
of the meeting. Manuscripts will be reviewed by two
independent reviewers.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------------------
     Information about costs (meals, hotel, travel) will be
sent in the second circular. We ask those interested in the
meeting, to please send an E-mail message or a letter to the
address below stating name and complete mailing address.
Researchers interested in presenting contributions please
contact the Committee informing possible subject.
     All information, including this document, is available
via Gopher, WWW and FTP (subdirectory museu/symposium - login
as anonymous) at music.pucrs.br.


CENTRAL COMMITTEE
----------------------------------------------------------
Luiz R. Malabarba (Chair)
Carlos A. S. Lucena
Richard P. Vari (Washington)
Roberto E. Reis
Scott A. Schaefer (Philadelphia)
Zilda M. S. Lucena

E-mail address: SYMP_MCP at MUSIC.PUCRS.BR

Mailing address: Museu de Ciencias e Tecnologia - PUCRS
                 Av. Ipiranga 6681
                 Cx.P. 1429
                 90619-900 Porto Alegre  RS  Brazil

Voice: Porto Alegre (051) 339 1511 ex. 3138
       Washington (202) 357 4027

FAX: Porto Alegre (051) 339 1564