Biology of the Cephalochordata

[Stuart G. Poss]

The following may be of general interest to vertebrate zoologists, and
perhaps to "advanced" invertebrate zoologists.

             NEW VOLUME ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE LANCELETS
(CEPHALOCHORDATA)

        A special supplementary issue on the biology of the lancelets appearing
in Volume 42 of the Israel Journal of Zoology, is now available for
purchase.

        Entitled "The Lancelets (Cephalochordata): A New Look at Some Old
Beasts.
The Results of a Workshop", C. Gans, N. Kemp, and S. Poss, eds, the
volume
would be of particular value to those teaching vertebrate zoology,
comparative
anatomy, and developmental biology, as well as ichthyology and marine
biology.

        The softbound volume has color plates and roughly 450 pages.  It
presents
research resulting from a workshop on lancelets held at the Fourth
International
Congress of Vertebrate Morphology held at the University of Chicago in
August, 1994.
Fifteen research papers include work on taxonomy, morphology, ecology,
neurobiology, molecular biology, developmental biology, reproductive
biology, and
other topics.  Also included is an extensive bibliography of these
zoological
important organisms (2,000+ citations) and a historical overview of this
substantial literature.

        The volume can be purchased for $60, by enclosing a check or money
order
made in US $ to: Branta Books, Department B, P.O. 3457, Ann Arbor, MI
48106.


Contributions include:

C. Gans.  Study of Lancelets: The First 200 years.
S. G. Poss and H. T. Boschung.  Lancelets (Cephalochordata:
Branchiostomatidae):
        How many species are valid?
D. Stokes and N. Holland.  Life-history characteristics of the Florida
lancelet,
        Branchiostoma floridae: Some factors affecting population dynamics in
        Tampa Bay.
T.H.J. Gilmour.  Feeding methods of cephalochordate larvae.
R. Presley, T. J. Horder, and J. Slipka.  Lancelet development as
evidence of
        ancestral chordate structure.
L.S. Demski, J. A. Beaver, and J. B. Morrill.  The cutaneous innervation
of
        amphioxus: a review incorporating new observations with DiI tracing and
        SEM.
T. Lacalli.  Landmarks and subdomains in the larval brain of amphioxus:
vertebrate
        homologs and invertebrate antecedents.
B. Fritzsch.  Similarities and differences in Amphioxus and craniate
nervous
        system.
E. Ruppert.  Morphology of Hatschek's nephridium in larval and juvenile
stages
        of Branchiostoma caribaeum (Cephalochordata).
U. Welsch and Y.Q. Fang.  The reproductive organs of Branchiostoma.
Q. Bone, A. D. Chubb, A. Pulsford, and K.P. Ryan.  FMRF amide
immunoreactivity
        in the peripheral (atrial) nervous system of amphioxus (Branchiostoma).
M. Pestarino and B. Lucaroni.  FRMP amide-like immunoreactivity in the
central
        nervous systems of the lancelet Branchiostoma lanceolatum.
L. Holland.  Muscle Development in amphioxus: morphology, biochemistry,
and
        molecular biology.
P. Holland.  Developmental genes of amphioxus and implications for
vertebral origins.
R. G. Northcutt.  The origin of craniates: Neural crest, neurogenic
placodes, and
        homeobox genes.
C. Gans and E. Saiff.  A preliminary bibliography of the lancelets.


For additional information on the volume please contact: S. G. Poss
<sgposs at whale.st.usm.edu> Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 7000,
Ocean Srpings, MS  39566-7000


--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at whale.st.usm.edu
Senior Ichthyologist & Curator       Tel: (601)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (601)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000
_____________________________________________________________________