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Contact Information
Forename: Mary E.
Surname: Petersen Address: 193 Clarkâs Cove Road Walpole, ME 04573 Institution: Darling Marine Center, University of Maine Country: United States Telephone: +1 (207) 563-3146 x 222 Fax: +1 (207) 563-3119 Email: mepetersen@maine.edu URL: http://www.dmc.maine.edu/MW2005 Field of Expertise
Distribution (Database, GIS, Mapping, Modelling:
Reexamining several "cosmopolitan" species
Ecology / Biology: Especially habitat and reproductive biology Taxonomy / Systematics: Experts Taxonomic Groups
Polychaeta:
Several groups, especially Pholoidae, Chrysopetalidae, Cirratulidae, Chaetopteridae, Fauveliopsidae, Pseudocirratulus
Geographical Area
Countries:
Denmark
Faroe Islands France Germany Ireland Italy Norway Russia Sweden United Kingdom Terrestrial Area: Aquatic Area: Atlantic,Northeast Atlantic,Northwest Mediterranean and Black Sea Pacific,Western Central Research ActivityI am working on taxonomic revisions of a number of the older species names that have often been considered variable and widespread or cosmopolitan (e.g., Pholoe minuta, Chaetopterus variopedatus, Cirratulus cirratus). Where possible, I am redescribing types, or material from as close to the type localities as possible. Many of these older names have been too broadly interpreted and used for several distinct (often described) species; the names are therefore often cosmopolitan but the species are not. Because I have seen most live material from Danish and other N European waters, from which many "well known" species have been described (e.g., by Johnston, Oersted, Sars, Malmgren, St. Joseph, Grube and others), some of which are type species of genera, I have started with these. However, I have also been looking at material from SW Greenland, where Otto Fabricius found many of the worms described in his 1780 "Fauna Groenlandica" or later papers. In connection with determining distributions, I have also examined material from the Mediterranean (e.g., Gulf of Naples, where Claparede worked), S European coasts and elsewhere. As I am now in NE USA (Maine), I am using the opportunity to examine (mainly shallow-water) species that appear to be present on both sides of the Atlantic. |