THE GENOMIC ENABLEMENT OF AQUACULTURED SPECIES
( DRAFT )Coordinating Committee:
Gregory Warr, Medical University of South Carolina
John Liu, Auburn University
Caird Rexroad, National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, USDA
Bill Trumble, University of New Hampshire
Paul Gross, Medical University of South Carolina
John Benzie, MoanaTech (correct?)
Melanie Wilson University of Mississippi Medical Center
Patrick Gaffney, University of Delaware
Roger Yant, Harvest Select Farms
Tom Kocher, University of New Hampshire
Alan Mileham, Sygen International
Geoff Waldbieser, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, USDA
Dennis Hedgecock, University of Southern California
Mark Westerman, Kent SeaTech Corporation
A tentative list of authors of this White Paper, their affiliation and E-mail address, is provided at the end of this document.
Aquaculture must grow rapidly to become an alternative seafood source to meet the demands of the world, particularly in consideration of the collapsing natural fisheries. Despite recent rapid development of the aquaculture industry, a large US trade deficit, six to ten billion dollars annually, exists for seafood products, ranking as the third largest contributor to the trade deficit only behind petroleum and automobiles. The US aquaculture industry must be developed in order to reverse this trend. Genome research and genome enablement is required to exploit existing genetic resources for the improvement of brood stocks through marker-assisted selection or other genome-based technologies.
The purpose of this communication is to request USDA NRI to preserve its very successful program of Genome Tools and Reagents Program (NRI 43.1). This program has made major contributions for the genome enablement of various animal species including beef and diary cattle, swine, chicken, goat and sheep, horse, and the aquaculture species. However, we believe that at current stage of research, many genome tools and reagents are still lacking for aquaculture species. While it may take a long time before complete genome sequences are produced for, we believe that a minimal set of genome resources must be made available now in order to make meaningful progress toward genetic improvements using genome-based technologies.
One may debate what constitutes genome enablement, but the following identifiable stages of genomic enablement should provide a bench mark to assess the current state of genome enablement among aquaculture species and facilitate the identification of the needed genome resources:
- The development of a moderate density linkage map (1-2 cM resolution) using highly polymorphic DNA markers;
- The development of physical maps, using techniques that include the fingerprinting of BAC libraries, FISH (Fluorescence in-situ hybridization) on chromosomes, and exploitation of radiation hybrid panels;
- The fusion of linkage and cytogenetic maps with the physical map, and the development of infrastructure for comparative genome analysis;
- Capture of large proportions of the transcriptome by large-scale EST analysis with a minimal collection of 100,000 ESTs;
- Printing and utilization of microarrays to study patterns of gene expression.
- Development of databases for markers, maps, and comparative genome analysis, and bioinformatic tools to access these resources.
- Partial or whole genome sequencing.
The aquaculture species within the NRSP-8 initiative at USDA are salmonids, catfish, tilapia, striped bass, shrimp and oyster. Table 1 below summarizes the current state of genome resource development in these species and identifies the gaps to reach the goal of the minimal set of genome resources.
Genome resources
Species that requires additional work
1. Development of a moderate-density genetic linkage map (with 1-2 cM resolution)
Catfish, oyster, salmon, shrimp, striped bass, tilapia
2. Development of large-insert genomic libraries such as BAC libraries
Shrimps, striped bass
3. Development of BAC-based physical maps
Catfish, oysters, shrimps, striped bass, and trout
4. Merging linkage maps with physical maps to produce integrated maps
All six species
5. Large collection of ESTs with a minimal number of 100,000 ESTs
Catfish, oysters, shrimps, striped bass, and tilapia
6. Development of cDNA or oligo microarrays
Catfish, oysters, shrimps, striped bass, and tilapia
7. Databases and bioinformatics resources
All six species
8. Partial or complete genome sequencing
All six species
It is clear that the vast majority of the required genome resources are still lacking in aquaculture species, and recent progress in aquaculture species just made it possible for aquaculture genomics to take advantage of the Genome Tools and Reagents Program. It is of paramount importance to preserve this important and effective grant program. We urge USDA NRI to seriously reevaluate the stages of genome research among agricultural animals. We are sure that this program can be utilized to a greater extent not only for aquaculture species, but for all other agricultural animals as well.
Please note: the author list is tentative. A complete listing of authors will be prepared upon approval/disapproval of the listed authors. Authorship is open to all who support this document. If you are interested in becoming an author, please send a note to John Liu (
zliu@acesag.auburn.edu).Names and Affiliations of All Co-authors:
Abdenour Benmansour Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy en Josas Cédex FRANCE
Alan Mileham <Alan.Mileham@sygeninternational.com>
Alan Teale Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA UK
Aleksei Krasnov Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio FINLAND
Alicia Felip Edo School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
Andrew Cossins University of Liverpool, School of Biological Sciences, Derby Building, Brownlow Street, L69 3BX Liverpool UK
Barrie Robison Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051 USA
Ben Koop Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N5 CANADA
Bernie May Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis CA 95616 USA
Bill Hershberger USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Brian Shepherd USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Carl Ostberg US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA 98115 USA
Chris Secombes Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, 2 Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ Aberdeen, UK
Christian Michel Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy en Josas Cédex FRANCE
Christopher Bayne Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA, baynec@science.oregonstate.edu.
Dan Lee The Institute for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD 20850 USA
David Williams Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis OR 97331 USA
Donald Buhler Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis OR 97331 USA
Fernanda Rodriguez USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Fred Allendorf Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula MT 59812 USA
Frederick Goetz Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1015 USA
George Bailey Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis OR 97331 USA
Graham Young Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051 USA
Greg Goss Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9 CANADA
Gregory Warr Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425 USA, warrgw@musc.edu.
Gregory Weber USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Gregory Wiens USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Hannu Mölsä Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio FINLAND
Issa Coulibaly USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
James Nagler Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3051 USA
James Parsons Troutlodge, Inc Sumner, Washington 98390 USA
James Petersen Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-1033 USA
James Winton Western Fisheries Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey- Biological Resources Division, 6505 NE 65th Street, Seattle, WA 98115 USA
Jean François Bernardet Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy en Josas Cédex FRANCE
Jeffrey Hard Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, USDOC, Seattle, Washington, 98112-2097 USA
Jeffrey Silverstein USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Jerri Bartholomew Center for Fish Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Nash Hall 220, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3804 USA
Johannes Dijkstra Immunology section, National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Hiruta 224-1, Tamaki, 519-0423 Mie-ken JAPAN
John Taggart Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA UK
José Bautista Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, SPAIN
Joseph Brunelli School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4236 USA
Joseph Cloud Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844- 3051 USA
Karim Gharbi Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph ON N1G 2W1 CANADA
Ken Blemings Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506 USA
Ken Cain Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and WSU/UI Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1136 USA
Kenneth Overturf U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Hagerman Fish
Culture Experiment Station, 3059-F National Fish Hatchery Road, Hagerman, ID 83332 USA
Kent Reed Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnnesota, St Paul, MN 55108 USA
Krista Nichols National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries
Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Conservation Biology Division, Seattle, WA 98112 USA
Lars-Erik Holm Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Danish Institute of Agricultural Science, DK-8830, Tjele DENMARK
Linda Park National Marine Fisheries Service, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle WA 98112 USA
Matt Vijayan Department of Biology, 200 University Ave. West, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1, CANADA
Matthew Rise Great Lakes WATER Institute, UWM, Milwaukee, WI 53204 USA
Michael Cairns National Diagnostic Centre, University road, Galway, IRELAND
Michael Ford Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, USDOC, Seattle, Washington, 98112-2097 USA
Michael Skinner Center for Reproductive Biology, Center for Integrated Biotechnology, School of Molecular Biosciences, Pullman, WA 99164-4231 USA
Michel Dorson Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy en Josas Cédex FRANCE
Nic Bury School of Health and Life Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9NN UK
Niel Karrow Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 CANADA
Nobuaki Okamoto Department of Aquatic Biosciences, Tokyo University of Fisheries, Minato, Tokyo 108, JAPAN
Patricia Iturra Programa de Genetica Humana, I.C.B.M. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de
Chile, Santiago, CHILE
Patrick Prunet INRA/SCRIBE, campus de Beaulieu, 35042 RENNES Cédex FRANCE
Patrick Walsh NIEHS Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Science Center, Rosenstiel School of
Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149-1098, USA
Phillip Cash Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, SCOTLAND
Pierre Boudinot Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy en Josas Cédex FRANCE
Pierre-Yves Rescan Equipe sexualite et Reproduction INRA-SCRIBE Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes Cedex FRANCE
René Guyomard Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique, Laboratoire de génétique des poissons CRJJ, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas cedex, FRANCE
René Stet Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, THE NETHERLANDS
Robert Bogden Amplicon Express Inc., 1610 NE Eastgate Blvd Suite #880, Pullman, WA 99163 USA
Robert Devlin Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 4160 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC V7V 1N6, CANADA
Rolf Ingermann Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051 USA
Ronald Hardy Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Idaho, Hagerman
Fish Culture Experiment Station, 3059-F National Fish Hatchery Road, Hagerman ID 83332, USA
Roy Danzmann Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph ON N1G 2W1 CANADA
Ruth Phillips School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver WA 98686-9600 USA
Sandra Ristow Agricultural Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164- 6240 USA
Scott Gahr USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, West Virginia 25430 USA
Scott LaPatra Clear Springs Foods, PO Box 712, Buhl ID 83316 USA
Stephen Kaattari Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA kaattari@vims.edu
Svante Winberg Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), Department of Comparative Physiology,
Uppsala University, Norbyvaegen 18 A, SE-752 36 Uppsala, SWEDEN
Takashi Sakamoto Department of Aquatic Biosciences, Tokyo University of Fisheries, Minato, Tokyo
108, JAPAN
Teruyuki Nakanishi Laboratory of Fish Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon
University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510 JAPAN
Thomas Chen Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3125 USA
Todd Gray The Genomics Institute, Wadsworth Center, Troy, NY 12180
Tom Pottinger Centre for Ecology and Hydrobiology, Windermere Laboratory, Far Sawrey, LA22
0LP Ambleside, Cumbria, UK.
William Young Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ 86011-5640 USA
Yann Guiguen Equipe sexualite et Reproduction INRA-SCRIBE Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes Cedex FRANCE
Zhanjiang (John) Liu Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Program of Cell and Molecular
Biosciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 USA, zliu@acesag.auburn.edu
Anita L. Bilodeau USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Brian G. Bosworth, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Mary V. Duke, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Mary E. Flanagan, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Robert Li, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Brian C. Peterson, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Sylvie M.A. Quiniou, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Brian Scheffler, USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Brian C. Small USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Geoffrey C. Waldbieser USDA, ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Cova R. Arias, Dept. of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Rex A. Dunham Dept. of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
V. Gregory Chinchar, Dept. of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
L. William Clem, Dept. of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Eva Bengten, Dept of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
Melanie Wilson, Dept. of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Craig J. Lobb, Dept. of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Norman W. Miller Dept. of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Philip H. Klesius, USDA, ARS, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL
Hung -Y. Yeh USDA, ARS, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL
Joel A. Bader USDA, ARS, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL
Richard A. Shelby USDA, ARS, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL
Victor Panangala USDA, ARS, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL
Richard C. Bruch, John T. Caprio Dept. of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA
Walton W. Dickhoff Dept. of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Richard T. DiGiulio, Integrated Toxicology Program, Duke University, Durham, NC
Cunming Duan, Dept. of Molecular, Cell., and Develop. Biology, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Eric D. Green National Human Genome Research Institute, Natl. Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Larry A. Hanson, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Attila Karsi, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Gary W. Litman, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Thomas J. McConnell, Dept. of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Monte Westerfield, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
John H. Postlethwait, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Terrence R. Tiersch, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
John M. Trant University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Kristie L. Willett, Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Stan Allen <ska@vims.edu>
Evelyne Bachere <ebachere@ifremer.fr>
Bruce Barber <bjbarber@maine.edu>
Andy Beaumont <a.r.beaumont@sos.bangor.ac.uk>
Nicolas Bierne <n-bierne@crit.univ-montp2.fr >
François Bonhomme <bonhomme@univ-montp2.fr>
Pierre Boudry <pboudry@ifremer.fr>
Jane Burns <jcburns@ucsd.edu>
Mark Camara <mark.camara@oregonstate.edu>
Robert Chapman <chapmanr@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us>
Gary Cherr <gncherr@ucdavis.edu>
Charlie Cunningham <charlie.Cunningham@sars.uib.no>
Jason Curole <jcurole@usc.edu>
Joth Davis <jdavis32@mindspring.com>
Chris Davis <cdavis@midcoast.com>
Jean-Michel Escoubas <jean.michel.escoubas@ifremer.fr>
Pascal Favrel <favrel@ibfa.unicaen.fr>
Carolyn Friedman <carolynf@u.washington.edu>
Pat Gaffney <pgaffney@udel.edu>
Marta Gomez-Chiarri <gomezchi@uri.edu>
Betty Gosling <elizabeth.gosling@gmit.ie>
Philippe Goulletquer <Philippe.Goulletquer@ifremer.fr>
Fred Griffin <fjgriffin@ucdavis.edu>
Paul Gross <grossp@musc.edu>
Robert Grossfeld <robert_grossfeld@ncsu.edu>
Ximing Guo <xguo@vertigo.hsrl.rutgers.edu>
Matt Hare <matt.hare@umail.umd.edu>
Dennis Hedgecock <dhedge@usc.edu>
Jerry Hilbish <hilbish@biol.sc.edu>
Arnaud Huvet <Arnaud.Huvet@ifremer.fr>
Samain Jean François <jfsamain@ifremer.fr>
Matt Jenny <jennymj@musc.edu>
Ellen Kenchington <KenchingtonE@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca>
Irv Kornfield <irvk@maine.edu>
Jerome La Peyre <JLaPeyre@agcenter.lsu.edu>
Chris Langdon <Chris.Langdon@oregonstate.edu>
Sylvie Lapegue <Sylvie.Lapegue@ifremer.fr>
Hervé Le Guyader <herve.le-guyader@snv.jussieu.fr>
Alexandra Leitão <xanatunis@yahoo.fr>
Alan Lewitus <Lewitusa@belle.baruch.sc.edu>
Gang Li <gangli@usc.edu>
Mats Lundqvist <lundquml@musc.edu>
Donal Manahan <manahan@usc.edu>
Michel Mathieu <mathieu@ibba.unicaen.fr>
Jim Moore <jimmoore@ucdavis.edu>
Dario Moraga <Dario.Moraga@univ-brest.fr>
Ken Paynter <paynter@mees.umd.edu>
Paul Rawson <prawson@maine.edu>
Kim Reece <kreece@vims.edu>
Philippe Roch <Philippe.Roch@ifremer.fr>
Kevin Schey <scheykl@musc.edu>
Masashi Sekino <<sekino@affrc.go.jp> >
Tim Sharbel <Tim.Sharbel@ifremer.fr>
Nobuyoshi Shimizu <shimizu@dmb.med.keio.ac.jp>
Arnaud Tanguy <Arnaud.Tanguy@univ-brest.fr>
Catherine Thiriot-Quiévreux <thiriot@ccrv.obs-vlfr.fr>
Terry Tirsch <ttiersch@agctr.lsu.edu>
Lars Tomanek <tomanekl@stanford.edu>
Jeff Tomkins <jtmkns@CLEMSON.EDU>
Brent Vadopalas <brent@u.washington.edu>
Gerardo Vasta <vasta@umbi.umd.edu>
Marie-Luise Voigt <marielui@usc.edu>
Bob Ward <Bob.Ward@csiro.au>
Cheryl Woodley <cheryl.woodley@noaa.gov>
Jianhai Xiang <jhxiang@ms.qdio.ac.cn>
Elefterios Zouros <zouros@biology.uoc.gr>
Craig Albertson, Forsyth Institute, Boston
Takashi Aoki, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
The American Tilapia Association
Remy Avtalion, Bar-Ilan University
Jean-François Baroiller and Dr. Helena D’Cotta, CIRAD, France
Karen Carleton, University of New Hampshire
Edwin Cooper, University of California, Los Angeles
Patrick Danley, University of Maryland
Ray DeWandel, Ocean Rich Fisheries Inc.
Nina Duftner, University of Graz
Marc Fellous, INSERM, Paris
Kevin Fitzsimmons, University of Arizona
Gert Flik, University of Nijmegen
Paul Fuerst, Ohio State University
Frietson Galis, Leiden University
Ben Hayes, Avkaforsk, Norway
Nick Robinson, Avkaforsk, Norway
Jody Hey, Rutgers University
Gideon Hulata, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
Ann Huysseune, Ghent University
Liliana Jaso-Friedmann, University of George
Karla Johanning, Tulane University
Fotis Kafatos, EMBL
Les Kaufman, Boston University
Stephan Koblmueller, University of Graz
Hans Komen, Wageningen University
Russell Lande, University of California, San Diego
Eric Lander and Dr. Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, The Broad Institute
Øystein Lie, GenoMar ASA
Karel Liem, Harvard University
Jonathan Losos, Washington University
Jeffrey Markert, Environmental Protection Agency
Cesar Martins, Universidade Estadual Paulista
Abdou Mbow, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal
Brendan McAndrew, Univeristy of Stirling
Charles Mélard, University of Liège
Andrew Murray, Harvard University
Yoshitaka Nagahama, National Institute for Basic Biology, Japan
Catherine Ozouf-Costaz, CNRS, Paris
Jacques Panfili, Dr. Jean Dominique Durand, and Dr. Raymond Laë, IRD, Senegal
David Parichy, University of Texas, Austin
David Penman, University of Stirling
Arthur Popper, University of Maryland
Gene Robinson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Micha Ron, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel
Walter Salzburger, University of Konstanz
Manfred Schartl, Univerrsity of Wuerzburg
Ulrich Schliewen, The State Zoological Collections Munich
Kristina Sefc, University of Graz
Jean-Yves Sire, CNRS, Paris
Berta Sivan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jos Snoeks, Africa Museum, Tervuren
J. Todd Streelman, University of New Hampshire
Christian Sturmbauer, University of Graz
Yohei Terai, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Aboubacar Toguyeni, University of Bobo-Bioulasso
George Turner, University of Hull
Jacque van Alphen, Leiden University
Serge Van der Geyten, Veerle Darras, and Eduard Kühn, Catholic University, Leuven
Erik Verheyen, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Jean-Nicolas Volff, University of Würzburg
Masakatsu Watanabe, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Jacqueline Webb, Villanova University
Marc Welt, Xavier University
Frans Witte, Leiden University
Rafael Zardoya, CSIC, Spain