Melanie Lisa Jane Stiassny (born 17 January 1953 in Bielefeld, Germany) is the Axelrod Research Curator of Ichthyology at the American Museum of Natural History. Her research interests focus on freshwater biodiversity documentation and systematic ichthyology in the Old World tropics, including tropical Africa (especially in the Congo River) and Madagascar.[1] She has published broadly on the biogeography conservation and systematics of teleosts.[2]
Dr. Stiassny's early career began with large-scale and groundbreaking morphological studies exploring the evolution and relationships of the cichlids, labroids, and spiny-rayed fishes. As her fieldwork continued, she became ever more concerned with the conservation and biodiversity of freshwater fishes leading to her continued focus on fishes from Madagascar and Africa proper.[4] Over a 10-year period, a multidisciplinary team led in part by Stiassny studied the complex ecosystems of the lower Congo River. Using a genetic analysis of fishes of the Teleogramma genus in the area, she has found evidence that the strength of the current and the extensive rapids in the last 200 km of the river form multiple barriers for fish, thus creating a series of tightly-packed, isolated habitats where populations develop independently: "We'd take fish from the other side of the river, and we looked at their DNA, we realized something very strange is happening, they're separated from each other. In some areas, only one fish crosses the river every two or three generations." This peculiar phenomenon accounts for the region's exceptional biodiversity, with 300 species of fish.[5][6][7] She realized how complex the ecosystem was when they found fishes dying of decompression on the surface, which made them realize they were also dealing with fish population that lived at the bottom of what is a very deep river in some places. She enlisted the help of a team from the United States Geological Survey, which found the river was flowing into a canyon that was 580 feet deep, as well as very strong currents, including some flowing upriver.[7]
Dr. Stiassny indicated she intends to go back to the Congo River her whole career, being interested in the remarkable variety present in the basin and in the key resource, and because of the key role that freshwater fisheries play in the region.[8] She has been collaborating with the University of Kinshasa and the Marien Ngouabi University to train Congolese itchiologists.[3]
Dr. Stiassny was honored with the creation of the Stiassnyiformes in recognition of her contributions to ichthyology and systematics.[9] Her research in the lower Congo led her to catalogue a new species of Teleogramma, which she chose to name Teleogramma obamaorum to recognize the interest of Barack and Michelle Obama for science education and conservation in Africa.[10][11]
Dr. Stiassny was the lead curator for the renovation of the American Museum of Natural History's Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life, which reopened its doors in 2003.[12] About what they were trying to achieve with the renovations, Stiassny said: "I want people to walk away with an understanding of how remarkably superlative the oceans really are. Not just in terms of sheer size and beauty, but also in their ecological complexity and the tremendous biological wealth they contain. Perhaps above all, I want them to understand how absolutely critical ocean health is to the health of all life on Earth. The oceans are a series of interconnected ecosystems that can unravel very, very, quickly."[13]
^Alter, Elizabeth S.; Munshi-South, Jason; Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2016-12-28). "Genomewide SNP data reveal cryptic phylogeographic structure and microallopatric divergence in a rapids-adapted clade of cichlids from the Congo River". Molecular Ecology. 26 (5): 14–01–1419. doi:10.1111/mec.13973. PMID 28028845. S2CID 6999867.
^"Congo river fish evolution shaped by intense rapids". American Museum of Natural History. 2017-07-17. from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
^ abTEDxBroadStreetNY - Melanie Stiassny - Learning from Ancient Fish (Video). 2011-07-28.
^Li, Blaise; Agnès Dettaï; Corinne Cruaud; Arnaud Couloux; Martine Desoutter-Meniger; Guillaume Lecointre (February 2009). "RNF213, a new nuclear marker for acanthomorph phylogeny". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 50 (2): 345–363. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.11.013. PMID 19059489.
^Boddy, Jessica (2016-12-29). "These nine different creatures have been named after Barack Obama". Science magazine. from the original on 2019-08-04. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
^Stiassny, Melanie L.J.; Alter, Elizabeth S. (2015-04-21). "Phylogenetics of Teleogramma, a Riverine Clade of African Cichlid Fishes, with a Description of the Deepwater Molluskivore—Teleogramma obamaorum— from the Lower Reaches of the Middle Congo River". American Museum Novitates (3831): 1–18. doi:10.1206/3831.1. S2CID 86288518.
^"The Museum's Blue Whale Model". American Museum of Natural History. 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
^"An Interview with Melanie Stiassny". Natural History. April 2003.
May 03, 2024
melanie, stiassny, melanie, lisa, jane, stiassny, born, january, 1953, bielefeld, germany, axelrod, research, curator, ichthyology, american, museum, natural, history, research, interests, focus, freshwater, biodiversity, documentation, systematic, ichthyology. Melanie Lisa Jane Stiassny born 17 January 1953 in Bielefeld Germany is the Axelrod Research Curator of Ichthyology at the American Museum of Natural History Her research interests focus on freshwater biodiversity documentation and systematic ichthyology in the Old World tropics including tropical Africa especially in the Congo River and Madagascar 1 She has published broadly on the biogeography conservation and systematics of teleosts 2 Melanie StiassnyBorn1953 01 17Bielefeld GermanyAlma materKing s College LondonScientific careerFieldsIchthyology evolutionary biologyInstitutionsAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryRichard Gilder Graduate SchoolHarvard UniversityColumbia University Contents 1 Education 2 Research interests and contributions 3 Taxon described by her 4 Taxon named in her honor 5 ReferencesEducation editStiassny holds both a BS and a Ph D from King s College London and has previously taught at Harvard University and Columbia University and is now a professor in the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History She is a member of the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund the Advisory Council of Conservation International s Center for Applied Biodiversity Science the Advisory Board of National Geographic Society s Conservation Trust 1 3 and the Deutsche Cichliden Gesellschaft DCG German Cichlid Society Research interests and contributions editDr Stiassny s early career began with large scale and groundbreaking morphological studies exploring the evolution and relationships of the cichlids labroids and spiny rayed fishes As her fieldwork continued she became ever more concerned with the conservation and biodiversity of freshwater fishes leading to her continued focus on fishes from Madagascar and Africa proper 4 Over a 10 year period a multidisciplinary team led in part by Stiassny studied the complex ecosystems of the lower Congo River Using a genetic analysis of fishes of the Teleogramma genus in the area she has found evidence that the strength of the current and the extensive rapids in the last 200 km of the river form multiple barriers for fish thus creating a series of tightly packed isolated habitats where populations develop independently We d take fish from the other side of the river and we looked at their DNA we realized something very strange is happening they re separated from each other In some areas only one fish crosses the river every two or three generations This peculiar phenomenon accounts for the region s exceptional biodiversity with 300 species of fish 5 6 7 She realized how complex the ecosystem was when they found fishes dying of decompression on the surface which made them realize they were also dealing with fish population that lived at the bottom of what is a very deep river in some places She enlisted the help of a team from the United States Geological Survey which found the river was flowing into a canyon that was 580 feet deep as well as very strong currents including some flowing upriver 7 Dr Stiassny indicated she intends to go back to the Congo River her whole career being interested in the remarkable variety present in the basin and in the key resource and because of the key role that freshwater fisheries play in the region 8 She has been collaborating with the University of Kinshasa and the Marien Ngouabi University to train Congolese itchiologists 3 Dr Stiassny was honored with the creation of the Stiassnyiformes in recognition of her contributions to ichthyology and systematics 9 Her research in the lower Congo led her to catalogue a new species of Teleogramma which she chose to name Teleogramma obamaorum to recognize the interest of Barack and Michelle Obama for science education and conservation in Africa 10 11 Dr Stiassny was the lead curator for the renovation of the American Museum of Natural History s Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life which reopened its doors in 2003 12 About what they were trying to achieve with the renovations Stiassny said I want people to walk away with an understanding of how remarkably superlative the oceans really are Not just in terms of sheer size and beauty but also in their ecological complexity and the tremendous biological wealth they contain Perhaps above all I want them to understand how absolutely critical ocean health is to the health of all life on Earth The oceans are a series of interconnected ecosystems that can unravel very very quickly 13 Taxon described by her editSee Category Taxa named by Melanie StiassnyTaxon named in her honor editThe killifish Aphanius stiassnyaeReferences edit a b RGGS Faculty American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 15 March 2013 The Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea west Central Africa Paris IRD Editions 2007 ISBN 978 2709916202 a b Melanie Stiassny American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 2019 08 08 Course Author Melanie Stiassny a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Alter Elizabeth S Munshi South Jason Stiassny Melanie L J 2016 12 28 Genomewide SNP data reveal cryptic phylogeographic structure and microallopatric divergence in a rapids adapted clade of cichlids from the Congo River Molecular Ecology 26 5 14 01 1419 doi 10 1111 mec 13973 PMID 28028845 S2CID 6999867 Congo river fish evolution shaped by intense rapids American Museum of Natural History 2017 07 17 Archived from the original on August 4 2019 Retrieved August 4 2019 a b TEDxBroadStreetNY Melanie Stiassny Learning from Ancient Fish Video 2011 07 28 Profile Melanie Stiassny Video 2012 12 06 Li Blaise Agnes Dettai Corinne Cruaud Arnaud Couloux Martine Desoutter Meniger Guillaume Lecointre February 2009 RNF213 a new nuclear marker for acanthomorph phylogeny Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 50 2 345 363 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2008 11 013 PMID 19059489 Boddy Jessica 2016 12 29 These nine different creatures have been named after Barack Obama Science magazine Archived from the original on 2019 08 04 Retrieved 2019 08 04 Stiassny Melanie L J Alter Elizabeth S 2015 04 21 Phylogenetics of Teleogramma a Riverine Clade of African Cichlid Fishes with a Description of the Deepwater Molluskivore Teleogramma obamaorum from the Lower Reaches of the Middle Congo River American Museum Novitates 3831 1 18 doi 10 1206 3831 1 S2CID 86288518 The Museum s Blue Whale Model American Museum of Natural History 2013 05 17 Retrieved 2019 08 04 An Interview with Melanie Stiassny Natural History April 2003 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melanie Stiassny amp oldid 1217262965, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
