PlanetCatfish.com

All,

This Sunday (9th February 2014) Mark Sabaj Perez and Nathan Lujan will be online in two sessions to interact with PlanetXingu contributors and PlanetCatfish.com community members alike.

The sessions will take place online at http://tinychat.com/planetcatfish.

There will be one at 1900 GMT and one at 1900 EST (I'll be drinking strong coffee).

Meantime, if you can't attend, or would like to help get things going, please note down some questions to ask the guys in this thread. It would be good to get a few to get started with!

Cheers,

Jools

Jools wrote:This Sunday (8th February 2014)

That doesn't really match my year 2014.

Good point! Maybe I should have some of that coffee now. Of course it is Sunday the 9th.

Jools

What is the current status of the Zebra Pleco? What efforts - if any - are being made to save this species and others in this habitat?

cybermeez wrote:What is the current status of the Zebra Pleco? What efforts - if any - are being made to save this species and others in this habitat?

The first bit is a good question. The second part is related but rather outwith the project. PlanetXingu is about recording and understanding the fishes and the habitat before they are altered or destroyed - it's not a political venture to affect the hydroelectric dam construction. Sadly, the reality is the habitat may be doomed.

Would "what do we know about the wild population of the zebra pleco" be a reasonable interpretation of your first question or have I missed what you were looking to understand?

Cheers,

Jools

Very boring question, not about the Xingu (sorry):

Given the success in reaching the $11,000 target, do you think crowdfunding can become a viable future revenue-source for science?

It's a great question though. That's two we've got now.

Jools

I've got a couple regarding Panaque cf. armbrusteri, but anything they could share about their ecology would be great.

What do they feed on? Obviously, with Panaque in general, wood is a large component, but from what I've seen and read, the Xingu habitat is mostly bed rock. Their jaws and teeth are also different from the rest of the genus, suggesting to me that their diet is different.

Are there any different forms or colour morphs within the Xingu?

That sounds like a great question Matt, perhaps we could also ask if any gut analysis has been done and if not then perhaps that's something that can be researched in one of this years expeditions?

Cheers,

Jools

Just a reminder that the first of this evenings PlanetXingu online gatherings kicks off in 15 minutes.

http://tinychat.com/planetcatfish or via the "tinychat" app on your smartphone / tablet.

Jools

Thanks to everyone who participated tonight. The first session went well from a video point of view, but audio was patchy and so the chat was limited to text. I'll publish a transcript of that once I tidy it up. However, we got to see a few undescribed specimens, talk about the questions raised in this thread and interact across the miles.

The second session didn't work so well. I had trouble logging in, my timezone calculation didn't figure in DST (my fault) and, again, the audio/video was patchy. In short, less than brilliant and certainly less than I had hoped for.

Aside from timezones, the issue here is finding a free product that doesn't need a download, works on desktop/laptop computers, smartphones and tablets and also does audio, video and text. I think the selected product (tinychat) does do that, but is not robust enough for a 15-25 participant video led session.

So, back to the drawing board. I will do some research and the plan is to reconvene when a more robust platform is tested out OK. I think that's the main thing, I'll not make the timezone mistake again!

Cheers,

Jools

I found it great and hope this "chatting" will proceed and develop!
Thank you for the efforts and time, it was fun

Hey,

Jools wrote:the issue here is finding a free product that doesn't need a download, works on desktop/laptop computers, smartphones and tablets and also does audio, video and text. I think the selected product (tinychat) does do that, but is not robust enough for a 15-25 participant video led session.

So, back to the drawing board. I will do some research and the plan is to reconvene when a more robust platform is tested out OK. I think that's the main thing

what about http://www.twitch.tv or is that to much gameing associated?

Is a video of this two events (with text) planed? For those who missed them

So long
Durlänger

I think it's a case of "there's no such thing as a free lunch" and we will need to use one of the enterprise class applications for doing this. I reckon we will try again with gotomeeting; watch this space...

Jools

If anyone is around/interested, I'm trying out a likely candidate for the next chat meeting. Use the following to get online - I'll be there for the next hour or so:

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/685208693

Meeting ID: 685-208-693

Jools

The online test went well. So, we're planning an online session with Mark and Nathan again this sunday at 1900 EST (midnight GMT). Attendance will be limited to 26 places including speakers.

Use this URL to access: https://global.gotomeeting.com/meeting/join/750508789 - GoToMeeting requires a small download to participate, so it's recommended to head on over and get set-up ahead of the start time.

Cheers,

Jools

Hi Jools,

any chance to record the whole thing?
I have some people asking me at l-welse.com, if it is possible to watch it later. And with a limited audience of 26 (24) I think some more people would be interested in that.

Daniel

Acanthicus wrote:any chance to record the whole thing?

Recording it is something I could do technically, but I'd need to see how Mark & Nathan feel about that. However making that recording available (1 hour of video+audio) is a little more problematic - I think youtube has a limit.

But that is a problem I will only have if I record it and then try to look for a solution.

Cheers,

Jools

Hey

Acanthicus wrote:Hi Jools,

any chance to record the whole thing?
I have some people asking me at l-welse.com, if it is possible to watch it later. And with a limited audience of 26 (24) I think some more people would be interested in that.

Daniel

+ the not english speaking watchers have to translate in there minds while watching, much easyer if you can trace/pounce

there are full films and albums longer than 1h on youtube nowadays

Bye

Unfortunately Mark is rather ill at present. I've therefore decided to postpone this evenings online gathering - please watch this space for further details.

Cheers,

Jools

OK, so the good news is that we the online chat has been rescheduled as we're all back up to full health! The same time and place just a new date 2nd March - that's tomorrow!

Time: 2nd March 2014 / Sunday evening 1900 EST.
Place: https://global.gotomeeting.com/meeting/join/154768597

You can join from computer/laptop, tablet of smartphone. I recommend you log in and get set-up beforehand as participating requires small download and a potentially some webcam / mic or audio config. if you've never done this kind of thing before.

Detailed joining instructions.

1. Please join my meeting.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/meeting/join/154768597
2. Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended. Or, call in using your telephone.
United States: +1 (773) 897-3000
Access Code: 154-768-597
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID:154-768-597
GoToMeeting
Online-Meetings made easy

Just a reminder that the online chat / meeting is on for tonight! 1900 EST.

Cheers,

Jools

We are live in 20 minutes!

https://global.gotomeeting.com/meeting/join/154768597

Cheers,

Jools

I only caught the last bit, but the technology seemed to work fine.
-Shane

The chat went very well on the new platform and we had a great chat on audio and video!

Jools

Shame it was in the middle of the night....