Where are they all from? - sources and sustainability in the ornamental freshwater fish trade

The global trade in ornamental fish involves c. 125 countries worldwide and is worth c. US $15-30 billion each year. This total is dominated (90%) by freshwater fishes, most of which are sourced from breeding facilities located in developing countries, typically in Asia or South America, but also in Israel, USA and Europe. Some fish are obtained from natural (wild) sources in Asia and South America, but the exact percentage of wild-caught fish is difficult to quantify given a lack of reliable data. Although c. 1000 species of freshwater fishes are widely available (from a total of > 5300 on sale), the most dominant freshwater fishes in the market comprise only 30 species from the orders Cyprinodontiformes, Perciformes, Characiformes and Siluriformes. In this perspectives review, illustrative example case studies of wild-fish collecting (Barcelos and Rio Xingu, Brazil) and breeding projects (Java, Indonesia) are described. In addition, wild-collecting expeditions to West Papua, Indonesia are discussed, focused on discovering novel species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) for breeding in captivity. Sustainability of the aquarium industry is considered in its broadest sense. The aquarium industry has been portrayed as both a major threat to natural ecosystems, but also as being part of the solution in terms of helping to maintain species when they have gone extinct in the wild or offering an income to impoverished citizens who might otherwise engage in much more destructive practices

Discodermolide/Dictyostatin Hybrids: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

(Matrix Presented) Two hybrid analogues of discodermolide and dictyostatin (3, 26) have been designed and synthesized. These are the first macrocyclic analogues of discodermolide and biological activities were evaluated and compared with linear discodermolide analogues

Improved synthesis of 6-epi-dictyostatin and antitumor efficacy in mice bearing MDA-MB231 human breast cancer xenografts

Structure-activity studies centered on the naturally occurring antitumor agent dictyostatin have recently identified several highly active epimers and analogues. From these compounds, 6-epi-dictyostatin was selected for scaleup preparation and evaluation in animals. Here we describe a new total synthesis that produced more than 30 mg of 6-epi-dictyostatin. The compound was found to have potent antitumor activity in SCID mice bearing MDA-MB231 human breast cancer xenografts. © 2008 American Chemical Society