Evolution and Development of Danio and Relatives
Danio rerio is a model organism and along with many other model species has been targeted for varied anatomical, myological, neurological, behavioral, molecular, and developmental studies, primarily to infer processes and mechanisms in other taxa, including Homo sapiens. Because Danio rerio is a cypriniform species there are great opportunities, with input from systematic studies being conducted with these fishes, to examine this species in a comparative context to infer many more developmental, anatomical, evolutionary, etc. patterns and processes than is possible in a non-comparative context as is usual in the traditional "model organism studies." Any studies presenting results involving Danio and relatives are welcomed in this area.

Genomics in Cypriniformes, Ostariophysi or Actinopterygii
The field of genomics (nuclear or mitochondrial) has advanced rapidly in recent years with the advent of modern techniques and high-throughput equipment in laboratories. Information regarding the genomics of fishes has been found to be of fundamental importance in many areas ranging from linking mutagenesis of fishes to that of other vertebrates, including Homo sapiens, growth and development of species, aquaculture practices, and systematics. This symposium will focus on the advances that are ongoing in the field of genomic research for ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), with a focus on Cypriniformes.

Advances in Aquaculture of Cypriniformes
In nearly every country where Cypriniformes occur naturally some species are used in different forms of aquaculture for either cultural reasons, human consumption, food resources for other species, or fertilizers for crop production. Recent years have brought new and exciting advances to the aquaculture of different Cypriniformes species.

Aquarium Trade of Cypriniformes
Many species of Cypriniformes are common in the pet trade industry and are exported and imported around the world. For some countries the pet trade industry for fishes is a significant economic factor. At the same time, there is growing concern about the conservation status of species that are harvested life from the wild and the impact of this industry on natural populations and genetic variation. Likewise, in some instances it may be that some species are available for scientific investigation only through the trade industry and in some cases propagation efforts in the industry have reduced the need for natural harvests. This topic of focus is offered as a mechanism to develop collaborations and discussions for those interested in the aquarium trade of South East Asian fishes.

Cypriniformes as Invasive Species
One of the most fundamental problems that all freshwater ecosystems face across the globe is the increasing occurence of invasive, exotic, alien, or introduced species of Cypriniformes. Invasive species include everything from large species of carp purposefully introduced to control aquatic vegetation or molluscs to small species that are marketed in the tropical fish trade. In nearly all instances there are problems associated with the introductions of these species as they increase in population numbers or expand their distributions beyond what was originally conceived. With this increasing problem there needs to be new methods developed for controlling these species, education of the public and governments as to the problems that these exotics eventually cause to ecosystems, and international-scale legislation to prevent any further trade or exchange of these exotics outside of their native ranges.