A golden age of gelata: past and future research on planktonic ctenophores and cnidarians
A golden age of gelata: past and future research on planktonic ctenophores and cnidarians
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DOI：
10.1007/s10750-004-2653-9
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发表时间：
2004-11-15
期刊：
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Haddock, SHD
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Haddock, SHD
凝胶浮游动物（gelata）的自然历史研究在19世纪末达到了一个高潮，当时科学家们首次开始了解刺胞动物和栉水母之间的系统发育和生态联系。管水母，仔细地描绘了它们的整体，和薄纱般的叶状栉水母，太脆弱而无法触摸，被描述了几十个。在随后的几年里，对浮游动物的关注转向了更“工业化”的目标，例如使用浮游生物网进行定量采样。当浮游生物科学家们忙碌着总结破碎的部分时，他们忽略了整个水母本身，以甲壳动物为中心的海洋观点开始占主导地位。在此期间，刺胞动物研究中最引人注目的突破来自神经生物学，生理学和发育的实验室研究，特别是某些模式生物。现在，在这个世纪之交，我们有机会让胶凝胶重新占据主导地位。潜水器和遥控潜水器使我们能够研究我们甚至不知道存在的生物体的整个生活史。分子生物学的工具使我们能够回答关于发育、进化和生殖的问题，这些问题已经陷入了僵局。即使在表面沃茨，人们可能认为那里没有什么可学的，现场观察也揭示了意想不到的相互作用和隐藏的多样性。这些生物在海洋健康中发挥的关键作用，它们在许多进化辩论中的关键地位。以及它们所提供的生物技术工具，使公众重新认识到这一点。虽然先进的工具并不需要良好的科学，但我们没有理由不带来另一个凝胶的黄金时代。
The study of the natural history of gelatinous zooplankton (gelata) reached a high point at the end of the 19th century, when scientists first began to understand the phylogenetic and ecological links between cnidarians and ctenophores. Siphonophores, carefully figured in their entirety, and gauze-like lobate ctenophores too fragile to touch, were described by the dozens. In the ensuing years, focus on zooplankton shifted toward more 'industrial' goals such as quantitative sampling using plankton nets. While plankton scientists were busy summing tattered parts, they lost sight of the whole jellies themselves and a crustaceocentric view of the ocean came to dominate. During this period, the most dramatic breakthroughs in cnidarian research came from laboratory studies of neurobiology, physiology, and development, particularly of certain model organisms. Now, at the turn of this century, we have the opportunity to bring gelata back into primacy. Submersibles and remotely operated vehicles allow us to study entire life histories of organisms that we did not even know existed. The tools of molecular biology allow us to answer questions about development, evolution, and phylogeny that had reached a stalemate. Even in the surface waters, where it might be thought that there is little left to learn, in situ observations have revealed unexpected interactions and hidden diversity. The critical roles that these organisms play in the health of the oceans, their position at the crux of many evolutionary debates. and the tools for biotechnology that they provide, have led to resurgent public appreciation and awareness. Although advanced tools do not necessitate good science, we have few excuses for failing to bring about another golden age of gelata.