ABR: Molecular and Morphological Evolution of the Crustacea

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9420102 Abele Many questions about phylogeny or relationships remain unresolved for the large arthropod invertebrate group Crustacea despite years of study of the morphology of both living and well-preserved fossil taxa. A molecular phylogenetic approach using sequencing of 18S rDNA has resolved questions for some groups and this award will support continued DNA sequencing work toward developing a phylogeny or pattern of relationship for all major crustacean groups. The molecular phylogeny will then be used to address questions of morphological change in crustacean lineages, including whether certain suites of characters are correlated and have changed together as functional units. %%% Knowledge of phylogenetic relationships in this very diverse group of invertebrate organisms will contribute to our understanding of invertebrate biodiversity. Crustacea are especially important ecologically as they fill several roles. In both fresh water and marine systems minute crustacea are a major component of foodwebs. Larger crustacea include our own food resources of lobsters, shrimp, and their relatives. And barnacles are a negatively economically important group causing major shipping and recreational maintenance costs each year. ***