Dissertation Research: A Cladistic Analysis of the Deep Sea Ophiuroid Genera Ophiomusium Lyman and Ophiosphalma H.L. Clark and Their Relations Within Ophiolepididae ......

蛇尾类，或称蛇尾，是棘皮动物中最大的一类。从热带到极地海洋，从潮间带到深海，它们几乎占据了所有的海洋环境。尽管如此，就其系统分类学而言，蛇类仍然是研究最少的群体之一。深海中的海蛇尾也可能为关于深海动物起源的争论提供信息。一些科学家认为深海环境是古代物种的避难所，另一些人则认为深水物种是最近由浅水和南极动物群入侵而出现的。在这项研究中，Diana Lipscomb、David Pawson和博士生Susan Hottenrott将对所有海洋中深海动物群的优势成员Ophiomusium和Ophiosphalma （Ophiolepididae）这两个蛇科植物属进行系统修订。组成这些属的77个物种的特征很差。通过对各博物馆标本的大体和精细结构解剖的研究，本研究将首次提供这些物种的详细描述和识别关键。预计这一分析将导致更好地了解一般的蛇卵类，特别是深海物种。这项研究还应该通过包括生物地理分析来检验关于这些海蛇尾起源的相互竞争的假设，从而深入了解深海动物的起源。

9701264 LIPSCOMB Ophiuroids, or brittle stars, are the largest class of echinoderms. They occupy nearly every marine environment from the tropics to polar seas, and the intertidal to abyssal zones. Nonetheless, ophiuroids remain one of the least studied groups with respect to their systematics. Brittle stars in the deep sea may also inform an ongoing debate about the origins of deep-sea animals. Some scientists believe that the deep-sea environment is a refuge for ancient species, others believe that deep-water species appeared more recently, by invasions from shallow-water and Antarctic faunas. In this research, Diana Lipscomb, David Pawson and doctoral candidate Susan Hottenrott will conduct a systematic revision of two ophuroid genera, Ophiomusium and Ophiosphalma (family Ophiolepididae) which are dominant members of the deep-sea fauna in all oceans. The 77 species that comprise these genera are poorly characterized. By studying the gross and fine structural anatomy of specimens archived at various museums, this study will provide the first detailed description and identification keys of these species. It is anticipated that this analysis will result in a better understanding of ophuroids in general and deep-sea species in particular. The study should also give insights into the origin of deep sea faunas, by including biogeographic analyses that will test competing hypotheses for the origins of these brittle stars.