DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phylogeny of the Marine Bristle Worm Family Eunicidae (Eunicida, Polychaeta, Annelida) Using Molecular, Morphological and Developmental Data

本论文将建立Eunicidae的系统发育，测试该科及其属的单系性，并分析其个体发育和沿身体的变异。我们将使用多种证据来源--分子、形态和发育--来产生关于初级同源性的更具信息性的假说，从而形成更有力的系统发育图。这将使我们能够修正Eunicidae及其属，并测试传统多毛类形态特征的系统发育含量。这也将为未来关于高度修饰的、可变的或连续重复结构的同源性问题的环节动物的系统发育研究提供背景。我们请求为席尔瓦女士提供资金，让她在史密森大学皮尔斯堡实验室使用特殊染色和共聚焦显微镜进行发育研究，并前往Dr。Ken Halancych的实验室(奥本大学)，以学习环节动物特有的分子技术。这笔资金将使我们能够将该项目从一个使用传统解剖特征和分子标记的项目扩展到一个更强大的研究，包括个体发育和新的遗传特征。广泛的影响：这项研究将培训一名环节动物发育和分子遗传学的研究生，并加强乔治华盛顿大学、史密森学会和奥本大学实验室之间的联系。

This dissertation will establish the phylogeny of Eunicidae, test the monophyly ofthe family and its genera, and analyze ontogenetic and along-the-body variation offeatures. We will use multiple sources of evidence - molecules, morphology anddevelopment - to produce more informative hypotheses of primary homology andconsequently a more robust phylogeny. This will allow us to revise Eunicidae and itsgenera and to test the phylogenetic content of traditional polychaete morphologicalcharacters. It will also offer a background for future phylogenetic studies of annelidsconcerned with similar issues of homology of highly modified, variable or seriallyrepeated structures.We request funding for Ms. Silva to conduct developmental studies using specificstaining and confocal microscopy at the Smithsonian's Fort Pierce lab, and to travel toDr. Ken Halancych's lab (Auburn University) in order to learn molecular techniquesspecific to annelids. This funding will allow us to expand the project from one that usestraditional anatomical characters and molecular markers to a more robust studyincorporating ontogeny and new genetic characters.Broader impacts: This study will train a graduate student in developmental andmolecular genetics of annelids, and strengthen ties between labs at George WashingtonUniversity, Smithsonian Institution, and Auburn University.