DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Molecular Markers and Evolution of Fish Blood Flukes (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae)

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NSF-DDIG funds will improve the resulting quality of the Co-PI's dissertation by 1) helping himgenerate the first comprehensive phylogeny for fish blood flukes (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae)through financing the acquisition of molecular sequence data for critical taxa, thereby 2)allowing him to test for parasite-host co-phylogeny. These sequence data will mesh with theCo-PI's current morphological and ecological studies of cercarial and adult sanguinicolids toyield a combined evidence phylogeny. The phylogeny will then be compared with pre-existingfish phylogenies to test for parasite-host co-phylogeny. These results will comprise the firstclade-based phylogeny for Sanguinicolidae, identify the likely sister taxon to Sanguinicolidae,and ultimately contribute to our understanding of the evolution of Digenea.Broader Impacts:NSF-DDIG funds will help finance marine parasitology research experiences for K-8, highschool, and undergraduate students and the public in Mississippi, an EPSCoR state. Theseactivities include underrepresented groups and will strengthen already-instituted partnershipsand/or establish new partnerships with federal and state wildlife agencies, private industry,museums, teachers and students from a magnet school for mathematics and science,educators at a nationally-recognized marine education center, and university students andresearchers.