DISSERATION RESEARCH: Toward resolving lecanicephalidean familial relationships using morphology and molecules

绦虫是所有脊椎动物中已知的寄生在肠道内的寄生虫。鲨鱼和鳐鱼的绦虫已成为鳖类迁徙、分布和摄食的有用生物指示物。本研究的重点是绦虫目Lecanicephalidea。最近对lecanicephalidean多样性的研究（在过去10年中发现了29个新种和6个新属）使得我们对该目属间关系的理解滞后，因此需要更新分类。本研究的具体目标是：(1)为lecanicephalidean属的一个亚群生成第一个分子系统发育；(2)使用标准技术（光镜、扫描显微镜和组织学）和新技术（透射电子显微镜）识别支持家族级关系的形态学特征。这项研究将增加我们对绦虫生物多样性、进化和宿主-寄生虫关系的认识。加深对这一群体的进化关系的理解，将有助于我们对选定宿主和地理区域的多样性进行预测。一系列的寄生虫学讲座将教授给堪萨斯高中的生物系学生，在课堂和现场介绍堪萨斯寄生虫，以及板鳃绦虫和它们的宿主。将促进美国、墨西哥和捷克共和国的寄生虫学家之间的合作。

Tapeworms are gut-dwelling parasites known from all vertebrate classes. Tapeworms of sharks and rays have been useful bioindicators of elasmobranch migration, distribution, and feeding. The proposed research focuses on the elasmobranch tapeworm order Lecanicephalidea. Recent contributions to lecanicephalidean diversity (29 new species and 6 new genera in the past 10 years) have created a lag in our understanding family-level relationships of genera within this order resulting in the need for an updated classification. The specific goals of this study are to: (1) generate the first molecular phylogeny for a subset of lecanicephalidean genera; and (2) identify morphological characters supporting family-level relationships using standard techniques (light and scanning microscopy and histology) and novel techniques, traditionally not used in this group (transmission electron microscopy).This study will add to our knowledge of tapeworm biodiversity, evolution, and to host-parasite relationships. Increased understanding of evolutionary relationships in this group will hone our predictions about diversity in selected hosts and geographic areas. A series of parasitology lectures will be taught to Kansas high school biology student, introducing Kansas parasites in the classroom and field, as well as elasmobranch tapeworms and their hosts. Collaborations will be fostered between parasitologists in the U.S., Mexico, and Czech Republic.