Evolution of terrestrial development in anurans

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This research project will investigate embryonic development in a number of amphibian taxa with representative derived reproductive strategies (development including a non-feeding non-aquatic tadpole, direct development) and investigate their evolution and in particular the morphological consequence. This project will focus on the following overarching questions: 1) What effects on the embryonic development do derived reproductive strategies like direct development have, and are these effects universal or taxon specific? 2) Does embryonic development in taxa that have lost a feeding, free-living larva follow predictable patterns and if so, can this help elucidate the evolutionary origins of the amphibian larva? To this end, in-situ hybridization, whole-mount immunostaining, confocal laser scanning microscopy, micro-CT scanning, computerized 3D reconstruction and other techniques will be employed to investigate the development of the head skeleton and associated musculature, as a particularly rich source of relevant characters. Investigating the developmental processes involved will further our understanding of the role played by development in mediating evolutionary diversification in general.