Inventory of the Marine Bryozoans of the Northeastern United States

海洋苔藓虫是重要的海底生活动物，特别是在有固体表面的地方，如贝壳、岩石或海藻，可以附着在上面。本项目的目的是对美国东北海岸鲜为人知的海洋苔藓虫动物群进行调查和物种清查。研究人员将通过以下方式来完成这项工作：1)在缅因州和弗吉尼亚州之间尽可能多的地点收集新的藏品；2)分析在该地区工作的其他科学家收集的藏品；3)检查该地区博物馆中已有的材料，特别是模式标本，因为任何对当地物种的原始描述都是基于模式标本。以及他们可能拥有的任何未分类的标本。通过最新的扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和电子测量技术，所有发现的物种都将被研究并发表。结果将是一个最新的插图指南，美国东北部的海洋苔藓虫。这对生物学家研究日益严重的环境压力的东北沿海地区具有重要的实际意义。对于对苔藓虫进化感兴趣的科学家和学生来说，它也很重要，提供了当前的分类和新的描述，以及回答有关家庭关系和地理分布的问题。

Marine bryozoans are important bottom-dwelling animals, especially where there are solid surfaces like shells, rocks or seaweed for colonies to attach. The purpose of this project is to carry out a survey and species inventory of the little known marine bryozoan fauna of the northeast coast of the United States. Researchers will accomplish this by 1) making new collections in as many locations as possible between Maine and Virginia, 2) analyzing collections made by other scientists working in the area, and 3) examining material already in museums in the region, especially the type specimens, on which any original descriptions of local species were based, and any still uncataloged specimens they may have. By means of the latest scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electronic measuring techniques, all species found will be studied and the findings published. The result will be an up-to-date illustrated guide to the marine bryozoans of the northeastern United States. It will be of great practical use to biologists studying the increasingly environmentally stressed northeastern coastal zone. It will be important also to scientists and students interested in bryozoan evolution, providing a current classification and new descriptions, as well as answering questions about family relationships and geographical distribution.