ABR: Molecular and Morphological Evolution of the Crustacea

尽管对现存和保存完好的化石分类群的形态学进行了多年的研究，但关于大型节肢动物无脊椎类群甲壳类的系统发育或关系的许多问题仍未得到解决。利用18S rDNA测序的分子系统发育方法解决了一些群体的问题，该奖项将支持继续进行DNA测序工作，以发展所有主要甲壳类群体的系统发育或关系模式。分子系统发育将用于解决甲壳类动物谱系的形态变化问题，包括某些特征是否相关，是否作为功能单位一起变化。了解这个非常多样化的无脊椎生物群体的系统发育关系将有助于我们对无脊椎生物多样性的理解。甲壳类动物在生态学上尤其重要，因为它们扮演着多种角色。在淡水和海洋系统中，微小的甲壳类动物都是食物网的主要组成部分。较大的甲壳类动物包括我们自己的食物资源龙虾、虾和它们的亲戚。藤壶在经济上是一个消极的重要群体，每年造成大量的运输和娱乐维护成本。＊＊＊

9420102 Abele Many questions about phylogeny or relationships remain unresolved for the large arthropod invertebrate group Crustacea despite years of study of the morphology of both living and well-preserved fossil taxa. A molecular phylogenetic approach using sequencing of 18S rDNA has resolved questions for some groups and this award will support continued DNA sequencing work toward developing a phylogeny or pattern of relationship for all major crustacean groups. The molecular phylogeny will then be used to address questions of morphological change in crustacean lineages, including whether certain suites of characters are correlated and have changed together as functional units. %%% Knowledge of phylogenetic relationships in this very diverse group of invertebrate organisms will contribute to our understanding of invertebrate biodiversity. Crustacea are especially important ecologically as they fill several roles. In both fresh water and marine systems minute crustacea are a major component of foodwebs. Larger crustacea include our own food resources of lobsters, shrimp, and their relatives. And barnacles are a negatively economically important group causing major shipping and recreational maintenance costs each year. ***