Dissertation Research: A Cladistic Analysis of the Actiniarian Family Edwardsiidae and its Relationship to the Zoantharia

Zoantharia（包括Actiniaria海葵，sccleractinia石珊瑚和Corallimorpharia珊瑚样珊瑚虫，缺乏石骨架）的特点是存在八射线，两侧对称的幼虫形式，称为爱德华幼虫。在大多数活动性动物中，这种幼虫是一个短暂的阶段，发育成具有12个肠系膜和独特的基底盘的成虫。其中一个科，爱德华科，以其幼虫阶段命名，因为它的成虫保留了8个肠系膜，没有基盘。其他斑蝥幼虫与成虫之间的相似性引起了各种各样的假说，包括爱德华科是斑蝥的基群或衍生冠群的假说。本研究的目的是：(1)用系统发育的方法评估有关爱德华科在棘虫纲中的进化位置的假设。这方面的数据将来自成人的大体解剖和组织学调查、发育形态发生的研究、刺丝囊的扫描电子显微镜和精子的透射电子显微镜。(2)由于爱德华科在许多生境中正在明显消失，因此制定准确的种属特征和鉴定指南具有重要意义。因此，我们将开始对爱德华科的种属进行修订，包括在同一地区收集的种内形态学变异分析，分类表，分布信息和识别键。论文改进奖将允许我们旅行收集标本和检查标本在博物馆收藏在欧洲。

9801370 Lipscomb The Zoantharia (which includes the Actiniaria sea anemones , Scleractinia stony corals , and Corallimorpharia coral-like polyps lacking a stony skeleton ) is characterized by the presence of an eight-rayed, bilaterally symmetric larval form, called the edwardsia larva. In most actiniarians, this larva is a transient stage that develops into an adult with twelve mesenteries and a distinctive basal disc. One family, the Edwardsiidae, gives its name to the larval stage because its adults retain eight mesenteries and lack a basal disc. The similarity between the larval form of other zoantharians and adult edwardsiids has given rise to various hypotheses including the hypothesis that the Edwardsiidae are the basal group or the derived crown group of the Zoantharia. The goals of this research are: (1) to evaluate hypotheses concerning the evolutionary placement of the Edwardsiidae in the Zoantharia using phylogenetic methods. Data for this will come from gross anatomical and histological investigation of adults, studies of developmental morphogenesis, scanning electron microscopy of nematocysts, and transmission electron microscopy of sperm. (2) Because the Edwardsiidae are apparently disappearing from many habitats, it is important for us to develop accurate species and generic characterizations and identification guides. Therefore we will initiate of a revision of the species and genera of Edwardsiidae that will include an analysis of morphological variation within species collected from the same area, lists of synonomy, distribution information, and indentification keys. The Dissertation Improvement Award will allow us to travel to collect specimens and to examine specimens in museum collections in Europe.