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

绦虫是所有脊椎动物纲中已知的肠道寄生虫。鲨鱼和鳐鱼的绦虫一直是板鳃类动物迁徙、分布和摄食的有用生物指示物。拟议的研究重点是板鳃绦虫目的Lecancephalidea。最近的贡献lecanicephalidean多样性（29个新种和6个新属，在过去的10年）已经创建了一个滞后，我们的理解家庭级别的属在这个顺序的关系，需要更新的分类。本研究的具体目标是：（1）建立首个蜡蚧头形目一个亚属的分子系统学;以及（2）使用标准技术识别支持家系水平关系的形态特征（光学和扫描显微镜和组织学）和传统上不用于该组的新技术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。对这一群体进化关系的进一步了解将磨练我们对选定宿主和地理区域多样性的预测。一系列的寄生虫学讲座将教授给堪萨斯高中生物学生，介绍堪萨斯寄生虫在课堂和现场，以及板鳃绦虫和他们的主机。美国的寄生虫学家将加强合作，墨西哥和捷克。

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.