Integrating 3D-microanatomy of selected heterobranch gastropods into molecular phylogenetics

分子系统学为我们所说的新异支目树的主干拓扑结构提供了越来越多的证据。这从根本上重组了大约40,000种形态和生态多样化的物种，包括蛇门和肺门蜗牛和蛞蝓。然而，许多主要的传统枝的确切关系、解剖和进化，特别是低异枝，仍未得到解决。在本项目的第一阶段，我们研究了大多数主要异支谱系的代表，并从整个个体的连续半薄组织学切片中添加了详细的显微解剖信息。我们还提供了一些最神秘和异常的主要异支分支的起源和进化的多位点数据和首次假设，如Rhodopemorpha， Murchisonellidae， Ringiculidae和一些acteonoidea相关群体。在本文申请的延长期内，我们希望1)抓住机会，在没有任何微观解剖学知识的情况下，对最后3个低异支科Cimidae， Graphidae和tjaernoeidae的微小的，极其难以捉摸的代表进行三维显微解剖细节的独特材料进行研究。特别是，我们希望2)完成我们的多位点数据集，执行最先进的系统发育分析，并全面重建异种分支的进化。整合分子和形态学证据将允许重新评估器官的同源性和功能及其跨异枝的进化，从而对这一庞大而重要的群体有新的认识。

Molecular systematics provides increasing evidence for the backbone topology of what we call the New Heterobranchia tree. This radically reorganizes roughly 40,000 morphologically and ecologically diverse species, including opisthobranch and pulmonate snails and slugs. However, exact relationships, anatomy and evolution of many major traditional clades,, especially of lower heterobranchs, remained unresolved. In the first period of the present project we have examined representatives of most major heterobranch lineages, adding detailed microanatomical information from serial semithin histological sections of entire individuals. We have also provided multi-locus data and first hypotheses on the origin and evolution of several of the most enigmatic and aberrant major heterobranch clades, such as Rhodopemorpha, Murchisonellidae, Ringiculidae, and some Acteonoidea-related groups. In the prolongation period applied for herein we want to 1) take the chance and examine in 3D microanatomical detail unique material of minute, extremely elusive representatives of Cimidae, Graphidae and Tjaernoeeidae, the last 3 lower heterobranch families without any microanatomical knowledge. In particular, we want to 2) complete our multi-locus data sets, perform state of the art phylogenetic analyses, and reconstruct the evolution of heterobranchs comprehensively. Integrating molecular and morphological evidences will allow for re-evaluating homology and function of organs and their evolution across heterobranchs, leading to a new understanding of this large and important group.