Taxonomy of myxobolid parasites of fishes

拟进行的研究探讨了寄生在北美淡水和一些海水鱼类组织中的粘泡虫属（粘虫）的分类和生活史。这组寄生虫（目前有118个标称物种）是寄生在鱼类中的最speciose谱系之一，但最穷的理解之一。有人认为，我们的理解，这些寄生虫形成的丰富的社区的性质不能实现，直到一个健全的分类系统是可用的，一个可用的非专家。这项研究将通过重新检查从模式宿主和其他鱼类收集的材料，对上个世纪早期描述的许多物种进行分类学修订。它还将在其他鱼类中广泛搜索需要正式描述和记录的寄生虫种类。该计划的一个重要方面是本科生和研究生接触动物学命名法和基于形态和分子（18 S rDNA）的分类法。一名研究生将检查我们低估了粘体多样性的假设-这将通过对来自不同鲤科宿主物种的Thelohanellus notatus的修订进行测试（是否有一个单一的物种或单独的神秘物种独立地通过各种宿主物种循环？）。第二个研究生将研究碘泡虫寄生种群底diaphanus和底heteroclitus在各自的淡水和海洋栖息地，以及与两个物种的杂交种在复制沿海网站在新斯科舍省的组合的分类和生活史。这项工作将涉及设计的实地研究，实验传输，并在三个主机组的物种状态进行严格的形态和分子评估的混合。一个长期的目标是制作一个基于生态学的北美鱼类粘体寄生虫图谱

The proposed reseach examines the taxonomy and life history of species of Myxobolus (Myxozoa) parasitic in tissues of freshwater and some marine fishes of North America. This group of parasites (currently having 118 nominal species) is one of the most speciose lineages parasitic in fishes yet one of the poorest understood. It is argued that our understanding of the nature of the rich communities formed by these parasites cannot be achieved until a sound system of taxonomy is available, and one useable by non-specialists. The research will undertake taxonomic revisions of numerous species described earlier in the last century, through reexamination of material collected from type hosts and other fishes. It will also conduct extensive searches in other fishes for species of parasites needing formal description and documentation. An important aspect of the program is the exposure of undergraduate and graduate students to zoological nomenclature and morphologically and molecularly (18S rDNA) based taxonomy. One graduate student will examine the hypothesis that we have underestimated myxobolid diversity - this will be tested through a revision of Thelohanellus notatus from different cyprinid host species (Is there a single species or separate cryptic species cycling independently through the various host species?). A second graduate student will examine the taxonomy and life history of assemblages of species of Myxobolus parasitizing populations Fundulus diaphanus and Fundulus heteroclitus in their respective freshwater and marine habitats, as well as with hybrids of the two species in replicate coastal sites in Nova Scotia. This work will involve a blend of designed field studies, experimental transmissions, and rigorous morphological and molecular assessments of species status in the three host groups. A long term goal is to produce an ecologically-based atlas of myxobolid parasites of fishes of North America