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Phylogeny and Evolution of Anthopleura (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria)

Heestand, Esprit Noel

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology.
Members of Anthopleura (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) are some of the most well known and studied sea anemones in the world. Two distinguishing characteristics define the genus, acrorhagi and verrucae. Acrorhagi are nematocyst dense projections found in the fosse that are used for defense. Verrucae are suction cup-like protrusions on the column that hold rocks and small pebbles close to the anemone and prevent desiccation and DNA degradation. Previous studies have found that Anthopleura is non-monophyletic regards to Bunodosoma, another genus in Actiniidae. This study used molecular markers (12S, 16S, COIII, 28S) to circumscribe the polyphyly of Anthopleura, compared the informativeness of the four markers, and looked for patterns of evolution of acrorhagi and verrucae. This study shows that Anthopleura is polyphyletic regards to other genera within and outside of Actiniidae. It also shows that acrorhagi and verrucae are not valid characters when used to describe a monophyletic group, and did not find patterns of evolution of these two characters. The nuclear ribosomal marker 28S was the most informative marker and COIII was the least informative marker, however none of the markers had more then about 50% informativeness.
Marymegan Daly, PhD (Advisor)
John Freudenstein, PhD (Committee Member)
Andrea Wolfe, PhD (Committee Member)
51 p.

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Citations

  • Heestand, E. N. (2009). Phylogeny and Evolution of Anthopleura (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250600903

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Heestand, Esprit. Phylogeny and Evolution of Anthopleura (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria). 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250600903.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Heestand, Esprit. "Phylogeny and Evolution of Anthopleura (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria)." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250600903

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)