Biosystematics of the Marine Heterotardigrades
Phylogenetic work within Tardigrada is in a very primitive state and there is no overall phylogenetic hypothesis that relates the major tardigrade taxa. Traditionally, tardigrade taxonomists have focused on the limno-terrestrial tardigrades, as a result only ~160 marine species from over 900+ species of tardigrades have been described. Of those ~160 marine species less than 30 marine have been reported in North American waters.
The importance of tardigrades in marine environments is virtually unknown even though they are often the third most abundant meiofauna in shallow marine sediments after nematodes and copepods. It is clear that heterotardigrades are an important component of biodiversity in marine environments.
| The
diversity of marine heterotardigrade body plans.
A: Archechiniscus
marci |
 |
This project will focus on the collection and description of marine
heterotardigrades from North American waters. Collections will be made as part of the project in East and West coast waters as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Marine heterotardigrade specimens from museums worldwide will also be utilized. As part of the project, molecular and morphological data will be collected from marine heterotardigrades along with key non-marine groups to develop an overall phylogenetic framework for tardigrades. DNA sequence tags will be developed to make it easier to identify or confirm the identification of marine heterotardigrades in the future.
Those involved in our research project include:
Dr. James Garey, University of South Florida
Dr. Frank Romano, Jacksonville State University
Dr. William Miller, Chestnut Hill College
The Tardigrade Database will be maintained by:
Dr. Nigel Marley, University of Plymouth
Other useful Tardigrade Sites:
http://kancrn.org/tardigrades/