The ecology and evolution of Antarctic Pycnogonida ...
Pycnogonida (sea spiders) are a class of globally distributed arthropods, that are particularly biodiverse within the Southern Ocean. The number of pycnogonid species and increased levels of endemism in the Southern Ocean form the basis of the hypothesis that Antarctica is the evolutionary centre of...
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
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University of Galway
2024
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.13025/14704 https://researchrepository.universityofgalway.ie/handle/10379/18184 |
| Summary: | Pycnogonida (sea spiders) are a class of globally distributed arthropods, that are particularly biodiverse within the Southern Ocean. The number of pycnogonid species and increased levels of endemism in the Southern Ocean form the basis of the hypothesis that Antarctica is the evolutionary centre of origin for extant pycnogonids. Despite a long history of investigation into Antarctic pycnogonids, little is known about their phylogeny, ecology, and biogeography. For example, until recently their phylogeny was based exclusively on morphology and low-resolution single gene barcodes, which was unable to resolve interfamilial relationshipsSimilarly, inferences about their ecology have been based on assumptions, interpretation of morphological characters such as their feeding apparatus, low resolution distribution patterns, and rare in-situ observations. Chapter 2 uses taxonomic keys and literature to identify 5704 sea spiders to the lowest taxonomic rank possible. I identified 81 species, across 15 genera and ... |
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