A5083334836- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Marine and fisheries research
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
American Museum of Natural History
2016-2025
University of South Carolina Beaufort
2020-2025
National Museum of Natural History
2020-2024
Smithsonian Institution
2020-2024
New York City College of Technology
2014-2020
City University of New York
2016-2020
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
2015
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
2006-2013
College of Charleston
2006
Abstract Modern metagenomic environmental DNA studies are almost completely reliant on next-generation sequencing, making evaluations of these methods critical. We compare two sequencing techniques – amplicon and shotgun water samples across four Brazil’s major river floodplain systems (Amazon, Araguaia, Paraná, Pantanal). Less than 50% phyla identified via were recovered from clearly challenging the dogma that mid-depth recovers more diversity amplicon-based approaches. Amplicon also...
Sea anemones (order Actiniaria) are among the most diverse and successful members of anthozoan subclass Hexacorallia, occupying benthic marine habitats across all depths latitudes. Actiniaria comprises approximately 1,200 species solitary skeleton-less polyps lacks any anatomical synapomorphy. Although monophyly is anticipated based on higher-level molecular phylogenies Cnidaria, to date, has not been explicitly tested at least some hypotheses diversification Hexacorallia have suggested that...
Abstract Anthozoans (e.g., corals, anemones) are an ecologically important and diverse group of marine metazoans that occur from shallow to deep waters worldwide. However, our understanding the evolutionary relationships among ~7,500 species within this class is hindered by lack phylogenetically informative markers can be reliably sequenced across a diversity taxa. We designed tested 16,306 RNA baits capture 720 ultraconserved element loci 1,071 exon loci. Library preparation target...
Abstract Anthozoan cnidarians (corals and sea anemones) include some of the world’s most important foundation species, capable building massive reef complexes that support entire ecosystems. Although previous molecular phylogenetic analyses have revealed widespread homoplasy morphological characters traditionally used to define orders families anthozoans, using mitochondrial genes or rDNA failed resolve many key nodes in phylogeny. With a fully resolved, time-calibrated phylogeny for 234...
Abstract The common bed bug ( Cimex lectularius ) has been a persistent pest of humans for thousands years, yet the genetic basis bug’s basic biology and adaptation to dense human environments is largely unknown. Here we report assembly, annotation phylogenetic mapping 697.9-Mb genome, with an N50 971 kb, using both long short read technologies. A RNA-seq time course across all five developmental stages male female adults generated 36,985 coding noncoding gene models. most pronounced change...
Although black corals inhabit all the world's oceans, they have been relatively understudied as ∼185 of 247 species occur at depths > 50 m. Antipatharians included in several phylogenetic studies; however, sample sizes are small and taxonomic coverage minimal. Low levels mitochondrial (mt) sequence divergence within Scleractinia Octocorallia assumed to apply anthozoans, although no formal study has conducted on order Antipatharia. To quantify genetic variation coral mitogenome, we analysed...
The use of venom in intraspecific aggression is uncommon and venom-transmitting structures specifically used for competition are found few lineages venomous taxa. Next-generation transcriptome sequencing allows robust characterization diversity exploration functionally unique tissues. Using a tissue-specific RNA-seq approach, we investigate the composition gene ontology acrorhagi, specialized competition, aggressive non-aggressive polyps aggregating sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima...
Two new genera and two species of black corals are recognized in the family Aphanipathidae. The genus Anozopathes, with A. hawaiiensis sp. nov. palauensis, is characterized by a sparsely irregularly branched corallum relatively long branches which can be straight, curved or crooked. Aphanostichopathes, type Cirripathes paucispina Brook, an unbranched long, stem loose distal coils. Mitochondrial DNA data (nad5-IGR-nad1 for Anozopathes cox3-cox1 Aphanostichopathes) indicate that both taxa...
Abstract Relicanthus daphneae (formerly Boloceroides ) was first described in 2006 as a giant sea anemone based on morphology. In 2014, its classification challenged molecular data: using five genes, resolved sister to zoanthideans, but with mixed support. To better understand the evolutionary relationship of other early-branching metazoans, we present 15 newly-sequenced mitochondrial genomes and mitogenome-based phylogeny including all major cnidarian groups, sponges, placozoans. Our...
Blastopathes medusa gen. nov., sp. is described from Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, based on morphological and molecular data. Blastopathes, assigned to the Antipathidae, a large, mythology-inspiring black coral characterized by clusters of elongate stem-like branches that extend out at their base then curve upward. Colonies are not pinnulate contain single branches, which could represent new branch cluster formations. Morphological (mitochondrial DNA targeted capture nuclear loci) evidence...
Abstract Aim Evaluating how groups of organisms vary in dispersal capability and environmental, spatial temporal signals across multiple scales is critical to elucidating metacommunity theory. We examined whether the relative contributions hydrological factors have different effects on organismal with abilities at three scales, this knowledge contributes our understanding dynamics. Location Four major Brazilian floodplains, largest distance among them 2,300 Km. Taxon 10 aquatic groups,...
Deep-sea lineages are generally thought to arise from shallow-water ancestors, but this hypothesis is based on a relatively small number of taxonomic groups. Anthozoans, which include corals and sea anemones, significant contributors the faunal diversity deep sea, timing mechanisms their invasion into biome remain elusive. Here, we reconstruct fully resolved, time-calibrated phylogeny 83 species in order Antipatharia (black coral) investigate bathymetric evolutionary history. Our...
Black corals, primarily deep-sea cnidarians (Anthozoa: Antipatharia), are inferred to have originated either in the Ediacaran or Cambrian based on molecular clock estimates. However, only fossil family Sinopathidae, comprising Sinopathes and Sterictopathes, from Early Ordovician of Hubei, China, has been recorded record. The affinity this questioned because morphological inconsistencies between extant species. Here we describe two transitional species Sterictopathes Middle Shaanxi, bridging...
Abstract Freshwater, marine, and terrestrial leeches that depend on a diet of fresh blood have evolved salivary peptide components inhibit normal thrombus formation by prey. Although bloodfeeding in has long been interest to biologists medical practitioners alike, only few studies comprehensively examined the anticoagulant repertoires hematophagous leeches, these largely confined representatives Glossiphoniidae, Hirudinidae, Macrobdellidae. Here, we present 454 pyrosequencing data from...
One of the recalcitrant questions regarding evolutionary history clitellate annelids involves feeding preference common ancestor extant rhynchobdellid (proboscis bearing) and arhynchobdellid (jaw leeches. Whereas early evidence, based on morphological data, pointed towards independent acquisitions blood in 2 orders, molecular-based phylogenetic data suggest that modern leeches was a sanguivore. Here, we use comparative transcriptomic approach order to increase our understanding diversity...
Abstract Sequences and structural attributes of mitochondrial genomes have played a critical role in the clarification relationships among Cnidaria, key phylum early-diverging animals. Among major lineages Ceriantharia (“tube anemones”) remains one most enigmatic terms its phylogenetic position. We sequenced two ceriantharians to see whether complete organellar genome would provide more support for placement Ceriantharia. For both Isarachnanthus nocturnus Pachycerianthus magnus , gene...
The Mediterranean black coral fauna includes type species of four antipatharian genera belonging to different families, therefore phylogenetic studies hold great potential for enhancing systematics within the order. analysis six by means nuclear sequence data internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) rDNA confirms separation into as was previously noted on a morphological basis, with clear distinction family Leiopathidae, whose position is supported unique number mesenteries lack spines...
Six complete and three partial actiniarian mitochondrial genomes were amplified in two semi-circles using long-range PCR pyrosequenced a single run on 454 GS Junior, doubling the number of mitogenomes available within order. Typical metazoan mtDNA features included circularity, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA length ranging from 17,498 to 19,727 bp. Several typical anthozoan genome also observed including presence only transfer elevated A + T richness 54.9 62.4%, large intergenic...