Title

PEET: Biogeography, Morphology, and Molecular Systematics of Cumaceans: Training Taxonomists for the 21st Century

Investigators

Leslie E. Watling, Principal Investigator; University of Maine, Orono
Irving Kornfield, Co-Principal Investigator; University of Maine, OronoFollow

Additional Participants

Post-doc

Sarah Gerken
Pilar Haye

Undergraduate Student

Amber Goetz
Jenna Broberg
Jennifer Gross
Charmaine Patel

Project Period

September 1, 1995-August 31, 2001

Level of Access

Open-Access Report

Grant Number

9521783

Submission Date

12-2-2002

Abstract

The crustacean order Cumacea is largely unknown for large areas of the world's oceans and continental margins. Cumaceans are small crustaceans, allied with amphipods, isopods, and several other groups, all of whom carry their young about in a brood pouch. In many shallow marine habits they are important food items in the diets of young fish. Virtually nothing is known about the evolutionary history of the group. There is also uncertainty associated with many of the characters used in the taxonomy of cumaceans, a feature which characterizes several other groups of small crustaceans, therefore, principles developed for this group may be used to unravel similar problems in other taxa. The taxonomic objective of this research is to monograph the cumacean fauna of America's shores and those in the southeastern Pacific, and to test hypotheses regarding utility of taxonomic characters and biogeographic history of the group. In addition the project will train the next generation of crustacean systematists in both morphological as well as molecular methods of systematics through the production of taxonomic monographs. A final objective is to provide for the electronic storage and archiving of this taxonomic data. The significance of the project is to provide a better understanding of the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships among this little known but ecologically important group of crustaceans. In addition the research will produce broadly trained scientists well schooled in classic monographic as well as molecular methods of systematics.

Rights and Access Note

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Recommended Citation

Watling, Leslie E. and Kornfield, Irving, "PEET: Biogeography, Morphology, and Molecular Systematics of Cumaceans: Training Taxonomists for the 21st Century" (2002). University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports. 176.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/orsp_reports/176