HADDOCK, S.H.D; MBARI: Radiolarian diversity and morphology: structural adaptations to the deep sea

Radiolarians are marine protists that form intricate siliceous “skeletons”. Although these forms have drawn attention since the 19th century, currently radiolarians are most familiar to paleontologists and marine geologists who study their sedimented remains. The natural history of living species, especially of those living in the deep sea, is only poorly known. I will present results from submersible collections of intact radiolarians living between 200 and 3000 meters. These observations give new insight into their natural history, diversity, bioluminescence, coloniality, and their complex structural adaptations.