Patterns of genome size evolution in tetraodontiform fishes

BRAINERD, E.L.*; MURRAY, S.S.: Patterns of genome size evolution in tetraodontiform fishes We used flow cytometry to measure genome size (pg of DNA per diploid cell) in 15 species belonging to 7 tetraodontiform families and subfamilies. Previous workers have found that members of Tetraodontidae (smooth puffers) have the smallest genome size of any vertebrate measured […]

Morphological Complexity and Simplicity of the Axial Skeleton of Teleostei

HILTON, E.J.: Morphological Complexity and Simplicity of the Axial Skeleton of Teleostei Morphological complexity is a difficult and relative term, generally equated with a greater number of parts or the elaboration of a basic structural element. The vertebral skeleton of Teleostei is among the most complex of all vertebrates, with up to thirteen discrete ossifications […]

Acquisition of Characters Facilitating Amphibious Behavior in the Oxudercine Fishes

Boyle, H.J.*; Graham, J.B.: Acquisition of Characters Facilitating Amphibious Behavior in the Oxudercine Fishes The evolutionary sequence of character acquisition associated with amphibious air breathing and terrestrial life was examined in the oxudercine fishes (Gobiidae). Included among the 10 genera (35 species) of oxudercines are forms with little to no specializations for amphibious life as […]

Tests of ecdysozoan monophyly using molecular sequence data

ANDERSON, F.E.*; FOSTER, P.G.: Tests of ecdysozoan monophyly using molecular sequence data Some analyses of 18S ribosomal RNA sequence data have supported monophyly of Ecdysozoa, a superphylum composed of taxa that possess periodically molted chitinous cuticles (e.g., Arthropoda, Onychophora, Priapula and Nematoda). The Ecdysozoa hypothesis already has been accepted by many researchers, and this hypothesis […]

Reconstruction of tunicate phylogeny using molecular and morphological data

Stach, T.*; Turbeville, J. M.: Reconstruction of tunicate phylogeny using molecular and morphological data The phylogeny of the Tunicata and ascidian families within the Tunicata was reconstructed using molecular and morphological evidence. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 18S rDNA sequences of 15 tunicate species were obtained and aligned with gene sequences of cephalochordates and […]

Rates of Evolution of Cnidarian Mitochondrial Genes

MCFADDEN, C.S.*; TULLIS, I.; HUTCHINSON, M.B.; WINNER, K.: Rates of Evolution of Cnidarian Mitochondrial Genes Molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of cnidarians have been hampered by the apparently slow rate of mitochondrial gene evolution in this group. Genes such as COI, routinely used for population-level studies of other invertebrates, are often virtually invariant among congeneric […]

Lophotrochozoan relationships inferred from 28S rDNA sequences

PASSAMANECK, Y.J.*; HALANYCH, K.M.: Lophotrochozoan relationships inferred from 28S rDNA sequences 28S rDNA has been sequenced from a variety of taxa to investigate evolutionary relationships within the Lophotrochozoa. The clade Lophotrochozoa, which includes annelids, mollusks, and the three lophophorate taxa (bryozoans, brachiopods, and phoronids), was first identified based based upon analysis of 18S rDNA. Analyses […]

Feeding Specialization and Diversification Patterns of Eastern Pacific Patellogastropoda

BEGOVIC, E.: Feeding Specialization and Diversification Patterns of Eastern Pacific Patellogastropoda To investigate the role that feeding specialization may play in clade diversification and mode of speciation, I have begun preliminary phylogenetic and sterol analyses of eastern Pacific Patellogastropoda. A phylogenetic hypothesis for eastern Pacific Patellogastropoda is constructed using mtDNA sequences from the large ribosomal […]

Testing functional correlates of habitat specialization swimming and walking in spiny softshell and slider turtles

BLOB, R.W.*; PACE, C.M.; WESTNEAT, M.W.: Testing functional correlates of habitat specialization: swimming and walking in spiny softshell and slider turtles. Although many freshwater turtles frequently travel long distances over land, several species are morphologically specialized for swimming and spend little time out of water. To test the impact of locomotor specialization on limb kinematics […]

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