Meeting Abstract

P3.41  Wednesday, Jan. 6  Phylogeny and nematocysts of the invasive species Cordylophora caspia WOLLSCHLAGER, J. M.; Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio Wollschlager.2@buckeyemail.osu.edu

The Ponto-Caspian invasive hydrozoan Cordylophora caspia contains four genetic lineages. Nonetheless, the species has not been formally split, nor has there been a clear pattern of use for older names like Cordylophora lacustris. Complicating this situation is the physiological and morphological plasticity of C. caspia. It can tolerate a range of salinities, from brackish (~15 ‰) to freshwater, assuming different morphologies based on different salinities. It is unclear whether different populations represent geographical isolates, physiological races, or distinct species because of the ecological plasticity, broad range, and physiological tolerance of these animals. Nematocysts, the complex cellular secretory structures responsible for the stinging capabilities of jellyfish, are taxonomically informative in many groups, but have not been explored for the various lineages of C. caspia. I assay representative populations of C. caspia to evaluate whether the size and distribution of nematocysts varies among and between members of each genetic lineage.