Meeting Abstract 32.6  Sunday, Jan. 5 09:15  Reanalysis of microRNAs reveals an archosaur rather than a lepidosaur affinity for turtles FIELD, D.J.*; KING, B.L.; GAUTHIER, J.A.; PETERSON, K.J.; Yale University; Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory; Yale University; Dartmouth College daniel.field@yale.edu The phylogenetic interrelationships of the major amniote clades have received considerable attention in the last decade. Specifically, […]

Meeting Abstract 32.3  Sunday, Jan. 5 08:30  Problems with dating a nudibranch: age and ancestral range reconstruction of the genus Acanthodoris Gray, 1850 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Nudibranchia) HALLAS, JM*; GOSLINER, TM; San Francisco State University; California Academy of Sciences jhallas@calacademy.org In the absence of a reliable fossil record, the use of geological events to calibrate a relaxed molecular […]

Meeting Abstract 32.5  Sunday, Jan. 5 09:00  Phylogeography of the Four-lined Skinks, Plestiodon tetragrammus, in the Balcones Escarpment region of Texas MOSELEY, M. A.*; COX, C. L.; CHIPPINDALE, P. T.; University of Texas-Arlington; University of Virginia; University of Texas-Arlington mmoseley@uta.edu Characterizing patterns of biodiversity is important for understanding the mechanisms underlying diversity and has broad applications for […]

Meeting Abstract 32.1  Sunday, Jan. 5 08:00  Origin and Lineage-Specific Evolution of Ligand-gated Ion Channels in Basal Metazoans and Bilaterians KOHN, A.B.*; MOROZ, L.L.; UF, Whitney lab; UF, Whitney lab and Dept of Neuroscience abkohn@msn.com Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) or ionotropic receptors are transmembrane ion channels that are opened or closed in response to the binding of […]

Meeting Abstract 32.4  Sunday, Jan. 5 08:45  Getting inside the head of ancient ray-finned fishes GILES, S*; FRIEDMAN, M; University of Oxford, UK; University of Oxford, UK sam.giles@earth.ox.ac.uk The endocranial cavity is found inside the skull of vertebrates, and represents the space in which the brain and associated nervous tissues sit. During fossilisation, these soft tissues rot […]

Meeting Abstract 32.2  Sunday, Jan. 5 08:15  Genomic imprints of freshwater transitions in the Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) VELOTTA, J.P.*; SCHULTZ, E.T.; JUE, N.; O’NEILL, R.J.; MICHALAK, P.; MCCORMICK, S.D.; University of Connecticut; University of Connecticut; University of Connecticut; University of Connecticut; Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech; Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, United States Geological Survey jonathan.velotta@gmail.com […]

Meeting Abstract 31.1  Sunday, Jan. 5 08:00  Uncovering patterns underlying the molecular evolution of non-visual photoreception in molluscs SERB, J.M.*; KRAUSE-PORATH, A.J.; PAIRETT, A.N.; Iowa State Univ. serb@iastate.edu Photosensitivity of the dermis or extraocular photoreception (EOP) is widespread in animals. It has been suggested that this non-visual photoreception is the first step towards differentiated photoreceptive elements and, […]

Meeting Abstract 31.8  Sunday, Jan. 5 09:45  The evolution of the sodium and potassium ion channel toxins in sea anemones: a combined RNASeq and bioinformatics approach. MACRANDER, J*; DALY, M; Ohio State University; Ohio State University macrander.1@osu.edu Sea anemones (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria) use toxins in prey acquisition, predator avoidance and conspecific interactions. Although about 250 compounds have […]

Meeting Abstract 31.7  Sunday, Jan. 5 09:30  The evolution of natural transformation as a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer among environmental Aeromonas species BROKAW, J. M.*; HUDDLESTON, J. R.; ZAK, J. C.; JETER, R. M.; Abilene Christian University; Abilene Christian University; Texas Tech University; Texas Tech University jmb97t@acu.edu Aeromonas species are common inhabitants of aquatic environments and […]

Meeting Abstract 31.2  Sunday, Jan. 5 08:15  Stomatopod opsin expression patterns in simple larval versus complex adult eyes PORTER, ML*; DOWD, SE; University of South Dakota, Vermillion; Molecular Research LP, Shallowater TX Megan.Porter@usd.edu Larval stomatopod eyes have relatively simple compound eyes with a single spectral type of photoreceptor. Adult stomatopod crustaceans, by comparison, have complex and diverse […]