Title of the project
Integrative systematics and taxonomy of the Chaetopteridae
Management
Dr Jenna Moore
- Org. categorisation
Annelida
Description of the
Discovery and characterisation of global marine biodiversity
The Chaetopteridae are a bizarre group of marine "polychaete" annelids with diverse body shapes, specialised feeding structures and a high degree of morphological plasticity. Their taxonomy does not yet reflect their phylogeny and needs to be revised to reflect their evolutionary history and true species diversity. We are working on the discovery, description and systematisation of the species of the family Chaetopteridae using an integrative approach that combines phylogenetic, morphological and ecological data.
This collection-based research project draws on the LIB's Annelida collections, which contain both type specimens and topographic material, as well as numerous other natural history collections around the world. Newly collected specimens enable the genetic characterisation of species and the discovery of new biodiversity, and tissue repositories provide an additional source of genetic data.
The aim of this project and our taxonomic work in general is to discover, preserve and characterise information about biodiversity before it is lost through habitat destruction and environmental degradation. The biodiversity of marine invertebrates is underestimated and we cannot protect what we do not know.
