Mitochondrial genomics and northwestern Atlantic population genetics of marine annelids

The overarching goal of this thesis was to investigate marine benthic invertebrate phylogenetics and population genetics, focused on the phylum Annelida. Recent expansions of molecular methods and the increasing diversity of available markers have allowed more complex and fine-scale questions to be asked at a variety of taxonomic levels. At the phylogenetic level, whole mitochondrial genome sequencing of two polychaetes (the deep-sea tubeworm Riftia pachyptila and the intertidal bamboo worm Clymenella torquata) supports the placement of leeches and oligochaetes within the polychaete radiation, in keeping with molecular evidence and morphological reinvestigations. This re-interpretation, first proposed by others, synonomizes "Annelida" and "Polychaeta", and lends further support to the inclusion of echiurids, siboglinids (previously called vestimentiferans) within annelids, and sipunculans as close allies. The complete mt-genome of C. torquata was then rapidly screened to obtain markers useful in short timescale population genetics.

Department dc:contributor.department

Joint Program in Biological Oceanography.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Jennings, Robert M. (Robert Michael)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lauren S. Mullineaux.

• Joint Program in Biological Oceanography.
• Biology.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/39191
• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Identifier URI

http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/39191

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39191