paula mikkelsen paleontological research institution, ithaca, ny
DESCRIPTION
Paula Mikkelsen Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, NY. Bivalvia Factoids. 2 nd largest molluscan class, ~ 20,000 extant species 100+ extant families Cambrian origin, excellent fossil record filter feeders to carnivores; 1 mm to giant clam - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Paula Mikkelsen
Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, NY
Bivalvia Factoids
• 2nd largest molluscan class, ~ 20,000 extant species
• 100+ extant families• Cambrian origin, excellent fossil record• filter feeders to carnivores; 1 mm to giant clam• often dominant biomass in aquatic habitats• key part of world fisheries & aquaculture• important ecological and economic threat species• endangered freshwater taxa
Zebra mussels
Ship worms
Freshwater mussels
Morphological Diversity
Mikkelsen & Bieler (2007) Princeton University Press
Mikkelsen & Bieler (2007) Princeton University Press
Long research history
• Conflicting single-character classifications– Hinges– Adductor muscles– Siphons– Ctenidia– Ciliation– Stomachs
• Early numerical approaches (Purchon 1978)
Steps toward a synthesis
Taylor (1996) Johnston & Haggart (1998) Harper et al. (2000) Bieler (2006)
Conflicting hypotheses
Alternative hypotheses of higher bivalve relationships based on neontological (A, B, C, D), paleontological (E), molecular (G) and combined morphology + molecular evidence (F)
“Bivatol” research goals
• Reconstruct phylogenetic relationships for representatives of all 100+ families based on a combination of shell, soft-anatomy, and molecular characters.
• Explore new or previously underutilized anatomical and ultra-structural characters (stomach, gills, sperm, mantle), and a suite of new nuclear protein-coding genes never before used for bivalves.
• Estimate the time origin of the major bivalve clades based on molecular sequence and fossil data.
John Taylor (BMNH) Sarah Chicone (PRI) John Zardus (Citadel) Brian Gollands (PRI)
Dan Graf (ANSP) Gerhard Haszprunar (Munich) Liz Harper (U Cambr.) Tom Waller (NMNH)
Ellen Strong (NMNH) Rob Ross (PRI) John Healy (U Qld) Deidre Gonsalves-Jackson (VWC)
Tim Collins (FIU) Gonzalo Giribet (MCZ) Paula Mikkelsen (PRI) Rüdiger Bieler (FMNH)
Protostome AToL
Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology
ToLWeb
Morphology & Coordination
Rüdiger Bieler – gills + veneroids
Ellen Strong – stomachs
Liz Harper – anomalos
John Taylor – shell + lucinoids
Tom Waller – paleo + pectinoids
Gerhard Haszprunar – mantle
John Healy – sperm
Molecules
Gonzalo Giribet
Tim Collins – heterodonts
John Zardus – protobranchs + development
Dan Graf – unionoids
Outreach
Paula Mikkelsen
Rob Ross – informal education
Sarah Chicone – evolution exhibit
Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson – undergrad curriculum
Brian Gollands –webmaster / IT
Character masters
Clade masters
Outreach Component
Teaching Evolution using Bivalves
• Teacher development resource (K-12)
• Undergraduate curriculum (undergrad)
• Museum exhibit (public)
• Website – “one-stop shop” for bivalve info (public +)
Teacher-Friendly
Guide to Evolution
using Bivalves
• Teacher-Friendly Guide to Evolution using Bivalves
• resource for teaching essential evolutionary concepts using familiar objects
• online + print-on-demand
• emphasis on interactive online components
• emulates PRI’s popular TFG to Geology
• Evolution on the Half-Shell: The Exhibit
1. diversity
2. fossil record
5. patterns of change
6. evolution continues
3. characters
4. phylogenetics
• small footprint (1200-1500 ft2)
• relatively small rental fee
• modular design
• family-friendly interactives
• link to ongoing Bivatol research
• to open in 2011
Management Plan
Current status
• Target taxa (283) & and short-term subset (80)• Preservation protocols• Specimen tracking & collections support in
place• Student/postdoc recruiting underway• Outreach advisory board formed• Project server & webmaster in place• Website http://www.bivatol.org • Specimen acquisition underway