Published: November 12, 2014

Comparative Gill and Labial Palp Morphology (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Stephanie Ware, Manager, Morphology Labs, SEM

EMILY LAUREN RUDICK

Sophomore Biology major at Temple University, College of Science and Technology

REU Mentors: Dr. Rüdiger Bieler (Curator, Zoology, Invertebrates) and Dr. Ana Glavinic (Postdoctoral Fellow, Zoology, Invertebrates)

Symposium Presentation Title: Comparative Gill and Labial Palp Morphology (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Symposium Presentation Abstract: Bivalves, with 20,000-30,000 living species, are the second largest class of mollusks next to gastropods. They are aquatic, bilaterally symmetrical and characterized by a laterally compressed body enclosed in a bivalved shell. In addition, they play important ecological roles in marine and freshwater ecosystems during the process of filter feeding, and economic roles in fisheries and health sciences. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the BivATOL (Assembling the Bivalve Tree of Life) Project aims to reconstruct the evolutionary history of bivalves using molecular and morphological approaches. In our study, we used scanning electron microscopy to investigate the anatomical structures of gills and labial palps. Besides the shell and stomach, gills and palps are one of the most important character complexes for phylogenies based on morphological characters. They are also a highly functional character system in regard to feeding, respiration, sensory function and breeding. The Bivalvia are divided in two major clades, the Protobranchia, which retain a number of plesiomorphic characters, and the Autolamellibranchiata. Here, we will compare the morphological characteristics of gills and labial palps in seventeen different species and eight different orders of bivalves (two protobranch and six autolamellibranch orders) to determine character polarity. We will test if the assumed monophyly of each major clade and order is supported by the gill and labial palp morphology. Additionally, our phylogeny consisting of 41 morphological characters will be compared with bivalve phylogenies derived from other independent character suites in order to postulate preliminary hypotheses about the evolution of specific characters.

Original Project Title: The Bivalve Tree of Life  -- understanding the Evolution of Clams, Mussels, Oysters and their Relatives

Original Project Description: This project (see also www.BivAToL.org) is a part of the Assembling the Tree of Life initiative, a large research effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation to reconstruct the evolutionary origins of all living things.  The BivAToL effort uses hundreds of selected target species from around the world and studies their morphology, anatomy, ultrastructure, and genetic makeup.

Research methods and techniques: REU participants in the project will receive an introduction to bivalve morphology and systematics.  Participants will dissect and prepare specimens for microscopy, document diagnostic characters with optical and scanning microscopy, and gain experience with relevant literature research and collection management techniques. Time permitting, various histological techniques (in Field Museum’s histology laboratory) and 3-D computer reconstruction will become part of the training experience.


Stephanie Ware
Manager, Morphology Labs

Stephanie started volunteering at the Field Museum in 1998, working with Curator John Bates in the Bird Division. In 1999, John Bates hired her as a research assistant. After that project finished in 2007, she went to work for Carl Dick in the Division of Insects helping him to complete his work on the museum's Bat Fly collection. She spent a great deal of time generating images for the Bat Fly portion of theDiptera Taxonomy Database. When Carl left for University of Kentucky in 2009, she continued her imaging work in the Insect Division. In the intervening years, she has imaged hundreds specimens, mostly types, from the rove beetle (Staphylinidae), ant and myriapoda collections.

Stephanie began working with the Chicago Peregrine Program in 2006.  Initially, she monitored the Metropolitan Correctional Center nest in downtown Chicago.  Over time, her duties have expanded to include other nests in the metro region, emphasizing the identification of nesting adults.  In March of 2007, Stephanie created a group called Midwest Peregrine Falcons on the photo sharing website Flickr with the goal of providing a place for photographers across the country to submit their photographs of peregrine sightings in the Midwestern United States. She also has many of her own peregrine photos on Flickr as well.