Advancing the utilization of cnidomes for evolutionary and diversity studies in Medusozoa

• Grant number: 23/17191-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: August 11, 2024
• End date: August 10, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Host Investigator: Allen Gilbert Collins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, United States

Abstract

This project is centered on the subphylum Medusozoa, a diverse lineage with a long evolutionary history dating back to Neoproterozoic times. Similar to other Cnidaria, the unique cnida system of medusozoans plays a central role in various aspects of cnidarian biology, including taxonomy, ecology and, ultimately, evolution. Despite this central importance of cnidae, there is a lack of comprehensive research on their evolution and homology. This project aims to fill this gap by evaluating the signal of morphological and morphometrical information of cnidomes for medusozoan systematics, revealing phylogenetic patterns tied to cnida morphology, and developing a framework for cnidae homology. Data will be collected from a broad taxonomic range of medusozoans, spanning different life stages and geographical distributions as feasible. The establishment of a comprehensive cnidome database is considered a key outcome of this project, envisioned as a fundamental tool for diverse research areas and future studies. Patterns of cnidome data will be investigated by using morphometric and phylogenetic reconstruction analyses. Additionally, the project also emphasizes science communication and outreach to the public, aiming to enhance understanding of marine biodiversity's relevance. The National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, is chosen as the research venue due to its extensive collections and research facilities. Allen Collins, a renowned researcher in medusozoan biodiversity, is the project's host and collaborator.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARQUES, ANTONIO C.; CHOONG, HENRY H. C.; CARLTON, JAMES T.; COLLINS, ALLEN G.. Legacy of excellence: The life and contributions of Dale Ralph Calder, eminent cnidarian taxonomist (1941-2022). Zootaxa, v. 5555, n. 3, p. 19-pg., 2024-12-19. (23/17191-5)

MENDOZA-BECERRIL, MARIA A.; MARQUES, ANTONIO C.. A morpho-histological analysis of the exoskeleton of Clathrozoella medeae (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) reveals insights into the taxonomy of Clathrozoellidae and Hydroidolina. PeerJ, v. 13, p. 13-pg., 2025-01-09. (11/50242-5, 10/06927-0, 23/17191-5)