Cytogenetic evaluation of the genus Anthopleura (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) in São Paulo State

• Grant number: 24/08011-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Nascimento Stampar
• Grantee: Fabiana de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/16193-1 - Biology, ecology and systematics of Sea-anemones lato sensu (Anthozoa, Actiniaria and Ceriantharia) in Atlantic Ocean, AP.BTA.R

Abstract

Understanding chromosomal organization reveals structural rearrangements, variations in the number of chromosomes and sexual determinations of organisms, in addition to providing a basis for gene mapping through the analysis of molecular markers. Cytogenetic studies allow for in-depth evolutionary and ecological discussions. Although model and economically important organisms have well-documented karyotypes, the karyotypes of many marine invertebrates, especially non-model ones, are sparsely explored. This is the case of sea anemones of the order Actiniaria, of which only three species have described karyotypes, all in temperate zones. The lack of karyological data restricts evolutionary discussions about these species, which have divergent adaptations in temperate and tropical zones. In Hexacorallia, karyological studies are crucial for evolutionary understanding, but little is known. On the coast of Brazil, no species has a known karyotype and the species Anthopleura cascaia, endemic to the Brazilian coast, with different evolutionary adaptations, can expand the understanding of the group at an evolutionary level. This project aims to characterize the karyotypes of the anemone A. cascaia and compare them with other species of the genus Anthopleura for evolutionary discussions. The main questions are: (1) Has geographic distribution altered chromosome number? (2) Do ecological relationships influence the karyotypic profile? (3) Is there a pattern in chromosome number between A. cascaia, A. anjunae and A. kurogane?