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Faculty Advisors

Julie Wolin

Description

Organisms in the phylum Rotifera are vital for freshwater environments; they have a short development time, fast turnover, high production, circulate organic matter, and aid in energy transfer (Li, Cheng, & Chen, 2005). However, they are becoming increasingly difficult to characterize by molecular studies due to cryptic genetic differences that are not reflected in their morphology. This is due to the sensitivity based on responses to environmental parameters such as water temperature and chemical cues from predators (Stemberger & Gilbert 1984, Green 2005). This arises the need to identify the presence and geographic distribution of cryptic species complexes; this study reports findings across the ecoregions of the U.S from collected samples by the National Lakes Assessment in 2017. Keratella cochlearis were first isolated from these samples, washed off with TE buffer, had their DNA extracted, and then sent to Functional Biosciences for their DNA to be amplified through a PCR and then Sanger sequenced. The expected results include that those sites with higher densities and larger shapes to have undergo evolution and thus have more abundant cryptic species complexes present (Chen et al., 2012).

Publication Date

2022

Department

Biological, Geological, & Environmental Science

Student Publication

This item is part of the McNair Scholars Program.

The Evolution and Morphological Change in Keratella cochlearis

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