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A MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF OCTOPUS VULGARIS
- Date Issued:
- 2024
- Abstract/Description:
- Cryptic species remain poorly studied in octopuses. Following the reinstatement of the cryptic species, Octopus americanus, suggestions that it should supplant two taxa, Octopus vulgaris types I & II, in the western central and southwestern Atlantic Ocean, respectively, had yet been investigated in southeast Florida. To delineate this species, an integrative approach including morphological assessments and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial (16S & COI) and nuclear (rhodopsin) genes was employed. The utility of swabbing as a minimally invasive alternative DNA sampling method to tissue was also investigated. This taxon displays similar morphological traits to O. americanus. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic inference placed this taxon in a highly supported monophyletic group with O. americanus. Both sampling methods delineated this taxon, though tissue was more successful. These results indicate that southeast Florida’s O. vulgaris-like species represents O. americanus. Thorough species delineation approaches advance our understanding of biodiversity, evolution, and ecology, and inform management practices.
Title: | A MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF OCTOPUS VULGARIS. |
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Name(s): |
Hecker, Colleen Nicole , author Brooks, William , Thesis advisor Bennice, Chelsea , Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor Department of Biological Sciences Charles E. Schmidt College of Science |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
Date Created: | 2024 | |
Date Issued: | 2024 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
Extent: | 95 p. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Abstract/Description: | Cryptic species remain poorly studied in octopuses. Following the reinstatement of the cryptic species, Octopus americanus, suggestions that it should supplant two taxa, Octopus vulgaris types I & II, in the western central and southwestern Atlantic Ocean, respectively, had yet been investigated in southeast Florida. To delineate this species, an integrative approach including morphological assessments and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial (16S & COI) and nuclear (rhodopsin) genes was employed. The utility of swabbing as a minimally invasive alternative DNA sampling method to tissue was also investigated. This taxon displays similar morphological traits to O. americanus. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic inference placed this taxon in a highly supported monophyletic group with O. americanus. Both sampling methods delineated this taxon, though tissue was more successful. These results indicate that southeast Florida’s O. vulgaris-like species represents O. americanus. Thorough species delineation approaches advance our understanding of biodiversity, evolution, and ecology, and inform management practices. | |
Identifier: | FA00014515 (IID) | |
Degree granted: | Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2024. | |
Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
Note(s): | Includes bibliography. | |
Subject(s): |
Common octopus Octopus vulgaris Morphology Molecular biology |
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Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014515 | |
Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
Use and Reproduction: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | |
Host Institution: | FAU |