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Ecomorphology of Shark Electroreceptors

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Date Issued:
2006
Summary:
Sharks possess an electrosensory system which allows the detection of electric fields . How this system varies among related taxa and among species inhabiting different environments remains unexplored. Electroreceptor number was quantified for representative species of related taxa (genera, families, orders) from different environments (pelagic, coastal, deepwater) and taxa from similar environments to determine potential phylogenetic constraint or evolutionary convergence. Coastal open water sharks possess the greatest number of electroreceptors; deepwater sharks the least. Pelagic and coastal benthic sharks retain comparable electrosensory pore numbers despite inhabiting vastly different environments. Electrosensory pores were primarily located in ventral distributions, except among coastal open water sharks which possess roughly even distributions around the head. Among related species and genera, pore numbers and distribution are comparable, with greater variation among higher taxa. Results implicate evolutionary convergence as the primary influence in electroreceptor development, while phylogenetic constraint establishes similar base values for number and distribution.
Title: Ecomorphology of Shark Electroreceptors.
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Name(s): Cornett, Anthony D.
Kajiura, Stephen M., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2006
Date Issued: 2006
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 111 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Sharks possess an electrosensory system which allows the detection of electric fields . How this system varies among related taxa and among species inhabiting different environments remains unexplored. Electroreceptor number was quantified for representative species of related taxa (genera, families, orders) from different environments (pelagic, coastal, deepwater) and taxa from similar environments to determine potential phylogenetic constraint or evolutionary convergence. Coastal open water sharks possess the greatest number of electroreceptors; deepwater sharks the least. Pelagic and coastal benthic sharks retain comparable electrosensory pore numbers despite inhabiting vastly different environments. Electrosensory pores were primarily located in ventral distributions, except among coastal open water sharks which possess roughly even distributions around the head. Among related species and genera, pore numbers and distribution are comparable, with greater variation among higher taxa. Results implicate evolutionary convergence as the primary influence in electroreceptor development, while phylogenetic constraint establishes similar base values for number and distribution.
Identifier: FA00000737 (IID)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Sharks--Ecology
Sharks--Morphology
Echolocation (Physiology)
Aquatic animals--Physiology
Senses and sensation
Adaptation (Biology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000737
Sublocation: Digital Library
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
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.