Phylogenetic and functional transcriptome analyses to highlight the evolution of Cephalocarida and Branchiopoda with special focus on Cladocera (Crustacea)

• Applicant: Dr. Martin Schwentner
• Subject Area: Systematics and Morphology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 264147066

Well founded phylogenetic relationships are the basis for our understanding of evolution and of evolutionary changes within and among taxa. Recent advances in phylogenomic research, in particularly in transcriptome sequencing and the de novo assembly of transcriptomes of non-model organisms, allow an unprecedented combination of inferring phylogenetic relationships and the underlying genomic changes. This goes considerably further than merely reconstructing phylogenies. Genomic apomorphies, such as taxon or clade specific genes, can be identified for each recovered monophyletic group. Furthermore, by assessing the genes' function with gene ontologies the evolutionary mechanisms underlying cladogenesis may be elucidated. In this project, I will employ a combination of phylogenetic and functional analyses of transcriptome datasets to study two interesting cases of cladogenesis associated with profound evolutionary transitions within arthropods. The first is the transition from a crustacean-like ancestor to Hexapoda. Here the focus will be on the Cephalocarida and the Branchiopoda, two taxa crucial to solve the problem of the still controversial sister group of Hexapoda. The second is the transition from a spinicaudatan-like ancestor to Cladocera within Branchiopoda, which was associated with important life history changes (e.g. evolution of cyclic-parthenogenesis) and presumably large-scale genomic changes. Especially in this case, phylogenetic analyses will mainly serve as a tool to uncover the relative timing and extent of genomic changes. All analyses will be based on the sequencing and de novo assembly of 27 transcriptomes: three cephalocarid and six branchiopod species with three separately sequenced developmental stages each.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Gonzalo Giribet, Ph.D.