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Sexual Morphology, Reproduction and the Evolution of Bioluminescence in Ostracoda
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 July 2017
Abstract
A broad array of the highly variable morphological characters available in Ostracoda were used (1) to construct a new tabular key to the families of the subclass Myodocopa (and to differentiate the Myodocopa from the Podocopa), and (2) to explore the evolution of bioluminescence in the myodocopid family Cypridinidae. Results of a cladistic analysis of the Cypridinidae strongly support a single origin of bioluminescence within the family; a single clade contains at least 64 species known to luminesce (not all described). Furthermore, within that large clade, complex bioluminescent mating displays were confined by the analysis to a single clade of exclusively Caribbean cypridinids, though that result was unresolved by bootstrap analysis.
Chemically different bioluminescence occurs convergently in two ostracode groups; it is produced within carapace glands of certain Halocypridina, but it is produced and extruded from the upper lips of many cypridinid Myodocopida and serves as an antipredatory behavior in both groups. Additionally at least 60 cypridinid species also produce spectacular and complex species-specific male mating displays nightly in the Caribbean Sea. The cladistic analysis using 58 morphological characters of 44 taxonomic units (24 described genera of Cypridinidae, 11 individual species assigned to the genus Vargula, six groups of bioluminescent signalling Caribbean species (many undescribed), the Cylindroleberididae, and the Philomedidae) was performed using PAUP with the parsimony criterion. Twenty-five of the characters were previously underutilized characters of the complex upper lip and large male copulatory limbs discovered through dissection and SEM. These proved especially valuable, but characters of all other limbs were also included.
The Cypridinidae was confirmed as a monophyletic taxon with several well-supported subclades in addition to the large bioluminescent one. Skogsbergia, which apparently uses an antennular fan of iridescent blue filaments in courtship (Parker, 1997) belongs to a clade with five other cypridinid genera, including the four that have a similar fan. The genus Vargula was determined to be a polyphyletic assemblage. New genera will be established for former Vargula species including: “V.” tubulata, “V.” hilgendorfii, “V.” tsujii and all bioluminescent signaling species. Similar problems may exist for other large cypridinid genera, and clearer resolution of generic definitions might possibly reveal more significant patterns of geographic distribution within the family.
Most characters of the carapace were found to be too convergent to be useful. Though carapace characters are diagnostic for some ostracode taxa, most should not be used by themselves to identify ostracodes with certainty. General aspects of reproduction are also reviewed.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- The Paleontological Society Papers , Volume 9: Bridging the Gap: Trends in the Ostracode Biological and Geological Sciences , November 2003 , pp. 37 - 70
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2003 by The Paleontological Society
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