Filter Feeding Structures of the Sabellid Marine Annelid Parasabella microphthalmus
College
College of Sciences
Department
Biology
Graduate Level
Master’s
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Filter-feeding organisms play a critical role in estuarine and coastal ecosystems, providing ecosystem functions and services, such as regulating water quality and nutrient cycling. The increase in frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events is expected to impact filter-feeding invertebrates by affecting their metabolism, altering their feeding behavior, and impairing feeding mechanisms, including particle capture and transport. This highlights the importance of characterizing filter-feeding structures and functions as a key first step toward understanding their vulnerability to climate change. We propose to study the feeding structures, behavior, and biomechanics of the filter-feeding, tube-dwelling feather duster worm Parasabella microphthalmus (Annelida). Marine annelids are an ecologically important, yet under-studied group in climate change biology. They exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, as evidenced by their varied feeding strategies, and serve an important role as disturbance indicators in human-impacted habitats. We will use Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to study the ultrastructure of the feeding parts of P. microphthalmus. In addition, we will quantify and characterize the morphometrics of the body and mouth parts of the worm and their allometric relationships. This will be the first morphological study of the filter-feeding structures of this species and will provide the necessary background for further studies on the efficiency of the filter feeding mechanisms of this species under climate change scenarios.
Keywords
Filter Feeding, Estuarine, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Annelida, Invertebrate, Sabellid, Feather Duster Worm, Morphology, Biomechanics, Behavior
Filter Feeding Structures of the Sabellid Marine Annelid Parasabella microphthalmus
Filter-feeding organisms play a critical role in estuarine and coastal ecosystems, providing ecosystem functions and services, such as regulating water quality and nutrient cycling. The increase in frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events is expected to impact filter-feeding invertebrates by affecting their metabolism, altering their feeding behavior, and impairing feeding mechanisms, including particle capture and transport. This highlights the importance of characterizing filter-feeding structures and functions as a key first step toward understanding their vulnerability to climate change. We propose to study the feeding structures, behavior, and biomechanics of the filter-feeding, tube-dwelling feather duster worm Parasabella microphthalmus (Annelida). Marine annelids are an ecologically important, yet under-studied group in climate change biology. They exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, as evidenced by their varied feeding strategies, and serve an important role as disturbance indicators in human-impacted habitats. We will use Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to study the ultrastructure of the feeding parts of P. microphthalmus. In addition, we will quantify and characterize the morphometrics of the body and mouth parts of the worm and their allometric relationships. This will be the first morphological study of the filter-feeding structures of this species and will provide the necessary background for further studies on the efficiency of the filter feeding mechanisms of this species under climate change scenarios.