The focus of this project is to document the diversity of a group of marine, free-living flatworms throughout the wider Caribbean. Individual flatworm specimens will be hand-collected from several sites, and associated field data and images will be linked to each specimen. Students working with Leslie Newman and accompanying her on sampling trips, will gauge patterns of distribution of flatworms, receive training in underwater photography, and gather specimens for microscopical and molecular studies. She will also train students in curatorial techniques. Working in the laboratory of Marianne Litvaitis at the University of New Hampshire, the students will concentrate on histology, systematics, DNA techniques, graphics, and database construction. Commonly, positive species identification requires sectioning the animals. DNA sequences will be used as molecular barcodes for each species and to address questions of within-group relationships. Detailed taxonomic information, tissue vouchers, DNA sequences, and images of whole, live animals and of histological sections will be collected for each species and included in a web-based, searchable database. Additional products of the proposed study include CD-ROM and hard copy versions of an identification guide that will be available in English and Spanish, and a separate marine flatworms web page specifically designed for K-12 students.
The broader significance of the project includes an extensive training component ranging from the undergraduate to the graduate level. Two minority graduate students have been recruited. Additional outreach and educational components include guest lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and marine field trips to stimulate interest in K-12 students for marine invertebrates in general. Although many of these flatworms are prominent members of coral reefs, little is known about their biodiversity. This is surprising considering that some of these worms have been shown to prey on commercially important bivalve species and thus, impact the aquaculture industry. Other species in this group have proven to be toxic to fish. Finally, preliminary studies have shown that some of these flatworms contain biopharmaceuticals and may be used as a vehicle to accumulate anticancer agents. Therefore, a thorough understanding of their biodiversity will provide a basis for many other fields of biology.
