HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
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Defense Date
12-2005
Document Type
Thesis - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
M.S. Marine Biology
Department
Oceanographic Center
First Advisor
James D. Thomas
Second Advisor
Charles G. Messing
Third Advisor
Richard W. Heard
Abstract
Endocommensal leucothoid amphipods are ecologically important in marine ecosystems worldwide. However, our understanding of the evolution and taxonomy of the group is confused. Although leucothoids typically occupy specialized niches, Leucothoe spinicarpa, the type species for the genus Leucothoe, has been reported from a wide variety of habitats. This study compared the taxonomy, ecology, and functional morphology of Caribbean commensal amphipods previously attributed to L. spinicarpa and incorporated new host and ecological information and new diagnostic characters. As a result 11 new leucothoid species are described from Southeast Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Western Caribbean Sea.
NSUWorks Citation
Kristine N. Klebba. 2005. Systematics, Ecology, and Functional Morphology of Commensal Amphipods (Leucothoidae) in the Western Caribbean Sea and Southeast Florida. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Oceanographic Center. (250)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/250.