HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Defense Date
3-25-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. Marine Biology
Second Degree Name
M.S. Coastal Zone Management
First Advisor
James D. Thomas
Second Advisor
Charles G. Messing
Third Advisor
Paul Arena
Abstract
Precise descriptions and comprehensive taxonomies of species and their ecology are essential in monitoring changes in marine biodiversity at multiple spatial scales. A currently undescribed species of commensal amphipod in the genus Leucothoe is reported from New Zealand, collected from the endemic tunicate Cnemidocarpa bicornuta. This species differs from others in the genus in having a one-articulate first maxilla palp and an apically produced tuberculate lobe on the inner margin of the outer plate of the maxilliped. Previous taxonomic surveys in New Zealand waters did not document this species, indicating that it may be a recent arrival. This research highlights the importance of biodiversity monitoring and taxonomic surveys to record occurrences of undescribed or recently-arrived taxa.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
NSUWorks Citation
Kaitlyn M. Brucker. 2016. An Endemic Commensal Leucothoid Discovered in the Tunicate Cnemidocarpa bicornuta, from New Zealand (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (407)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/407.
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Biodiversity Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons