Uncovering the Meiofaunal Buffet via Diagnostic PCR
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Faculty Mentor
Julian Smith III, Ph.D.
Abstract
One of the fundamentals of any ecosystem is the trophic relationships between the organisms living in the environment. Therefore, it is vital that these interactions be thoroughly researched and elucidated in order to continue with other studies on the ecosystem in question. Sandy beaches are home to a multitude of microscopic and macroscopic creatures and the microscopic interstitial meiofauna are an important part of the ecosystem. However, prior to this work, the trophic relationships among the meiofauna had not been identified. Using diagnostic PCR techniques, I have worked to identify these links and reveal the predator-prey interactions occurring in the meiofaunal realm with a variety of flatworm predators in the Bogue Banks, North Carolina area. Intra-meiofaunal predation and macrofaunal-meiofaunal predation have been detected with a number of groups of organisms, such as Harpacticoida, Gastrotricha, Diatoms, and Nematoda. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) studies being conducted in the near future will allow for an even better understanding of how energy transfer works in this subvisible world, and will lead to investigations into how rapid development of beaches is affecting the community.
Start Date
24-4-2015 1:20 PM
Uncovering the Meiofaunal Buffet via Diagnostic PCR
DiGiorgio Campus Center, Room 114
One of the fundamentals of any ecosystem is the trophic relationships between the organisms living in the environment. Therefore, it is vital that these interactions be thoroughly researched and elucidated in order to continue with other studies on the ecosystem in question. Sandy beaches are home to a multitude of microscopic and macroscopic creatures and the microscopic interstitial meiofauna are an important part of the ecosystem. However, prior to this work, the trophic relationships among the meiofauna had not been identified. Using diagnostic PCR techniques, I have worked to identify these links and reveal the predator-prey interactions occurring in the meiofaunal realm with a variety of flatworm predators in the Bogue Banks, North Carolina area. Intra-meiofaunal predation and macrofaunal-meiofaunal predation have been detected with a number of groups of organisms, such as Harpacticoida, Gastrotricha, Diatoms, and Nematoda. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) studies being conducted in the near future will allow for an even better understanding of how energy transfer works in this subvisible world, and will lead to investigations into how rapid development of beaches is affecting the community.
