Phylogenetic position of Annelida and possible subordinatied annelid taxa (e.g. Sipuncula and Myzostomida) within Lophotrochozoa based on molecular data

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Torsten H. Struck
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology
• Term: from 2005 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5453168

Based on molecular data a new taxon, Lophotrochozoa, was proposed comprising many mainly marine invertebrate taxa such as Annelida, Mollusca and Lophophorata (a.k.a. Tentaculata). However, the actual taxa composition of this taxon is still unresolved and thus the relationships within Lophotrochozoa are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of the proposed projects herein is to determine, which taxa belong to Lophotro chozoa and how they are interrelated to each other. Furthermore, the taxon Annelida comprising traditionally Clitellata and Polychaeta is of special interest. Since a few decades the incorporation of different marine taxa within this taxon has been discussed more intensely. Especially, for the inclusion of Echiura and Siboglinidae (a.k.a. Pogonophora and Vestimentifera) the evidence is growing based on molecular and morphological data. On the other hand, the position of Sipuncula, Myzostomida and Kamptozoa relative to Annelida is still controversially discussed. Therefore, to address and test the different hypotheses concerning Lophotrochozoa and especially Annelida molecular data shall be gained from both EST databases and selected protein coding genes. This will enable us to perform multiple gene analyses within Lophotrochozoa for the first time.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1174: Deep Metazoan Phylogeny
• Host: Professor Dr. Günter Purschke