Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
EU Network of Excellence

 
Main Menu

· Home
· Contacts
· Data Systems
· Documents
· FAQ
· Links
· MarBEF Open Archive
· Network Description
· Outreach
· Photo Gallery
· Quality Assurance
· Register of Resources
· Research Projects
· Rules and Guidelines
· Training
· Wiki
· Worldconference

 

Register of Resources (RoR)

 People  |  Datasets  |  Literature  |  Institutes  |  Projects 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

The role of Cnidaria in evolution and ecology
Boero, F.; Bouillon, J.; Piraino, S. (2005). The role of Cnidaria in evolution and ecology. Ital. J. Zoolog. 72: 65-71
In: Italian Journal of Zoology. Taylor & Francis/Mucchi Editore: Modena. ISSN 1125-0003; e-ISSN 1748-5851
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Biological phenomena > Evolution
    Ecology
    Cnidaria [WoRMS]

Authors  Top 
  • Boero, F., more
  • Bouillon, J.
  • Piraino, S., more

Abstract
    The recent setting of specific features of the Cnidaria into evolulionaryand ecological frameworks suggests the centrality of thisphylum in many fields of the life sciences. From an evolutionarypoint of view, the Cnidaria, with their diploblastic pliinulae. mightrepresent the ancestral state of higher Metazwa in the light of aperamorphic origin of animal complexity from a simple, individualorganism. Medusan development in the Hydroidomcdusae viaa medusary nodule, furthermore, implies the formation of a thirdtissue layer (the muscle layer lining the subumbrellar cavity).Cnidarian polyps are diploblastic, whereas at least some of theirmedusae are triploblastic: the evolutionary enigma of the passagefrom a diplo- to a triploblastic organisation takes place every timehydrozoan polyps bud medusae! Cnidarian polyps have also thepremises of the skeletal architecture of higher animals: their chitinousor carbonatic skeletons are similar to those of arthropodsand vertebrates respectively. From an ecological point of view,the coelenterates probably play roles that are much more importantthan usually perceived. Both Cnidaria and Ctenophora feedon the eggs and larvae of most benthic, planktonic and nektonicorganisms and might be crucial (with a keystone role?) in maintainingbiodiversity high, by feeding on potentially monopolisingspecies. The efficiency of gelatinous predators becomes evidentduring periodic outbreaks of their populations, with serious implicationseven on fisheries yields, demonstrating that their impactcan be higher than ours!

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 


If any information here appears to be incorrect, please contact us
Back to Register of Resources
 
Quick links

MarBEF WIKI

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC)
Outreach

Science
Responsive Mode Programme (RMP) - Marie Nordstrom, copyright Aspden Rebecca

WoRMS
part of WoRMS logo

ERMS 2.0
Epinephelus marginatus Picture: JG Harmelin

EurOBIS

Geographic System

Datasets

 


Web site hosted and maintained by Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) - Contact data-at-marbef.org