The Cnidarian Tree of Life Project

Scientist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Planktonic taxa, especially Narcomedusae and Siphonophora

I am interested in adding open-ocean and deep-sea planktonic taxa to the Tree-of-Life. We can collect many of these species with blue-water diving and on dives with remotely-operated vehicles. Although these methods can gather specimens from all the major Cnidarian groups (even planktonic anemone larvae), I am most focused on the siphonophores, trachylina, and narcomedusae. The combination of molecular and morphological characters continues to provide insight into the taxonomy, origins, and relationships of these fascinating animals.