This thesis concerns genomic variation within the Annelida, for which genome size studies are few and provide data for only a handful of groups. Genome size estimates were generated using Feulgen image analysis densitometry for 35 species of leeches and 61 polychaete species. Relationships were explored utilizing collection location and supplementary biological data from external sources. A novel, inverse correlation between genome size and maximum adult body size was found across all leeches. Leeches that provide parental care had significantly larger genome sizes than leeches that do not. Additionally, specimens identified as Nephelopsis obscura exhibited geographic genome size variation. Within the Polychaeta, Polar region polychaete genomes were significantly larger than those of Atlantic and Pacific polychaetes. These studies represent the first exploration of leech genome sizes, and provide base evidence for numerous future studies to examine relationships between genome size and life history traits across and within different annelid groups.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OGU.10214/5375 |
| Date | 24 January 2013 |
| Creators | Forde, Alison Christine |
| Contributors | Gregory, T. Ryan, Newman, Jonathan |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/ |
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