Branching together: parallel adaptive radiations in Cymothoid Isopods and their Fish Hosts

Cymothoid isopods are striking parasites of mostly percomorph teleosts, and are traditionally classified based on their morphology and area of attachment (i.e. scales, gills, mouth). Preliminary molecular data show a high degree of convergent evolution, indicating multiple onsets of certain adaptations. Furthermore, adaptive radiations in Cymothoids have never been studied in relation to their hosts’ phylogeny, ecology and life-history.

This project will use existing and new specimen and sequence data to reconstruct parallel phylogenies for all the main cymothoid lineages and their host species; novel computational approaches will then be employed to test for alternative historical and ecological scenarios driving their adaptive radiations.