Progenetic evolution in the deep-sea fauna

The proposed 2-year project conducted at the University Museum of Bergen (Norway) will address the questions on the evolution of the deep-sea fauna. It will focus on the group of predominantly deep-sea polychaete worms from the subfamily Hyalinoeciinae wi th worldwide distribution, remarkable diversity at great depths, and possible progenetic origin. The project will study the morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny of hyalinoeciin polychaetes and will evaluate the role of progenesis within Hyalinoeciinae in th eir successful colonization of the deep sea. The project will be based on the unique and extensive collection of the deep-sea hyalinoeciins appropriate for DNA analysis and will also utilize materials from a number of European research institutions. It wi ll combine the methods of traditional taxonomy with the state of the art molecular techniques in systematics. The project will be among the first studies of evolutionary processes within deep-sea polychaetes, one of the dominant groups of organisms inhabi ting soft-bottom deep-sea communities, and will significantly strengthen European excellence and competitiveness in this area of marine studies. The project with facilitate the establishment of mutual collaborative links between the deep-sea scientists in Norway, Germany, the UK and Russian research community.