Comparative neuroanatomy and evolution of visual systems in Chelicerata… towards a comparative analysis of neuron networks
Final Report Abstract
In this project, knowledge about the visual systems in chelicerates was significantly expanded. Now there are data for Pycnogonida, Scorpiones, Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones, Amblypygi, Thelyphonida and Solifugae available. This opens up the unique opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and detailed analysis of chelicerate visual systems. It turned out that Arachnopulmonata (Scorpiones as a sister group to Tetrapulmonata), which was previously based primarily on molecular genetic studies, is now also well supported by morphological evidence from the visual system. In addition, this project showed a similar architecture of the central visual systems in Xiphosura and in the studied Arachnopulmonata orders. This is significant, since phylogenomic analyses show Xiphosura consistently nested within Arachnida and not as sister group to Arachnida – a concept that seemed set in stone. Most of these analyses resolved horseshoe crabs as sister group to Ricinulei and closely related to Arachnopulmonata. Are we making towards yet another paradigm shift based again – amongst others – on characters from the visual system, like Tetraconata vs. Tracheata? The results from this project provide the first strong morphological evidence for this shift. Furthermore, it was shown that the visual systems in the two apulmonate arachnid orders - Opiliones and Solifugae - are designed differently than that in Arachnopulmonata and Xiphosura. There are even characteristics that indicate a close evolutionary relationship between these two orders.
Publications
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Arachnida (Excluding Scorpiones). Structure and Evolution of Invertebrate Nervous Systems, 453-477. Oxford University PressOxford.
Lehmann, Tobias; Melzer, Roland R.; Hörnig, Marie K.; Michalik, Peter; Sombke, Andy & Harzsch, Steffen
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Re-Investigation of the visual neuropils of Opiliones. 109. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, Kiel, 14.09.-17.09.2016, Poster
Lehmann T., Metz M., Lodde-Bensch E. & Melzer R.R.
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The visual system of harvestmen (Opiliones, Arachnida, Chelicerata) – a re-examination. Frontiers in Zoology, 13(1).
Lehmann, Tobias; Lodde-Bensch, Eva; Melzer, Roland R. & Metz, Martina
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Sense organs in Pycnogonida: A review. Acta Zoologica, 99(3), 211-230.
Lehmann, Tobias; Heß, Martin & Melzer, Roland R.
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The visual system of Neobisium carcinoides (Hermann, 1804) (Chelicerata, Pseudoscorpiones). 4th International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology, Moskau, 20.-24.8.2017, Poster
Lehmann T. & Melzer R.R.
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A tiny visual system — retinula axons and visual neuropils of Neobisium carcinoides (Hermann, 1804) (Chelicerata, Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 273, 164-172.
Lehmann, Tobias & Melzer, Roland R.
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Also looking like Limulus? – retinula axons and visual neuropils of Amblypygi (whip spiders). Frontiers in Zoology, 15(1).
Lehmann, Tobias & Melzer, Roland R.
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The visual system of Amblypygi. 111. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, Greifswald, 10.09.-15.09.2018, Poster
Lehmann T. & Melzer R.R.
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The visual system of Thelyphonida (whip scorpions): Support for Arachnopulmonata. Arthropod Structure & Development, 51, 23-31.
Lehmann, Tobias & Melzer, Roland R.
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Outsourcing a visual neuropil – The central visual system of the median eyes of Galeodes granti Pocock, 1903 (Arachnida: Solifugae). Arthropod Structure & Development, 60, 101024.
Lehmann, Tobias & Melzer, Roland R.
