Morag Taite

• PhD
• PostDoc Position at Aberystwyth University

Enhanced genetic diversity arising from interspecific hybridisation and from multiple introductions from different source populations has played a major role in the evolution of invasive traits in introduced populations. Across Europe, mitochondrial haplotypes associated with the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica have been discovered in popul...

Synopsis Cryptic species complexes represent an important challenge for the adequate characterization of Earth’s biodiversity. Oceanic organisms tend to have greater unrecognized cryptic biodiversity since the marine realm was often considered to lack hard barriers to genetic exchange. Here, we tested the effect of several Atlantic and Mediterranea...

Based on a comprehensive analysis of molecular sequence data, the Sepiidae genera Acanthosepion Rochebrune, 1884; Ascarosepion Rochebrune, 1884; Aurosepina Jothinayagam, 1987; Decorisepia Iredale, 1926; Doratosepion Rochebrune, 1884; Rhombosepion Rochebrune, 1884 and Spathidosepion Rochebrune, 1884 are here re-instated and formally recognised as va...

Phylogenies for Octopoda have, until now, been based on morphological characters or a few genes. Here we provide the complete mitogenomes and the nuclear 18S and 28S ribosomal genes of twenty Octopoda specimens, comprising 18 species of Cirrata and Incirrata, representing 13 genera and all five putative families of Cirrata (Cirroctopodidae, Cirrote...

Cephalopod beaks are essential for prey acquisition and fragmentation during feeding. Thus, it is expected that ecological pressures affect cephalopod beak shape. From a practical perspective, these structures are also used to identify gut contents of marine megafauna, such as toothed whales, sharks, seabirds, and large pelagic fishes. Here, we inv...

Only two species of Helicocranchia — Helicocranchia pfefferi Massy, 1907 and Helicocranchia papillata Nesis, 1987—are currently accepted as valid. The genus is found globally in tropical and subtropical regions at depths to >1000 m (Voss 1980). We collected Helicocranchia specimens in the northern Gulf of Mexico during the DEEPEND project (Deep Pel...

Phylogenies for the Octopodiformes have, until now, been based on morphological characters or several genes. Here we provide the complete mitogenomes and the nuclear 18S and 28S ribosomal genes of twenty Octopoda specimens, comprising 18 species of Cirrata and Incirrata representing 13 genera and all four families of Cirrata (Cirroctopodidae, Cirro...

Cephalopod beaks are important chitinous hard structures, used for preying upon and fragmenting prey. Thus, it is expected that ecological pressures drive cephalopod beak shape. These structures, which are used in species identification, may exhibit a certain association with phylogenetic relationships among cephalopod species. Here, we investigate...

Historically, marine oceanic open environments have been considered without barriers to dispersal, and the subsequent speciation of lineages present in distant areas. As a consequence, many marine pelagic invertebrates are considered as monotypic cosmopolitan taxa. However, this view has been consistently challenged in the last decades by the disco...

Oceanic squids of the order Oegopsida are ecologically and economically important members of the pelagic environment. They are the most diverse group of cephalopods, with 24 families that are divergent morphologically. Despite their importance, knowledge of phylogenetic relationships among oegopsids is less than that among neritic cephalopods. Here...

Bobtail and bottletail squid are small cephalopods with striking anti-predatory defensive mechanisms, bioluminescence, and complex morphology; that inhabit nektobenthic and pelagic environments around the world’s oceans. Yet, the evolution and diversification of these animals remain unclear. Here, we used shallow genome sequencing of thirty-two bob...

In total, 90 gelatinous spheres, averaging one meter in diameter, have been recorded from ~1985 to 2019 from the NE Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea, using citizen science. More than 50% had a dark streak through center. They were recorded from the surface to ~60-70 m depth, mainly neutrally buoyant, in temperatures between 8-24⁰C....

Here we analyze existing quantitative data available for cephalopod brains based on classical contributions by J.Z. Young and colleagues, to cite some. We relate the relative brain size of selected regions (area and/or lobe), with behavior, life history, ecology and distribution of several cephalopod species here considered. After hierarchical clus...

Computed tomography (CT) scanning allows for accurate 3D imaging of specimens and their internal structures in a non-invasive, non-destructive manner, which is particularly important for precious specimens, i.e. type specimens or for rare or difficult sample specimens such as cirrate octopods. When successful, micro-CT scans of specimens allow for...

Despite the ecological and economic importance of oceanic squids of the order Oegopsida Orbigny 1845, they are among the most mysterious groups of pelagic organisms. Starting in October 2019, the 2-year postdoc project GOIPD/2019/460 “Genome and specific biodiversity of oceanic squids assessed through Next Generation Sequencing”, funded by the Iris...

I'm interested in cephalopod phylogenetics, systematics, taxonomy, natural history, reproductive biology and trophic ecology of cephalopods, especially oceanic squids. Currently, as an Irish Research Council postdoc fellow, my research is focussed on the phylogenetics of oegopsid squids, assessed through shallow whole genome sequencing (Genome Skim...

Many descriptions of paralarval and juvenile cephalopods are poor. By using DNA barcoding, a global bio-identification system for animals, along with morphological investigation, we can confirm species identifications. We have a better chance of eliminating misidentifications and, therefore, documenting the correct abundance and distribution of cep...

Several species of deep-diving odontocetes, including beaked whales, sperm whales and pilot whales, are associated with steep continental slope habitat in the northeast Atlantic, where they feed on cephalopods and meso-bathypelagic fish. Some species such as sperm whales are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN red list, whilst many beaked whale specie...

The Rosemary Bank Seamount in the NE Atlantic was designated a Marine Protected Area in 2014 by the Scottish Government. Visual and trawl surveys of the seamount have been undertaken since 2007. Here these data are compiled and analysed to provide an assessment of the communities of demersal fish and benthic invertebrates found there. The fish and...

A total of 27 large, gelatinous spherical masses observed in coastal Norwegian waters from Nordland to Aust-Agder Counties in Norway, and off Lysekil in Sweden, Muljica Island in Croatia, Gulf of Naples in Italy, Reqqa Point in Malta, and Saint Mandrier in France, during the months of April to September 2001 to 2017, are reported. Individual sphere...