My
lab investigates the development and evolution of
cranial sensory systems in fishes. In particular,
we are interested in the development and
evolution of the lateral line system, and we have
focused on a variety of teleost fish taxa (e.g,
butterflyfishes, zebrafish, flounders, cichlids,
greenlings) over the years. Each of these taxa
has interesting and unique attributes, which has
allowed us to ask fundamental questions about
lateral line evolution and patterns and
mechanisms of development in the lateral line
system.
Current Projects
Post-Embryonic
Development of the Lateral Line System in the
Zebrafish, Danio rerio
We have completed a project on the
post-embryonic development of the lateral line
canal system and neuromasts of the zebrafish, Danio
rerio (Webb and Shirey, Develeopmental
Dynamics - Zebrafish as a Model System,
2003). This work revealed unusual and interesting
features of the development and morphology of the
canal neuromasts in this model species (supported
by a HHMI grant to Villanova University).
We are currently developing cell and molecular
methods and genetic resources that will enable us
to use the zebrafish lateral line as a model to
investigate the interactions of neuromast
receptor organs and dermal bone in craniofacial
development.
Comparative
Development of the Lateral Line System in Teleost
Fishes
We are investigating the pattern
and timing of lateral line development in
representative cypriniform, scorpaeniform,
perciform and pleuronectiform fishes.
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Laterophysic Connection in Butterflyfishes
(Family Chaetodontidae) We have
described the comparative anatomy, development
and systematic significance of the laterophysic
connection, a unique swim bladder-lateral line
linkage in butterflyfishes in the genus Chaetodon
(Webb, 1998; Webb and Smith, 2000; Smith, Webb
and Blum, 2003; Webb, et al., in prep.; Webb,
Smith and Ketten, in prep.). We have hypothesized
that this novel linkage allows the lateral line
system (in addition to the ear) to be sensitive
to sound pressure stimuli. We have described the
morphology of the ear (Webb, Herman and Ketten,
in prep.) and have tested the auditory
capabilities in Chaetodon (Webb, Mann
and Casper). In collaboration with Dr. Tim
Tricas (University of Hawaii), Dr. Mardi
Hastings (ONR and U. Maryland), and Dr. Darlene
Ketten (WHOI) we are continuing to study its
functional morphology, biomechanics and
neurophysiology, and the behavioral significance
of sound production by butterflyfishes, in order
to test this hypothesis. This project is funded
by the National Science Foundation
( '97-'00 and '02-'05 ).
GO TO BUTTERFLYFISH
PROJECT WEB PAGE.
Send e-mail to: Dr.
Jacqueline Webb
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Genetic
Basis for Morphological Evolution in Fishes
During
my sabbatical in 2001, I worked with Dr.
Thomas Kocher and members of his
laboratory at the Hubbard
Center for Genome Studies
(University of New Hampshire) on the genetic
basis of adaptive morphological radiation in Lake
Malawi cichlid fishes (NSF/ROA Award,
2001). We have published a paper on the
genetic control of tooth development in cichlid
fishes (J.T. Streelman, J.F. Webb, R.C.
Albertson, and T.D. Kocher, Evolution and
Development. 2003).
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