The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change

is a research museum of the Leibniz Association

Evolution of defense strategies in sea slugs

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Project title: 
Evolution of defense strategies in sea slugs
ZFMK Project lead: 
Object of research: 
Snails and Slugs

Description

Sea slugs have lost their protective shell and evolved alternative defense strategies against predators (toxins, acids, needles, etc). In this project, we investigate especially a subgroup of the Nudibranchia, the Cladobranchia. We search for the main defense strategies, which are the incorporation of cnidodysts from their Cnidarian prey (kleptocnides), or the incorporation of chemical compounds. These groups are also characterized by their cryptic appearance on their major substrate.

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Contact person

Head of Section
+49 228 9122-241
+49 228 9122-295
h.waegele [at] leibniz-zfmk.de