Unlimited generations, both artificially clonal and naturally sexual, can be reared in laboratory culture. Larvae produced from successful matings can then be checked for paternity by using microsatellite markers. The Hippothoidae, to which C. hyalina belongs, are characterised taxonomically by morphological features that are easily observed and readily assessed in faunal surveys. The family is well represented globally and shows strong patterns of biodiversity, with the highest concentration of species being found along the coast of Chile. Records indicate an almost cosmopolitan distribution for C. hyalina , whereas other congeners can be geographically more restricted.
Hippothoan taxonomy is based partly on budding patterns and zooid size.
Laboratory observations, however, have revealed variations within C. hyalina that encompass character states typical of other species. Although infrequent, colonies with atypical budding patterns could act as founder members to populations carrying the trait, so generating geographical variation. Thus a particularly novel and powerful attribute of the current proposal will be the direct assessment of reproductive isolation in relation to the extent of molecular genetic and phenotypic differentiation within C. hyalina . B. Aims, objectives and relevance to NERC mission B1. The aim will be to document the extent and patterns of morphological, reproductive and molecular genetic differentiation across cosmopolitan populations of C. hyalina .