Leo Song
Octopus chierchiae Life History and Body Pattern
Octopuses’ remarkable physiology, camouflage ability, complex behavior, and intelligence have long captivated the fascination and intrigue of the scientific community and the general public alike. For this reason, the discovery and successful laboratory cultivation of the iteroparous octopus Octopus chierchiae have attracted growing interest from the scientific community to develop into a model system for genetic studies. This summer, I will be continuing my work with Dr. Caldwell to cultivate and rear O. chierchiae in a laboratory setting, document their life history, and further investigate their body pattern development over their life span. Through our efforts, we hope to expand upon our knowledge and understanding of the animal’s life cycle, optimize our husbandry regimes, and acquire further insight into their individually unique body patterns in hopes of establishing a network which would enable community efforts to contribute to the species’ conservation and study in the wild.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much to the donors for supporting me and the other URAP students in our summer research endeavors! Your unbelievable kindness and generosity are what made it possible for us to pursue our research studies over the summer. URAP presents an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in, contribute to, and learn from cutting-edge research projects alongside some of the foremost leading experts and faculty in their respective fields. My research experience through URAP has been one of the greatest highlights and memories of my entire college career, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue my research study this summer!