Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2009. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science in Natural Resources (Wildlife), College of Natural Resources. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-174).

The diversity of New Zealand and Australian asellote isopods remains largely unknown. Even less is known about how this fauna is related to the rest of the world. This study focuses on the munnopsid subfamily Ilyarachninae Hansen, 1916, to explore the phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships of the local fauna to others from this group worldwide. To analyse the relationships within the Ilyarachninae, a suitable outgroup, in this case, the sister group, was needed to be determined. To do this, a cladistic analysis of the Munnopsidae was undertaken. In addition to determining a suitable outgroup, the family level analysis also served to test the monphyly of the nine subfamilies and to resolve the placement of the three genera, Munneurycope Stephensen, 1913, Munnicope Menzies and George, 1972 and Munnopsurus Richardson, 1912b which were not placed in any exsiting subfamily. The cladistic analysis of the Munnopsidae included 72 species representing all munnopsid genera, including where possible, the type species and was based on 122 morphological characters. A well resolved strict consensus tree was found. The results show Munnopsurus to be the sister group of the Ilyarachninae and the Munnopsinae to be the most ancestral group of the Munnopsidae. Of all the subfamilies, the Betamorphinae is not a monophyletic. The results show that although some subfamily names are upheld, others show no congruence to the topology of the results, and therefore the use of subfamily names are abandoned. Four families are instead recognized, the Munnopsidae (restricted to the former Munnopsinae), Acanthocopidae Wolff, 1962, the Syneurycopidae Wolff, 1962 and the Lipomeridae Tattersall, 1905a, with the latter including the former Ilyarachninae ('Ilyarachna-group'). Within the Ilyarachna-group, two new genera and 28 species were described, including 25 species new to science. Two genera, Notopais and Epikopais n. gen. are found exclusively in the southern hemisphere. Of the more cosmopolitan genera, some New Zealand and south-east Australian species display close affinities to each other and with Antarctic species. These relationships were tested using cladistic phylogenetic methods, and in addition to this, the analysis also served to test the monophyly of the genera. The analysis used 59 species, representing all genera and 61 morphological characters. The strict consensus tree was well resolved, however Aspidarachna Sars, 1897b, Ilyarachna Sars, 1870 and Echinozone Sars, 1897b were not monophyletic. The results also showed that the Ilyarachna-group fauna of New Zealand and south-east Australia are closely related to each other and to species from Antarctica.

The <i>Jaera albifrons </i>species group of intertidal isopods is characterised by strong sexual isolation mediated by female discrimination against heterospecific male tactile-stimulatory courtship behaviour.  This is the first study to examine the genetic basis of traits involved in tactile mediated sexual isolation.  To determine the genetic architecture of male secondary sexual characters (species-specific hair traits carried on the legs of males and a carpus leg-segment shape difference) associated with sexual isolation, experimental hybrid populations of <i>J. albifrons </i>and <i>J. ischiosetosa </i>were used to construct AFLP-based genetic linkage maps.  A number of chromosomal differences (Robertsonian fusions) between the parental species were shown to be associated with reduced hybrid fertility.  A quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping study revealed that the number of hairs and carpus shape have a complex genetic basis, involving a number of QTL showing dominance, epistasis and possible pleiotropic effects.  These QTL mapped largely to putative regions of restricted recombination, especially chromosomal rearrangements. The qualitative difference, however, was shown to be controlled by a single (or several closely linked ) QTL that did not map to a region of restricted recombination.  These findings suggest that introgressive hybridisation played an important role in speciation in the <i>J. albifrons </i>species group and that chromosomal rearrangements allowed incipient species to persist in the face of ongoing gene flow.  The extensive sharing of a single 16S rDNA mitochondrial haplotype supports the assertion that gene flow has been important.  The reinforcement of premating isolating by natural selection against costly hybridisation is suggested as the mechanism of speciation between these species.  The complete dominance of the <i>J. albifrons </i>allele at the QTL controlling the qualitative difference between the species supports this model of speciation.

The diversity of New Zealand and Australian asellote isopods remains largely unknown. Even less is known about how this fauna is related to the rest of the world. This study focuses on the munnopsid subfamily Ilyarachninae Hansen, 1916, to explore the phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships of the local fauna to others from this group worldwide. To analyse the relationships within the Ilyarachninae, a suitable outgroup, in this case, the sister group, was needed to be determined. To do this, a cladistic analysis of the Munnopsidae was undertaken. In addition to determining a suitable outgroup, the family level analysis also served to test the monphyly of the nine subfamilies and to resolve the placement of the three genera, Munneurycope Stephensen, 1913, Munnicope Menzies and George, 1972 and Munnopsurus Richardson, 1912b which were not placed in any exsiting subfamily. The cladistic analysis of the Munnopsidae included 72 species representing all munnopsid genera, including where possible, the type species and was based on 122 morphological characters. A well resolved strict consensus tree was found. The results show Munnopsurus to be the sister group of the Ilyarachninae and the Munnopsinae to be the most ancestral group of the Munnopsidae. Of all the subfamilies, the Betamorphinae is not a monophyletic. The results show that although some subfamily names are upheld, others show no congruence to the topology of the results, and therefore the use of subfamily names are abandoned. Four families are instead recognized, the Munnopsidae (restricted to the former Munnopsinae), Acanthocopidae Wolff, 1962, the Syneurycopidae Wolff, 1962 and the Lipomeridae Tattersall, 1905a, with the latter including the former Ilyarachninae ('Ilyarachna-group'). Within the Ilyarachna-group, two new genera and 28 species were described, including 25 species new to science. Two genera, Notopais and Epikopais n. gen. are found exclusively in the southern hemisphere. Of the more cosmopolitan genera, some New Zealand and south-east Australian species display close affinities to each other and with Antarctic species. These relationships were tested using cladistic phylogenetic methods, and in addition to this, the analysis also served to test the monophyly of the genera. The analysis used 59 species, representing all genera and 61 morphological characters. The strict consensus tree was well resolved, however Aspidarachna Sars, 1897b, Ilyarachna Sars, 1870 and Echinozone Sars, 1897b were not monophyletic. The results also showed that the Ilyarachna-group fauna of New Zealand and south-east Australia are closely related to each other and to species from Antarctica.

M.Sc. / Recent years have seen a remarkable increase in scientific research and studies conducted regarding the unique group of parasitic isopods known as gnathiids. The taxonomy of gnathiids are based solely on the morphological characteristics of the free-living adult males, which means that the female and larval life stages are often not collected and described with the males, and when collected it is seldom possible to even identify these stages when not in the company of there adult males. Numerous studies have been conducted in Australia regarding cleaning behaviour of coral reef fishes, where these gnathiid larvae are extremely abundant and are often collected. These types of studies as well as others are increasing all around the world, and because of the fact that the larvae cannot be easily identified, the results and data collected from these various studies are often misinterpreted or inconclusive and makes no sense. The fact that gnathiid larvae may serve as possible vectors for certain fish blood parasites and have various physiological and ecological effects on their fish hosts, which may lead to mortality, can have detrimental economical effects on the fisheries industry. This study was thus conducted to improve the identification methods that are currently applied to the larval life stages of gnathiid isopods through various means including increasing the number of detailed descriptions available, constructing a taxonomic key and lastly conducting a basic phylogenetic analysis of a group of known gnathiid larvae in order to aid researchers with future identifications. It was hypothesised that firstly, although there are some gnathiid descriptions from coral reefs, mostly of adult males, it is likely that there are still a great number of unknown and not yet described gnathiid species, because coral reefs are one of the most highly biodiverse marine ecosystems. Secondly, that the distribution of coral reef gnathiids is much wider than currently known or documented and lastly, that it might be possible to identify gnathiid larvae species in the absence of adult males, through the use of detailed taxonomic descriptions of these larval stages and there live colouration patterns, and to then construct a taxonomic key to aid researchers with future identifications.

M.Sc. / In this research project, a variety of sites and ecosystems were studied. These ranged from tropical coral reefs (north-eastern Coast of Australia), to warm temperate intertidal pools (South Coast of South Africa, SA) and sub-tropical estuaries (East Coast of SA). The overall aims of the thesis were to examine the haematophagous gnathiid ectoparasites and blood protozoans of some host teleosts found in these systems, and to some extent to investigate the role gnathiids might play as vectors of the protozoans. Gnathiid research in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) focuses mainly on gnathiid ecology and not taxonomy. This is not the case in SA, where gnathiid taxonomy is researched more regularly and gnathiid ecology has received little attention. In this thesis, two new gnathiid species, Gnathia aureamaculosa and Gnathia sp. B, were described from a number of teleost fishes of the GBR and several morphological features, including live colouration patterns, were highlighted as useful in future gnathiid identification and discrimination. The feeding ecology of Gnathia africana from SA was also examined and this feeding study was based on similar work done on coral reef gnathiids in Australia. Gnathiids of the GBR are mainly nocturnal due to cleaner fish predation during the day, whereas G. africana was found to have a preference for dawn/early morning/midday feeding on an intertidal teleost, Clinus superciliosus. Gnathia africana‟s behaviour/feeding patterns, especially of its different juvenile stages, are therefore determined by time of day, and likely by locality and predation by other organisms, such as fishes, though probably not by cleaner fish. Gnathiid feeding behaviours/patterns are thus, it seems, determined by environmental and biological factors, and these vary according to the type of ecosystem studied. Several gnathiids and fish blood protozoan species are known from the South Coast of SA, but the East Coast has remained largely unexplored. Sampling along the East Coast yielded the first records of haemogregarines from the blood of fishes in this region, in particular new hosts and locality records probably for both probable Haemogregarina bigemina and a Haemogregarina quadrigemina – like haemogregarine. However, both haemogregarines displayed unusual features compared with the original species descriptions, in size, development patterns, or effect on host cells. Limited data suggested that juveniles of Gnathia pilosus were possible haematophagous vectors of these haemogregarines, but further studies are required to confirm this.

Ph.D. / Within the order Isopoda, only a few families are known to be parasitic. Representatives from the family, Cymothoidae, are obligate parasites of both marine and freshwater fishes. In South Africa, information regarding these isopods is scanty and the little that is known is mostly outdated and inaccurate. Currently only 12 species of cymothoid isopods are known from this region and thus it was hypothesised that with proper sampling and identification, this number would increase and that the known number is not a true reflection of the actual number of cymothoid isopods present. A complete revision of the southern African Cymothoidae is required and thus this project focussed on three of the least studied genera, Ceratothoa Dana, 1852, Cinusa Schioedte & Meinert, 1884, and Cymothoa Fabricius, 1787. The cymothoid isopods studied in this project were obtained from fresh collections along the southern African coast as well as from museum collections. The fresh material was obtained from various sampling trips along the east and south coasts of South Africa as well as from Zanzibar, Tanzania. The museum collections were loaned from a number of national and international museums, and preserved isopods were also collected from fish specimens housed in the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) museum. Isopods were dissected (if possible), drawn and described. Species descriptions were prepared in DELTA (Descriptive Language for Taxonomy) using a specifically constructed Cymothoidae data set. All valid members of the buccal inhabiting genera Ceratothoa, Cinusa and Cymothoa, were completely reviewed including a full account of the species synonymy, distribution, and known hosts as well as a few additional notes. Where applicable, a redescription of the type specimen was also provided and problematic combinations or issues in the species were discussed. Each species was then defined as valid, invalid or of questionable status and a complete reviewed species list for the genus was provided. According to the World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database, there are 31 accepted Ceratothoa species names. After completion of the Ceratothoa review, eight species were considered questionable and another three were synonymised with other valid species. Thus, the species list was diminished to a total of 20 currently known and valid Ceratothoa species. In South Africa, another two new species were identified and described, which would increase the number of Ceratothoa species in this region to four, and will add another two species onto the world list once published.

The taxonomy of gnathiids is solely based on the morphology of the adult males since they are more frequently encountered than the other life stages, therefore female and larval gnathiid descriptions are sometimes absent from species descriptions. Thirty-eight of the almost 180 known gnathiid species are described from Australian waters, with 12 of these collected from the Great Barrier Reef. The only described species parasitising elasmobranchs is Gnathia pantherina Smit and Basson, 2002, a species found on South African sharks and rays. Scientists have examined the relationships between host size and abundance of parasitic larval gnathiid isopods on Heron Island. This is an indication that gnathiids do feed on elasmobranchs but the lack of sampling plays a big role. The objectives of this study are therefore to identify three gnathiid species found on various elasmobranchs from Australia. A phylogenetic analysis will be conducted to confirm whether these species belong to the genus Gnathia Leach, 1814, to determine the relationship between Australian and South African gnathiids species and to see whether there is a correlation between phylogeny and geographic distribution of members of this genus. The statistical analysis using Primer version 5 will be used to provide the specific characteristics responsible for these species groupings seen in the cladograms. Gnathiids were collected from 1996 to 1998 and during March 2002 from various elasmobranchs from Australia. The eight shark and ray species collected from Lizard Island, Heron Island (Shark Bay), and Moreton Bay were; Carcharinus amblyrhynchos Bleeker, 1856, Triaenodon obesus Rüppell, 1837, Rhynchobatus djiddensis Forsskål, 1775, Rhinobatos typus Bennett, 1830, Himantura fai Jordan & Seale, 1906, Taeniura lymma Forsskål, 1775, Urogymnus asperrimus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 and Pastinachus sephen Forsskål, 1775. Larval gnathiid isopods were found attached to the gill filaments and septum of all sharks collected, their numbers and attachment positions were also recorded. After removal from hosts, larvae were kept in fresh sea water until they moulted into adult stages. The males did not conform to descriptions of any known gnathiid species, and were considered to be new to science. The descriptions were based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations. Summary 9 A phylogenetic analysis was conducted to determine where these new species fit into the genus Gnathia and where the new genus Tenerognathia Tanaka, 2005 fits into the family Gnathiidae. The species Caecognathia cryptopais Barnard, 1925 was also included in this study to verify whether this species belongs to the genus Caecognathia Dollfus, 1901. Primer version 5 was used to determine the characteristics responsible for the specific groupings identified by the phylogenetic analysis. The results showed that these three species belong to the genus Gnathia and are only found on Australian elasmobranchs. The findings also contributed to new host records for gnathiids. According to the phylogenetic analysis these new species grouped with the only known elasmobranch gnathiid from southern Africa, G. pantherina. These species made a separate grouping within the Gnathia genus indicating that they have specific characteristics that set them apart from other gnathiids. These characteristics were identified using Primer version 5. It appears that elasmobranch gnathiids are to some extent bigger than teleost gnathiids, have a longer pleotelson and their pylopod’s 2nd article is not circular or conical. However, G. pantherina‘s (from southern Africa) 2nd pylopod article is circular as well as gnathiids from teleosts from the rest of South Africa and Australia. This signifies that this characteristic is host and location specific. The genus Tenerognathia grouped within the genus Gnathia. This might be due to incomplete characteristics information that makes up the data-matrix. The species Caecognathia cryptopais grouped within the genus Caecognathia, confirming that its classification was correct. In conclusion these species are newly described gnathiid species found for the first time on Australian elasmobranchs. This brings the number of known gnathiid species found on elasmobranchs to four. All three life stages were described for Gnathia trimaculata sp. n. and Gnathia australis sp. n and only the male and larvae for Gnathia nigrograndilaris sp. n. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed that there is a correlation between Australian and South African elasmobranch gnathiids, elasmobranchs gnathiids and between phylogeny and geographical distribution. / Dr. N.J. Smit

Portunion conformis castrates the crab Hemigrapsus oregonensis. Piltz (1969) found P. conformis in both H. oregonensis and Hemigrapsus nudus. Kuris (1971) studied the interactions between P. conformis and H. oregonensis occurring in Bodega Bay, California. In the present study, interactions between this isopod and populations of both hosts in Tomales Bay, California, are described, including the influence of host species, sex and size on parasitic infestation and the effects of the parasites on secondary sexual characteristics of the hosts, as well as interactions between the effects of these variable.

O presente estudo consiste na maior revisão taxonômica da família Serolidae já realizada no oceano Atlântico e constitui a primeira síntese sobre a taxonomia do grupo. A grande diversidade morfológica, definições genéricas imprecisas, descrições incompletas ou mal elaboradas e a ausência de ilustrações adequadas, resultaram em dificuldades que se acumularam ao longo de décadas para o reconhecimento de muitos gêneros e espécies. Portanto, os objetivos desse estudo foram: (i) redefinir o gênero Serolis com especial referência a sua espécie tipo e demais espécies americanas; (ii) redescrever e ilustrar Serolis paradoxa, espécie tipo de Serolis; (iii) examinar a validade dos gêneros Acantoserolis, Atlantoserolis, Cristaserolis, Glabroserolis e Leptoserolis; (iv) revisar as espécies cosmopolitas Acanthoserolis polaris e A. schythei; (v) rever o posicionamento taxonômico das espécies de Acutiserolis do Atlântico: A. margaretae, A. neaera e A. coineauae; (vi) rever a posição taxonômica de Brucerolis macdonnellae e B. maryannae; (vii) a partir de estudo de material inédito verificar a possível existência de espécies novas para a ciência e (viii) elaborar uma chave de identificação para gêneros e espécies do Oceano Atlântico. O estudo foi realizado com base em material depositado em coleções carcinológicas do Brasil, Estados Unidos e vários países da Europa. Ao término do presente estudo, a família inclui 53 espécies distribuídas em 15 gêneros. Foram identificadas e descritas 8 novas espécies: Ceratoserolis sp. nov., Neoserolis sp. nov. (1), Neoserolis sp. nov. (2), Serollela sp. nov., Serolis sp. nov. (1), Serolis sp. nov. (2), Serolis sp. nov. (3), Serolis sp. nov. (4). Foi estabelecido um novo gênero para abrigar uma nova espécie proveniente de águas rasas brasileiras. Os gêneros Atlantoserolis, Cristaserolis, Glabroserolis e Leptoserolis cuja validade era objeto de dúvida são confirmados como gêneros válidos. O gênero Acanthoserolis foi sinonimizado ao gênero Serolis, assim como suas espécies, Serolis polaris e Serolis scythei. O gênero Serolis foi redefinido e sua espécie tipo redescrita. As espécies atlânticas do gênero Brucerolis, B. maryannae e B. macdonannelae, cuja posição taxonômica em Brucerolis era duvidosa na medida em que o gênero foi caracterizado inicialmente com base nas espécies do oceano Pacífico, foram confirmadas em Brucerolis. A combinação original Serolis margaretae foi reestabelecida e, consequentemente, a inclusão da espécie em Acutiserolis rejeitada. Acutiserolis coineauae e A. neaera foram transferidas para o gênero Serolis. Septemserolis leachi [Serolis], também foi objeto de nova combinação. Treze outros novos registros e ampliações de distribuição geográfica foram efetuados, incluindo Heteroserolis mgrayi registrada pela primeira vez para o Hemisfério Sul. / The present study consists of the largest taxonomic revision of the family Serolidae carried out in the Atlantic Ocean and constitutes the first synthesis on the taxonomy of the group. The great morphological diversity, inaccurate generic definitions, incomplete or poorly elaborated descriptions and the absence of adequate illustrations resulted in difficulties that were accumulated over decades for the recognition of many genera and species. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (i) to redefine the genus Serolis with special reference to its type species and other American species; (ii) to redescribe and illustrate Serolis paradoxa, type species of the genus; (iii) to examine the validity of the genera Acantoserolis, Atlantoserolis, Cristaserolis, Glabroserolis, and Leptoserolis; (iv) to review the cosmopolitan species Acanthoserolis polaris and A. schythei; (v) to review the taxonomic position of the Atlantic Acutiserolis species: A. margaretae, A. neaera and A. coineauae; (vi) to review the taxonomic position of Brucerolis macdonnellae and B. maryannae; (vii) to verify the existence of new species for science from unpublished material, and (viii) to provide an identification key for genera and species of the Atlantic Ocean. The study was carried out based on material deposited in crustacean collections from Brazil, the United States and several European countries. At the end of the present study, the family includes 53 species distributed in 15 genera. Eight new species were identified and described: Ceratoserolis sp. nov., Neoserolis sp. nov. (1), Neoserolis sp. nov. (2), Serollela sp. nov., Serolis sp. nov. (1), Serolis sp. nov. (2), Serolis sp. nov. (3), and Serolis sp. nov. (4). A new genus was established to accomodate a new species from Brazilian shallow waters. The genera Atlantoserolis, Cristaserolis, Glabroserolis, and Leptoserolis, whose validity was the object of doubt, are confirmed as valid genera. The genus Acanthoserolis was synonymized to Serolis, as well as its species, Serolis polaris and Serolis scythei. The genus Serolis was redefined and its type rediscovered. The Atlantic species of the genus Brucerolis, B. maryannae, and B. macdonannelae, whose taxonomic position was doubtful, was initially characterized based on the species of the Pacific Ocean, were confirmed in Brucerolis. The original combination Serolis margaretae was reestablished and, consequently, the inclusion of the species in Acutiserolis rejected. Acutiserolis coineauae and A. neaera were transferred to the genus Serolis. Septemserolis leachi [Serolis], was also the subject of a new combination. Thirteen other new records and extensions of geographical distribution were made, including Heteroserolis mgrayi first recorded for the Southern hemisphere.