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The current study had two overriding and inter-related aims. The first was to describe the biology of C. hesperia the dominant scavenging subtidal cirolanid found in temperate waters off the Perth metropolitan coastline and thereby extend our knowledge and test several hypotheses regarding the biology of scavenging crustaceans in general. The second was to use the biological information generated to develop fishing practices that reduce the amount of bait used by trap based fisheries without reducing the overall catch. Fulfilling the latter aim has the potential to greatly reduce some of the deleterious effects of fishing practices around the world. A survey was designed to determine whether the anecdotal evidence that commercial rocklobster fishers believe sea lice have a negative impact on the ratio of bait used to rocklobster landed was widespread across the fishery and, if so, whether they associated particular factors with increases or decreases in lice numbers. The response rate of over 40% was high for a survey of this type and had similar return rates across all zones of the fishery. Such a high return rate, in addition to the responses confirms that commercial fishers, regardless of zone, consider that sea lice have adverse effects on the ratio of bait used to rocklobster landed. The findings of the survey allowed the following conclusions to be drawn and hypotheses developed. Commercial fishers believe particular temporal and spatial factors are associated with increased numbers of sea lice predating on rocklobster baits. For example, fishing in depth ranges of 20 - 30 fathoms (40 – 60 metres) and greater, fishing on a sand bottom, fishing during the months of November, December, March and April, fishing during the full and new moons and lastly during periods of weak current and high water temperature were all felt to increase the number of sea lice scavenging on baits. Laboratory growth trials demonstrated significant differences in the mean body lengths of starved and fed manca and adult C. hesperia after three and seven months, respectively. Despite these findings, starved adult C. hesperia continued to moult and grow after approximately 300 days of fasting. The relatively short period of time before differences in starved and fed manca C. hesperia growth parameters arose is probably due to early life stages of cirolanids being more reliant on regular food sources than their adult counterparts. An increase in water temperature from 16 ºC to 24 ºC resulted in no significant increase in mean body length of manca C. hesperia. However, the mean inter-moult period of fed manca housed at 24 ºC was significantly lower (25-50%) than both the fed treatment group housed at 16 ºC and the starved treatment group within the first two months of the trial. This reduction in mean inter-moult period is indicative of an animal which is growing quickly as a result of increased metabolic rate albeit at reduced increments. The 24 hour activity rhythms of C. hesperia in shallow waters in the metropolitan zone of the Western Rocklobster Fishery were determined in order to identify those factors which modulate the emergence and/or swimming activity of this dominant scavenger. It was concluded that the presence of a circadian rhythm of spontaneous nocturnal activity induced by the end of the diurnal period of photo-inhibition,regardless of tidal regime or lunar cycle, is evident in adult C. hesperia. In contrast, circa-tidal rhythms of emergence centered around spring tides were found to exist in juvenile C. hesperia with similar mean numbers trapped across all sampling times (see Chapter 3, tables 3.4-3.8) with the exception of high water spring tides (HWS), which resulted in significantly greater mean numbers. It was concluded that mature cirolanids found off the Western Australian coastline adopt a strictly nocturnal and facultative necrophage mode of existence despite carrion generally being regarded as a much less crucial food resource in relatively shallow, productive, inshore waters. However, juvenile cirolanids found off the Western Australian coastline were recognised as relying on a more opportunistic scavenger mode of existence being active during both day and night. This perpetual foraging strategy employed in cirolanids at manca and juvenile stages is possibly due to the lack of the well developed chemosensory and or olfactory capabilities found in their adult stages. In addition to this reduced foraging efficiency, a smaller gut size combined with higher metabolic rates and lower assimilation efficiencies ensures their ongoing search for sustenance. Analyses of the number of C. hesperia collected during three years of trapping in C zone of the Western Rocklobster Fishery clearly demonstrated that the numbers of cirolanids caught in rocklobster pots were significantly affected by bottom type, moon phase and depth. With respect to bottom type, the greatest numbers of C. hesperia were trapped in rocklobster pots deployed on weed/rock and sand bottoms while significantly lower numbers of C. hesperia were trapped on rock or weed bottoms. In regards to moon phase, rocklobster pots deployed during the new and last quarter of the moon phase trapped significantly greater numbers of both C. hesperia and the Western Rocklobster, P. cygnus than those deployed during the full and first quarter phases. Rocklobster pots containing lice traps deployed in depths ranging from 10-19 and 20-29 fathoms (20-39 and 40-59 metres respectively) caught significantly greater numbers of C. hesperia and P. cygnus than pots deployed in the 1-19 metre depth range. Lastly, the catchability of both C. hesperia and P. cygnus was greatest when either Australian salmon or blue mackerel was deployed in pots indicating these scavengers do exercise a degree of selectivity with respect to particular bait types. Whilst ovigerous C. hesperia were present in each month of the year, peaks in their abundance and/or catchability occurred at the height of summer (January to March). These peaks in mpm, i.e. morphological parturial moult stage, C. hesperia were then followed by corresponding peaks in recruitment from April to June. I hypothesise that peaks in the reproductive intensity of C. hesperia can be attributed to peaks in water temperature and also the seasonal influx of carrion due to both recreational and commercial charter fishing and the commencement of the rocklobster season all occurring predominately within a similar time frame, i.e. the warmer months. The current study has clearly demonstrated that a plethora of factors attract high numbers of both C. hesperia and P. cygnus. Thus, it is apparent that those practices employed by commercial fishers to land the greatest number of P. cygnus will also attract significant numbers of C. hesperia to rocklobster baits. Irrespective of key factors driving C. hesperia abundance, the high market price received for P. cygnus in conjunction with the relatively low price payed for bait, ensures fishers will continue to deploy rocklobster pots in the manner which maximises their landings. Thus for a reduction in bait usage to offer significant economic savings to the industry, different methods of bait deployment that do not result in a decrease in the catch of P. cygnus must be developed. A series of baitsaver trials were conducted in order to determine whether baitsavers deployed containing reduced quantities of bait would catch the same numbers of rocklobster as conventional pots using the typical amounts of bait employed in the fishery. During the start of the season the majority of fishers concentrate their efforts in shallow waters and employ predominantly one day soaks as they target rocklobster migrating from the shallows to offshore habitats (whites phase – November to February). In the later parts of the season (reds phase – March to June) fishing effort becomes less concentrated as some fishers continue to fish the inshore grounds whilst others move out into deeper waters. The season long trial demonstrated that packing large quantities of bait in both baitboxes in the pot (traditional method) caught significantly more rocklobster than pots using a baitsaver in one bait box while the other bait box was packed in traditional fashion (combined method) during the first two months of the whites phase. However, during the remainder of the season there was no significant difference in catches between the two methods. Thus, the season-long trial found that the use of traditional methods of bait deployment in the first two months of the season in conjunction with the combined method of bait deployment from January until the end of the commercial season has the potential to save inshore and offshore based fishers $34,000 and $36,000 each year.

A presença do marsúpio fechado possibilitou aos isópodos terrestres a total independência do meio aquático para a reprodução, permitindo aos mesmos a colonização de habitats terrestres variados. Em seu interior, a prole é nutrida e oxigenada através de estruturas temporárias, chamadas cotilédones, as quais surgem durante o período ovígero das fêmeas e são exclusivas do grupo Crinocheta. O presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever padrões dos cotilédones, analisados em 37 espécies de isópodos terrestres distribuídas entre as famílias: Agnaridae, Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Balloniscidae, Bathytropidae, Detonidae, Dubioniscidae, Philosciidae, Platyarthridae, Porcellionidae, Pudeoniscidae, Scleropactidae e Trachelipodidae, verificando se ocorre variação de comprimento ao longo das fases de desenvolvimento embrionário, sendo que para isto foram selecionadas seis espécies: Armadillidium nasatum, A. vulgare, Atlantoscia floridana, Balloniscus sellowii, Benthana cairensis e Porcellio scaber. Armadillidium vulgare e B. sellowii também foram estimados quanto à proporção comprimento dos cotilédones/ tamanho da fêmea. Entre as 13 famílias estudadas foram identificados seis formatos (tipos) de cotilédones e sete arranjos diferentes de número e distribuição. O comprimento foi estabelecido como: curto, médio e longo. Armadillidium vulgare, A. floridana e B. cairensis não apresentaram diferença no comprimento dos cotilédones durante os estágios embrionários sendo que este foi evidenciado para as demais espécies, uma vez que B. sellowii e P. scaber apresentaram aumento da fase de ovo para embrião, diminuindo na fase de manca. Já em A. nasatum ocorre um aumento gradual até a fase de manca, onde então regridem drasticamente. O comprimento dos cotilédones de A. vulgare e B. sellowii é proporcional ao tamanho da fêmea. Durante os estudos realizados outra novidade foi registrada: a presença de uma “extensão marsupial”. Para maiores informações sobre esta estrutura, foi necessário identificar quais espécies a apresentavam, o número de indivíduos abrigados em seu interior e diferenças na estrutura entre as espécies que portavam tal extensão e as que possuem o marsúpio fechado restrito aos cinco pares de oostegitos. Seis espécies apresentaram extensão marsupial, a qual possibilita o abrigo de aproximadamente ¼ do total da prole. XI Este marsúpio não apresenta formato distendido como o encontrado nas demais espécies o que vem a influenciar diretamente a alimentação da fêmea, pois com o desenvolvimento da prole ocorrendo em direção aos órgãos desta, conforme avançam as fases, aumenta a pressão interna, comprimindo seu interior. As diferenças morfológicas registradas aqui representam estratégias reprodutivas adotadas pelas espécies, ao longo da evolução, podendo estar relacionadas (ou não) à filogenia dos grupos. / The presence of the closed brood pouch made it possible for terrestrial isopods to have full independence of the aquatic environment for reproduction, allowing them to colonize varied terrestrial habitats. Inside, the offspring is nourished and oxygenated by temporary structures, called cotyledons, which emerge during the ovigerous period of females and are unique to the group Crinocheta. This study aims to describe patterns of cotyledons, analyzed in 37 species of terrestrial isopods distributed among the families: Agnaridae, Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Balloniscidae, Bathytropidae, Detonidae, Dubioniscidae, "Philoscidae" Platyarthridae, Porcellionidae, Pudeoniscidae, Scleropactidae and Trachelipodidae , checking if there is variation in length along the stages of embryonic development, and for this, six species were selected as models: Armadillidium nasatum, A. vulgare, Atlantoscia floridana Balloniscus sellowii, Porcellio scaber and Benthana cairensis. Armadillidium vulgare and B. sellowii were also estimated concerning the proportion of cotyledon length / female size. Among the 13 studied families six formats (types) of cotyledons were identified as well as seven different arrangements of numbers and distribution. The length was established as: short, medium and long. Armadillidium vulgare, A. floridana and B. cairensis showed no difference in the length of the cotyledons during the embryonic stages while this was evidenced for the other species, since B. sellowii and P. scaber showed increased egg stage to the embryo, decreasing during the manca. Nevertheless in A. nasatum a gradual increase until the phase of manca occurs, which then regresses dramatically. The length of the cotyledons of A. vulgare and B. sellowii is proportional to female size. XIII During the carried out studies another new feature was recorded: the presence of an " marsupial extension." For obtaining further information about this structure it was necessary to identify the species that presented it, the number of individuals housed within, and differences in structure between species that harbored such extension and the others which had the closed pouch restricted to five pairs of oostegits. Six species showed marsupial extension, which provides shelter for approximately a quarter of the total offspring. This brood pouch does not have a distended format as the one found in other species, which directly influences the feeding of the female, because due to the fact that the offspring development occurs towards its organs as the stages advance, internal pressure increases, compressing its interior. The morphological differences reported here represent reproductive strategies adopted by the species, through evolution and could be related (or not) to the phylogeny of the groups.

A ordem Isopoda é um dos o grupo mais diverso dentre os crustáceos, sendo composta por dez subordens. Os representantes da subordem Oniscidea, conhecidos como “tatuzinhos de jardim”, obtiveram grande sucesso no domínio do ambiente terrestre. Para isso, foram necessárias várias adaptações morfológicas, fisiológicas e comportamentais, tais como comportamento gregário para diminuição da perda de água, presença de marsúpio fechado para reprodução e a presença de pulmões pleopodais. Apesar do grupo apresentar ampla uma distribuição geográfica, as espécies apresentam limitada capacidade de dispersão. Essa baixa dispersão resulta em isolamento de populações e alta diversidade genética. Dessa forma, o número de espécies dos isópodos é subestimado, sendo necessários mais esforços taxonômicos a fim de ampliar o conhecimento para o grupo. Frequentemente, revisões taxonômicas resultam em ampliação do número de espécies, reforçando a importância destes estudos para o grupo. Identificações usualmente se baseiam em pequenas variações morfológicas, o que muitas vezes dificulta a distinção entre espécies, sendo dados moleculares representam uma importante ferramenta para a delimitação das relações de parentesco entre espécies. O gênero Neotroponiscus ocorre na America do Sul e possui uma grande diversidade de espécies distribuídas ao longo da Mata Atlântica Brasileira. Oito espécies são conhecidas na literatura e foram revisadas para o levantamento de caracteres, necessários para os estudos filogenéticos. Além disso, neste trabalho, cinco novas espécies novas foram identificadas. Com base em dados morfológicos e moleculares a monofilia do gênero foi testada, e o grupo foi recuperado como monofilético. As relações de parentesco entre Neotroponiscus e os integrantes da família Bathytropidae foi testada e a família foi recuperada como um grupo parafilético, corroborando para hipóteses anteriores. Estudos futuros com uma abordagem biogeográfica serão importantes para elucidar os padrões de distribuição das espécies de Neotroponiscus. / The order Isopoda is one of the most diverse groups among crustaceans. Species from the suborder Oniscidea, commonly known as woodlice, were very successful in conquering the terrestrial environment. For that, many morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations were necessary, such as, closed marsupium for reproduction, presence of pleopodal lungs, and gregarious behavior to diminish water losses. Although the group has large geographical distribution, species have limited dispersion capacity. This low dispersion results in population isolation and high genetic diversity. Therefore, the number of species of terrestrial isopods is greatly underestimated and more taxonomical studies are necessary in order to broaden the knowledge on the group. Taxonomical revisions on terrestrial isopods frequently result in higher number of species reinforcing the importance of these studies for the fore the mentioned group. Identification is usually based on subtle morphological differences, so molecular data is an important tool to elucidate the relationship within the group. The genus Neotroponiscus occurs in South America and has high species diversity throughout the Atlantic Forest. A total of eight species are known from the literature and were reviewed to identify characters that are necessary for phylogenetic studies. In this study, five new species were identified and described. Based on morphological and molecular data, the monophyly of the group was tested and the group was confirmed as monophyletic. The relationship between Neotroponiscus and the other species from the family Bathytropidae were also tested, showing that the family represents a paraphyletic group, which corroborates previous suggestions. Future studies with biogeographic approuch will be important to elucidate the distribution pattern of the genus Neotroponiscus.

Οι έντονες εναλλαγές σχετικά ακραίων συνθηκών και η συνεξέλιξη των μεσογειακών οικοσυστημάτων με τη φωτιά αποτελούν τα βασικά στοιχεία που προσδίδουν τη μεγάλη ετερογένεια που χαρακτηρίζει τα οικοσυστήματα αυτά. Τα δάση χαλεπίου πεύκης έχουν αναπτύξει προσαρμογές για σύντομη αποκατάσταση έπειτα από πυρκαγιά. Η συνήθης διαδοχή περιλαμβάνει την εμφάνιση αρχικά ποώδους βλάστησης (που σε περίπτωση έντονης υποβάθμισης μπορεί να γίνεται φρύγανα), κατόπιν θαμνώδους (μακκίας) βλάστησης σε διάφορα στάδια ανάπτυξης, και εντέλει νέου πευκοδάσους. Το μωσαϊκό πρότυπο στη βλάστηση, το οποίο δημιουργείται από τη δράση παραγόντων όχλησης, είναι δυνατό να έχει σημαντικές συνέπειες στη δυναμική των πληθυσμών των ζώων. Με τη χρήση παγίδων παρεμβολής, μελετήθηκαν οι βιοκοινότητες των εδαφικών αρθροπόδων σε μια τέτοια σύγχρονη εμφάνιση των σταδίων διαδοχής στις παρυφές της Πάρνηθας. Τα χερσόβια Ισόποδα μελετήθηκαν σε επίπεδο είδους, ενώ οι λοιπές ζωικές ομάδες μακροαρθροπόδων, με την εξαίρεση των Αραχνών και των Κολεοπτέρων, μελετήθηκαν σε επίπεδο τάξης. Συμπερασματικά, τα αρθρόποδα σε επίπεδο τάξης και τα Ισόποδα σε επίπεδο είδους, μπορούν να εμφανίζουν το μέγιστο της δραστηριότητάς τους είτε το καλοκαίρι είτε την άνοιξη ή/και το φθινόπωρο. Επιπλέον, η παρατηρούμενη διαφοροποίηση στη σύνθεση της κοινότητας των εδαφικών αρθροπόδων (τόσο σε επίπεδο τάξης όσο και σε επίπεδο είδους για τα Ισόποδα) είναι σύμφωνη με τα στάδια διαδοχής της βλάστησης (CA, PCA). Η βιοκοινότητα των φρυγάνων εμφανίζει σαφή διαφοροποίηση και μεγαλύτερη ποικιλότητα από τις υπόλοιπες βιοκοινότητες, ενώ τα Ισόποδα εμφανίζονται ιδιαίτερα άφθονα στα φρύγανα. Μεταξύ των κοινοτήτων εδαφικών αρθροπόδων στους έξι βιοτόπους (στάδια διαδοχής), παρατηρούνται αλλαγές στη σχετική αφθονία των τάξεων των αρθροπόδων και των ειδών Ισοπόδων, ενώ παρατηρούνται ακόμη και αλλαγές κυριαρχίας μεταξύ τάξεων αρθροπόδων και ειδών Ισοπόδων. Το πρότυπο αυτό, ενδεχομένως οφείλεται στην προσαρμογή των εδαφικών αρθροπόδων στις οχλήσεις, οι οποίες είναι χαρακτηριστικές των μεσογειακών οικοσυστημάτων. / Climatic extremes and coevolution with fire make the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems to appear highly heterogeneous. Aleppo pine forests have developed adaptations for rapid restoration after fire. A typical successional sequence includes herbaceous formations (turned into phrygana in case of severe deterioration) followed by sclerophyllous shrubland (maquis) in various stages of progressive succession to forest. Mosaic patterns in vegetation generated by disturbance are likely to have a profound effect on the population dynamics of animals. The communities of soil arthropods in a mosaic of sites in different succesional stages on the slopes of mountain Parnitha, were studied using pitfall traps. Terrestrial isopods were analysed at species level, whereas the rest of the macroarthropods, with the exception of Araneae and Coleoptera, were analysed at ordinal level. In conclusion, macroathropods at ordinal level and Isopoda at species level have activity peaks either in summer or in spring and/or autumn. In addition, the observed differences between edaphic macroarthropod communities (even at ordinal level as well as species level for Isopoda) are consistent with the successional stages (CA, PCA). The macroarthropod community in phrygana shows marked differentiation and highest diversity in comparison with the communities in the rest successional stages. The abundance of Isopoda is remarkably high in phrygana. Differences in relative abundance and distribution of dominance among the orders of macroarthropods and species of Isopoda were found between communities of different successional stages. It is likely that the observed pattern is a result of the adaptation of soil arthropods over evolutionary time to the characteristic disturbance regimes of the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.

Wolbachia é uma alfaproteobactéria que apresenta simbiose com uma variedade de artrópodos e nematoides, estando entre os mais abundantes gêneros de bactérias intracelulares já descobertos. Na região Neotropical, os estudos sobre tais bactérias e seus hospedeiros, em especial isópodos terrestres, ainda são incipientes. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos: investigar as espécies de isópodos terrestres neotropicais infectados por Wolbachia; analisar a prevalência de infecção, variação genética e relações filogenéticas das linhagens presentes nessas espécies; investigar a simbiose de Wolbachia em nematoides parasitos de tatuzinhos-de-jardim e inferir sobre as possíveis rotas de transmissão horizontal da bactéria entre os isópodos terrestres e os invertebrados que possuam associações ecológicas com os mesmos. A detecção da bactéria foi realizada através de PCRs diagnósticas, utilizando-se o gene 16S rDNA. A infecção pelo simbionte foi registrada pela primeira vez em Atlantoscia floridana e Burmoniscus meeusei. As linhagens de Wolbachia que infectam as espécies nativas de isópodos terrestres, ao contrário das introduzidas, são muito diversas e não se agrupam dentro do Oniclado. Já as sequências presentes em B. meeusei não são relacionadas a nenhuma outra linhagem presente em crustáceos, e nem mesmo fazem parte de qualquer supergrupo conhecido de Wolbachia. Pela primeira vez foi evidenciada a presença da bactéria em um nematoide da família Mermithidae, Agamermis sp., endoparasito do tatu-bola Armadillidium vulgare. Uma vez que as sequências do parasito e do hospedeiro são idênticas, é possível que um evento de transmissão horizontal tenha ocorrido entre ambos. Por fim, a presença de Wolbachia foi examinada em espécies que possuiam relações ecológicas com os isópodos terrestres (predadores, parasitos, foréticos e animais que vivem sob as mesmas condições ecológicas). Entre as espécies associadas, a infecção foi registrada apenas no nematoide parasito e nos ácaros foréticos. Enquanto as linhagens do isópodo hospedeiro e do nematoide se mostraram muito similares, àquelas dos ácaros foréticos não apresentaram relação filogenética com as de seus forontes Balloniscus glaber. Interessantemente, as sequências presentes nos ácaros são proximamente relacionadas com aquelas de B. meeusei, embora mais estudos sejam necessários para esclarecer tal achado. / Wolbachia is a genus of alfaproteobacteria whose members live in symbiosis with a variety of arthropods and nematodes. It is among the richest genera of intracellular bacteria discovered to date. In the Neotropical region, studies on these bacteria and their hosts, especially terrestrial isopods, are still in the initial stages. The objectives of the present study were: to investigate the species of Neotropical terrestrial isopods infected by Wolbachia; to analyze the prevalence of infection, genetic variation, and phylogenetic relationships of the lineages present in these isopod species; to investigate the symbiosis of Wolbachia in parasitic nematodes of pillbugs; and to provide information to support inferences about the possible routes of horizontal transmission of the bacteria between the terrestrial isopods and the invertebrates that are ecologically associated with them. The bacteria were detected by means of diagnostic PCR’s, using the 16S rDNA gene. Infection by this symbiont was recorded for the first time in Atlantoscia floridana and Burmoniscus meeusei. The lineages of Wolbachia that infect the native species of terrestrial isopods, in contrast to the introduced species, are very diverse and do not group within the Oniclade. The sequences present in B. meeusei are not related to any other lineage present in crustaceans, nor to any other known supergroup of Wolbachia. This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of these bacteria in a nematode of the family Mermithidae, Agamermis sp., an endoparasite of Armadillidium vulgare. Since the sequences from the parasite and the host are identical, it is possible that a horizontal transmission event occurred between the two. Finally, the presence of Wolbachia was examined in species that are ecologically associated with terrestrial isopods (predators, parasites, phoretic species, and animals that live under the same ecological conditions). Among the associated species, the infection was recorded only in the parasitic nematode and in the phoretic mites. Whereas the lineages of the isopod host and of the nematode proved to be very similar, those of the phoretic mites showed no phylogenetic relationship with those of their phoront Balloniscus glaber. Interestingly, the sequences present in the mites are closely related to those of B. meeusei, although further studies are necessary to clarify this finding.

A presença do marsúpio fechado possibilitou aos isópodos terrestres a total independência do meio aquático para a reprodução, permitindo aos mesmos a colonização de habitats terrestres variados. Em seu interior, a prole é nutrida e oxigenada através de estruturas temporárias, chamadas cotilédones, as quais surgem durante o período ovígero das fêmeas e são exclusivas do grupo Crinocheta. O presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever padrões dos cotilédones, analisados em 37 espécies de isópodos terrestres distribuídas entre as famílias: Agnaridae, Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Balloniscidae, Bathytropidae, Detonidae, Dubioniscidae, Philosciidae, Platyarthridae, Porcellionidae, Pudeoniscidae, Scleropactidae e Trachelipodidae, verificando se ocorre variação de comprimento ao longo das fases de desenvolvimento embrionário, sendo que para isto foram selecionadas seis espécies: Armadillidium nasatum, A. vulgare, Atlantoscia floridana, Balloniscus sellowii, Benthana cairensis e Porcellio scaber. Armadillidium vulgare e B. sellowii também foram estimados quanto à proporção comprimento dos cotilédones/ tamanho da fêmea. Entre as 13 famílias estudadas foram identificados seis formatos (tipos) de cotilédones e sete arranjos diferentes de número e distribuição. O comprimento foi estabelecido como: curto, médio e longo. Armadillidium vulgare, A. floridana e B. cairensis não apresentaram diferença no comprimento dos cotilédones durante os estágios embrionários sendo que este foi evidenciado para as demais espécies, uma vez que B. sellowii e P. scaber apresentaram aumento da fase de ovo para embrião, diminuindo na fase de manca. Já em A. nasatum ocorre um aumento gradual até a fase de manca, onde então regridem drasticamente. O comprimento dos cotilédones de A. vulgare e B. sellowii é proporcional ao tamanho da fêmea. Durante os estudos realizados outra novidade foi registrada: a presença de uma “extensão marsupial”. Para maiores informações sobre esta estrutura, foi necessário identificar quais espécies a apresentavam, o número de indivíduos abrigados em seu interior e diferenças na estrutura entre as espécies que portavam tal extensão e as que possuem o marsúpio fechado restrito aos cinco pares de oostegitos. Seis espécies apresentaram extensão marsupial, a qual possibilita o abrigo de aproximadamente ¼ do total da prole. XI Este marsúpio não apresenta formato distendido como o encontrado nas demais espécies o que vem a influenciar diretamente a alimentação da fêmea, pois com o desenvolvimento da prole ocorrendo em direção aos órgãos desta, conforme avançam as fases, aumenta a pressão interna, comprimindo seu interior. As diferenças morfológicas registradas aqui representam estratégias reprodutivas adotadas pelas espécies, ao longo da evolução, podendo estar relacionadas (ou não) à filogenia dos grupos. / The presence of the closed brood pouch made it possible for terrestrial isopods to have full independence of the aquatic environment for reproduction, allowing them to colonize varied terrestrial habitats. Inside, the offspring is nourished and oxygenated by temporary structures, called cotyledons, which emerge during the ovigerous period of females and are unique to the group Crinocheta. This study aims to describe patterns of cotyledons, analyzed in 37 species of terrestrial isopods distributed among the families: Agnaridae, Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Balloniscidae, Bathytropidae, Detonidae, Dubioniscidae, "Philoscidae" Platyarthridae, Porcellionidae, Pudeoniscidae, Scleropactidae and Trachelipodidae , checking if there is variation in length along the stages of embryonic development, and for this, six species were selected as models: Armadillidium nasatum, A. vulgare, Atlantoscia floridana Balloniscus sellowii, Porcellio scaber and Benthana cairensis. Armadillidium vulgare and B. sellowii were also estimated concerning the proportion of cotyledon length / female size. Among the 13 studied families six formats (types) of cotyledons were identified as well as seven different arrangements of numbers and distribution. The length was established as: short, medium and long. Armadillidium vulgare, A. floridana and B. cairensis showed no difference in the length of the cotyledons during the embryonic stages while this was evidenced for the other species, since B. sellowii and P. scaber showed increased egg stage to the embryo, decreasing during the manca. Nevertheless in A. nasatum a gradual increase until the phase of manca occurs, which then regresses dramatically. The length of the cotyledons of A. vulgare and B. sellowii is proportional to female size. XIII During the carried out studies another new feature was recorded: the presence of an " marsupial extension." For obtaining further information about this structure it was necessary to identify the species that presented it, the number of individuals housed within, and differences in structure between species that harbored such extension and the others which had the closed pouch restricted to five pairs of oostegits. Six species showed marsupial extension, which provides shelter for approximately a quarter of the total offspring. This brood pouch does not have a distended format as the one found in other species, which directly influences the feeding of the female, because due to the fact that the offspring development occurs towards its organs as the stages advance, internal pressure increases, compressing its interior. The morphological differences reported here represent reproductive strategies adopted by the species, through evolution and could be related (or not) to the phylogeny of the groups.

A ordem Isopoda é um dos o grupo mais diverso dentre os crustáceos, sendo composta por dez subordens. Os representantes da subordem Oniscidea, conhecidos como “tatuzinhos de jardim”, obtiveram grande sucesso no domínio do ambiente terrestre. Para isso, foram necessárias várias adaptações morfológicas, fisiológicas e comportamentais, tais como comportamento gregário para diminuição da perda de água, presença de marsúpio fechado para reprodução e a presença de pulmões pleopodais. Apesar do grupo apresentar ampla uma distribuição geográfica, as espécies apresentam limitada capacidade de dispersão. Essa baixa dispersão resulta em isolamento de populações e alta diversidade genética. Dessa forma, o número de espécies dos isópodos é subestimado, sendo necessários mais esforços taxonômicos a fim de ampliar o conhecimento para o grupo. Frequentemente, revisões taxonômicas resultam em ampliação do número de espécies, reforçando a importância destes estudos para o grupo. Identificações usualmente se baseiam em pequenas variações morfológicas, o que muitas vezes dificulta a distinção entre espécies, sendo dados moleculares representam uma importante ferramenta para a delimitação das relações de parentesco entre espécies. O gênero Neotroponiscus ocorre na America do Sul e possui uma grande diversidade de espécies distribuídas ao longo da Mata Atlântica Brasileira. Oito espécies são conhecidas na literatura e foram revisadas para o levantamento de caracteres, necessários para os estudos filogenéticos. Além disso, neste trabalho, cinco novas espécies novas foram identificadas. Com base em dados morfológicos e moleculares a monofilia do gênero foi testada, e o grupo foi recuperado como monofilético. As relações de parentesco entre Neotroponiscus e os integrantes da família Bathytropidae foi testada e a família foi recuperada como um grupo parafilético, corroborando para hipóteses anteriores. Estudos futuros com uma abordagem biogeográfica serão importantes para elucidar os padrões de distribuição das espécies de Neotroponiscus. / The order Isopoda is one of the most diverse groups among crustaceans. Species from the suborder Oniscidea, commonly known as woodlice, were very successful in conquering the terrestrial environment. For that, many morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations were necessary, such as, closed marsupium for reproduction, presence of pleopodal lungs, and gregarious behavior to diminish water losses. Although the group has large geographical distribution, species have limited dispersion capacity. This low dispersion results in population isolation and high genetic diversity. Therefore, the number of species of terrestrial isopods is greatly underestimated and more taxonomical studies are necessary in order to broaden the knowledge on the group. Taxonomical revisions on terrestrial isopods frequently result in higher number of species reinforcing the importance of these studies for the fore the mentioned group. Identification is usually based on subtle morphological differences, so molecular data is an important tool to elucidate the relationship within the group. The genus Neotroponiscus occurs in South America and has high species diversity throughout the Atlantic Forest. A total of eight species are known from the literature and were reviewed to identify characters that are necessary for phylogenetic studies. In this study, five new species were identified and described. Based on morphological and molecular data, the monophyly of the group was tested and the group was confirmed as monophyletic. The relationship between Neotroponiscus and the other species from the family Bathytropidae were also tested, showing that the family represents a paraphyletic group, which corroborates previous suggestions. Future studies with biogeographic approuch will be important to elucidate the distribution pattern of the genus Neotroponiscus.

Wolbachia é uma alfaproteobactéria que apresenta simbiose com uma variedade de artrópodos e nematoides, estando entre os mais abundantes gêneros de bactérias intracelulares já descobertos. Na região Neotropical, os estudos sobre tais bactérias e seus hospedeiros, em especial isópodos terrestres, ainda são incipientes. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos: investigar as espécies de isópodos terrestres neotropicais infectados por Wolbachia; analisar a prevalência de infecção, variação genética e relações filogenéticas das linhagens presentes nessas espécies; investigar a simbiose de Wolbachia em nematoides parasitos de tatuzinhos-de-jardim e inferir sobre as possíveis rotas de transmissão horizontal da bactéria entre os isópodos terrestres e os invertebrados que possuam associações ecológicas com os mesmos. A detecção da bactéria foi realizada através de PCRs diagnósticas, utilizando-se o gene 16S rDNA. A infecção pelo simbionte foi registrada pela primeira vez em Atlantoscia floridana e Burmoniscus meeusei. As linhagens de Wolbachia que infectam as espécies nativas de isópodos terrestres, ao contrário das introduzidas, são muito diversas e não se agrupam dentro do Oniclado. Já as sequências presentes em B. meeusei não são relacionadas a nenhuma outra linhagem presente em crustáceos, e nem mesmo fazem parte de qualquer supergrupo conhecido de Wolbachia. Pela primeira vez foi evidenciada a presença da bactéria em um nematoide da família Mermithidae, Agamermis sp., endoparasito do tatu-bola Armadillidium vulgare. Uma vez que as sequências do parasito e do hospedeiro são idênticas, é possível que um evento de transmissão horizontal tenha ocorrido entre ambos. Por fim, a presença de Wolbachia foi examinada em espécies que possuiam relações ecológicas com os isópodos terrestres (predadores, parasitos, foréticos e animais que vivem sob as mesmas condições ecológicas). Entre as espécies associadas, a infecção foi registrada apenas no nematoide parasito e nos ácaros foréticos. Enquanto as linhagens do isópodo hospedeiro e do nematoide se mostraram muito similares, àquelas dos ácaros foréticos não apresentaram relação filogenética com as de seus forontes Balloniscus glaber. Interessantemente, as sequências presentes nos ácaros são proximamente relacionadas com aquelas de B. meeusei, embora mais estudos sejam necessários para esclarecer tal achado. / Wolbachia is a genus of alfaproteobacteria whose members live in symbiosis with a variety of arthropods and nematodes. It is among the richest genera of intracellular bacteria discovered to date. In the Neotropical region, studies on these bacteria and their hosts, especially terrestrial isopods, are still in the initial stages. The objectives of the present study were: to investigate the species of Neotropical terrestrial isopods infected by Wolbachia; to analyze the prevalence of infection, genetic variation, and phylogenetic relationships of the lineages present in these isopod species; to investigate the symbiosis of Wolbachia in parasitic nematodes of pillbugs; and to provide information to support inferences about the possible routes of horizontal transmission of the bacteria between the terrestrial isopods and the invertebrates that are ecologically associated with them. The bacteria were detected by means of diagnostic PCR’s, using the 16S rDNA gene. Infection by this symbiont was recorded for the first time in Atlantoscia floridana and Burmoniscus meeusei. The lineages of Wolbachia that infect the native species of terrestrial isopods, in contrast to the introduced species, are very diverse and do not group within the Oniclade. The sequences present in B. meeusei are not related to any other lineage present in crustaceans, nor to any other known supergroup of Wolbachia. This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of these bacteria in a nematode of the family Mermithidae, Agamermis sp., an endoparasite of Armadillidium vulgare. Since the sequences from the parasite and the host are identical, it is possible that a horizontal transmission event occurred between the two. Finally, the presence of Wolbachia was examined in species that are ecologically associated with terrestrial isopods (predators, parasites, phoretic species, and animals that live under the same ecological conditions). Among the associated species, the infection was recorded only in the parasitic nematode and in the phoretic mites. Whereas the lineages of the isopod host and of the nematode proved to be very similar, those of the phoretic mites showed no phylogenetic relationship with those of their phoront Balloniscus glaber. Interestingly, the sequences present in the mites are closely related to those of B. meeusei, although further studies are necessary to clarify this finding.