The present study deals with the largely unknown Peperomia subgenus Tildenia. Chapter 1 focuses on the South American centre of Tildenia biodiversity. Initially a general rectified description of Peperomia subgenus Tildenia is presented based on the latest molecular analyses. Fourteen new species are described together with two formerly published varieties that are raised to species rank. Furthermore, for one name, basionym rejection and lectotypification are proposed. All valid species from the South American centre of diversity are treated in a phylogenetic framework. A comparable study of the North American centre of diversity is presented in Chapter 2 including a key to all Tildenia species from Mexico and Central America and the description of thirteen new species (one former variety). The new descriptions within this study doubles the species number of subgenus Tildenia. Chapter 3 is a biogeographical study comprising the whole distribution area revealing the place of origin and the age of Peperomia subgenus Tildenia. The appearance of the major lineages of the subgenus is examined against the background of orogeny and climate changes in the respective distribution areas, to retrace the evolutional driving forces of this plant group. In Chapter 4 Tildenia is used as a model group for the characterisation of a new nuclear single copy gene applicable for general use for phylogentic resoltution on species level and below.

The Aristolochiaceae are one of the largest angiosperm families, the family has been divided into two subfamilies: Asaroideae, which include Asarum and Saruma, and Aristolochioideae, which includes Thottea sensu lato and Aristolochia sensu lato (Kelly and Gonzales, 2003). Aristolochia sensu lato comprise between 450 and 600 species, distributed throughout the world with centers of diversities in the tropical and subtropical regions (Neinhuis et al., 2005, Wanke et al., 2006a, 2007). However, the extended Mediterranean region including Turkey, the Caucasus and the Near East is likely to be the only diversity hotspot of the genus Aristolochia in the northern hemisphere were up to 60 species and subspecies could be observed (Wanke 2007). Most important contributions to the knowledge of these species were published by Nardi (1984, 1988, 1991, 1993) and Davis & Khan (1961, 1964, 1982), all of these studies were based on morphological characters only. In recent years, with the progress of molecular techniques and in light of the systematic chaos, a detailed study was needed to unravel the evolutionary history prior to a taxonomic revision of this group. The first chapter of my thesis should be regarded as the starting point for more detailed investigation on population level. Preliminary molecular phylogenitic analysis recovered the Mediterranean Aristolochia species as monophyletic (de Groot et al 2006). However, only very few members were included in that study. The latest phylogenetic study by Wanke (2007) dealed with west Mediterranean Aristolochia species and sampled also few members belonging to the east Mediterranean and Caucasian species (3 from Greece, 2 from Georgia and 1 from Turkey). This study reported the Mediterranean Aristolochia species as two molecular and morphologically well supported clades, which were sister to each other. Furthermore, the two closely related species A. sempervirens and A. baetica which have an east west vicariance and are known as Aristolochia sempervirens complex has been recovered as sister group to the remaining west Mediterranean species. A detailed investigation of the evolutionary history of this group is the topic of the second chapter of my thesis (Chapter 2). The Aristolochia sempervirens complex is characterized by an unusual growth form and has a circum Mediterranean distribution. The investigation of these species complex seem to be of great importance to understand speciation and colonization of the Mediterranean by the genus Aristolochia and might shade light in historical evolutionary processes of other plant lineages in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, I test applicability and phylogenetic power of a nuclear single copy gene (nSCG) region to reconstruct well resolved and highly supported gene genealogies as a prerequisite to study evolutionary biology questions in general. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of leaf epicuticular waxes, hairs and trichomes of 54 species from the old and new world taxa of the genus Aristolochia were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to clarify taxonomic status of theses species in contrast to their molecular position. Also this study which is the third chapter of this thesis (Chapter 3), has a strong focus on Mediterranean Aristolochia and tries to provide additional support for molecular findings based on epicuticular waxes and to test them as synapomorphies. Each chapter has its own introduction and abstract resulting in a short general introduction here.

The present study deals with the largely unknown Peperomia subgenus Tildenia. Chapter 1 focuses on the South American centre of Tildenia biodiversity. Initially a general rectified description of Peperomia subgenus Tildenia is presented based on the latest molecular analyses. Fourteen new species are described together with two formerly published varieties that are raised to species rank. Furthermore, for one name, basionym rejection and lectotypification are proposed. All valid species from the South American centre of diversity are treated in a phylogenetic framework. A comparable study of the North American centre of diversity is presented in Chapter 2 including a key to all Tildenia species from Mexico and Central America and the description of thirteen new species (one former variety). The new descriptions within this study doubles the species number of subgenus Tildenia. Chapter 3 is a biogeographical study comprising the whole distribution area revealing the place of origin and the age of Peperomia subgenus Tildenia. The appearance of the major lineages of the subgenus is examined against the background of orogeny and climate changes in the respective distribution areas, to retrace the evolutional driving forces of this plant group. In Chapter 4 Tildenia is used as a model group for the characterisation of a new nuclear single copy gene applicable for general use for phylogentic resoltution on species level and below.

Parareptilien stellen ein artenreiches Monophylum paläozoischer und früh-mesozoischer Amnioten dar; sie bilden innerhalb der Reptilien die Schwestergruppe zu den Eureptilien. Pareiasaurier, eine Untergruppe der Parareptilien, sind eine bedeutende Komponente spät-permischer …kosysteme. Jüngst wurde ein Schwestergruppenverhältnis zu den Nycyeroletern entdeckt, mit welchen sie die "Pareiasauromorpha" bilden. Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Beschreibung einiger dieser bisher schlecht untersuchten Parareptilien und deren Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse.Der Pareiasaurier Deltavjatia vjatkensis und der Nycteroleter Emeroleter levis aus der russischen Lokalität Kotel''nich werden mithilfe neu entdeckten Materials im Detail beschrieben. Das gut erhaltene Deltavjatja Materials umfasst mehrere Grössenstadien und erlaubt eine Analyse der Wachstumsraten. Eine geometrisch-morphometrische Analyse des Schädeldachs lässt eine allometrische Zunahme von Schnauzenlänge und Postorbitalregion erkennen. Auch wird der historisch erste Pareiasaurier, Parasaurus geinitzi, aus dem oberpermischen Kupferschiefer von Deutschland neu beschrieben. Zudem ergibt eine Neuanalyse der russischen Nycteroleter eine Synonymie von Tokosaurus perforatus und Macroleter poezicus. Eine phylogenetische Analyse unter Verwendung von Parsimonie und bayesischen Methoden ergibt eine basale Stellung von Parasaurus und eine Monophylie der Nycteroleter; letztere wird aber nur durch die Parsimonie unterstützt. Alle phylogenetischen Methoden ergeben jedoch eine Monophylie der Pareiasauromorpha. Eine strato-kladistische Analyse zeigt zudem eine ähnliche Topologie. Eine biogeographische Analyse der Pareiasauromorpha ergibt mehrfache Verbreitungsereignisse nach Russland und China. Diese stimmen überein mit denen anderer oberpermischer Gruppen, jedoch werden nur wenige dieser Ereignisse komplett bei allen Taxa gefunden. / Parareptilia is a diverse, yet enigmatic clade of fossil amniotes, sister-group to Eureptilia within Reptilia. Pareiasauria, a widely distributed and speciose parareptile group, was a prominent part of Late Permian ecosystems, yet few taxa have been examined in detail. This work describes some poorly known parareptiles, using this data to assess interrelationships and evaluate evolutionary trends within the clade. A reassessment of a group of derived parareptiles, the Russian ''nycteroleters'', results in the synonymy of Tokosaurus perforatus with Macroleter poezicus. A phylogenetic analysis of parareptilian relationships recovers a ''nycteroleter'' monophyly in the parsimony analysis, but not with Bayesian, with the genus Bashkyroleter paraphyletic in both. A monophyletic clade consisting of the nycteroleters and pareiasaurs, termed Pareiasauromorpha, is supported by all methods. Parasaurus geinitzi von Mayer, 1857 is redescribed and confirmed to be a pareiasaur based on the anatomy of the type specimens and fragmentary material that has subsequently been assigned to the taxon. Well-preserved cranial and postcranial material of the pareiasaur Deltavjatia vjatkensis from Kotel''nich, Russia, is described in detail for the first time, including specimens of radically different size classes. The first geometric morphometric analysis of a parareptile reveals an allometric increase in snout length along with an increase in postorbital length. A reassessment of the relationships of Pareiasauromorpha using different methods of phylogenetic inference recovers similar results. The topologies are not well supported, but are relatively consistent with the stratigraphic record. Biogeographic analysis of pareiasauromorph taxa recovers complex and reticulated patterns of dispersal and vicariance, including multiple dispersal events into both Russia and China; patterns that are consistent with those seen in other Late Permian groups, though few events are shared by all clades.

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No description available.

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Das tropische Südostasien, und besonders der Indo-Australische Archipel, ist bekannt für seine bemerkenswerte floristische und faunistische Diversität, besonders konzentriert in vier der identifizierten Biodiversitäts-Hotspots (Indochina, Sundaland, die Philippinen und Wallacea). In dieser Arbeit wird die biogeographische Geschichte Südostasiens beleuchtet, um Regionen mit einer erhöhten Biodiversität zu identifizieren und zu testen, ob dies mit Diversifikationen innerhalb der Region und Einwanderungen und/oder Auswanderungen korreliert und ob sich diese Faktoren über die Zeit hinweg ausgleichen. Ein besonderer Augenmerk wird auf Sulawesi und seine besondere Fauna gelegt, um zu testen, ob ein Ursprung durch Vikarianz für verschiedene Tiergruppen plausibel erscheint und wann Diversifikationen innerhalb der Fisch- und Schnecken-Radiationen im Malili-Seensystem begannen. Dabei wird auf Meta-Analysen und mehrere Disziplinen zurückgegriffen für eine integrative biogeographische Geschichte Südoastasiens und seiner Fauna, indem molekulare Uhr-Analysen, Berechnungen zur Ermittlung des Ursprungsortes mit tektonischen, paläogeographischen und klimatischen Rekonstruktionen verbunden werden, um potentielle Ursachen für die heutige Verbreitung zu finden. / Tropical Southeast Asia, and particularly the Indo-Australian Archipelago, is known for its tremendous floral and faunal biodiversity, mainly accumulated in four of the world’s biodiversity hotspots identified (Indochina, Sundaland, the Philippines, and Wallacea). Here, Southeast Asia’s biogeographic history is examined to identify areas being characterized by high levels of biodiversity (number of lineages, species richness) through time and to test whether the respective biota is mainly due to in situ diversification, immigration and/or emigration, or equilibrium dynamics. Moreover, this thesis focuses particularly on Sulawesi and its peculiar fauna to test if a vicariant origin appears plausible for certain groups and when the remarkable fish and snail radiations found in the Malili Lakes system started to diversify. To achieve this, meta-analytical and multi-disciplinary approaches are considered for an integrative historical biogeographic history of Southeast Asia and its biota by using molecular clock analyses and ancestral area estimations together with tectonic, palaeogeographic and climatic reconstructions to reveal potential causes for present-day distribution.

Durch vergleichende Analysen von morphologischen, anatomischen und molekulargenetischen Daten habe ich die Systematik zweier distinkter Taxa von Süßwasserschnecken innerhalb der Superfamilie Cerithioidea untersucht: Thiaridae Gill, 1871 und Pachychilidae Troschel, 1858. Die Familie Thiaridae wird durch eine endemische Art auf Jamaika (Hemisinus lineolatus) sowie zwei endemische Arten auf Kuba (H. cubanianus und Cubaedomus brevis) vertreten. Morphologisch unterscheidet sich Hemisinus von den anderen Thiaridae durch ein kurzes, anteriores Osphradium, einen Mitteldarm mit flach ausgeprägten Blinddarm sowie ein großes „accessory pad“. Phylogenetischen Analysen zeigen dass die jamaikanische H. lineolatus eng mit den Thiariden des nördlichen Südamerikas verwandt ist. Die anatomischen und morphologischen Ähnlichkeiten zwischen Hemisinus und afrikanischen Familien lassen vermuten, dass diese einen gemeinsamen Vorfahren haben. Die Geologischen und geographischen Daten deuten auf einen kontinentalen Ursprung von Hemisinus mit nachfolgender Kolonialisierung auf den Inseln hin. Bei den Pachychilidae beschränkte sich meine Arbeit auf die Karibischen und mittelamerikanischen Arten. Die geringen morphologischen Variationen der Schale und der Radula zwischen den meisten Arten, deuten auf Homoplasie hin, so dass diese Merkmale taxonomische wenig geeignete sind. Des weiteren scheint der Besitz von glatten Gehäusen ein konvergentes Merkmal ist, dass mindestens zweimal entstanden ist, während skulpturierte Schalen ehe Synapomorphie darstellen. Molekulare Untersuchungen zeigen dass die mittelamerikanischen und kubanischen Pachychilidae monophyletisch sind, während die Pachychiliden aus Zentral-Mexiko, Kuba sowie P. vallesensis nicht in die Gattung Pachychilus gehören. Die Analysierten Daten deuten auf einen vikarianten Ursprung der kubanischen und einen von Zentral-Guatemala ausgehenden, dispersiven Ursprung der kontinentalen Pachychilidae hin. / Through comparative analyses of morphological, anatomical and molecular genetic data, I reviewed the systematics of two distinct lineages of Neotropical freshwater snails within the superfamily Cerithioidea: Thiaridae Gill, 1871 and Pachychilidae Troschel, 1858. Concerning the Thiaridae, this family is represented by one endemic species in Jamaica (Hemisinus lineolatus), and two endemic species in Cuba (H. cubanianus and Cubaedomus brevis). The diagnostic characters that separate Hemisinus from the rest of the thiarid are a short and anterior osphradium and a midgut with shallow caecum and large accessory pad. Phylogenetic analysis showed the Jamaican H. lineolatus closely related to the northern South American Thiaridae. I also found Hemisinus sharing anatomical and morphological features with African families other than Thiaridae, indicating common ancestry with an Oriental freshwater lineage. Geological and geographical data point to a continental origin of Hemisinus with subsequent dispersal to the Caribbean Islands. About the Pachychilidae, I have carried out a critical systematic revision only on its Mesoamerican members. Anatomical studies of shell and radula characters as well as phylogenetic analyses based on two mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S), were performed. Due to the subtle morphological variations in shells and radulae found, I propose that both are homoplasic features generally unsuitable for distinguishing Neotropical pachychilids. Molecular analyses showed that the Cuban and Mesoamerican Pachychilidae are monophyletic, suggesting also that the species from central Mexico, Cuba and P. vallesensis belong to genera different than Pachychilus. Also, that in the group the possession of smooth shells is a convergent character which has evolved at least twice, while a sculptured shell is a synapomorphy. Analyzed data evidence a vicariant origin of the Cuban Pachychilidae, and a dispersal origin of the continental members from a central Guatemalan ancestor.

No description available.