Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Two closely related families of Ordovician bryozoans, the Monticuliporidae and the Mesotrypidae, collectively contain 12 genera that have been reclassified repeatedly by various authors. Using published illustrations for the type specimens of each genus, character states for 267 morphological attributes were coded. Cladistic results were compared between the programs PAST and PAUP, and contrasted with phenetic methods. PAUP produced the shortest trees, with better summary index values and low homoplasy. Phenetic results varied, depending largely on the similarity measures used. Cladistic analysis produced five tree topologies, the most parsimonious of which consisted of a monophyletic crown group, representing Family Monticuliporidae, and a paraphyletic stem group that included the genera Mesotrypa and Diazipora. The crown group includes the genera Aspidopora, Atactoporella, Acantholaminatus, Peronopora, Homotrypella, Homotrypa, Gortanipora, Monticulipora, Prasopora, and Prasoporina. The paraphyletic stem group matches Astrova’s concept of Family Mesotrypidae. These results suggest the placement of all 12 genera in a single Family Monticuliporidae. Future studies that include data for additional closely related genera in might provide a clearer picture of familial assignments for these, and other, stenolaemate genera.

A taxonomia e sistemática dos crisidídeos têm sido grandemente negligenciadas nos últimos anos, principalmente no que se refere à fauna Neotropical. No Brasil, os únicos estudos disponíveis sobre os crisidídeos são os inventários realizados pelo naturalista Adolfo Ducke, no início do século XX. Este trabalho propôs-se a realizar um estudo filogenético das espécies de Ipsiura (Chrysidinae: Chrysidini) conciliado à reavaliação da delimitação taxonômica do gênero e de suas espécies. Foram reconhecidas 34 espécies a partir do estudo do material proveniente das coleções estudadas. Novos registros das espécies foram documentados, e uma lista completa com os nomes de todas as espécies válidas, suas distribuições e repositórios são apresentados. Foi possível, com esse estudo, a construção de uma chave pictórica para reconhecimento das 33 espécies com ocorrência no Brasil, diagnoses atualizadas e mapas de distribuição das espécies. Na análise filogenética foram construídos 66 caracteres morfológicos e codificados para 33 espécies de Ipsiura e 20 espécies representando os grupos externos. Em todas as hipóteses filogenéticas recuperadas neste estudo, o gênero Ipsiura foi reconhecido como monofilético, sendo grupo irmão do clado formado por Exochrysis + Neochrysis. Parte das relações filogenéticas dentro do gênero, ainda que com incertezas pontuais, puderam ser mais bem compreendidas sob ótica cladística. As relações filogenéticas entre Ipsiura e as principais linhagens Neotropicais de Chrysidini puderam também ser mais bem compreendidas e formalmente discutidas, e os resultados obtidos no presente estudo fornecem as bases para discussões morfológicas em análises mais amplas envolvendo diferentes grupos em Chrysidini / Taxonomic and systematic research with Chrysididae has been largely neglected in recent decades, particularly with respect to the Neotropical fauna. In Brazil, the only comprehensive studies of Chrysididae were done by the naturalist Adolfo Ducke in the early 20th Century. The main goal of this research project was to conduct a phylogenetic study of Ipsiura (Chrysidini) integrated with a revision of the taxonomic limits of the genus and its species. In the end, it was possible to recognize 34 species from the material studied. New records of occurrence of the genus in Brazil were documented and a list with all currently valid names, geographical distributions and repositories are presented. Furthermore, this study resulted in the construction of a pictorial key to recognize all species with occurrence in Brazil, proposed new diagnosis to distinguish the species, and offered geographical distribution maps. In the phylogenetic analysis 66 morphological characters were constructed, and coded for 33 species of Ipsiura and 20 outgroup terminal species. Ipsiura was recovered as monophyletic in all phylogenetic results, positioned as sister-group of the clade composed by Exochrysis + Neochrysis. Part of internal relationships in the genus, despite specific uncertainties, could be better understood by cladistic approach. Species-groups within Ipsiura were evidenced to be congruent with the proposed characters. The phylogenetic relationships among Ipsiura and the major lineages of Neotropical Chrysidini could be better understood and formally discussed, and the obtained results in the present study provide the basis for morphology understanding in the future research to be done in more wider analysis involving different groups in Chrysidini

Atualmente a ordem Dendrochirotida é composta por 800 espécies, sendo que metade destas estão entre as famílias Sclerodactylidae e Phyllophoridae. Todavia, a maior parte das informações acerca dos seus táxons é proveniente de revisões morfológicas muito antigas (Phyllophoridae em 1954, e Sclerodactylidae não revisada). Este estudo, portanto, se configura como o primeiro teste formal da monofilia das famílias Sclerodactylidae e Phylllophoridae e suas subfamílias. O presente trabalho constitui um estudo morfológico minucioso das estruturas que compõem o endoesqueleto dos Holothuroidea que são os ossículos dérmicos e anel calcário, vislumbrando alcançar através de uma análise cladística os objetivos descritos a seguir: (i) testar a monofilia de Phyllophoridae; (ii) testar a monofilia de Sclerodactylidae; (iii) testar a monofilia das subfamílias de Phyllophoridae e (iv) testar a monofilia das subfamílias de Sclerodactylidae. O material estudado foi obtido a partir de visitas e/ou empréstimos de museus nacionais e internacionais. Foram estudados espécimes de todas as ordens de Holothuroidea, à exceção de Elasipodida, totalizando 956 espécimes pertencentes a 78 espécies, das quais quatro foram delimitadas como grupo externo (i.e. Aspidochirotida, Apodida e Dendrochirotida [Cucumariidae e Psolidae]) e 44 delimitadas como grupo interno (todas as espécies tipo foram analisadas). Setenta e dois caracteres foram descritos e ilustrados através de fotografias ou microscopia eletrônica de varredura. As análises foram realizadas com o programa PAUP (v. 4.0), através do algoritmo de parcimônia Tree Bissection and Reconnection (TBR) de branch-swapping, com 5000 réplicas. O estudo morfológico detalhado permitiu elencar novos caracteres, bem como reinterpretar caracteres já estabelecidos, além de fornecer correções de interpretações equivocadas acerca de tais estruturas. Sclerodactylidae foi recuperada como monofilética e está composta por três subfamílias (todas foram recuperadas como monofiléticas), Clado I, Sclerodactylinae e Thyoninae. Phyllophoridae foi recuperada como monofilética e está composta por três subfamílias (todas foram recuperadas como monofiléticas), Cladolabinae, Phyllophorinae e Semperiellinae. / Currently, the order Dendrochirotida comprises about 800 species, half of these being within the families Sclerodactylidae and Phyllophoridae. Regardless, most information about these families is from old morphological revisions (Phyllophoridae in 1954 and Sclerodactylidae not reviewed). This study appears as the first formal test of the monophyly of the families Sclerodactylidae and Phylllophoridae and their respective subfamilies. The present work constituted a detailed morphological study of the structures that compose the Holothuroidea endoskeleton which are the dermal ossicles and calcareous ring to achieve through a cladistic analysis the following objectives: (i) to test the monophyly of Phyllophoridae; (ii) to test the monophyly of Sclerodactylidae; (iii) to test the monophyly of the Phyllophoridae subfamilies and iv) to test the monophyly of the subfamilies of Sclerodactylidae. The material studied was obtained from visits and/or loans from the national and international museums. Specimens of all orders of Holothuroidea were analyzed with the exception of Elasipodida, yielding 956 specimens belonging to 78 species, of which four were delimited as outgroups (i.e. Aspidochirotida, Apodida and Dendrochirotida [Cucumariidae and Psolidae]) and 44 delimited as internal groups (all type specimens were analyzed). A total of 72 morphological characters were described and illustrated through photographs or scanning electron microscopy images. The analyses were conducted with the aid of PAUP (v.4.0) using a parsimony algorithm Tree Bisection and Reconnection (TBR) branch-swapping (5000 replicates). This detailed morphological study allowed us to list new characters, to reinterpret. already established ones as well as providing corrections of misinterpretations about such structures. Sclerodactylidae was recovered as monophyletic and is composed of three subfamilies (all were recovered as monophyletic), Clade I, Sclerodactylinae and Thyoninae. Phyllophoridae was recovered as monophyletic and consists of three subfamilies (all were recovered as monophyletic), Cladolabinae, Phyllophorinae and Semperiellinae.

Tabanidae (Diptera: Brachycera), a maior família da infraordem Tabanomorpha, possui aproximadamente 4500 espécies válidas, que se distribuem por todas as regiões biogeográficas, com exceção da Antártica. São insetos cujo tamanho varia de quatro a trinta mm. As fêmas são hematófagas, e os machos visitam flores. A classificação de Tabanidae constitui um problema histórico, e apesar de um número grande de autores ter abordado o problema, poucos são os trabalhos que trataram do grupo dentro de uma perspectiva filogenética. Nesse contexto, este trabalho, junto com Lessard et al. (2013 Molec.Phylog.Evol. 68: 516540), são os primeiros tratados envolvendo a classificação da Tribo Scionini (Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) utilizando análises filogenéticas. Para o presente estudo, foram levantados caracteres da cabeça, asa e terminálias feminina e masculina dos espécimes analisados e esses caracteres foram compilados em uma matriz de 37 táxons por 44 caracteres. A matriz foi analisada com o auxílio do programa TNT. Desta análise foram obtidos quatro cladogramas igualmente parcimoniosos, sobre os quais foi utilizado o consenso estrito. No cladograma de consenso, duas subfamílias de Tabanidae são mostradas como grupos naturais (Tabaninae e Chrysopsinae), enquanto a monofilia de Pangoniinae permaneceu não resolvida na análise com pesos iguais. Quando utilizada pesagem implícita, todas as três famílias são mostradas como monofiléticas. Os Scionini se mostraram um grupo merofilético, assim como dois de seus gêneros, Scaptia e Fidena. A partir dos resultados aqui obtidos, é indicada a necessidade para a reformulação futura da delimitação dos Scionini, bem como é apontada a necessidade de revisão de alguns gêneros que compõem a subfamília Pangoniinae. / Tabanidae (Diptera: Brachycera), the most speciose family within the infraorder Tabanomorpha, comprises approximately 4500 valid species, distributed through all the biogeographical regions, except Antarctica. These insects range in length from four to tirty millimeters. Females are hematophagus and males visit flowers. The classification of Tabanidae constitutes an historical problem and, despite the fact that a great number of authors had addressed the problem, few are the works that treated the group from a phylogenetic perspective. In this context, this work, together with Lessard et al. (2013 Molec.Phylog.Evol. 68:526-540), are the first treatises dealing with the classification of the tribe Scionini (Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) based on a phylogenetic analysis. In the present work, characters from head, wing and both female and male terminalia were coded into a matrix of 37 taxa by 44 characters. The matrix was analyzed with the software TNT. From this analysis four equally parsimonious cladograms were obtained, over which the strict consensus was calculated. In the consensus cladogram, two subfamilies of Tabanidae are shown as natural groups (Tabaninae and Chrysopsinae), whereas the monophyly of Pangoniinae was not recovered with equal weights parsimony. When implied weighting was used however, all the three subfamilies are shown to be monophyletic groups. The Scionini were shown as merophyletic, as did two of its genera, Scaptia and Fidena. From the results herein obtained, it is indicated the need for the re-delimitation of Scionini. It is also argued that revisions of some genera comprised within Pangoniinae are urgent for achievement of improved taxonomic stability in this subfamily.

Les rudistes bivalves forment un groupe monophylétique qui s’étend dans le registre fossile de 160 à 66 millions d’années. L’objectif de cette thèse est de porter un nouveau regard sur l’histoire évolutionnaire de ce groupe dans le cadre de la théorie cladistique. Dans une première partie sont posées les bases théoriques, méthodologiques et techniques de l’analyse à trois éléments. Le concept de triplet permet de proposer des arguments sur la pertinence des arbres consensus. La méthode d’analyse à trois éléments est ensuite comparée à la méthode de parcimonie grâce à des arguments théoriques et méthodologiques, ainsi que par des simulations basées sur des modèles d’évolution. Dans une seconde partie, nous appliquons la théorie et la méthode à la reconstruction de l’histoire des rudistes. Le genre Ichthyosarcolites est révisé, et des analyses statistiques permettent de tester la pertinence des hypothèses d’homologie basée sur la forme de la coquille. Les hypothèses d’homologie sont revues et de nouveaux caractères basés sur les myophores et les canaux palléaux sont formalisés pour l’ensemble des Hippuritida. La nouvelle phylogénie qui en découle est cohérente avec l’âge géologique et permet de raffiner l’histoire évolutive des rudistes au Crétacé. L’étude de couches Cénomaniennes du Bassin Sud-Provençal (Var, France) nous permettent de faire un lien entre l’histoire de la diversification des rudistes et leur paléoécologie. / The rudist bivalves form a monophyletic group that extends in the fossil record from 160 to 66 million years. The objective of this thesis is to propose new insights at the evolutionary history of this group within the framework of cladistic theory. In the first part, we lay the theoretical, methodological and technical foundations of the three-item analysis. The concept of triplet allows us to propose arguments on the relevance of consensus trees in cladistics. The three-item analysis method is then compared to the method of parsimony using theoretical and methodological arguments, and simulations based on evolutionary models. In a second part, we apply the theory and method to the reconstruction of the rudist history. The genus Ichthyosarcolites is reviewed, and statistical analyses are used to test the relevance of homology hypotheses based on shell shape. Hypotheses of homology and new characters based on myophores and pallial canals are tested on the Hippuritida. The new, resulting phylogeny is consistent with known geological occurrences of the group and further our understanding of rudist evolutionary history during the Cretaceous. The study of Cenomanian outcrops of the South Provence Basin (Var, France) allows us to make a link between the history of the diversification of rudists and their paleoecology.

A taxonomia e sistemática dos crisidídeos têm sido grandemente negligenciadas nos últimos anos, principalmente no que se refere à fauna Neotropical. No Brasil, os únicos estudos disponíveis sobre os crisidídeos são os inventários realizados pelo naturalista Adolfo Ducke, no início do século XX. Este trabalho propôs-se a realizar um estudo filogenético das espécies de Ipsiura (Chrysidinae: Chrysidini) conciliado à reavaliação da delimitação taxonômica do gênero e de suas espécies. Foram reconhecidas 34 espécies a partir do estudo do material proveniente das coleções estudadas. Novos registros das espécies foram documentados, e uma lista completa com os nomes de todas as espécies válidas, suas distribuições e repositórios são apresentados. Foi possível, com esse estudo, a construção de uma chave pictórica para reconhecimento das 33 espécies com ocorrência no Brasil, diagnoses atualizadas e mapas de distribuição das espécies. Na análise filogenética foram construídos 66 caracteres morfológicos e codificados para 33 espécies de Ipsiura e 20 espécies representando os grupos externos. Em todas as hipóteses filogenéticas recuperadas neste estudo, o gênero Ipsiura foi reconhecido como monofilético, sendo grupo irmão do clado formado por Exochrysis + Neochrysis. Parte das relações filogenéticas dentro do gênero, ainda que com incertezas pontuais, puderam ser mais bem compreendidas sob ótica cladística. As relações filogenéticas entre Ipsiura e as principais linhagens Neotropicais de Chrysidini puderam também ser mais bem compreendidas e formalmente discutidas, e os resultados obtidos no presente estudo fornecem as bases para discussões morfológicas em análises mais amplas envolvendo diferentes grupos em Chrysidini / Taxonomic and systematic research with Chrysididae has been largely neglected in recent decades, particularly with respect to the Neotropical fauna. In Brazil, the only comprehensive studies of Chrysididae were done by the naturalist Adolfo Ducke in the early 20th Century. The main goal of this research project was to conduct a phylogenetic study of Ipsiura (Chrysidini) integrated with a revision of the taxonomic limits of the genus and its species. In the end, it was possible to recognize 34 species from the material studied. New records of occurrence of the genus in Brazil were documented and a list with all currently valid names, geographical distributions and repositories are presented. Furthermore, this study resulted in the construction of a pictorial key to recognize all species with occurrence in Brazil, proposed new diagnosis to distinguish the species, and offered geographical distribution maps. In the phylogenetic analysis 66 morphological characters were constructed, and coded for 33 species of Ipsiura and 20 outgroup terminal species. Ipsiura was recovered as monophyletic in all phylogenetic results, positioned as sister-group of the clade composed by Exochrysis + Neochrysis. Part of internal relationships in the genus, despite specific uncertainties, could be better understood by cladistic approach. Species-groups within Ipsiura were evidenced to be congruent with the proposed characters. The phylogenetic relationships among Ipsiura and the major lineages of Neotropical Chrysidini could be better understood and formally discussed, and the obtained results in the present study provide the basis for morphology understanding in the future research to be done in more wider analysis involving different groups in Chrysidini

Submitted by Haroudo Xavier Filho (haroudo.xavierfo@ufpe.br) on 2016-03-23T17:53:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertacao_Fabio Correia Costa.pdf: 5363839 bytes, checksum: 5a61b945fc8ff2be76123636ab5e5fff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-23T17:53:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertacao_Fabio Correia Costa.pdf: 5363839 bytes, checksum: 5a61b945fc8ff2be76123636ab5e5fff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-19 / CNPq / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo revisar o subgênero Malagoniella e buscar uma hipótese da monofilia do grupo, assim como do relacionamento filogenético entre suas espécies. O primeiro capítulo aborda a análise filogenética do subgênero, para a qual foi utilizado o programa TNT, versão 1.1. Dichotomius bicuspis foi o grupo externo terminal utilizado para o enraizamento das análises. Para a árvore gerada (min. length = 0) foram calculados os valores de índice de consistência (IC) e índice de retenção (IR), e, para verificar o apoio dos clados, uma análise de “Bremer”, e “Bootstrap” como indicador de conflito entre os caracteres foram realizados. O subgênero Malagoniella foi considerado monofilético, sustentado por duas sinapomorfias e consta, a partir dos resultados alcançados, de 11 espécies e subespécies. O segundo capítulo inclui a revisão do subgênero, incluindo as redescrições em Malagoniella (Malagoniella) e novo status taxonômico para este, assim, como para as espécies/subespécies. Além de dados de distribuição geográfica e descrição de um novo táxon, que até o momento, é endêmico para o território brasileiro. Ainda, foram incluídas chave de identificação e a designação de neótipo e novo status taxonômico para as subespécies de M. astyanax. / This study presents aims to review the subgenus Malagoniella (Malagoniella) and search a hypothesis about the monophyly of the group, as well as the phylogenetic relationships between yours species. The Chapter one explains about the phylogenetic analyze of subgenus, that was performed on TNT program version 1.1. Dichotomius bicuspis was the terminals outgroup used to rootedness the analyzes. The generated tree (min. length = 0), were calculated consistency index (CI) and retention index (RI). In order to verify the support of the clades, analysis of “Bremer”, and “Bootstrap”, as conflict indicator between characters were done. The subgenus Malagoniella was considered monophyletic, supported by two synapomorphies and included 11 species and subspecies from the results achieved. The Chapter two, includes a review the subgenus, including redescriptions of Malagoniella (Malagoniella) and new taxonomic status to species and subspecies. Furthermore, geographic distribution data and a description of new taxon. Until this moment, this taxon is endemic at Brazilian territory. Moreover, it was included a key to identification and neotype designation to M. astyanax.

Tabanidae (Diptera: Brachycera), a maior família da infraordem Tabanomorpha, possui aproximadamente 4500 espécies válidas, que se distribuem por todas as regiões biogeográficas, com exceção da Antártica. São insetos cujo tamanho varia de quatro a trinta mm. As fêmas são hematófagas, e os machos visitam flores. A classificação de Tabanidae constitui um problema histórico, e apesar de um número grande de autores ter abordado o problema, poucos são os trabalhos que trataram do grupo dentro de uma perspectiva filogenética. Nesse contexto, este trabalho, junto com Lessard et al. (2013 Molec.Phylog.Evol. 68: 516540), são os primeiros tratados envolvendo a classificação da Tribo Scionini (Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) utilizando análises filogenéticas. Para o presente estudo, foram levantados caracteres da cabeça, asa e terminálias feminina e masculina dos espécimes analisados e esses caracteres foram compilados em uma matriz de 37 táxons por 44 caracteres. A matriz foi analisada com o auxílio do programa TNT. Desta análise foram obtidos quatro cladogramas igualmente parcimoniosos, sobre os quais foi utilizado o consenso estrito. No cladograma de consenso, duas subfamílias de Tabanidae são mostradas como grupos naturais (Tabaninae e Chrysopsinae), enquanto a monofilia de Pangoniinae permaneceu não resolvida na análise com pesos iguais. Quando utilizada pesagem implícita, todas as três famílias são mostradas como monofiléticas. Os Scionini se mostraram um grupo merofilético, assim como dois de seus gêneros, Scaptia e Fidena. A partir dos resultados aqui obtidos, é indicada a necessidade para a reformulação futura da delimitação dos Scionini, bem como é apontada a necessidade de revisão de alguns gêneros que compõem a subfamília Pangoniinae. / Tabanidae (Diptera: Brachycera), the most speciose family within the infraorder Tabanomorpha, comprises approximately 4500 valid species, distributed through all the biogeographical regions, except Antarctica. These insects range in length from four to tirty millimeters. Females are hematophagus and males visit flowers. The classification of Tabanidae constitutes an historical problem and, despite the fact that a great number of authors had addressed the problem, few are the works that treated the group from a phylogenetic perspective. In this context, this work, together with Lessard et al. (2013 Molec.Phylog.Evol. 68:526-540), are the first treatises dealing with the classification of the tribe Scionini (Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) based on a phylogenetic analysis. In the present work, characters from head, wing and both female and male terminalia were coded into a matrix of 37 taxa by 44 characters. The matrix was analyzed with the software TNT. From this analysis four equally parsimonious cladograms were obtained, over which the strict consensus was calculated. In the consensus cladogram, two subfamilies of Tabanidae are shown as natural groups (Tabaninae and Chrysopsinae), whereas the monophyly of Pangoniinae was not recovered with equal weights parsimony. When implied weighting was used however, all the three subfamilies are shown to be monophyletic groups. The Scionini were shown as merophyletic, as did two of its genera, Scaptia and Fidena. From the results herein obtained, it is indicated the need for the re-delimitation of Scionini. It is also argued that revisions of some genera comprised within Pangoniinae are urgent for achievement of improved taxonomic stability in this subfamily.

Au travers des dialectes italo-romans méridionaux et salentins, cette thèse met la cladistique au service de la dialectologie, la cladistique étant une méthode de classification principalement liée à l'étude phylogénétique et typologique des espèces vivantes. L'essentiel de la recherche porte sur l'étude des différents diasystèmes dialectaux qui se dégagent de l'analyse cladistique appliquée au domaine Italo-Roman Méridional. Après une première étude d'ordre sociolinguistique qui décrit le niveau de diglossie et le degré d'utilisation du dialecte dans l'espace salentin, cette thèse parcourt l'histoire des dialectes IRM et l'histoire de la dialectologie Italo-Romane, depuis les premiers essais de classification dialectale. Deux corpus différents ont été utilisés: dans un premier temps, un corpus obtenu à partir du dépouillement de l'ALI, et qui a servi à l'analyse du domaine IRM en général. L’espace dialectal pris en considération comprend la Campanie, la Basilicate, les Pouilles, le Salento, la Sardaigne, la Sicile et la Calabre. Dans chacune de ces régions nous avons sélectionné 3 points selon le principe d’équidistance. Les mots témoins relevés sont au nombre de 20. Le deuxième corpus, obtenu suite à un questionnaire réalisé dans la région du Salento par l'auteur même, se compose de 35 variables et six points d’enquête. Celui-ci a été construit en tenant compte de certains critères sociologiques que la méthode cladistique nous a permis d'intégrer dans notre analyse. Les résultats obtenus n'ont pas le but de bouleverser les classifications pré-existantes, mais de donner une vision plus structurante des aires dialectales étudiées en mettant en avant la diversité de leur structure interne. / Through the Southern Italo-Romance and Salentinian dialects this thesis aims at using cladistics to the service of dialectology. One must understand the cladistics as a means of classification mainly linked to the phylogenetic and typological study of animal and plant species. Most of the research focuses on the study of various dialectal diasystems that emerge from the cladistic analysis applied to the Southern Italo-Romance field. From a sociolinguistic point of view after a first study which describes the level of diglossia and the degree of use of the dialect in the Salentinian area, this thesis travels through the history of the Southern Italo-Romance dialects as well as the history of the Romance Italian dialectology since the first attempts to classify the dialects. Two different corpuses have been used. The first one was obtained after the studying of the ILA and it helped the analysis of the Southern Italo-Romance field as a whole. The dialectal area taken into account include Campania, Basilicata, Apulia, Salento, Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria. In each of these regions we have chosen three points according to an equidistant structure. We have selected 20 witness words. As for the second corpus, it was achieved through a questionnaire the author herself made in the Salento area and it is composed of 35 variables and six geographical points. The latter has been created on the basis of some sociologic criteria that the cladistic method had us to include into the analysis. The results we obtained don't imply to question the previous classifications but it allows a more formative vision of the dialectal fields studied by underlining the diversity of its own structure.

A cladistic analysis was carried out to resolve phylogenetic pattern among bryophytes and other land plants. The analysis used 22 taxa of land plants and 90 characters relating to male gametogenesis. Coleochaete or Chara/Nitella were the outgroups in various analyses using HENNIG86, PAUP, and MacClade, and the land plant phylogeny was unchanged regardless of outgroup utilized. The most parsimonious cladograms from HENNIG86 (7 trees) have treelengths of 243 (C.I. = 0.58, R.I. = 0.82). Bryophytes are monophyletic as are hornworts, liverworts, and mosses, with hornworts identified as the sister group of a liverwort/moss assemblage. In vascular plants, lycophytes are polyphyletic and Selaginella is close to the bryophytes. Lycopodium is the sister group of the remaining vascular plants (minus Selaginella). Longer treelengths (over 250) are required to produce tree topologies in which either lycophytes are monophyletic or to reconstruct the paraphyletic bryophyte phylogeny of recent authors. This analysis challenges existing concepts of bryophyte phylogeny based on more classical data and interpretations, and provides new insight into land plant evolution.