Stylaria is a genus of globally distributed clitellates consisting of two recognized species with a difficult taxonomic history: Stylaria lacustris and Stylaria fossularis. The current species-level taxonomy of this genus is unclear due to variation in several morphological characters. To assess the amount of species-level diversity in Stylaria, an integrative approach using morphological investigations and genetic information was employed. I investigated the phylogenetics of this genus using three loci, two mitochondrial (cox1, and rrnL), and one nuclear (ITS) gene regions. Using several species delimitation tools, I was able to estimate the number of species in this group. Automatic barcode gap discovery, assemble species by automatic partitioning (ASAP), and the Geneious Prime Species delimitation package all delimited at least five species within Stylaria, Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes(bPTP) recovered at least six, and DELINEATE proposed only three species, all within S. fossularis. Morphologically, there seems to be no clear, consistent distinction between members of S. lacustris from Europe and S. lacustris from North America. Based on my morphological investigations and disagreement among species delimitation methods, I conservatively propose that the subclades discovered via phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data within S. lacustris represent population-level rather than species-level variation. However, there appear to be at least two previously unknown species in need of proper descriptions within the S. fossularis species complex. Within Stylaria, morphological criteria might be useless at the species level as there is a high level of intraspecific morphological variation. Analyses of sexual characteristics of this group could help further document any differences between populations of S. lacustris.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:55:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArquivoTotal.pdf: 4257522 bytes, checksum: d45abd8f3cfc70a19e357fa718af6208 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / We conducted a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Glossoscolecidae through the henniguian method of data processing. We used morphological characters obtained from references and through observation of animals deposited in collections. A total of 45 characters were selected from 61 terminal taxa. Multiple outgroups were selected (Alluroididae, Haplotaxidae, Hrabeiella periglandulata, Lumbriculidae, Moniligastridae, and Monotesticulata Syngenodrilidae). The phylogenetic analysis was performed using the software Mesquite (version 2.75) and TNT (version 1.1). The characters were coded, whenever possible, as multiestates and absences as apomorphies. The data were treated as unordered and ordered. At TNT, we compared the results of two algorithms (Traditional Search and New Technology Search). The strict consensus trees with ordered characters not supported the monophyly of Glossoscolecidae. Only with characters unordered, the taxon was supported by the presence of sphincter in nephridia. In general, there were no differences in outcomes between the use of software Mesquite and TNT and the use of the algorithm Traditional Search and New Technology Search. We propose the following positioning Glossoscolecidae between the Euclitellata: Lumbricina: (Hormogastridae (Microchaetidae + Glossoscolecidae)) + Megascolecoidea + Lumbricidae + Kynotidae + (Sparganophilidae (Almidae + Criodrilidae)). / Realizou-se um estudo das relações filogenéticas de Glossoscolecidae através do método hennigiano de tratamento de dados. Foram utilizados caracteres morfológicos obtidos em bibliografias e através da observação de animais depositados em coleções. Um total de 45 caracteres foram selecionados, e 61 táxons terminais. Multiplos grupos-externo foram selecionados (Alluroididae, Haplotaxidae, Hrabeiella periglandulata, Lumbriculidae, Moniligastridae, Monotesticulata e Syngenodrilidae). A análise filogenética foi realizada com o uso dos softwares Mesquite (versão 2.75) e TNT (versão 1.1). Os caracteres foram codificados em multiestados sempre que possível e ausências como apomorfias. Os dados foram tratados como não-ordenados e ordenados. No TNT, comparou-se os resultados de dois algoritmos (Traditional Search e New Technology Search). As árvores de consenso estrito com caracteres ordenados não sustentou a monofilia de Glossoscolecidae. Apenas com os caracteres não-ordenados, o táxon foi sustentando pela presença de esfíncter nos nefrídios. Em geral, não houve diferenças nos resultados entre o uso do software Mesquite e TNT e entre o uso do algoritmo Traditional Search e New Technology Search. Propomos o seguinte posicionamento de Glossoscolecidae entre os Euclitellata: Lumbricina: (Hormogastridae (Microchaetidae + Glossoscolecidae)) + Megascolecoidea + Lumbricidae + Kynotidae + (Sparganophilidae (Almidae + Criodrilidae)).

The thesis summarizes the current knowledge about the class Branchiobdellae including their anatomy, ecology and geographic distribution with respect to the presence of introduced species in Europe. Using samples of Branchiobdellidan obtained from two introduced species of crayfish caught in a pond near Čáslavice u Moravských Budějovic (signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus) and in Černíský stream (eastern crayfish, Orconectes limosus), two out of seven European species of Branchiobdellidan were identified, namely B. parasita with 100% presence in the eastern crayfish and 58.7% presence in the signal crayfish, and B. pentodonta with 41.3% presence. Based on data collected from the caught crayfish and samples of Branchiobdellidan, the individual weight of eastern crayfish was proved to influence the quantity and biomass of Branchiobdellidan on the body of crayfish (p<0.001), i.e. increased quantity and biomass of Branchiobdellidan was found on more robust specimens of crayfish, however the effect of gender was not statistically significant. With respect to the signal crayfish, a significant difference was observed in the quantity and biomass of Branchiobdellidan depending on the weight of the crayfish (p<0.001), and the influence of the gender of the crayfish was detected (p<0.001), i.e. the quantity and biomass of Branchiobdellidan was higher on the surface of male specimens of crayfish. The presence of eggs in some female signal crayfish had no significant effect on the quantity and biomass of Branchiobdellidan (p=0.052), however in combination with the weight, the influence of the presence or absence of eggs was proved (p=0.011), more robust females showed increased quantity and biomass of Branchiobdellidan.