<p>The PhD research project focus on the study of evolution, adaptation, and speciation in<br />the subterranean environment using troglobitic Coleoptera of the genus Anthroherpon<br />as a model organism. Genus Anthroherpon belongs to the tribe Leptodirini (Coleoptera:<br />Leiodidae: Cholevinae), a group that has undergone extensive diversification in the<br />subterranean environment. All species of this genus have developed typical<br />troglomorphic modifications: complete anophthalmy, apterism, extreme elongation of<br />appendages, head, and pronotum, and physogastric elytra. To understand the<br />evolutionary history of this group, the troglomorphic adaptations need to be studied in<br />a phylogenetic framework. The thesis provide a comprehensive evolutionary analysis<br />of the Anthroherpon radiation, using a dated molecular phylogeny as a framework for<br />understanding Anthroherpon diversification, reconstructing the ancestral range, and<br />exploring troglomorphic diversity. In light of these findings, a new taxonomical<br />organisation of the group has been proposed.</p> / <p>Doktorska disertacija predstavlja studiju evolucije, adaptacije i specijacije u<br />podzemnim stani&scaron;tima troglobiontnih tvrdokrilaca roda <em>Anthroherpon</em>. Pomenuti rod<br />pripada tribusu Leptodirini (Leiodidae, Cholevinae), grupi koja je pro&scaron;la intenzivnu<br />diverzifikaciju u uslovima podzemnih stani&scaron;ta. Sve vrste pomenutog roda poseduju<br />tipične troglomorfne osobine, kao &scaron;to su: anoftalmija, apterizam, ekstremno izduženi<br />telesni nastavci, glava i pronotum, i fizogastrija. Radi razumevanja evolucione istorije<br />grupe, troglomorfne adaptacije su studirane u filogenetskom kontekstu. U analizi<br />evolutivne radijacije roda <em>Anthroherpon</em> kori&scaron;ćena je datirana molekularna filogenija<br />kao okvir za razumevanje diverzifikacije roda, evolucije troglomorfnih karaktera i<br />rekonstrukciju predačkog areala. U svetlu novih nalaza predložena je nova<br />taksonomska organizacija grupe.</p>

Philodryas olfersii é a espécie que apresenta a mais ampla distribuição dentro do gênero na América do Sul, ocorrendo desde Colômbia, Venezuela e as Guianas até o Uruguai e o norte de Argentina. Nos últimos 35 anos, esta espécie tem sido considerada como politípica, estando constituída por um complexo formado por três subespécies, Philodryas olfersii olfersii, Philodryas olfersii herbeus e Philodryas olfersii latirostris. A realização deste estudo teve como objetivo avaliar se as subespécies de P. olfersii são diferenciáveis morfologicamente e as implicações taxonômicas que estas diferenças têm sobre o complexo. A revisão taxonômica do complexo foi realizada com uma amostra de 676 exemplares, provenientes de 341 localidades selecionadas ao longo de toda a distribuição conhecida para P. olfersii. Estes indivíduos foram agrupados empregando-se dois critérios; o primeiro foi baseado na distribuição geográfica proposta na literatura para as três subespécies e o segundo foi com base na análise da variação dos padrões de coloração. A variação entre os agrupamentos de cada critério foi analisada mediante comparações da anatomia craniana e hemipeniana, análises de padrões de coloração e análises estatísticos univariados e multivariados de matizes de variáveis morfométricas e merísticas. Com base nos resultados da variação morfológica, a classificação em três subespécies não é sustentada, já que a variação entre os indivíduos do complexo é consistente com dois agrupamentos que podem ser definidos pelo seu padrão de coloração. O primeiro destes agrupamentos é caracterizado pela presença de uma listra marrom na região vertebral do dorso e é exibido pelas populações do sudeste da distribuição do complexo; e o segundo agrupamento apresenta o dorso completamente verde e está presente nas populações do oeste e norte da distribuição do complexo. A classificação ao nível hierárquico de subespécie não é mantida e os agrupamentos reconhecidos são elevados ao nível especifico, empregando os nomes disponíveis que não apresentam conflitos. Desta forma, as populações do sudeste da distribuição dos indivíduos do complexo são designadas como Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein 1823) e se caracterizam pela presença de uma listra marrom na região vertebral do dorso. As populações do oeste e o norte da distribuição são designadas como Philodryas latirostris Cope 1862 e são reconhecidas por apresentar o dorso completamente verde. / Philodryas olfersii is the most widely distributed species within the genus in South America, occurring from Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana\'s to Uruguay and north of Argentina. In the last 35 years this species have been considered as polytypic, being composed of a complex consisting of three subspecies, Philodryas olfersii olfersii, Philodryas olfersii herbeus and Philodryas olfersii latirostris. This study aimed to assess whether the subspecies of P. olfersii are morphologically distinguished and the taxonomic implications that these differences have on the complex. A taxonomic revision of the complex was performed with a sample of 676 specimens, selected from 341 localities throughout the known distribution of P. olfersii. These individuals were grouped using two criteria: the first was based on the geographical distribution proposed in the literature for the three subspecies and the second was based on the analysis of the variation of color patterns. The variation between groups of each criteria was analyzed by comparisons of cranial and hemipenial anatomy, color patterns analysis and univariate and multivariate statistical analysis of morphometric and meristic matrixes. Based on the results of morphological variation, the classification into three subspecies is not supported, since the variation between individuals of the complex is consistent with two groups that can be defined by their color pattern. The first of these groups is characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the vertebral region of the dorsum which is displayed by the populations of southeast distribution of the complex, and the second group presents the dorsum completely green and is present in populations of west and north of the complex distribution. The hierarchical classification of subspecies level is not maintained and the recognized groups are raised to specific level, using the available names that do not have conflicts. Thus, the populations of Southeast distribution of individuals in the complex are designated as Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein 1823) and are characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the vertebral region of the dorsum. The populations of western and northern distribution are designated as Philodryas latirostris Cope 1862 and are distinguished by have the dorsum completely green.

Late Pleistocene American black bears (Ursus americanus) often overlap in size with Pleistocene brown bears (U. arctos), occasionally making them difficult to diagnose. Large U. americanus have previously been distinguished from U. arctos by the length of the upper second molar (M2). However, the teeth of fossil U. americanus sometimes overlap size with U. arctos. As such, there is need for a more accurate tool to distinguish the two species. Here, 2D geometric morphometrics is applied to the occlusal surface of the M2 to further assess the utility of this tooth for distinguishing U. americanus and U. arctos specimens. When combined with an Ecological Niche Model of U. americanus and U. arctos in North America from the Last Glacial Maximum, this morphometric technique can be applied to key regions. A case of two Pleistocene specimens previously identified as U. arctos from eastern North America exemplifies the utility of this combination.

Resource variation and species interactions require organisms to respond behaviorally, physiologically, and morphologically within and among generations to compensate for spatial and temporal environmental variation. One successful evolutionary strategy to mitigate environmental variation is phenotypic plasticity: the production of alternative phenotypes in response to environmental variation. Phenotypic plasticity yields multiple characters that may enable organisms to better optimize phenotypic responses across environmental gradients. In this thesis, I trace the development of thought on phenotypic plasticity and present two empirical studies that implicate phenotypic plasticity in producing morphological variation in response to resource variation. The first empirical study addresses trophic plasticity, population divergence, and the effect of fine-scale environmental variation in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Offspring from two populations were fed either attached or unattached food items offered in three orientations: (1) water surface, (2) mid-water, (3) benthic, and (4) a daily rotation of the former three (fine-grained variation). Attached food induced wide heads, blunt snouts and rounded pectoral fins relative to morphology in the unattached treatment. Mid-water feeding induced elongated heads and deeper mid-bodies relative to benthic and surface feeding induced morphologies. The rotating treatment produced intermediate morphologies. Population divergence seemed related to both trophic and predation ecology. Ecomorphological consequences of induced morphologies and the need for inclusion of greater ecological complexity in studies of plasticity are discussed. The second study examines induced morphological plasticity and performance in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). I fed hatchery fish either hard or soft food for two months. Performance trials were designed to measure their ability to manipulate and consume hard food items. External morphology and the mass of pharyngeal crushing muscles were assessed for variation among treatments. A hard food diet induced deeper bodies and larger heads, more massive pharyngeal muscles, and initially more efficient consumption of hard food than fish receiving soft food. The observed morphological variation is in accordance with variation among species. Determining evolutionary mechanisms operating within red drum populations should eventually aid in developing and optimizing conservation efforts and ease the transition from hatchery facilities to estuaries.

Resource variation and species interactions require organisms to respond behaviorally, physiologically, and morphologically within and among generations to compensate for spatial and temporal environmental variation. One successful evolutionary strategy to mitigate environmental variation is phenotypic plasticity: the production of alternative phenotypes in response to environmental variation. Phenotypic plasticity yields multiple characters that may enable organisms to better optimize phenotypic responses across environmental gradients. In this thesis, I trace the development of thought on phenotypic plasticity and present two empirical studies that implicate phenotypic plasticity in producing morphological variation in response to resource variation. The first empirical study addresses trophic plasticity, population divergence, and the effect of fine-scale environmental variation in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Offspring from two populations were fed either attached or unattached food items offered in three orientations: (1) water surface, (2) mid-water, (3) benthic, and (4) a daily rotation of the former three (fine-grained variation). Attached food induced wide heads, blunt snouts and rounded pectoral fins relative to morphology in the unattached treatment. Mid-water feeding induced elongated heads and deeper mid-bodies relative to benthic and surface feeding induced morphologies. The rotating treatment produced intermediate morphologies. Population divergence seemed related to both trophic and predation ecology. Ecomorphological consequences of induced morphologies and the need for inclusion of greater ecological complexity in studies of plasticity are discussed. The second study examines induced morphological plasticity and performance in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). I fed hatchery fish either hard or soft food for two months. Performance trials were designed to measure their ability to manipulate and consume hard food items. External morphology and the mass of pharyngeal crushing muscles were assessed for variation among treatments. A hard food diet induced deeper bodies and larger heads, more massive pharyngeal muscles, and initially more efficient consumption of hard food than fish receiving soft food. The observed morphological variation is in accordance with variation among species. Determining evolutionary mechanisms operating within red drum populations should eventually aid in developing and optimizing conservation efforts and ease the transition from hatchery facilities to estuaries.

Parasitism in plants is often accompanied by a suite of morphological and physiological changes resulting in a condition known as the ‘parasitic reduction syndrome’. With changes including extreme vegetative reduction, frequently beyond any resemblance to its photosynthetic relatives, accompanied by significant losses of genes linked to photosynthesis, the study of parasitic plants can be challenging. Conopholis (Orobanchaceae) is a small holoparasitic genus distributed across eastern and southwestern North America and Central America. This genus has never been the subject of a molecular phylogenetic or morphometric analyses. In addition, very little is known of the relationships among populations and of their post-glacial history. To investigate the species limits and phylogenetic relationships in Conopholis, we conducted a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the genus as well as a fine-scale morphometric study. Based on plastid and nuclear sequences, Conopholis was found to contain three distinct and well-supported lineages which have varying degrees of overlap with previously proposed taxa. The clustering and ordination analyses of the morphometric study corroborated the molecular data, demonstrating the morphological differentiation between the three lineages detected within Conopholis. A taxonomic re-alignment is proposed for the genus that recognizes three species, C. americana, C. panamensis, and C. alpina. To address genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of C. americana in eastern North America, microsatellite markers were developed and characterized for the first time in this species. Using these newly generated markers along with sequences from the plastid genome, the persistence of a minimum of two glacial refugia at the last glacial maximum were inferred, one in Florida and southern Alabama and another in the Appalachian Mountains near the southern tip of Blue Ridge Mountains. The diversity seen across the southern Appalachian Mountains supports the hypothesis that populations derived from the southern and northern refugia come together in this area.

Parasitism in plants is often accompanied by a suite of morphological and physiological changes resulting in a condition known as the ‘parasitic reduction syndrome’. With changes including extreme vegetative reduction, frequently beyond any resemblance to its photosynthetic relatives, accompanied by significant losses of genes linked to photosynthesis, the study of parasitic plants can be challenging. Conopholis (Orobanchaceae) is a small holoparasitic genus distributed across eastern and southwestern North America and Central America. This genus has never been the subject of a molecular phylogenetic or morphometric analyses. In addition, very little is known of the relationships among populations and of their post-glacial history. To investigate the species limits and phylogenetic relationships in Conopholis, we conducted a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the genus as well as a fine-scale morphometric study. Based on plastid and nuclear sequences, Conopholis was found to contain three distinct and well-supported lineages which have varying degrees of overlap with previously proposed taxa. The clustering and ordination analyses of the morphometric study corroborated the molecular data, demonstrating the morphological differentiation between the three lineages detected within Conopholis. A taxonomic re-alignment is proposed for the genus that recognizes three species, C. americana, C. panamensis, and C. alpina. To address genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of C. americana in eastern North America, microsatellite markers were developed and characterized for the first time in this species. Using these newly generated markers along with sequences from the plastid genome, the persistence of a minimum of two glacial refugia at the last glacial maximum were inferred, one in Florida and southern Alabama and another in the Appalachian Mountains near the southern tip of Blue Ridge Mountains. The diversity seen across the southern Appalachian Mountains supports the hypothesis that populations derived from the southern and northern refugia come together in this area.

SANTRAUKA Šio darbo tikslas – atlikti rudųjų lapių ir usūrinių šunų priekinės galūnės ilgųjų kaulų morfometrinę analizę. Pagal gautus duomenis nustatyti skirtumus esančius tarp rūšių ir lyčių. Tyrimui panaudoti LSMU Veterinarijos akademijos Anatomijos ir fiziologijos katedroje sukaupti 12 – os suaugusių usūrinių šunų ir rudųjų lapių ilgieji kaulai: iš jų usūrinių šunų – 6 (3 patelės, 3 patinai), rudųjų lapių – 6 (3 patelės, 3 patinai). Atsiţvelgiant į tai, kad nebuvo pastebėta esminių ilgio ir pločio skirtumų tarp kaitės ir dešinės pusės galūnių, buvo tiriamos tik kairės pusės galūnės. Tirtas petikaulis, dilbio kaulai (stipinkaulis ir alkūnkaulis), plaštakos kaulai. Kaulai išmatuoti pagal (Bisaillon A., De Roth L., 1979) metodiką, naudojant mechaninį slankmatį 0,01 mm tikslumu. Pagal gautus duomenis išmatuoti septyni kaulų indeksai. Išmatavus ir palyginus usūrinių šunų ir rudųjų lapių patinų ir patelių ilguosius kaulus nustatyta, kad lapių patinų petikaulis, dilbio ir plaštakos kaulai ilgesni nei lapių patelių. Tarp kaulų pločio reikšmingų skirtumų nebuvo aptikta. Usūrinių šunų patinų petikaulis ir stipinkaulis ilgesnis nei usūrinių šunų patelių. Usūrinių šunų patelių alkūnkaulis ilgesnis nei usūrinių šunų patinų. Plaštakos kaulų ilgis ir plotis skyrėsi neţymiai. Palyginus tarprūšiniu poţiūriu, lapių patinų ilgieji kaulai ilgesni nei usūrinių šunų patinų. Tarp kaulų pločio esminių skirtumų nebuvo. Lapių patelių petikaulis ir dilbio kaulai ilgesni nei usūrinių šunų patelių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / SUMMARY Aim of this work – to perform morphometric analysis of the long bones of the foreleg of raccoon dogs and red foxes. To determine the differences between the sorts and sexes according to the data got. Long bones of 12 adult raccoon dogs and red foxes, kept at the Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Academy of Veterinary of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, have been analysed: 6 – of raccoon dogs (3 females, 3 males), 6 – of red foxes (3 females, 3 males). Humerus, forearm bones (radius and ulna), and metacarpal bones have been investigated. Bones have been measured according to (Bisaillon A., De Roth L., 1979) method, using mechanical calliper (precision of 0.1 mm). Seven indexes of the bones have been measured according to the data got. When the long bones of female and male raccoon dogs and red foxes have been measured and compared, it has been determined that humerus, forearm and metacarpal bones of the male foxes are longer compared to the female foxes. Significant differences of the bone width have not been determined. Humerus and radius of the male raccoon dogs are longer compared to the female raccoon dogs. Ulna of the female raccoon dogs is longer compared to the male raccoon dogs. Length and width of the metacarpal bones were different marginally. When compared according to the interspecific point of view, long bones of the male foxes are longer than bones of the raccoon dogs. There were no essential differences between widths of the bones... [to full text]

Pachycephalosaur diversity and systematics is poorly resolved, mainly due to the incomplete nature of their remains. The largest sample of pachycephalosaurs is from the Belly River Group of Alberta, but this sample is also the most problematic in terms of alpha taxonomic diversity. Material from this assemblage has been proposed to represent from a single species to up to four distinct genera. Each of these views depends on different interpretations of morphology, ornamentation, ontogeny, and sexual dimorphism, but none have been adequately tested. Here I analyze the diversity of pachycephalosaurs with particular emphasis on Stegoceras validum and 'Prenocephale' brevis. The ontogeny of these species is described using comparative morphology, histology, and morphometrics. New specimens are described and the first detailed pachycephalosaur growth series supported by multiple, independent lines of evidence is presented. Phylogenetic analysis utilizing results from this study provides a new hypothesis for the evolutionary relationships of pachycephalosaurs.

Pachycephalosaur diversity and systematics is poorly resolved, mainly due to the incomplete nature of their remains. The largest sample of pachycephalosaurs is from the Belly River Group of Alberta, but this sample is also the most problematic in terms of alpha taxonomic diversity. Material from this assemblage has been proposed to represent from a single species to up to four distinct genera. Each of these views depends on different interpretations of morphology, ornamentation, ontogeny, and sexual dimorphism, but none have been adequately tested. Here I analyze the diversity of pachycephalosaurs with particular emphasis on Stegoceras validum and 'Prenocephale' brevis. The ontogeny of these species is described using comparative morphology, histology, and morphometrics. New specimens are described and the first detailed pachycephalosaur growth series supported by multiple, independent lines of evidence is presented. Phylogenetic analysis utilizing results from this study provides a new hypothesis for the evolutionary relationships of pachycephalosaurs.