Please read the abstract in the 00front part of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

A família Phalangopsidae, de distribuição tropical, constitui um dos maiores grupos de grilos, sendo a maior linhagem na região Neotropical. Nesta região, a subfamília Luzarinae apresenta a maior diversidade em número de espécies e adaptações ecológicas. Suas relações evolutivas, entretanto, em virtude da falta de hipóteses filogenéticas propostas para o grupo, são desconhecidas. Além disso, a terminologia empregada para a caracterização do complexo fálico é amplamente debatida. Baseando-se nesses problemas, o presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a primeira análise cladística de Phalangopsidae utilizando caracteres morfológicos e genitais, com o objetivo de propor uma classificação supragenérica para este grupo. Uma vez que a terminologia para o complexo fálico dos grilos é debatida, foi necessário um estudo morfológico do complexo fálico com o objetivo de adequar a terminologia e propor algumas correções. Este estudo analisou o complexo fálico de grilos falangopsídeos e propôs as seguintes adequações para a terminologia genital: a presença de projeções ectofálicas ventrais em alguns táxons de Luzarinae, além da presença de uma projeção adicional em alguns grupos, como em Lerneca e gêneros próximos; a divisão da invaginação ectofálica em cinco partes: apódemas ectofálicos ventrais, arco ectofálico, projeções ectofálicas dorsais, projeções ectofálicas ventrais e dobra ectofálica; a descrição do esclerito endofálico deve considerar as projeções endofálicas medial e laterais. O estudo do complexo fálico permitiu levantar 83 caracteres genitais, os quais somados aos 59 caracteres de morfologia totalizaram 142 caracteres. A análise foi realizada com 60 espécies, sendo 5 no grupo externo e foram conduzidas buscas com pesagem igual e pesagem implicada, dos caracteres morfológicos e genitais e apenas dos caracteres genitais. As análises revelaram que Phalangopsidae e Luzarinae são monofiléticas. Além disso, baseado nos resultados de uma das análises conduzidas neste estudo, as seguintes alterações taxonômicas foram propostas para Luzarinae: o gênero Endophallusia de Mello, 1990 é considerado sinônimo júnior de Eidmanacris Chopard, 1956; a espécie Strinatia Teresópolis não foi agrupada junto às demais espécies de Strinatia e recomenda-se sua transferência para um novo gênero, a ser descrito; o gênero Endecous passa a agrupar apenas dois subgêneros, Endecous e Notendecous; propõe-se a criação de uma nova tribo, Aracambini trib. nov.; propõe-se a elevação do status de subtribo Lernecina para tribo Lernecini status nov.; e propõe-se o resgate da tribo Luzarini status nov. / The Family Phalangopsidae occurs in tropical areas of the world and stands as one of the major lineages of crickets. It is considered the largest taxon of crickets in the Neotropical Region. In the Neotropics, Luzarinae comprises the most diverse taxon in number of species and ecological adaptations. However, the evolutionary relationships between its clades, due to the lack of phylogenetic hypothesis proposed, are unknown. Furthermore, the terminology employed for characterization of male phallic complex is still debated and a revision of its terms is needed. Based in these issues, this study aims to perform the first cladistic analysis of Phalangopsidae using morphological and genital characters, in order to propose a suprageneric classification for this group. Since the terminology for phallic complex is still debated, it was necessary a morphological study of the male phallic complex, improving the terminology and proposing some corrections. Thus, the following corrections are proposed: the presence of ventral pseudepiphallic projections in some Luzarinae taxa, and the presence of an additional projection in some genera, as Lerneca and its related genera; the description of the ectophallic invagination must consider its five parts: ventral ectophallic apodemes, ectophallic arc, dorsal ectophallic projections, ventral ectophallic projections and the ectophallic fold; the description of the endophallic sclerite must consider its median and lateral projections. The study of the male phallic complex allowed the proposition of 83 genital characters. The cladistic analysis was performed using 142 characters (83 genital + 59 morphology) and 60 species, five species were used as outgroups. The analysis were performed using both equal weights and implied weights for the morphological + genital characters and only genital characters. The following taxonomic alterations were made based in one of the analysis: the genus Endophallusia de Mello, 1990 is considered a junior synonym of Eidmanacris Chopard, 1956; the species Strinatia teresopolis Mesa, 1999 was not grouped with the other species of Strinatia and it is transferred to a new genus, to be defined; the genus Endecous now comprises two subgenera, Endecous and Notendecous; a new tribe Aracambini trib. nov. is proposed; the elevation of status of subtribe Lernecina to tribe Lernecini status nov. is proposed; and the tribe Luzarini is erected, Luzarini status nov.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 413-447).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan. / "References": p. 177-182. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 5230344 bytes, checksum: ddb9675e635d3c79ac5e2e929718bc3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In Brazil, the order Orthoptera is poorly studied. Joint efforts among Brazilian experts achieved the approval of the project entitled Biota de Orthoptera do Brasil, to list the species present and make studies of biodiversity in different biomes in the country. The Laboratório de Bioinformática e Evolução/UFV was asked to survey the diversity, systematics and evolution of the group from molecular data. The first step was to standardize procedures to obtaining nucleotide sequences of different species of Orthoptera, from collection, through storage of material (in field and laboratory) to the standardize protocols of extraction and attainment of the amplified fragments (Appendix A). We standardized collection methodology for the preservation of DNA, and published an article with members of the Laboratório de Ortopterologia/UFV about the advantage of using fuel alcohol as a killer and preservative solution, emphasizing the reduction of costs and logistical impediments to transporting flammable substances. This article corresponds to Appendix B of this dissertation. Chapter 1, written with members of the Laborat´orio de Sistemática e Biologia de Coleoptera/UFV (LabCol), contains descriptions of eight species and one new genus from the Central Corridor of the Atlantic Forest and a complete taxonomic revision of the group, with redescriptions, including new distribution records and detailed photographs of the specimens and their structures. Still in together with LabCol, in Chapter 2 we used a molecular approach based on COI and 18S genes to establish phylogenetic relationships among species and genera collected along the Central Corridor of the Atlantic Forest, present in Chapter 1. Our results allow us to suggest the molecular description of two species and one genus, to be added to those already proposed in Chapter 1. In addition, we proposed a region of the COI gene as a DNA barcode, to assist in the diagnosis of specimens. As future prospects, we note (i) the need for new collections aimed at capturing adult males to check the propositions of new taxa, made in Chapter 2 and (ii) the need to further investigate the possibility of numts (mitochondrial sequences that migrated to the nucleus) in several species Listroscelidinae. / A ordem Orthoptera é pouco estudada no Brasil. Esforços conjuntos entre especialistas do grupo no país alcançaram a aprovação do projeto intitulado Biota de Orthoptera do Brasil, para levantamentos e estudos da diversidade em cada bioma. Ao Laboratório de Bioinformàtica e Evolução da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, coube toda a parte de levantamento da diversidade, sistemática e evolução a partir de dados moleculares. O primeiro passo consistiu em padronizar os procedimentos para obtenção de sequências nucleotídicas de diferentes espécies de Orthoptera, desde as coletas, passando pelo armazenamento do material, no campo e no laboratório, até a padronização dos protocolos de extração e obtenção dos fragmentos amplificados (Apêndice A). Da padronização da metodologia de coleta para preservação do DNA, publicamos um artigo sobre a vantagem da utilização do álcool combustível como solução matadora e preservadora, ressaltando a diminuição dos custos e impedimentos logísticos com o transporte de substâncias inflamáveis. Estes resultados foram publicados na revista Zookeys, cujo artigo, publicado em conjunto com membros do Laboratório de Ortopterologia da UFV, consta no Apêndice B. O Capítulo 1, feito em conjunto com membros do Laboratório de Sistemática e Biologia de Coleoptera (LabCol), contém descrições de oito espécies e um novo gênero provenientes do bioma Mata Atântica e uma completa revisão taxonômica do grupo, com redescrições inclusão de novos registros de distribuição e fotografias detalhadas dos espécimes e suas estruturas. Ainda em conjunto com o LabCol, no Capítulo 2 utilizamos uma abordagem molecular baseada nos genes COI e 18S para estabelecer as relações filogenéticas entre as espécies e gêneros coletados ao longo da Mata Atlântica, presentes no Capítulo 1. Nossos resultados moleculares nos permitem sugerir a descrição de duas espécies e um gênero, a serem adicionados aos já propostos no Capítulo 1. Além disso, propusemos uma região do COI como DNA Barcode, para auxiliar no diagn´ostico de espécimes. Como perspectivas futuras, ressaltamos (i) a necessidade de novas coletas visando capturar machos adultos para verificar as proposições de novos t´axons, feitas no Capítulo 2 e (ii) a necessidade investigar mais profundamente a possibilidade de existência de numts (sequências mitocondriais que migraram para o núcleo) em várias das espécies de Listroscelidinae.

Three methods of communication were examined in the Middle Island tusked weta, Motuweta isolata (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae); defence behaviour, acoustic and chemosensory signalling. Previous studies had been limited to basic autecology and anecdotal evidence. This study was undertaken to understand the behaviours of this species to assist in conservation efforts. Defensive behaviours were elicited through repeated stimulation while aggressive behaviours were acquired through male-male battles. Femoro-abdominal stridulation was induced within both situations. Defensive stridulation functioned as alarm behaviour and was often accompanied by a visual display. Agonistic stridulation was executed by the eventual winner of combat. Aggressive battles were a progression of behavioural units of increasing risk on injury until an individual was determined the winner. Acoustic analysis was preformed on stridulations observed in aggressive and defensive behaviours. Stridulation was a broad band signal covering a range well above 16 kHz and possibly into the ultrasound range (>20 kHz). Two different forms of stridulation were identified; click train sound and hiss sound. High speed frame-by-frame analysis of stridulation and scanning electron micrographs of the abdomen and medial femur deciphered the mechanism and found the interaction of the cuticle to be unique among weta. Strikingly, micrographs also revealed two morphologies of abdominal projections; truncated ridges and columnar pegs. Both these points were not previously observed. Y-maze and partition tests were utilized for evidence of chemosensory signalling, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified faecal volatiles in M. iisolata and 4 other weta species in a parallel study. Through partition experiments, evidence exists for a species-specific volatile pheromone and a sex-specific chemo-tactile pheromone. Dimethylsulphide, (CH3)2S, was present in the faeces of all 5 weta species, and may be produced by the individual.

No description available.

Three methods of communication were examined in the Middle Island tusked weta, Motuweta isolata (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae); defence behaviour, acoustic and chemosensory signalling. Previous studies had been limited to basic autecology and anecdotal evidence. This study was undertaken to understand the behaviours of this species to assist in conservation efforts. Defensive behaviours were elicited through repeated stimulation while aggressive behaviours were acquired through male-male battles. Femoro-abdominal stridulation was induced within both situations. Defensive stridulation functioned as alarm behaviour and was often accompanied by a visual display. Agonistic stridulation was executed by the eventual winner of combat. Aggressive battles were a progression of behavioural units of increasing risk on injury until an individual was determined the winner. Acoustic analysis was preformed on stridulations observed in aggressive and defensive behaviours. Stridulation was a broad band signal covering a range well above 16 kHz and possibly into the ultrasound range (>20 kHz). Two different forms of stridulation were identified; click train sound and hiss sound. High speed frame-by-frame analysis of stridulation and scanning electron micrographs of the abdomen and medial femur deciphered the mechanism and found the interaction of the cuticle to be unique among weta. Strikingly, micrographs also revealed two morphologies of abdominal projections; truncated ridges and columnar pegs. Both these points were not previously observed. Y-maze and partition tests were utilized for evidence of chemosensory signalling, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified faecal volatiles in M. iisolata and 4 other weta species in a parallel study. Through partition experiments, evidence exists for a species-specific volatile pheromone and a sex-specific chemo-tactile pheromone. Dimethylsulphide, (CH3)2S, was present in the faeces of all 5 weta species, and may be produced by the individual.

Thesis (doctoral)--Stockholm University, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references.