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Several of the methods of numerical taxonomy are compared and shown to be variants of a tripartite grouping procedure associated with a generalised intercluster similarity function involving ten computational parameters. Clustering by the techniques of hierarchic fusion, monothetic division and iterative relocation is obtained using different arithmetic combinations of the function parameters to both compute similarities and effect changes in cluster membership. The combinatorial solution for Ward's method is found, and the centroid sorting combinatorial solution is extended for size difference, shape difference, dispersion and dot product coefficients. It is suggested that clusters are characterised more by the choice of similarity criterion than by the choice of method, and it is demonstrated that some common criteria such as distance and the error sum of squares are inclined to force spherical 'minimum-variance' classes. These are contrasted by 'natural' classes, which correspond to closed density surfaces defined for a multi-variate sample space by the underlying probability density function. A method for mode-seeking is developed from this probabilistic model through various theoretical and experimental phases, and it is shown to perform slightly better than iterative relocation with the minimum-variance criteria using several Gaussian test populations. A fast algorithm is proposed for the solution of the Jardine-Sibson method for generating overlapping classes, and it is observed that this technique finds natural classes and is closely related to the probabilistic model. Some aspects of computational procedures are discussed, and in particular, it is proposed that a generalised system involving a statistical language, conversational mode package and program suite could be developed from a basic subroutine system. Paging and simulation techniques for the organisation of direct-access data files are suggested, and a comprehensive package of computer programs for cluster analysis is described.

BONNET, N. Y. K. Filogenia e taxonomia de phlebobranchia (tunicata: ascidiacea). 2016. 312 f. Tese (Doutorado em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais) - Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2016. / Submitted by Geovane Uchoa (geovane@ufc.br) on 2017-03-07T12:53:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_nykbonnet.pdf: 7185500 bytes, checksum: a3707f3bf943223fec9fda91599873ea (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nadsa Cid (nadsa@ufc.br) on 2017-04-24T15:50:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_nykbonnet.pdf: 7185500 bytes, checksum: a3707f3bf943223fec9fda91599873ea (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-24T15:50:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_nykbonnet.pdf: 7185500 bytes, checksum: a3707f3bf943223fec9fda91599873ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Phlebobranchia, one of the three orders of Ascidiacea, is characterized by its simple oral tentacles, pharynx not folded, and gonads associated with the digestory tube. Despite being the less speciose order, species of Phlebobranchia can be found all around the world, from shallow water to the deep-sea, and it has the largest morphological ected and redescribed. Five new species were detected (one of Ascidiidae, published in the last year, and four of Perophoridae, manuscript in progress), and there are five morphotypes unidentified. / Phlebobranchia é uma das três ordens de Ascidiacea, sendo caracterizada pela presença de tentáculos orais simples, faringe sem pregas e gônadas associadas ao trato digestório. Presente ao redor do mundo inteiro e nas mais variadas profundidades, é a ordem com menor número de espécies descritas, porém é também a que apresenta maior variabilidade morfológica. Para muitas espécies as descrições existentes são muito sucintas o que frequentemente ocasiona equívocos taxonômicos. Assim, com o objetivo de revisarr a taxonomia do grupo foram redescritas 62 espécies de cinco famílias de Phlebobranchia. Foram encontradas cinco espécies novas (uma de Ascidiidae, já publicada, e quatro de Perophoridae, com o manuscrito em preparação), além de cinco morfotipos que não puderam ainda ser identificados.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-10-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:25:08Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 morselli_jp_dr_botib.pdf: 5577617 bytes, checksum: 29f33f5ce4b31a1c784db60d4f5dd211 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A família gondwânica Anostostomatidae (Orthoptera, Ensifera, Stenopelmatoidea) foi até recentemente objeto de pouco entendimento taxonômico. Na Neotropica, ocorrem quatro subfamílias de Anostostomatidae (Orthoptera, Ensifera, Stenopelmatoidea), dentre as quais, Lutosinae, cujo gênero-tipo é Lutosa Walker, 1869. Espécies do gênero Lutosa provenientes de vários pontos da mata atlântica brasileira - sobretudo na região costeira - nos Estados da Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul foram analisadas do ponto de vista taxonômico e filogenético com base na morfologia corporal externa, do complexo fálico e espermateca. Das vinte e nove espécies estudadas, três já haviam sido descritas, as demais receberam nomes provisórios para a facilidade de referência. Através do método cladístico, uma análise filogenética das espécies foi realizada. Uma chave dicotômica de identificação é proposta para todas as espécies examinadas e dados preliminares sobre hábitos, ecologia e comportamento de espécies de Lutosa são fornecidos / The gondwanic family Anostostomatidae (Orthoptera, Ensifera, Stenopelmatoidea) has received, up to recent times, scanty taxonomic attention. In the new world tropics, four of its subfamilies are found, among which is the Lutosinae, erected for Lutosa Walker, 1869. Species of Lutosa from several localities of the Brazilian Atlantic Forestespecially from its coastal region- of the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul were analysed from the taxonomic and phylogenetic stand point based on external body morphology and phallic complex. Of the 29 species which were recognized, only 3 were previously described; the remaining are new to science and their descriptions are presented. A cladistic analysis of the assemblage was carried out using species of several new (undescribed) genera of neotropical Lutosinae as outgroup to polarize the characters. A dicotomic identification key for the species was elaborated and preliminary preliminary data on habits, ecology and behavior are offered

Orientador: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad / Banca: Esteban Orlando Lavilla / Banca: Luciana Barreto Nascimento / Resumo: Scinax fuscomarginatus, S. parkeri, S. trilineatus e a recentemente descrita S. lutzorum são espécies muito similares morfologicamente que ocorrem em formações abertas da America do Sul ao leste dos Andes. Scinax parkeri e S. trilineatus tiveram sua validade taxonômica questionada enquanto S. fuscomarginatus é considerada por vários autores como um complexo de espécies. Levando em conta a similaridade morfológica e a incerteza taxonômica, nesse trabalho revisamos a taxonomia de Scinax fuscomarginatus, S. trilineatus, S. parkeri e S. lutzorum usando dados de morfologia externa, cantos de anúncio e sequências moleculares. Os principais objetivos foram investigar a existência de outras espécies sob o nome S. fuscomarginatus e avaliar o "status" taxonômico de S. parkeri, S. trilineatus, S. lutzorum e Hyla madeirae (único sinônimo de S. fuscomarginatus). Nas análises filogenéticas com dados moleculares encontramos uma profunda e rica estrutura genética tanto intra quanto inter-especifica. As amostras incluídas formaram um grupo monofilético bem suportado que está estruturado em vários clados e subclados. Hyla madeirae e a população da Serra do Cachimbo correspondem a subclados distintos enquanto as espécies atualmente válidas (S. fuscomarginatus, S. parkeri, S. trilineatus e S. lutzorum) se agrupam em um único clado. Este clado apresenta subestrutura marcada, mas a concordância entre subclados e as espécies reconhecidas é limitada. A alta variação intraespecífica e intrapopulacional encontrada nos caracteres morfológicos usados para a diagnose original das espécies não permitiu a diferenciação entre S. parkeri, S. trilineatus, S. lutzorum e S. fuscomarginatus. Entretanto, alguns caracteres permitem a distinção de Hyla madeirae e dos espécimens da Serra do Cachimbo / Abstract: Scinax fuscomarginatus, S. parkeri, S. trilineatus and the recently described S. lutzorum are morphologically very similar species that occur in open formations of South America east of the Andes. Scinax parkeri and S. trilineatus had its taxonomic validity questioned, and S. fuscomarginatus is considered by many authors as a species complex. Given the morphological similarity and taxonomic uncertainty, we review the taxonomy of Scinax fuscomarginatus, S. parkeri, S. trilineatus, and S. lutzorum using data from external morphology, advertisement calls and molecular sequences. The main goals were to investigate the existence of other species under the name S. fuscomarginatus and assess the taxonomic status of S. parkeri, S. trilineatus, S. lutzorum and Hyla madeirae (the only synonym within S. fuscomarginatus). In the phylogenetic analysis obtained with the molecular data we found rich and deep genetic structure both within and between species. The samples included formed a well supported monophyletic group that is divided into several clades and subclades. The specimens of Hyla madeirae and those from Serra do Cachimbo corresponded to distinct subclades while the currently valid species (S. fuscomarginatus, S. parkeri, S. and S. trilineatus lutzorum) were grouped into a single clade. This clade showed marked substructure, but the concordance of the recognized species to subclades were limited. The high intrapopulation and intraspecific variation found in morphological characters used for the original diagnoses did not allow us to differ among S. parkeri, S. trilineatus, S. lutzorum and S. fuscomarginatus. However, some characters support the distinction of Hyla madeirae and specimens from Serra do Cachimbo. Similarly, none of valid species were distinguishable in morphometric analysis while Hyla madeirae and the specimens from Serra do Cachimbo showed a trend in having wider heads / Mestre

The taxonomic history of 17 British and N. W. European taxa of the Festuca ovina aggregate was reviewed. The morphology, anatomy, ecology, geographical distribution and typification of F. ovina, F. guestfalica, F. vivipara, F. lemanii, F. trachyphylla and F. brevipila was also discussed. Anatomical characters were taken from leaf-blade transverse sections and from leaf-blade epidermises and proved useful at all taxonomic ranks investigated. Gross morphological characters were generally slightly less useful although floral morphology was of great use at and below specific rank. Reliability of these characters has been assessed in cultivatio-n experiments. On the basis of morphological, anatomical, cytological, chemical and geographical evidence and with the aid of multivariant analysis and extensive hybridization studies it is concluded that the taxa studied fall into 3 species groups: the F. ovina group; the F. valesiaca group and the F. longifolia group. Hybridization at the hexaploid level more frequently produced more mature FI hybrids than did hybridizations at the tetraploid level. Hybridizations between diploid species produced the lowest numbers of mature FI hybrids. Furthermore diploid taxa were found to be more discrete morphologically than tetraploid taxa which were in turn more discrete than hexaploid taxa. It was concluded from this that the F. ovina aggregate is a polyploid pillar complex. On the basis of a wide body of evidence it was concluded that F. vivipara undoubtedly belongs to the F. ovina species group. The evolutionary relationship between this taxon with its close seminiferous relatives was also discussed.

New species of fungi that belong to the class Wallemiomycetes and related lineages were discovered and characterized. The Wallemiomycetes includes species of brown moulds from the genus Wallemia. Further study was warranted for Wallemia sebi because of its ubiquity in the human indoor environments and its potential roles in food spoilage, human allergy and disease. A survey of Wallemia in house dust was conducted. Sequencing of DNA and application of the genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) led to recognition of four species within the W. sebi species complex (WSSC) and served as the foundation for phenotypic assessment and the formal description of three new species called W. mellicola, W. canadensis and W. tropicalis. A survey of heat resistant fungi in soils coincidentally resulted in the discovery of a new lineage of fungi related to Wallemia. This new lineage included a previously described monotypic genus Basidioascus and a new sister genus given the name Geminibasidium. A part of the morphological life cycle of these fungi was documented where two new basidial types were discovered, followed by the description of three new species called B. magus, G. donsium and G. hirsutum. Further studies on the sexuality and origins of the species B. undulatus were carried out with genome sequencing, genome analysis, confocal microscopy and electron microscopy. These results led to the creation of a new class of fungi called the Geminibasidiomycetes, which are distantly related to the Wallemiomycetes. Solving the WSSC, circumscribing a new class of fungi called Geminibasidiomycetes and characterizing the species of Geminibasidiomycetes on a taxonomic and genomic level are my original contributions to scientific knowledge.

Although the Red Sea presents a unique environment with high temperature and salinity, it remains an area that is understudied. This lack of information is reflected in many areas, one which is biodiversity. Despite increasing work on biodiversity throughout the Red Sea and an increase in Cephalopoda studies, Cephalopoda in the Red Sea remain underrepresented, which is especially pronounced in molecular analyses. Members of the class Cephalopoda are considered to be major contributors to coral reef ecosystems, serving as part of the food chain and exhibiting population increases due to targeted teleost fisheries and global climate change. In order to assess the biodiversity of Cephalopoda in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea, 87 specimens were collected from 25 reef locations between 17°N and 28°N latitude, as well as from the largest fish market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Taxonomic identification of specimens was determined using morphological comparisons with previously reported species in the Red Sea and the molecular barcoding region Cytochrome Oxidase I. 84 Red Sea sequences were compared with sequences from GenBank and analyzed using a complement of Neighbor-Joining, Maximum-Likelihood, and Bayesian inference trees. Species complexes were also investigated for Sepia pharaonis and Sepioteuthis lessoniana, which had been previously reported. From 17 cuttlefish, our study yielded three species, two of which matched previously reported species in GenBank. In addition, two distinct clades of Sepia pharaonis were identified. Of 35 squid collected, four species were identified, one of which did not match any other accepted species in literature, while Sepioteuthis lessoniana in the Red Sea formed a distinct clade. From 30 different specimens a total of five genera of Octopoda were present, forming six distinct species. Five Octopoda species collected did not match previously reported species, although many specimens were paralarvae or juveniles, so morphologically we could not compare to previously described species in the Red Sea. Cephalopoda fisheries in the Red Sea is low, and as their populations increase worldwide, this could be a viable fishery for Saudi Arabia. As such, further investigation into the role which cephalopods play in supporting biodiversity in the Red Sea is essential.