This study aims to determine species-level relationships within the genus Heteromys, as well as generic-level relationships among members of the subfamily Heteromyinae using a phylogenetic framework. Molecular sequence data were generated from two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I) and three nuclear gene segments (β-fibrinogen, engrailed protein II, and myosin heavy chain II), and analyzed under maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian optimality criteria to infer relationships. Chapter 1 focuses on the phylogenetic and taxonomic implications for Heteromys from the analyses of sequence data. Phylogenies also provided a framework for delimiting species boundaries within the wide-ranging Heteromys desmarestianus complex using the Wiens and Penkrot method. Several well-supported clades within this complex were recovered, including H. goldmani, H. nubicolens, and H. oresterus, as well as five groups identified as candidate species. Heteromys oasicus was not found to be genetically diagnosable from H. anomalus, and was relegated to subspecific status. I present a revised taxonomy as follows: the monotypic subgenus Xylomys is maintained (H. nelsoni); the subgenus Heteromys is divided into three species groups – anomalus (H. anomalus [including H. oasicus], H. australis, and H. teleus), desmarestianus (H. desmarestianus, H. goldmani, H. nubicolens, H. oresterus, and the five candidate species), and gaumeri (H. gaumeri). Chapter 2 describes phylogenetic inferences made from analyses of heteromyine taxa, genera Heteromys and Liomys. Many studies have recovered Liomys as paraphyletic relative to Heteromys, and the goal of this chapter was to address this taxonomic problem. The Liomys pictus species group (L. irroratus, L. pictus, and L. spectabilis) was recovered as sister to Heteromys rather than to the L. salvini group (L. adspersus and L. salvini). I recommend a revised taxonomy for the subfamily as follows: the genus Heteromys is retained as delineated in Chapter 1; the genus Liomys is reduced in scope to include only L. irroratus, L. pictus, and L. spectabilis; the subgeneric name Schaeferia is elevated to generic rank and includes S. adspersus and S. salvini. This classification better reflects the phyletic diversity within the subfamily Heteromyinae, and requires fewer name changes; thus providing nomenclatural stability.

No description available.

No description available.

Plant-feeding mites represent major pests in agriculture that are of importance to crops world-wide, as large populations of mites reduce the quality and quantity of yields. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their negative effects and bio-control agents (predatory mites) remain advantages as they suppress spider mites and other plant pests. This study aims to determine species status of plant-feeding and predatory mites on plants of the family Solanaceae and to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among economically important Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Tetranychidae. The material for this study was collected through plant beating and specimens were preserved in 75% and 96% ethanol respectively and mounted in Heinz’s PVA medium on microscope slides. A survey was conducted during peak seasons to provide enough samples of pest and predatory species. Morphological analysis was performed and initial results indicate that 94% of the species identified were parasitic and 6% were predatory, which led to a predator:prey ratio of 1:17, where Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard had the highest frequency of appearance. A modified Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit extraction protocol was used and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to amplify ribosomal ITS and mitochondrial COI gene fragments. The nucleotide sequence of a 700-bp fragment for ITS was determined by direct sequencing as well as for a 700-bp and 800-bp fragments for COI. The resulting data included 4 isolates that corresponded morphologically and molecularly with Phytoseiidae and 10 with Stigmaeidae. The phylogenetic trees agreed with the morphological data. For species that lack morphological descriptions in GenBank and are not placed within expected clades, one has to accept the possibility of miss identification and highlights the need to combine morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnosis. Ultimately, Solanaceae contain various parasitic mites, but predators seem low in numbers. This could be problamatic in finding effective bio-control agents. / MSc (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Plant-feeding mites represent major pests in agriculture that are of importance to crops world-wide, as large populations of mites reduce the quality and quantity of yields. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their negative effects and bio-control agents (predatory mites) remain advantages as they suppress spider mites and other plant pests. This study aims to determine species status of plant-feeding and predatory mites on plants of the family Solanaceae and to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among economically important Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Tetranychidae. The material for this study was collected through plant beating and specimens were preserved in 75% and 96% ethanol respectively and mounted in Heinz’s PVA medium on microscope slides. A survey was conducted during peak seasons to provide enough samples of pest and predatory species. Morphological analysis was performed and initial results indicate that 94% of the species identified were parasitic and 6% were predatory, which led to a predator:prey ratio of 1:17, where Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard had the highest frequency of appearance. A modified Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit extraction protocol was used and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to amplify ribosomal ITS and mitochondrial COI gene fragments. The nucleotide sequence of a 700-bp fragment for ITS was determined by direct sequencing as well as for a 700-bp and 800-bp fragments for COI. The resulting data included 4 isolates that corresponded morphologically and molecularly with Phytoseiidae and 10 with Stigmaeidae. The phylogenetic trees agreed with the morphological data. For species that lack morphological descriptions in GenBank and are not placed within expected clades, one has to accept the possibility of miss identification and highlights the need to combine morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnosis. Ultimately, Solanaceae contain various parasitic mites, but predators seem low in numbers. This could be problamatic in finding effective bio-control agents. / MSc (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Os camarões do gênero Atya Leach, 1816 são os maiores camarões da família Atyidae, sendo que as 13 espécies reconhecidas estão distribuídas em rios e riachos das regiões tropicais e subtropicais da América (vertentes atlântica e pacífica) e oeste da África. O primeiro relato de uma Atya ocorreu no séc. XVII e, desde então, novas espécies foram descritas e descrições prévias revisadas, produzindo um histórico de instabilidade e reclassificações. Embora ao longo do séc. XX revisões taxonômicas tenham estabilizado a sistemática do gênero, a variabilidade morfológica e distribuição geográfica trans-ístmica da espécie A. innocous gerou questionamentos. Além disso, mais recentemente trabalhos de filogenia molecular da família Atyidae que incluíram representantes de Atya suscitaram questões em relação à sistemática do gênero (possível não monofilia) e de algumas espécies como A. gabonensis, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Visto que o uso de marcadores moleculares nunca foi empregado para a delimitação das espécies de Atya e que seu uso de forma complementar à morfologia poderia aperfeiçoar a sistemática do gênero, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar por meio de dados moleculares as hipóteses taxonômicas das espécies A. gabonensis, A. innocous, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Sequências dos genes mitocondriais 16S e Citocromo Oxidase I e gene nuclear Histona 3 foram geradas por meio de protocolos de extração e sequenciamento de DNA a partir do tecido de espécimes obtidos em empréstimos/doações. Potenciais espécies evidenciadas pelas análises de similaridade nucleotídicas (distâncias genéticas), compartilhamento de caracteres em um contexto evolutivo (reconstruções filogenéticas), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Poisson Tree Processes e Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence foram confrontadas com as hipóteses taxonômicas específicas atuais. A avaliação sistemática com dados moleculares aqui realizada, adicionalmente às informações morfológicas existentes na literatura sustentaram A. gabonensis como uma espécie de distribuição anfi-atlântica, mas não corroborou a hipótese de A. innocous como uma espécie trans-ístmica. Assim, o uso do nome A. innocous para as populações do Mar do Caribe e A. tenella para aquelas restritas ao Pacífico é sugerido. A espécie A. margaritacea, distribuída ao longo da costa pacífica da América foi considerada uma espécie válida e distinta de A. scabra, amplamente distribuída na vertente atlântica da América do Sul, África e Mar do Caribe. Contudo, é discutida a possibilidade de uma espécie críptica restrita no Golfo do México existir. Adicionalmente, o conhecimento existente e pertinente para futuros estudos de sistemática e taxonomia sobre os camarões do gênero Atya foram sumarizados e são apresentados. / The genus Atya Leach, 1816 shrimps are the largest of the Atyidae family, and the 13 acknowledge species are geographically distributed in rivers and stream in the tropical and subtropical regions of America (Atlantic and Pacific drainages) and West Africa. The first registry of an Atya was in the XVII century and since then new species were described and previous description revised in an eventful taxonomic historic. Although throughout the XX century taxonomic revisions stabilized the genus systematics, the morphological variability and the trans-isthmic geographic distribution of A. innocous caused questioning. Moreover, molecular phylogenetic studies that included Atya representatives raised doubt on the genus systematics (possibly non-monophyletism) and some species A. gabonensis A. margaritacea and A. scabra hypothesis. As molecular markers have never been used concerning Atya species delimitation complementary to the morphology and it could improve the genus systematics, the goal of this study was to evaluate with molecular markers the taxonomic hypothesis of the species A. gabonensis, A. innocous, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Sequences of the mitochondrial genes 16S and Cytochrome Oxidase I and nuclear gene Histone 3 were generated by means of DNA extraction and sequence protocols from specimens obtained in loans/donations. Putative species evidenced by the analysis of nucleotide similarity (genetic distances), character sharing (phylogenetic reconstitutions), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Poisson Tree Processes and Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence were compared to the prevailing taxonomic hypothesis. The systematic evaluation with the molecular data of this study, in addition with the morphological information in the literature sustain A. gabonensis as an amphi-atlantic distributed species, but do not corroborated A. innocous hypothesis as an trans-isthmian species. In this sense, the use of A. innocous stricto sensu for the Caribbeans Sea populations and A. tenella to that restricted to the pacific drainage of America is suggested. Atya margaritacea, distributed along the pacific drainage of America, is considered a valid species distinct from A. scabra, widespread distributed in the Atlantic drainage of America and Africa, besides Caribbean Sea. However, the possibility of a cryptic species in the Gulf of Mexico population is discussed. Aditionally, the relevant knowledge to future systematic and taxonomy studies about the shrimps of the genus Atya were summarized and are shown.

O Estado de São Paulo apresenta uma das mais altas taxas de infecções por vírus dengue no Mundo, mas apesar dessa situação, poucos são os estudos dirigidos às populações do mosquito Aedes aegypti. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar geneticamente e morfologicamente populações de Ae. aegypti localizadas em seis municípios (Santos, S.P., Campinas, São Carlos, Catanduva, S.J.R.P.) do Estado de São Paulo durante 2011 e 2012. Todos os marcadores biológicos indicaram estruturação populacional. Os oito loci microssatélites apontaram diferenciação genética moderada entre as populações (Fst= 0.04; p < 0,05) e os níveis de diversidade nucleotídica do gene COI (&pi; =0,0062) e do gene ND4 (&pi;=0,017) foram moderadamente altos. Duas linhagens geneticamente distintas foram encontradas no Estado. Ao longo dos meses que compreenderam o estudo, foram encontradas diferenças morfo-genéticas temporais entre as seis populações analisadas, possivelmente indicativas de microevolução. Os resultados obtidos podem ser úteis para compreendermos a dispersão deste mosquito vetor. / The State of São Paulo displays one of the highest rates of dengue infection in the world, but despite this fact, a few populational studies of Ae. aegypti have been undertaken. The aim of this study was to genetically and morphologically characterize Ae. aegypti populations from six locations in the São Paulo State (Santos, S.P., Campinas, São Carlos, Catanduva, S.J.R.P.) during 2011 and 2012. The phenetic and genetic analyses revealed that populations of Ae. aegypti are structured. Eight microsatellites loci were polymorphic and genetic differentiation among samples was moderate (Fst= 0.04; p < 0.05). Nucleotide diversities of COI (&pi; = 0.0062) and ND4 gene (&pi; = 0.017) were moderately high. Two lineages distinct genetically were found in the State. Over the months comprised by the study, we found the temporal genetics and morphologics differences among the six populations, a possibly indicative of microevolution of mosquitoes. The results of this study may be useful for understand the spread of this vector mosquitoes in the State of São Paulo.

Os camarões do gênero Atya Leach, 1816 são os maiores camarões da família Atyidae, sendo que as 13 espécies reconhecidas estão distribuídas em rios e riachos das regiões tropicais e subtropicais da América (vertentes atlântica e pacífica) e oeste da África. O primeiro relato de uma Atya ocorreu no séc. XVII e, desde então, novas espécies foram descritas e descrições prévias revisadas, produzindo um histórico de instabilidade e reclassificações. Embora ao longo do séc. XX revisões taxonômicas tenham estabilizado a sistemática do gênero, a variabilidade morfológica e distribuição geográfica trans-ístmica da espécie A. innocous gerou questionamentos. Além disso, mais recentemente trabalhos de filogenia molecular da família Atyidae que incluíram representantes de Atya suscitaram questões em relação à sistemática do gênero (possível não monofilia) e de algumas espécies como A. gabonensis, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Visto que o uso de marcadores moleculares nunca foi empregado para a delimitação das espécies de Atya e que seu uso de forma complementar à morfologia poderia aperfeiçoar a sistemática do gênero, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar por meio de dados moleculares as hipóteses taxonômicas das espécies A. gabonensis, A. innocous, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Sequências dos genes mitocondriais 16S e Citocromo Oxidase I e gene nuclear Histona 3 foram geradas por meio de protocolos de extração e sequenciamento de DNA a partir do tecido de espécimes obtidos em empréstimos/doações. Potenciais espécies evidenciadas pelas análises de similaridade nucleotídicas (distâncias genéticas), compartilhamento de caracteres em um contexto evolutivo (reconstruções filogenéticas), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Poisson Tree Processes e Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence foram confrontadas com as hipóteses taxonômicas específicas atuais. A avaliação sistemática com dados moleculares aqui realizada, adicionalmente às informações morfológicas existentes na literatura sustentaram A. gabonensis como uma espécie de distribuição anfi-atlântica, mas não corroborou a hipótese de A. innocous como uma espécie trans-ístmica. Assim, o uso do nome A. innocous para as populações do Mar do Caribe e A. tenella para aquelas restritas ao Pacífico é sugerido. A espécie A. margaritacea, distribuída ao longo da costa pacífica da América foi considerada uma espécie válida e distinta de A. scabra, amplamente distribuída na vertente atlântica da América do Sul, África e Mar do Caribe. Contudo, é discutida a possibilidade de uma espécie críptica restrita no Golfo do México existir. Adicionalmente, o conhecimento existente e pertinente para futuros estudos de sistemática e taxonomia sobre os camarões do gênero Atya foram sumarizados e são apresentados. / The genus Atya Leach, 1816 shrimps are the largest of the Atyidae family, and the 13 acknowledge species are geographically distributed in rivers and stream in the tropical and subtropical regions of America (Atlantic and Pacific drainages) and West Africa. The first registry of an Atya was in the XVII century and since then new species were described and previous description revised in an eventful taxonomic historic. Although throughout the XX century taxonomic revisions stabilized the genus systematics, the morphological variability and the trans-isthmic geographic distribution of A. innocous caused questioning. Moreover, molecular phylogenetic studies that included Atya representatives raised doubt on the genus systematics (possibly non-monophyletism) and some species A. gabonensis A. margaritacea and A. scabra hypothesis. As molecular markers have never been used concerning Atya species delimitation complementary to the morphology and it could improve the genus systematics, the goal of this study was to evaluate with molecular markers the taxonomic hypothesis of the species A. gabonensis, A. innocous, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Sequences of the mitochondrial genes 16S and Cytochrome Oxidase I and nuclear gene Histone 3 were generated by means of DNA extraction and sequence protocols from specimens obtained in loans/donations. Putative species evidenced by the analysis of nucleotide similarity (genetic distances), character sharing (phylogenetic reconstitutions), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Poisson Tree Processes and Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence were compared to the prevailing taxonomic hypothesis. The systematic evaluation with the molecular data of this study, in addition with the morphological information in the literature sustain A. gabonensis as an amphi-atlantic distributed species, but do not corroborated A. innocous hypothesis as an trans-isthmian species. In this sense, the use of A. innocous stricto sensu for the Caribbeans Sea populations and A. tenella to that restricted to the pacific drainage of America is suggested. Atya margaritacea, distributed along the pacific drainage of America, is considered a valid species distinct from A. scabra, widespread distributed in the Atlantic drainage of America and Africa, besides Caribbean Sea. However, the possibility of a cryptic species in the Gulf of Mexico population is discussed. Aditionally, the relevant knowledge to future systematic and taxonomy studies about the shrimps of the genus Atya were summarized and are shown.

<p>Sagledavanje ukupnog genetičkog i fenotipskog diverziteta i evolucionog potencijala vrste E. tenax izvr&scaron;eno je analizom jedinki poreklom sa 42 područja Evrope, Australije, Severne i Južne Amerike i laboratorijske kolonije iz &Scaron;panije. Analiza intraspecijske varijabilnosti vrste E. tenax izvr&scaron;ena je kvantifikovanjem varijacija u veličini i obliku krila 1653 jedinke i obojenosti abdomena 936 jedinki. Analiza genetičkog diverziteta na nivou polimorfizma nukleotidnih sekvenci mtDNK je izvr&scaron;ena kod 58 jedinki, dok je analiza alozimske varijabilnosti obuhvatila 821 jedinku prirodnih populacija i laboratorijske kolonije vrste E. tenax. Rezultati su ukazali da inbriding i stohastički procesi utiču na redukciju genetičkog diverziteta i da &ldquo;oslobađaju&rdquo; skrivenu genetičku varijabilnost koja je povezana sa fenotipskom diferencijacijom. Vremenska distribucija fenotipskog diverziteta vrste E. tenax je kvantifikovana analizom jedinki četiri alohrona uzorka poreklom sa lokaliteta Venac, Fru&scaron;ka gora. Mali stepen genetičke i fenotipske diferencijacije između durmitorskih uzoraka vrste E. tenax ukazuje na odsustvo prostorne substruktuiranosti i njihovu međusobnu povezanost intenzivnim protokom gena. Analiza konspecifičkih populacija vrsta E. tenax ukazala je na odsustvo jasne međupopulacione diferencijacije na osnovu parametrara krila i molekularnih markera (alozimski lokusi i COI mtDNK), te se može zaključiti da postoji intenzivan protok gena koji elimini&scaron;e razlike između populacija. Registrovan je polni dimorfizam u veličini i obliku krila i obojenosti abdomena. Uočeno je da mužjaci u proseku imaju manja i uža krila i svetlije obojene abdomene od ženki. Analizom fenotipske diferencijacije u karakterima abdomena na uzorcima vrste E. tenax sakupljenim duž geografskog gradijenta Evrope je utvrđeno odsustvo promena po tipu kline. Dobijeni rezultati omogućavaju preciznije sagledavanje intra- i interpopulacione varijabilnosti ovog takona i ukazuju da vrsta E. tenax ima visok evolucioni potencijal za adaptacije na sredinske promene</p> / <p>This paper examines molecular and phenotypic variability in the widely spread hoverfly species Eristalis tenax. We compared 42 samples from Europe, Australia North and South America, with the aim of obtaining insights into the temporal and spatial variations and sexual dimorphism in the species. Additionally, wild specimens from Spain were compared with a laboratory colony reared on artificial media. The integrative approach was based on allozyme loci, cytochrome c oxidase I mitochondrial DNA, morphometric wing parameters (shape and size) and abdominal colour patterns. Our results indicate that the fourth and eighth generations of the laboratory colony show a severe lack of genetic diversity compared to the figures observed in natural populations. Reduced genetic diversity in subsequent generations of the laboratory colony was found to be linked with phenotypic divergence. The distribution of genetic diversity at polymorphic loci indicated genetic divergence among collection dates from Fru&scaron;ka Gora Mt, and landmark-based geometric morphometrics revealed significant wing shape variation throughout the year. Phenotypic differentiation in abdominal pattern of the E. tenax populations along latitudinal gradient Europe has not been established. Consistent sexual dimorphism was observed, indicating that male specimens had lighter abdomens and smaller and narrower wings than females. It is reasonable to assume high mobility of the dronefly and high rate of gene flow reflected the similarity of genetic and phenotypic diversity of otherwise geographically distinct populations. Hence, the present study expands our knowledge of the genetic diversity and phenotypic variability of E. tenax. The quantification of such variability represents a step towards the evaluation of the adaptive potential of this species of medical and epidemiological importance.</p>

Le charançon de la carotte (Listronotus oregonensis) s’avère un ravageur important des cultures d’apiacées en Amérique du Nord. Une recrudescence des dommages a été observée ces dernières années, et ce, malgré toutes les mesures de contrôle mises en place. Cette étude visait à déterminer la structure génétique des populations du charançon de la carotte en Amérique du Nord et d’évaluer le rôle de la distance géographique et de la plante hôte sur leur niveau de différenciation génétique. La préférence olfactive envers la plante hôte sur laquelle les charançons d’une même population s’y sont développés a aussi été analysée. La caractérisation de la structure génétique de L. oregonensis s’appuyait sur la discrimination des haplotypes (ADNmt COI) et des nucléotides (SNPs) par génotypage-par-séquençage (GBS). Dix-huit populations incluant 220 individus ont été échantillonnées au Québec, en Ontario, en Nouvelle-Écosse (Canada) et en Ohio (États-Unis). L’olfactométrie examinait la réponse olfactive de trois populations du Québec (195 femelles) en fonction de quatre plantes hôtes (carotte, céleri, céleri-rave et persil). Nos résultats ont montré que la distance géographique s’avère un facteur important de différenciation génétique entre les régions échantillonnées. Les analyses de GBS identifient la Nouvelle-Écosse comme étant la région la plus différenciée de toutes les populations analysées contrairement aux analyses de l’ADNmt COI qui suggèrent une différenciation récente. La plante hôte n’entraîne pas de signature génétique distincte chez le ravageur au Québec, et les trois populations testées n’ont pas présenté de préférence marquée pour une plante hôte, hormis la population issue du champ de carotte. Ces résultats suggèrent une capacité de dispersion limitée du charançon de la carotte à travers l’Amérique du Nord. / The carrot weevil (Listronotus oregonensis) is a major pest of apiaceae crops in North America. An upsurge in damage has been observed in recent years, despite all the control measures deployed. This study aimed to determine the genetic structure of carrot weevil populations in North America and to assess the role of geographic distance and host plants on their level of genetic differentiation. The olfactory preference of carrot weevils for the host plant on which the populations were collected was also analyzed. The characterization of the genetic structure of L. oregonensis was based on the discrimination of haplotypes (COI mtDNA) and nucleotides (SNPs) by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Eighteen populations including 220 individuals were sampled in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia (Canada) and Ohio (United States). Olfactometry examined the olfactory response of three populations in Quebec (195 females) according to four host plants (carrot, celery, celeriac and parsley). Our results showed that geographic distance was an important factor in genetic differentiation between the regions sampled. GBS analyzes identify Nova Scotia as the most differentiated region of all populations, unlike COI mtDNA analyzes, which suggest recent differentiation. The host plant did not demonstrate a distinct genetic signature in Quebec, and the three populations tested did not show a marked preference for a host plant, apart from the carrot field population. Finally, these results suggest limited dispersal of the carrot weevil across North America.