New Zealand is an isolated island nation and more than 95% of its commodities are imported by ship, making New Zealand particularly vulnerable to marine bioinvasion. Its marine biota and ecosystem are unique with numerous endemic organisms, and it is a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. The objective of this study was to integrate invasive theory with phylogeographic studies on a native ascidian. This study was motivated by the introduction of an invasive ascidian, Styela clava to New Zealand. To date, S. clava’s cytochrome oxidase I (COI) data indicate limited sharing of haplotypes between the ports of Lyttelton and Auckland, and areas within Hauraki Gulf. The connectivity between these disparate sites may be a consequence either of common overseas origins via international shipping or local vectoring within New Zealand by coastal shipping. In this thesis I have examined the phylogeographic relationships among populations of an endemic ascidian, Cnemidocarpa nisiotis, to attempt to gauge the likely role that local vectoring plays in the movement of ascidians and other species among New Zealand ports. This study also provides the first population genetic information on a native New Zealand ascidian An endemic New Zealand ascidian was chosen as the study species because the use of an endemic species excludes or at least reduces the possibility of external input from overseas sites con-founding any patterns observed in the data. Furthermore, by excluding external input, the pattern of genetic diversity observed in this species might enable us to determine if local shipping pathways are homogenising C. nisiotis populations. C. nisiotis individuals were collected inside and outside of ports and marinas around Haruaki Gulf, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin harbours. Each individual were dissected and morphologically identified. Morphological identification of C. nisiotis matched type specimen (Chapter 2). However, preliminary results with COI haplotype network revealed three lineages (A, B and C) and such was the level of differences among these lineages raised the question of the possibility of a cryptic species. This 3 hypothesis was further investigated with phylogenetic analysis using both COI and 18S ribosomal DNA sequence data. Phylogeographic analysis of C. nisiotis COI molecular data demonstrated no significant population genetic structure, with a single common haplotype shared between the North and South islands (Chapter 4). Sharing of haplotypes was also evident between harbours in the South Island and within sites where population samples from inside ports, marinas, and natural habitats were not significantly different from each other. The lack of difference between the North and South Island for this species was surprising given that it was believed to have limited dispersal ability in the absence of anthropogenic movement. However, C. nisiotis displays a star-like phylogeny indicative of a selective sweep, population bottleneck or founder event followed by a population range expansion, thus the lack of difference between islands may be a consequence of too little evolutionary time having passed since the populations shared a common origin for differentiation to have occurred.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-194). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 22, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 12-17, 62-69, and 83).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 14, 2009) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Botany)) - Rhodes University, 2007.

O gênero Nezara foi revisado e foram propostas as relações de parentesco entre as espécies. É fornecida uma diagnose para o gênero e para as espécies, além de uma chave dicotômica para separação das espécies. A análise cladística incluiu 15 táxons e 34 caracteres. O cladograma foi enraizado em Carpocoris purpureipennis (DeGeer) por representar uma linhagem basal de Pentatomidae. O grupo externo ainda incluiu Aehtemenes chloris (Dallas) e Pseudoacrosternum cachani Day, grupo irmão de Nezara. Os resultados demonstraram a monofilia do gênero. Cenários biogeográficos sobre a evolução do grupo são apresentados. A regionalização no trabalho dos sistematas é apontada como uma das principais causas da fragmentação do conhecimento e da falta de propostas hierárquicas para Pentatomidae no nível de sub-familia e tribo. Em uma proposta recente a tribo Nezarini está composta por 21 gêneros, com um total de 206 espécies. Foi realizada uma análise cladística, com o objetivo de testar as relações do grupo Nezara com outros gêneros propostos para Nezarini, e com táxons empiricamente relacionados pertencentes às tribos Antestini, Bathycoeliini e Pentatomini. A análise incluiu 32 taxons terminais, sendo 17 do grupo interno, representando 13 gêneros de Nezarini. O grupo externo incluiu 15 taxons pertencentes às tribos Antestini (6 spp.), Bathycoeliini (1 sp.), Carpocorini (2 spp.), Pentatomini (5 spp.) e Thyanta perditor (unplaced). Dos 51 caracteres analisados, 11 referem-se a caracteres de cabeça, nove de tórax, cinco de abdômen, 10 de genitália de fêmea e 16 de genitália de macho. Não foi possível corroborar uma hipótese de monofilia para Nezarini. Com o objetivo de analisar os padrões de distribuição de 14 gêneros predominantemente neotropicais de Pentatomidae (Agroecus Dallas, Antiteuchus Dallas, Arocera Spinola, Brachystethus Laporte, Cataulax Spinola, Chinavia Orian, Dichelops Spinola, Pallantia Stål, Rio Kirkaldy, Thyanta Stål, Serdia Stål e grupo Evoplitus) foi aplicada uma Análise de Endemicidade (EA), com o software NDN (eNDemisM), para identificação das áreas. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com áreas previamente delimitadas. Utilizou-se um consenso flexível, com a opção de 40% de similaridade mínima de espécies endêmicas para o agrupamento das áreas inicialmente encontradas. Foram encontradas quatro áreas endêmicas para a análise baseada em quadriculas de 2,5° latitude-longitude e 17 áreas para quadrículas de 5° latitude-longitude. / Nezara Amyot & Serville is reviewed and a hypothesis of relationships among its species is proposed. Diagnosis for the genus and the included species, as well a key to separate the species are also provided. The cladistic analysis included 15 taxa and 34 characters. Cladogram was rooted in Carpocoris purpureipennis (DeGeer) which represents a basal lineage within Pentatomidae; outgroup comparision also included species of the sister-groups Aehtemenes chloris (Dallas), and Pseudoacrosternum cachani Day. The results showed Nezara as a monophyletic taxon. Biogeographical scenarios of the evolution of Nezara were discussed. A key to separate the species is also provided. The lack of robust higher classifications in Pentatomidae, using cladistics, are due to the regional work of the taxonomists. Nezarini was proposed to include 21 genera and 206 species. A cladistic analysis was performed to test the relationships of the Nezara group with other genera belonging to Nezarini, and to the tribes Antestini, Bathycoeliini and Pentatomini. The analysis included 32 terminal taxa; the ingroup comprised 17 taxa representing 13 Nezarini genera. Outgroup included 15 taxa belonging to Antestini (6 spp.), Bathycoeliini (1 sp.), Carpocorini (2 spp.), Pentatomini (5 spp.) and Thyanta perditor (unplaced). Fifty one characters were considered, 11 related to head morphology, nine of thorax, five of abdomen, 10 of female genitalia, and 16 of male genitalia. A hypothesis of Nezarini monophyly was not obtained. Distributional patterns of 14 neotropical genera of Pentatomidae (Agroecus Dallas, Antiteuchus Dallas, Arocera Spinola, Brachystethus Laporte, Cataulax Spinola, Chinavia Orian, Dichelops Spinola, Pallantia Stål, Rio Kirkaldy, Thyanta Stål, Serdia Stål, and Evoplitus group) were searched through an Endemicity Analysis (EA) with the NDM (eNDemisM) software for identification of the areas. The results were compared with areas previously set by others studies. Flexible consensus was applied, with 40% of minimum similarity of endemic species for the grouping of areas initially found. Four endemic areas for the analysis based in grids of 2,5° latitude-longitude and 17 areas in grids of 5° latitude-longitude were found.

O gênero Nezara foi revisado e foram propostas as relações de parentesco entre as espécies. É fornecida uma diagnose para o gênero e para as espécies, além de uma chave dicotômica para separação das espécies. A análise cladística incluiu 15 táxons e 34 caracteres. O cladograma foi enraizado em Carpocoris purpureipennis (DeGeer) por representar uma linhagem basal de Pentatomidae. O grupo externo ainda incluiu Aehtemenes chloris (Dallas) e Pseudoacrosternum cachani Day, grupo irmão de Nezara. Os resultados demonstraram a monofilia do gênero. Cenários biogeográficos sobre a evolução do grupo são apresentados. A regionalização no trabalho dos sistematas é apontada como uma das principais causas da fragmentação do conhecimento e da falta de propostas hierárquicas para Pentatomidae no nível de sub-familia e tribo. Em uma proposta recente a tribo Nezarini está composta por 21 gêneros, com um total de 206 espécies. Foi realizada uma análise cladística, com o objetivo de testar as relações do grupo Nezara com outros gêneros propostos para Nezarini, e com táxons empiricamente relacionados pertencentes às tribos Antestini, Bathycoeliini e Pentatomini. A análise incluiu 32 taxons terminais, sendo 17 do grupo interno, representando 13 gêneros de Nezarini. O grupo externo incluiu 15 taxons pertencentes às tribos Antestini (6 spp.), Bathycoeliini (1 sp.), Carpocorini (2 spp.), Pentatomini (5 spp.) e Thyanta perditor (unplaced). Dos 51 caracteres analisados, 11 referem-se a caracteres de cabeça, nove de tórax, cinco de abdômen, 10 de genitália de fêmea e 16 de genitália de macho. Não foi possível corroborar uma hipótese de monofilia para Nezarini. Com o objetivo de analisar os padrões de distribuição de 14 gêneros predominantemente neotropicais de Pentatomidae (Agroecus Dallas, Antiteuchus Dallas, Arocera Spinola, Brachystethus Laporte, Cataulax Spinola, Chinavia Orian, Dichelops Spinola, Pallantia Stål, Rio Kirkaldy, Thyanta Stål, Serdia Stål e grupo Evoplitus) foi aplicada uma Análise de Endemicidade (EA), com o software NDN (eNDemisM), para identificação das áreas. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com áreas previamente delimitadas. Utilizou-se um consenso flexível, com a opção de 40% de similaridade mínima de espécies endêmicas para o agrupamento das áreas inicialmente encontradas. Foram encontradas quatro áreas endêmicas para a análise baseada em quadriculas de 2,5° latitude-longitude e 17 áreas para quadrículas de 5° latitude-longitude. / Nezara Amyot & Serville is reviewed and a hypothesis of relationships among its species is proposed. Diagnosis for the genus and the included species, as well a key to separate the species are also provided. The cladistic analysis included 15 taxa and 34 characters. Cladogram was rooted in Carpocoris purpureipennis (DeGeer) which represents a basal lineage within Pentatomidae; outgroup comparision also included species of the sister-groups Aehtemenes chloris (Dallas), and Pseudoacrosternum cachani Day. The results showed Nezara as a monophyletic taxon. Biogeographical scenarios of the evolution of Nezara were discussed. A key to separate the species is also provided. The lack of robust higher classifications in Pentatomidae, using cladistics, are due to the regional work of the taxonomists. Nezarini was proposed to include 21 genera and 206 species. A cladistic analysis was performed to test the relationships of the Nezara group with other genera belonging to Nezarini, and to the tribes Antestini, Bathycoeliini and Pentatomini. The analysis included 32 terminal taxa; the ingroup comprised 17 taxa representing 13 Nezarini genera. Outgroup included 15 taxa belonging to Antestini (6 spp.), Bathycoeliini (1 sp.), Carpocorini (2 spp.), Pentatomini (5 spp.) and Thyanta perditor (unplaced). Fifty one characters were considered, 11 related to head morphology, nine of thorax, five of abdomen, 10 of female genitalia, and 16 of male genitalia. A hypothesis of Nezarini monophyly was not obtained. Distributional patterns of 14 neotropical genera of Pentatomidae (Agroecus Dallas, Antiteuchus Dallas, Arocera Spinola, Brachystethus Laporte, Cataulax Spinola, Chinavia Orian, Dichelops Spinola, Pallantia Stål, Rio Kirkaldy, Thyanta Stål, Serdia Stål, and Evoplitus group) were searched through an Endemicity Analysis (EA) with the NDM (eNDemisM) software for identification of the areas. The results were compared with areas previously set by others studies. Flexible consensus was applied, with 40% of minimum similarity of endemic species for the grouping of areas initially found. Four endemic areas for the analysis based in grids of 2,5° latitude-longitude and 17 areas in grids of 5° latitude-longitude were found.

O gênero Nezara foi revisado e foram propostas as relações de parentesco entre as espécies. É fornecida uma diagnose para o gênero e para as espécies, além de uma chave dicotômica para separação das espécies. A análise cladística incluiu 15 táxons e 34 caracteres. O cladograma foi enraizado em Carpocoris purpureipennis (DeGeer) por representar uma linhagem basal de Pentatomidae. O grupo externo ainda incluiu Aehtemenes chloris (Dallas) e Pseudoacrosternum cachani Day, grupo irmão de Nezara. Os resultados demonstraram a monofilia do gênero. Cenários biogeográficos sobre a evolução do grupo são apresentados. A regionalização no trabalho dos sistematas é apontada como uma das principais causas da fragmentação do conhecimento e da falta de propostas hierárquicas para Pentatomidae no nível de sub-familia e tribo. Em uma proposta recente a tribo Nezarini está composta por 21 gêneros, com um total de 206 espécies. Foi realizada uma análise cladística, com o objetivo de testar as relações do grupo Nezara com outros gêneros propostos para Nezarini, e com táxons empiricamente relacionados pertencentes às tribos Antestini, Bathycoeliini e Pentatomini. A análise incluiu 32 taxons terminais, sendo 17 do grupo interno, representando 13 gêneros de Nezarini. O grupo externo incluiu 15 taxons pertencentes às tribos Antestini (6 spp.), Bathycoeliini (1 sp.), Carpocorini (2 spp.), Pentatomini (5 spp.) e Thyanta perditor (unplaced). Dos 51 caracteres analisados, 11 referem-se a caracteres de cabeça, nove de tórax, cinco de abdômen, 10 de genitália de fêmea e 16 de genitália de macho. Não foi possível corroborar uma hipótese de monofilia para Nezarini. Com o objetivo de analisar os padrões de distribuição de 14 gêneros predominantemente neotropicais de Pentatomidae (Agroecus Dallas, Antiteuchus Dallas, Arocera Spinola, Brachystethus Laporte, Cataulax Spinola, Chinavia Orian, Dichelops Spinola, Pallantia Stål, Rio Kirkaldy, Thyanta Stål, Serdia Stål e grupo Evoplitus) foi aplicada uma Análise de Endemicidade (EA), com o software NDN (eNDemisM), para identificação das áreas. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com áreas previamente delimitadas. Utilizou-se um consenso flexível, com a opção de 40% de similaridade mínima de espécies endêmicas para o agrupamento das áreas inicialmente encontradas. Foram encontradas quatro áreas endêmicas para a análise baseada em quadriculas de 2,5° latitude-longitude e 17 áreas para quadrículas de 5° latitude-longitude. / Nezara Amyot & Serville is reviewed and a hypothesis of relationships among its species is proposed. Diagnosis for the genus and the included species, as well a key to separate the species are also provided. The cladistic analysis included 15 taxa and 34 characters. Cladogram was rooted in Carpocoris purpureipennis (DeGeer) which represents a basal lineage within Pentatomidae; outgroup comparision also included species of the sister-groups Aehtemenes chloris (Dallas), and Pseudoacrosternum cachani Day. The results showed Nezara as a monophyletic taxon. Biogeographical scenarios of the evolution of Nezara were discussed. A key to separate the species is also provided. The lack of robust higher classifications in Pentatomidae, using cladistics, are due to the regional work of the taxonomists. Nezarini was proposed to include 21 genera and 206 species. A cladistic analysis was performed to test the relationships of the Nezara group with other genera belonging to Nezarini, and to the tribes Antestini, Bathycoeliini and Pentatomini. The analysis included 32 terminal taxa; the ingroup comprised 17 taxa representing 13 Nezarini genera. Outgroup included 15 taxa belonging to Antestini (6 spp.), Bathycoeliini (1 sp.), Carpocorini (2 spp.), Pentatomini (5 spp.) and Thyanta perditor (unplaced). Fifty one characters were considered, 11 related to head morphology, nine of thorax, five of abdomen, 10 of female genitalia, and 16 of male genitalia. A hypothesis of Nezarini monophyly was not obtained. Distributional patterns of 14 neotropical genera of Pentatomidae (Agroecus Dallas, Antiteuchus Dallas, Arocera Spinola, Brachystethus Laporte, Cataulax Spinola, Chinavia Orian, Dichelops Spinola, Pallantia Stål, Rio Kirkaldy, Thyanta Stål, Serdia Stål, and Evoplitus group) were searched through an Endemicity Analysis (EA) with the NDM (eNDemisM) software for identification of the areas. The results were compared with areas previously set by others studies. Flexible consensus was applied, with 40% of minimum similarity of endemic species for the grouping of areas initially found. Four endemic areas for the analysis based in grids of 2,5° latitude-longitude and 17 areas in grids of 5° latitude-longitude were found.

The Fynbos biome in south-western South Africa is a global biodiversity hotspot vulnerable to climate change. Of the six Fynbos-endemic passerines, Cape Rockjumpers (hereafter Rockjumpers; Chaetops frenatus) are most vulnerable to increases in temperature, with population declines correlated with warming, and low physiological heat thresholds. Rockjumper’s preferred mountain habitat is predicted to decrease as they lack opportunity to move to cooler regions as temperatures warm. As Rockjumpers currently occupy the coldest regions of the Fynbos, I hypothesized their thermal physiology would show cold adaptation at the expense of lowered ability to cope with higher temperatures. I aimed to determine the seasonal 1) maintenance metabolism and cold tolerance, and 2) thermoregulatory responses to high temperatures of Rockjumpers. I measured seasonal maintenance metabolic rate, thermal conductance, and maximum thermogenic capacity. I also measured seasonal resting metabolic rate, evaporative water loss, evaporative cooling efficiency, and body temperature at high air temperatures. In winter, Rockjumpers had higher maximum thermogenic capacity, lower maintenance metabolic rate, and lower thermal conductance. Lower maintenance metabolic rates (and thus, lower metabolic heat production) combined with the decreased thermal conductance, confers substantial energy savings in winter. The increased winter maximum thermogenic capacity of Rockjumpers was expected, although the mean seasonal values fell below those expected for a ~ 50 g bird using a global data set, suggesting Rockjumpers are not especially cold tolerant. I further show that in summer Rockjumpers had higher elevations in resting metabolic rates, evaporative water loss, and body temperature, denoting higher rates of heat production and lower heat thresholds in summer compared to winter. My results suggest that Rockjumpers are best suited for relatively mild Krista Oswald Dissertation Chapter 1: General Introduction temperatures. While I found further support for a physiological basis for declining Rockjumper populations, further studies on other mechanisms Rockjumpers may possess to cope with climate warming (e.g. behavioural adjustments) are needed in order to truly understand their vulnerability to climate change.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Zoology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / It cannot be overemphasised that birds, which form a group of animals that are conspicuous in many habitats, occur worldwide, and are ecologically diverse and better known than any other vertebrate groups. Some species present no geographical variation while others exhibit complex geographic variation rendering them polytypic. The Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus (Gmelin, 1788) is a polymorphic and highly vocal resident species endemic to Southern Africa. It overlaps with the Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus in the extreme north of South Africa. The taxonomic circumscription presents six subspecies of L. ferrugineus which vary in size and plumage colourations. Although L. ferrugineus is of least concern (LC), its wide distribution range calls for its precise taxonomic delineation and our knowledge of its genetic structure hence the need to investigate the status and level of morphological, genetic and vocal differentiation in this species complex. Morphological, genetic and song variation were analysed from museum study skins, DNA sequences spanning one coding mitochondrial gene and three noncoding nuclear introns generated from modern and ancient samples and songs from various sound libraries respectively. While morphometric analyses and Bayesian phylogenetic inference recovered two major lineages in L. ferrugineus: 1) L. f. ferrugineus / L. f. pondoensis / L. f. natalensis (southern clade) and 2) L. f. transvaalensis / L. f. tongensis / L. f. savensis (northern clade), L. f. transvaalensis overlapped between the two lineages in MDS and Box and whisker plots. The 95% parsimony ATP6 network similarly revealed two distinct lineages with the population demographic histories of the two clades showing expansion. The divergence between the two lineages occurred approximately 1.5 million years ago during the Pleistocene epoch. Laniarius ferrugineus pondoensis is the most distinctly dark morph. The moist habitat of L. f. pondoensis could be having an effect on plumage while there is no genetic basis for the difference in plumage colouration. Almost all L. ferrugineus subspecies render a tonal song duet made up of ‘bou’ and ‘whistle’ elements with the significant difference being observed in maximum peak frequency. Laniarius ferrugineus (Gmelin, 1788) should at best be split into two species, one representing members of the southern clade to be named Laniarius ferrugineus (Gmelin, 1788) and another species representing members of the northern clade iv named Laniarius transvaalensis Roberts, 1922 based on the Principle of Priority. The current study expanded our knowledge base as far as ornithology is concerned and shed light on the phylogeographic patterns of the Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus (Gmelin, 1788). The findings significantly contributed to our understanding of the evolutionary processes governing the geographical variation in Laniarius ferrugineus complex and the findings could possibly be extrapolated to other species. It was critical that the taxonomic affinities of L. ferrugineus were investigated due to its extensive distribution range for better management and conservation. Future work should further unravel the less differentiation within the south and north lineages with additional songs being analysed to understand the song pattern across the range. / National Research Foundation (NRF)