The south-western Cape of South Africa has a very endemic, specialized terrestrial flora and aquatic fauna. It has been argued that the high degree of endemism is related to the origin of the fauna, the multiplicity of habitats present and the harsh water chemistry characterized by low pH. The aim of this project was to look at the relationship between pH and endemism. Specifically I asked if there is a trichopteran and ephemeropteran fauna confined to the Cape and if this is true, I attempted to find out whether it is the acidic waters or its biogeographical origin that limits its distribution. I also attempted to identify a group of species that occurs at a wide range of pH values (i.e. pH insensitive) and another group that is intolerant of acidic waters. This was done by looking at historical data on species distribution and the pH ranges at which they were found, and these data then re-analysed in the light of fieldwork performed on the Breede River in the western Cape. A number of species within different genera ( e.g. Lithogloea, Leptecho and Agapetus) appears to be confined to the Cape. Their distribution is determined by both their origin and water chemistry conditions, which are characterised by low pH and pure, silt-free water. A warm stenothermal group, comprising Leptonema, Elassoneuria and Eatonica spp. is limited to the subtropical regions of South Africa, where water is alkaline. A eurythermal, pH-insensitive group that includes Castanophlebia calida, Ecnomus and Cheumatopsyche spp has a widespread distribution throughout the country. Lastly, there appears to be another eurythermal group ( e.g. Pseudopannota macu/osa, Pseudocloeon glaucum) that is intolerant of low pH values. As research is continuously discovering new species and new distribution records for old ones, it is likely that the above categories will need revision as more data are collected.

An area of endemism contains many species restricted to the area and therefore it is rich in species diversity. Consequently, an area of endemism is an area of high conservation priority. An area of endemism is always determined with reference to a bigger landscape using various algorithms and mathematical approaches. Using parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and endemism (NDM), this study analyzed distribution of 45 rare fauna -- aquatic and terrestrial salamanders and arthropods -- in karst regions of Hays county, Texas. PAE sought for the most parsimonious solutions heuristically by creating 97,216 trees. The method stored 16 best solutions from which a consensus was generated. NDM analyzed 285 potential areas of endemism. The area of endemism with highest endemicity score determined by NDM and the consensus tree generated by PAE select the identical geographic range as the best area of endemism. The two methods have many differences in the specifications of determining endemicity but have a common fundamental principle: determining geographic ranges with many species largely confined to it. The two methods select 12% of the karst region with species records as area of endemism, which has 64% of the total species, with 38-40% species being endemic to the area. / text

The Mexican tussilaginioid group consists of 13 diverse genera of sunflowers (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) distributed from the USA to Panama, with most species occurring in montane regions from Central Mexico to Guatemala. Presently, 140 species in 13 genera are recognized with many of these species considered to be endemic to threatened pine-oak forest or cloud forest ecosystems. Sixty-two species within the study group were included in a combined phylogenetic analysis of two regions of the nuclear ribosomal repeat, the internal and external transcribed spacers. Fifty-two of these taxa were analyzed in a phylogenetic framework for the first time. The results from the combined nrDNA analysis (62 species in 12 genera in the combined analysis) strongly support the monophyly of the Mexican tussilaginioid group, however, the topology and hypothesis testing using constraint models indicate that the genera Pittocaulon, Psacaliopsis, and Roldana are not monophyletic. Telanthophora s.s. is monophyletic, although this genus is nested within Roldana s.s. Endemism is abundant among the clade with over half of the species restricted to relatively small geographic areas. Moreover, most members of the group (ca. 120 species, or 87%) are present in montane regions under immense pressure from human land use practices at or above 1500 meters in Mexico and Guatemala. Two of the genera from my study group, Pippenalia and Psacaliopsis were taxonomically assessed based on their morphological characters and the nrDNA results. A single species, Psacaliopsis purpusii, remains in the genus, while Pippenalia delphinifolia, Psacaliopsis macdonaldii, and P. pudica are transferred to Psacalium. Funstonia gen. nov. is here erected a new genus encompassing a single species with two varieties. Chloroplast genomes of Arnoglossum atriplicifolium, Roldana aschenborniana, R. barba-johannis, and Telanthophora grandifolia were sequenced with next generation sequencing in order to identify regions of variation and to compare the assemblies produced via de novo and reference-based methods. The reference-based assemblies were more complete than the de novo assemblies, and therefore the former sequences were utilized for phylogenetic analyses. / text

Limestone mining in the San Franicso Mountain Range of west central Utah threatens the survival of a rare endemic species of buckwheat (Eriogonum soredium). This species is an edaphic endemic, only found growing on the outcrops of the Ordovician limestone mines in the area. Eriogonum soredium is a candidate for governmental protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). However, a common, widespread buckwheat (Eriogonum shockleyi) appears to be closely related to the narrow endemic. The genetic relatedness of the rare and and common species will greatly influence the decision of United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW)of whether or not to list the rare species for governmental protection. This study investiaged the amount of genetic divergence between the two species to facilitate the decision. I found levels of population divergence intermediate between a state of no genetic distinction, and complete genetic divergence. However, the two species fall near the genetic divergence end of the continuum. This situation is not uncommon in plants, and suggests that the two species are currently in the process of speciation. Considering their morphological differences, and the ability of the genus Eriogonum to hybridize, these two species show significant amounts of divergence. These results suggest that the continued treatment of E. soredium as distinct from E. shcokelyi is warranted. The USFW will use the results of this study to aid their decision of whether or not to list E. soredium under the ESA. Should the species be listed for protection under the ESA, limitations to the expansion of limestone mining in the San Francisco Mountain Range will be considered.

The vegetation of the Kosi Bay Coastal Forest Reserve was classified by means of Braun-Blanquet and TWINSPAN procedures. Twelve major plant communities were identified, occurring along a gradient from the inland fresh water habitats, to the beach with influences from strong winds and salt spray. Some of these communities were further divided into plant communities and sub-communities giving a total of 27 plant communities and three sub-communities. A vegetation map was compiled for the study area using Geographical Information System procedures. Veld condition was good and the grazing capacity high ranging between 2.9 and 5.6 ha/LSU (cattle). A checklist of 1 164 vascular plant species collected in the study area was compiled. The distribution of 71 plant species endemic to the Maputaland Centre of Endemism was related to plant communities. The coastal grassland communities were prioritized for conservation, as a large number of Maputaland Centre endemics are restricted to these communities. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1996. / Plant Science / MSc / Unrestricted

Plant communities that occur on edaphically heterogeneous landscapes are ideal systems for exploring questions of niche and community assembly. Species with affinity for harsh substrates often have well-defined edaphic niches and are ideal models for testing ecological and evolutionary theory. While plants on substrates such as serpentine and gypsum have received much attention, those on other harsh substrates, including on vertic clay soils, have gone unstudied. Vertic clay soils are both chemically and physically challenging to plant establishment and productivity. Plant communities associated with vertic clay soils of the San Joaquin Desert appear to have a distinctive mosaic pattern of species distribution that reflect differences in soil properties across the landscape. I conducted fieldwork and a pot study with 12 native annual plant species with an affinity for vertic clay soils to determine whether the vertic clay soils at two sites in the San Joaquin Desert were heterogeneous, whether soil heterogeneity predicted the pattern of species distributions observed, and to examine the competition effects of an invasive annual grass (Bromus madritensis) on these species. I found that the vertic clay soils at both of my sites are internally heterogeneous, that soil heterogeneity does appear to shape the patchy distribution of species at both these sites, and that these species have different realized edaphic niches. I utilized treatment soils spanning a gradient of chemical stress present at both study sites in my pot study and found that competition from B. madritensis reduces biomass for all species, and that the effect of competition differed between soil types. Further, I found that species’ edaphic niche optima shift when competition is present, and that competitive ability differed across the gradient of edaphic stress in my treatment soils.

A costa austral da América do Sul (CAAS) e o oceano Austral (OA) possuem grande variedade de habitats e estão historicamente conectados desde a abertura da passagem de Drake. A fauna marinha de ambas as regiões é altamente diversa e muitas espécies possuem distribuições geográficas contraditórias, como é o caso dos hidroides bentônicos (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). Toda essa heterogeneidade faunística atrai estudos adicionais em biogeografia, envolvendo a busca por áreas de endemismo e outros padrões de distribuição geográfica. Uma atualização do status taxonômico das espécies de hidroides bentônicos da CAAS e OA foi feito, reunindo informações sobre sua riqueza, grau de endemismo, substrato biológico e distribuição geográfica. Um total de 5.621 amostras e 359 morfoespécies de hidroides bentônicos foram levantadas para a área de estudo e checadas taxonomicamente, sendo 256 identificadas até o nível específico. Os registros de presença e ausência ao longo da área foram usados em uma análise de similaridade pelo índice de Bray-Curtis, sendo os resultados sintetizados em \"clusters\" hierárquicos e nMDS. A taxa de endemismo para ambos a CAAS e OA foi de 54%, sendo o OA responsável por 88% dos registros de espécies endêmicas. As espécies de leptotecados foram as que apresentaram maior amplitude de distribuição horizontal e vertical. A maior parte das espécies de hidroides bentônicos levantadas são substrato-generalistas. Treze assembleias ecológicas de hidroides bentônicos foram encontradas ao longo da CAAS e OA, as quais foram relacionadas com a dinâmica oceanográfica da área e comparadas com ecorregiões, realms, assembleias e áreas de endemismo previamente delimitadas para a região. As áreas de endemismo para a CAAS e OA foram hipotetizadas por meio da Análise de Endemicidade (AE) em uma otimização pelo software NDM-VNDM, com uma grade de 10° latitude X 10° longitude. Nove (F=0.5) e 10 (F=1.0) áreas consensuais de endemismo foram historicamente relacionadas com o isolamento da Antártica e comparadas com hipóteses já existentes para a CAAS e OA. Todas as áreas foram discutidas considerando-se os processos de vicariância e dispersão, e com relação ao real grau de endemicidade que elas representam. Uma PAE também foi realizada mas apenas com 61 espécies de hidroides bentônicos endêmicos da região acima de 45°S. Essa análise foi feita com o objetivo de reanalisar os dados previamente publicados por Marques & Peña Cantero (2010), inserindo um conjunto de dados complementar para a obtenção de uma melhor definição e acurácia nas áreas de endemismo delimitadas para a região. Oito áreas de endemismo foram definidas como subregiões dos padrões previamente encontrados. O uso de diferentes técnicas e conjuntos de dados biogeográficos são meios alternativos para clarear padrões gerais de áreas de endemismo e também outros padrões relacionados à comunidades ecológicas e estudos em conservação da biodiversidade / The southern South America (SSA) coast and the Southern Ocean (SO) have a high differentiation of habitats and are historically connected since the opening of the Drake Passage. The marine fauna of both regions are connected, highly diverse and many species are contradictory distributed, such as the benthic hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). All this faunistic heterogeneity calls attention for additional biogeographic investigations, involving the search for areas of endemism and other geographic distribution patterns. An update of the taxonomic status of the species of benthic hydroids from SSA and SO was carried out, gathering information about their richness, endemicity level, biological substrates and geographic distribution. A total of 5.621 samples and 359 morphospecies of benthic hydroids were surveyed for the studied area and taxonomically checked, being 256 identified up to the specific level. The records of presence-absence along the SSA and SO were used in a Bray-Curtis similarity analysis and the results were synthesized in hierarchical clusters and nMDS. The level of endemism at both the SSA and the SO is 54%, being the SO responsible for 88% of the records of endemic species. Leptothecate species had the widest horizontal and vertical distribution and most part of the benthic hydroids surveyed were considered substrate-generalists. Thirteen ecological assemblages of benthic hydroids were found along the SSA and SO and compared with the oceanographic dynamics of the area, as well as with earlier ecoregions, realms, assemblages, and areas of endemism delimited for the region. Areas of endemism were hypothesized for the SSA and SO using the Endemicity Analysis (EA) through an optimization performed by the software NDM-VNDM, with a 10° latitude X 10° longitude grid. Nine (F=0.5) and 10 (F=1.0) consensus areas of endemism were historically related with the isolation of Antarctica, and compared with previous hypotheses for the SSA and SO. All areas were discussed in the context of vicariance/dispersal processes, and concerning the real degree of endemicity that they represent. PAE was also performed but only with 61 endemic species of benthic hydroids for the region above the 45°S. This analysis was carried out with the aim to reanalyze previous data already published by Marques & Peña Cantero (2010), inserting a complementary dataset in order to obtain a better definition and accuracy in the areas of endemism delimited for the region. Eight areas of endemism were defined as subregions of the patterns previously found. The use of different techniques and biogeographic datasets are alternative strategies to clarify general patterns of areas of endemism, as well as other patterns related with ecological communities and studies in conservation biology

A costa austral da América do Sul (CAAS) e o oceano Austral (OA) possuem grande variedade de habitats e estão historicamente conectados desde a abertura da passagem de Drake. A fauna marinha de ambas as regiões é altamente diversa e muitas espécies possuem distribuições geográficas contraditórias, como é o caso dos hidroides bentônicos (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). Toda essa heterogeneidade faunística atrai estudos adicionais em biogeografia, envolvendo a busca por áreas de endemismo e outros padrões de distribuição geográfica. Uma atualização do status taxonômico das espécies de hidroides bentônicos da CAAS e OA foi feito, reunindo informações sobre sua riqueza, grau de endemismo, substrato biológico e distribuição geográfica. Um total de 5.621 amostras e 359 morfoespécies de hidroides bentônicos foram levantadas para a área de estudo e checadas taxonomicamente, sendo 256 identificadas até o nível específico. Os registros de presença e ausência ao longo da área foram usados em uma análise de similaridade pelo índice de Bray-Curtis, sendo os resultados sintetizados em \"clusters\" hierárquicos e nMDS. A taxa de endemismo para ambos a CAAS e OA foi de 54%, sendo o OA responsável por 88% dos registros de espécies endêmicas. As espécies de leptotecados foram as que apresentaram maior amplitude de distribuição horizontal e vertical. A maior parte das espécies de hidroides bentônicos levantadas são substrato-generalistas. Treze assembleias ecológicas de hidroides bentônicos foram encontradas ao longo da CAAS e OA, as quais foram relacionadas com a dinâmica oceanográfica da área e comparadas com ecorregiões, realms, assembleias e áreas de endemismo previamente delimitadas para a região. As áreas de endemismo para a CAAS e OA foram hipotetizadas por meio da Análise de Endemicidade (AE) em uma otimização pelo software NDM-VNDM, com uma grade de 10° latitude X 10° longitude. Nove (F=0.5) e 10 (F=1.0) áreas consensuais de endemismo foram historicamente relacionadas com o isolamento da Antártica e comparadas com hipóteses já existentes para a CAAS e OA. Todas as áreas foram discutidas considerando-se os processos de vicariância e dispersão, e com relação ao real grau de endemicidade que elas representam. Uma PAE também foi realizada mas apenas com 61 espécies de hidroides bentônicos endêmicos da região acima de 45°S. Essa análise foi feita com o objetivo de reanalisar os dados previamente publicados por Marques & Peña Cantero (2010), inserindo um conjunto de dados complementar para a obtenção de uma melhor definição e acurácia nas áreas de endemismo delimitadas para a região. Oito áreas de endemismo foram definidas como subregiões dos padrões previamente encontrados. O uso de diferentes técnicas e conjuntos de dados biogeográficos são meios alternativos para clarear padrões gerais de áreas de endemismo e também outros padrões relacionados à comunidades ecológicas e estudos em conservação da biodiversidade / The southern South America (SSA) coast and the Southern Ocean (SO) have a high differentiation of habitats and are historically connected since the opening of the Drake Passage. The marine fauna of both regions are connected, highly diverse and many species are contradictory distributed, such as the benthic hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). All this faunistic heterogeneity calls attention for additional biogeographic investigations, involving the search for areas of endemism and other geographic distribution patterns. An update of the taxonomic status of the species of benthic hydroids from SSA and SO was carried out, gathering information about their richness, endemicity level, biological substrates and geographic distribution. A total of 5.621 samples and 359 morphospecies of benthic hydroids were surveyed for the studied area and taxonomically checked, being 256 identified up to the specific level. The records of presence-absence along the SSA and SO were used in a Bray-Curtis similarity analysis and the results were synthesized in hierarchical clusters and nMDS. The level of endemism at both the SSA and the SO is 54%, being the SO responsible for 88% of the records of endemic species. Leptothecate species had the widest horizontal and vertical distribution and most part of the benthic hydroids surveyed were considered substrate-generalists. Thirteen ecological assemblages of benthic hydroids were found along the SSA and SO and compared with the oceanographic dynamics of the area, as well as with earlier ecoregions, realms, assemblages, and areas of endemism delimited for the region. Areas of endemism were hypothesized for the SSA and SO using the Endemicity Analysis (EA) through an optimization performed by the software NDM-VNDM, with a 10° latitude X 10° longitude grid. Nine (F=0.5) and 10 (F=1.0) consensus areas of endemism were historically related with the isolation of Antarctica, and compared with previous hypotheses for the SSA and SO. All areas were discussed in the context of vicariance/dispersal processes, and concerning the real degree of endemicity that they represent. PAE was also performed but only with 61 endemic species of benthic hydroids for the region above the 45°S. This analysis was carried out with the aim to reanalyze previous data already published by Marques & Peña Cantero (2010), inserting a complementary dataset in order to obtain a better definition and accuracy in the areas of endemism delimited for the region. Eight areas of endemism were defined as subregions of the patterns previously found. The use of different techniques and biogeographic datasets are alternative strategies to clarify general patterns of areas of endemism, as well as other patterns related with ecological communities and studies in conservation biology

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-03-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:10:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nerigarcez_r_me_sjrp.pdf: 18680819 bytes, checksum: cd2bcfe1eab91af17756fa08d68fa40c (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Padrões de distribuição de espécies de Clusiidae (Diptera, Schizophora) ao longo da Floresta Atlântica. A grande cobertura florestal conhecida como Floresta Atlântica estendia-se, até o século XIX, ao longo da costa brasileira, ocupando uma ampla faixa. Apesar do grande avanço no processo de devastação, a Floresta ainda abriga uma enorme diversidade biológica. O presente trabalho analisou a distribuição de espécies de Clusiidae (Diptera, Schizophora) ao longo da Floresta Atlântica, buscando verificar se os limites de distribuição das espécies dentro desta família são concordantes com os padrões conhecidos para outros grupos cuja presença na região Neotropical pode ser associada à tectônica de placas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram produzir mapas de distribuição de espécies de clusiídeos ao longo da Floresta Atlântica, comparar esses resultados com os dados de limites de endemismo de outros grupos de organismos e delimitar áreas de endemismo ao longo da Floresta Atlântica. A família Clusiidae possui distribuição em todos os continentes, exceto na África. Na região Neotropical, existem 10 gêneros e 363 espécies descritos. Foi utilizado material de 18 localidades, coletado com rede entomológica, armadilhas Malaise e Möericke. As áreas de endemismo foram delimitadas através do PAE (Analise de Parcimônia de Endemismo) baseado em quadrículas. Ao final, foram identificados 1.005 espécimes e foram registradas 84 espécies pertencentes a seis gêneros. Os clusiídeos apresentaram os seguintes padrões de distribuição geográfica: (1) espécies com ampla distribuição; (2) espécies com distribuição restrita à porção Norte da Floresta; (3) espécies restritas à porção Sul da Floresta; (4) endêmica de São Paulo; e (5) com limite de distribuição no Rio de Janeiro e Espírito Santo. O PAE indicou a existência... / Distributional patterns of Clusiidae species (Diptera, Schizophora) along Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The vast forest cover known as Atlantic Forest extended up widely along the Brazilian coast, until the nineteenth century. Despite its great devastation, the Forest houses a huge biological diversity. This study examined the distribution of Clusiidae species (Diptera, Schizophora) along the Atlantic Forest, aiming to verify if the limits of their distribution are consistent with the patterns known from other groups which presence in the Neotropical Region could be associated with plate tectonics. The objectives of this study were to produce maps of distribution of clusiid species along the Atlantic Forest, to compare these results with data limits of endemism of other groups of organisms and the delimitation areas of endemism along the Atlantic Forest. The Clusiidae are distributed in all continents except Africa. In the Neotropical region there are 10 genera and 363 species described. Material from 18 localities was used, collected with entomological net, Malaise and Möericke traps. The areas of endemism were delimited by PAE (Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity) based on grid. At the end, 1005 specimens were identified in 84 species belonging to six genera. The clusiids showed the following patterns of distribution: (1) species with wide distribution, (2) species with distribution restricted to the Northern portion of the Forest, (3) species restricted to the Southern portion of the Forest and (4) those with their limit of distribution at Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. The PAE resulted in three areas of endemism in the Atlantic Forest: Sergipe/Bahia, Rio de Janeiro/São Paulo and Paraná/Santa Catarina.

Orientador: Vera Cristina Silva / Banca: Charles Morphy Dias dos Santos / Banca: Silvio Shigueo Nihei / Resumo: Padrões de distribuição de espécies de Clusiidae (Diptera, Schizophora) ao longo da Floresta Atlântica. A grande cobertura florestal conhecida como Floresta Atlântica estendia-se, até o século XIX, ao longo da costa brasileira, ocupando uma ampla faixa. Apesar do grande avanço no processo de devastação, a Floresta ainda abriga uma enorme diversidade biológica. O presente trabalho analisou a distribuição de espécies de Clusiidae (Diptera, Schizophora) ao longo da Floresta Atlântica, buscando verificar se os limites de distribuição das espécies dentro desta família são concordantes com os padrões conhecidos para outros grupos cuja presença na região Neotropical pode ser associada à tectônica de placas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram produzir mapas de distribuição de espécies de clusiídeos ao longo da Floresta Atlântica, comparar esses resultados com os dados de limites de endemismo de outros grupos de organismos e delimitar áreas de endemismo ao longo da Floresta Atlântica. A família Clusiidae possui distribuição em todos os continentes, exceto na África. Na região Neotropical, existem 10 gêneros e 363 espécies descritos. Foi utilizado material de 18 localidades, coletado com rede entomológica, armadilhas Malaise e Möericke. As áreas de endemismo foram delimitadas através do PAE (Analise de Parcimônia de Endemismo) baseado em quadrículas. Ao final, foram identificados 1.005 espécimes e foram registradas 84 espécies pertencentes a seis gêneros. Os clusiídeos apresentaram os seguintes padrões de distribuição geográfica: (1) espécies com ampla distribuição; (2) espécies com distribuição restrita à porção Norte da Floresta; (3) espécies restritas à porção Sul da Floresta; (4) endêmica de São Paulo; e (5) com limite de distribuição no Rio de Janeiro e Espírito Santo. O PAE indicou a existência... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Distributional patterns of Clusiidae species (Diptera, Schizophora) along Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The vast forest cover known as Atlantic Forest extended up widely along the Brazilian coast, until the nineteenth century. Despite its great devastation, the Forest houses a huge biological diversity. This study examined the distribution of Clusiidae species (Diptera, Schizophora) along the Atlantic Forest, aiming to verify if the limits of their distribution are consistent with the patterns known from other groups which presence in the Neotropical Region could be associated with plate tectonics. The objectives of this study were to produce maps of distribution of clusiid species along the Atlantic Forest, to compare these results with data limits of endemism of other groups of organisms and the delimitation areas of endemism along the Atlantic Forest. The Clusiidae are distributed in all continents except Africa. In the Neotropical region there are 10 genera and 363 species described. Material from 18 localities was used, collected with entomological net, Malaise and Möericke traps. The areas of endemism were delimited by PAE (Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity) based on grid. At the end, 1005 specimens were identified in 84 species belonging to six genera. The clusiids showed the following patterns of distribution: (1) species with wide distribution, (2) species with distribution restricted to the Northern portion of the Forest, (3) species restricted to the Southern portion of the Forest and (4) those with their limit of distribution at Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. The PAE resulted in three areas of endemism in the Atlantic Forest: Sergipe/Bahia, Rio de Janeiro/São Paulo and Paraná/Santa Catarina. / Mestre