Understanding the history of diversification in the North American deserts has long been a goal of biogeographers and evolutionary biologists. While it seems that a consensus is forming regarding the patterns of diversification in the Nearctic deserts in vertebrate taxa, little work has been done exploring the historical biogeography of widespread invertebrate taxa. Before a robust model of geobiotic change in the North American deserts can be proposed, it needs to be determined if the same historical events affected vertebrate and invertebrate taxa in the same way. I explored the phylogeographic patterns in four groups of widespread nocturnal velvet ants using two rDNA loci, the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2). I used Bayesian phylogenetic analyses and haplotype network analyses to determine if a consistent geographic pattern exists among species and populations within each group. I also used molecular dating techniques to estimate divergence dates for each of the major phylogenetic clades. These analyses indicate that the species-level divergences in some groups occurred in the Neogene, and likely were driven by mountain building during Miocene-Pliocene times (~5 Ma) similar to the divergences in many vertebrate taxa, while species-level divergence in other groups occurred during the Pleistocene (1.8-0.1 Ma) and were likely driven by climatic oscillations and range contractions and expansion. Several recent studies have suggested that Neogene mountain-building events were more important to the development of a diverse desert-adapted biota. My research suggests, however, that both Neogene events and Pleistocene climatic changes were influential in the development of a species-rich nocturnal velvet ant fauna.

Spider wasps are solitary parasitoids that use one spider to lay a single egg. Even though their behavior seems homogeneous, the features pertaining to nesting and hunting behavior are diverse for different species. There are approximately 5,000 described species, in 120 genera, but there are probably many undescribed species. The systematics of Pompilidae has been studied in recent years, but only morphological data have been used for this purpose. Because of the morphological homogeneity of spider wasps, molecular data may prove promising for understanding the systematics of the group. Furthermore, dated molecular phylogenies calibrated with fossil data may allow studying the historical biogeography and evolution of the group. I used the nuclear molecular markers elongation factor–1 α F2 copy (EF1), long–wavelength rhodopsin (LWRh), wingless (Wg), RNA polymerase II (Pol2), the D2–D3 regions of the 28S ribosomal RNA (28S), and the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase I (COI) in a Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood framework, to reconstruct the phylogenies of four main Pompilidae groups: the subfamily Pompilinae, the tribe Aporini, the genus Psorthaspis, and the genus Drepanaporus. I also studied the fossil Pompilidae, and used those results to produce time-calibrated phylogenies of Pompilinae, Aporini, and Psorthaspis. Molecular phylogenetic results support the utility of the use of molecular markers for species delimitation and sex-associations in Pompilidae. In addition, the use of dated phylogenies supports the correlation of host use with diversification rate-shifts, the coevolution of mimicry between pompilids and velvet ants, and various biogeographical hypotheses never tested before for spider wasps.

Late Miocene, 8 to 6 million years ago (Ma), climatic changes brought about dramatic floral and faunal changes. Cooler and drier climates that prevailed in the Late Miocene led to expansion of grasslands and retreat of forests at a global scale. Palaeogeographic studies suggest a global vegetation change causing an abrupt increase in C4 plant biomass while C3 biomass decreased between 8 and 6 Ma. Subsequent cycles of cooler and drier climatic conditions during the Mid-Pliocene (3.5–3 Ma) and Pleistocene (2.8–2.5; 1.8–1.6; 1.0–0.8 Ma) also caused forests to retreat into isolated refugia which played an important role in events that led speciation and radiation of Muroid (Order Rodentia, Superfamily Muroidea) rodents. Muroid rodents are comprised of 6 families (Placanthomyidae, Spalacidae, Calomyscidae, Nesomyidae, Cricetidae, and Muridae) and make up close to one-third of named mammal species. Family Cricetidae and Muridae are especially speciose (containing ~1600 species altogether) and much of the diversity within these families arose during or after the Late Miocene. My dissertation deals with the systematics and historical biogeography of these fast-evolving groups of rodents with an emphasis on the genera Apodemus and Hybomys (Subfamily Murinae, Family Muridae), and Neodon (Subfamily Arvicolinae, Family Cricetidae). Habitat specialists such as Apodemus that occupy broadleaf forests, and Hybomys that occupy rainforests were likely isolated in forest refugia after the retreat of forests facilitating allopatric speciation. While voles in the subfamily Arvicolinae, that are associated with grasslands, expanded their range when forests retreated and speciated when grasslands retreated. In addition, field work carried out for this project in Nepal included several localities previously not sampled for small mammals. Most of Nepal is poorly surveyed and the first chapter focuses on the history of mammalogical surveys in Nepal and adds new localities for small mammal species, expanding the known range of the Nepalese endemic Himalayan wood mouse (Apodemus gurkha).

Understanding what drives variation in species diversity in space and time and limits coexistence in local communities is a main focus of community ecology and biogeography. My doctoral work aims to document patterns of ant diversity and explore the possible ecological mechanisms leading to these patterns. Elucidating the processes by which communities assemble and species coexist might help explain spatial variation in species diversity. Using a combination of manipulative experiments, broad-scale surveys, behavioral assays and phylogenetic analyses, I examine which ecological processes account for the number of species coexisting in ant communities. Ants are found in most terrestrial habitats, where they are abundant, diverse and easy to sample (Agosti et al. 2000). Hölldobler and Wilson (1990) noted that competition was the hallmark of ant ecology, and we know that ant diversity varies along environmental gradients (Kusnezov 1957). Thus ants are an ideal taxon to examine the factors shaping the structure of ecological communities and how the determinants of community structure vary in space.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A ordem Didelphimorphia, de marsupiais americanos, apresenta 19 gêneros e 96 espécies, todos membros da família Didelphidae, que é dividida em duas subfamílias, Caluromyinae e Didelphinae. A subfamília Didelphinae contém (não apenas) as tribos Didelphini e Metachirini. A tribo Didelphini compreende 15 espécies de quatro gêneros: Chironectes (1 espécie), Lutreolina (1), Didelphis (6) e Philander (7) e a tribo Metachirini é monotípica, com apenas uma espécie do gênero Metachirus. Estes cinco gêneros encontram-se distribuídos amplamente pelas Américas, desde o sul do Canadá até a região central da Argentina. O objetivo deste estudo foi buscar identificar e explicar, através de análise pan-biogeográfica, os padrões de distribuição das espécies destes cinco gêneros. Para tal, foi feito um levantamento em banco de dados, coleções científicas e artigos científicos para a obtenção de dados sobre as localidades de registro de cada espécie. Estas foram então marcadas em mapas e a partir destes, as localidades de ocorrência foram conectadas com linhas de menor distância para formação dos traços individuais. Pela sobreposição dos traços individuais chegou-se aos traços generalizados e do encontro destes, aos nós biogeográficos. Os pontos de ocorrência foram também plotados em mapas de biomas para análise. Encontramos três traços generalizados e dois nós biogeográficos, um no centro da Bolívia na província biogeográfica de Puna e outro na Argentina, na província de Misiones. Quatro espécies não participaram de nenhum dos traços generalizados, provavelmente devido à sua distribuição mais restrita (Philander deltae, P. andersoni, P. olrogi e P. mcilhennyi). Chironectes minimus e Metachirus nudicaudatus tiveram seus traços coincidentes com dois traços generalizados, o que está de acordo com suas divisões de subespécies. Identificamos os diferentes padrões existentes para o norte da América do Sul (Venezuela) já apontado por diversos autores, porém apenas quando analisadas as subespécies em separado. Alguns limites para a distribuição das espécies puderam ser identificados, como por exemplo o istmo de Tehuantepec, no México, para Chironectes minimus e Metachirus nudicaudatus e o limite da região neotropical para P. opossum e D. marsupialis. O limite de distribuição sul de Philander opossum e P. frenatus é provavelmente o rio Paraguai, que deve servir de barreira para o contato entre as duas espécies. A descaracterização dos ambientes naturais pelo desmatamento vem alterando os padrões naturais de distribuição das espécies, com o registro de espécies de áreas abertas em biomas de mata. Lutreolina crassicaudata apresenta distribuição disjunta, ocupando duas áreas de vegetação aberta, uma no noroeste e outra no centro e sudeste da América do Sul, padrão provavelmente gerado pelos períodos de retração e expansão de áreas de savana do Mioceno superior ao Holoceno, levando à captura destes enclaves de vegetação aberta, com seu isolamento por áreas de floresta. Os nós e traços generalizados aqui identificados coincidiram com os encontrados por outros autores. Apesar da pan-biogeografia poder ser usada para propor áreas de proteção ambiental, nos locais em que encontramos os nós biogeográficos já existem unidades de conservação, não havendo assim necessidade de propor novas áreas no caso desses marsupiais. Ainda existe uma grande necessidade de um melhor conhecimento da distribuição e taxonomia das espécies estudadas, o que promoveria um melhor entendimento dos padrões biogeográficos existentes / The order Didelphimorphia, family Didelphidae of American marsupials includes 19 genera and 96 species and is divided into two subfamilies, Caluromyinae and Didelphinae. The subfamily Didelphinae contains (not exclusively) the tribes Didelphini and Metachirini. The tribe Didelphini comprises 15 species of four genera: Chironectes (1 species), Lutreolina (1), Didelphis (6) and Philander (7) and Metachirini tribe is monotypic, with only one species of the genus Metachirus. These five genera are widely distributed throughout the Americas, from southern Canada to central Argentina. The aim of this study was to identify and to explain the speciess distribution patterns trough pan-biogeographic analysis. So, a survey was carried on using databases, visiting scientific collections and searching for published records to obtain data on localities were species were registered. Localities, for each separate species were marked on maps and the most close localities were connected with lines (individual tracks). The overlapping of individual tracks are the generalized tracks and the intersection of two or more generalized tracks are called nodes. Localities were also plotted on biomes maps. We found three generalized tracks and two nodes, one in the center of Bolivia in the biogeographic province of Pune and the other in Argentina, in Misiones. Four species do not participated in any generalized tracks, probably due to its restricted distribution (Philander delta, P. andersoni, P. olrogi and P. mcilhennyi). Chironectes minimus and Metachirus nudicaudatus had their tracks overlapped with two generalized tracks, which is in accordance with their known subspecies geographic distribution. In those species which are divided in subspecies, a separate analysis was carried on. Different patterns on the northern South America (Venezuela) were identified, all already pointed out by authors. Some species distribution limits were identified, such as the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Mexico for C. minimus and M. nudicaudatus and the neotropical region north limit to P. opossum and D. marsupialis. The south limit of P. opossum and P. frenatus is the Paraguay river, which seems to be a barrier. The mischaracterization of natural environments by human activities is changing the natural distribution patterns, as we can see by the occurrence of open areas species in forest biomes. Lutreolina crassicaudata presents a disjunct distribution, occupying two open vegetation areas, in northwest and center-southeast South America, probably generated by periods of contraction and expansion of savanna areas during the later Miocene to Holocene, leading to open vegetation enclaves surrounded by forests. The generalized tracks that we identified coincided with those found by other authors. Despite the pan-biogeography methodology can be used to propose protected areas, our nodes are in areas where conservation units already exist. There still is a great need for a better data of the distribution and taxonomy of these species, which would promote a better understanding of their biogeographic patterns

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A ordem Didelphimorphia, de marsupiais americanos, apresenta 19 gêneros e 96 espécies, todos membros da família Didelphidae, que é dividida em duas subfamílias, Caluromyinae e Didelphinae. A subfamília Didelphinae contém (não apenas) as tribos Didelphini e Metachirini. A tribo Didelphini compreende 15 espécies de quatro gêneros: Chironectes (1 espécie), Lutreolina (1), Didelphis (6) e Philander (7) e a tribo Metachirini é monotípica, com apenas uma espécie do gênero Metachirus. Estes cinco gêneros encontram-se distribuídos amplamente pelas Américas, desde o sul do Canadá até a região central da Argentina. O objetivo deste estudo foi buscar identificar e explicar, através de análise pan-biogeográfica, os padrões de distribuição das espécies destes cinco gêneros. Para tal, foi feito um levantamento em banco de dados, coleções científicas e artigos científicos para a obtenção de dados sobre as localidades de registro de cada espécie. Estas foram então marcadas em mapas e a partir destes, as localidades de ocorrência foram conectadas com linhas de menor distância para formação dos traços individuais. Pela sobreposição dos traços individuais chegou-se aos traços generalizados e do encontro destes, aos nós biogeográficos. Os pontos de ocorrência foram também plotados em mapas de biomas para análise. Encontramos três traços generalizados e dois nós biogeográficos, um no centro da Bolívia na província biogeográfica de Puna e outro na Argentina, na província de Misiones. Quatro espécies não participaram de nenhum dos traços generalizados, provavelmente devido à sua distribuição mais restrita (Philander deltae, P. andersoni, P. olrogi e P. mcilhennyi). Chironectes minimus e Metachirus nudicaudatus tiveram seus traços coincidentes com dois traços generalizados, o que está de acordo com suas divisões de subespécies. Identificamos os diferentes padrões existentes para o norte da América do Sul (Venezuela) já apontado por diversos autores, porém apenas quando analisadas as subespécies em separado. Alguns limites para a distribuição das espécies puderam ser identificados, como por exemplo o istmo de Tehuantepec, no México, para Chironectes minimus e Metachirus nudicaudatus e o limite da região neotropical para P. opossum e D. marsupialis. O limite de distribuição sul de Philander opossum e P. frenatus é provavelmente o rio Paraguai, que deve servir de barreira para o contato entre as duas espécies. A descaracterização dos ambientes naturais pelo desmatamento vem alterando os padrões naturais de distribuição das espécies, com o registro de espécies de áreas abertas em biomas de mata. Lutreolina crassicaudata apresenta distribuição disjunta, ocupando duas áreas de vegetação aberta, uma no noroeste e outra no centro e sudeste da América do Sul, padrão provavelmente gerado pelos períodos de retração e expansão de áreas de savana do Mioceno superior ao Holoceno, levando à captura destes enclaves de vegetação aberta, com seu isolamento por áreas de floresta. Os nós e traços generalizados aqui identificados coincidiram com os encontrados por outros autores. Apesar da pan-biogeografia poder ser usada para propor áreas de proteção ambiental, nos locais em que encontramos os nós biogeográficos já existem unidades de conservação, não havendo assim necessidade de propor novas áreas no caso desses marsupiais. Ainda existe uma grande necessidade de um melhor conhecimento da distribuição e taxonomia das espécies estudadas, o que promoveria um melhor entendimento dos padrões biogeográficos existentes / The order Didelphimorphia, family Didelphidae of American marsupials includes 19 genera and 96 species and is divided into two subfamilies, Caluromyinae and Didelphinae. The subfamily Didelphinae contains (not exclusively) the tribes Didelphini and Metachirini. The tribe Didelphini comprises 15 species of four genera: Chironectes (1 species), Lutreolina (1), Didelphis (6) and Philander (7) and Metachirini tribe is monotypic, with only one species of the genus Metachirus. These five genera are widely distributed throughout the Americas, from southern Canada to central Argentina. The aim of this study was to identify and to explain the speciess distribution patterns trough pan-biogeographic analysis. So, a survey was carried on using databases, visiting scientific collections and searching for published records to obtain data on localities were species were registered. Localities, for each separate species were marked on maps and the most close localities were connected with lines (individual tracks). The overlapping of individual tracks are the generalized tracks and the intersection of two or more generalized tracks are called nodes. Localities were also plotted on biomes maps. We found three generalized tracks and two nodes, one in the center of Bolivia in the biogeographic province of Pune and the other in Argentina, in Misiones. Four species do not participated in any generalized tracks, probably due to its restricted distribution (Philander delta, P. andersoni, P. olrogi and P. mcilhennyi). Chironectes minimus and Metachirus nudicaudatus had their tracks overlapped with two generalized tracks, which is in accordance with their known subspecies geographic distribution. In those species which are divided in subspecies, a separate analysis was carried on. Different patterns on the northern South America (Venezuela) were identified, all already pointed out by authors. Some species distribution limits were identified, such as the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Mexico for C. minimus and M. nudicaudatus and the neotropical region north limit to P. opossum and D. marsupialis. The south limit of P. opossum and P. frenatus is the Paraguay river, which seems to be a barrier. The mischaracterization of natural environments by human activities is changing the natural distribution patterns, as we can see by the occurrence of open areas species in forest biomes. Lutreolina crassicaudata presents a disjunct distribution, occupying two open vegetation areas, in northwest and center-southeast South America, probably generated by periods of contraction and expansion of savanna areas during the later Miocene to Holocene, leading to open vegetation enclaves surrounded by forests. The generalized tracks that we identified coincided with those found by other authors. Despite the pan-biogeography methodology can be used to propose protected areas, our nodes are in areas where conservation units already exist. There still is a great need for a better data of the distribution and taxonomy of these species, which would promote a better understanding of their biogeographic patterns

No description available.

Selaginellaceae, spikemosses, is a heterosporous plant family belonging to the lycophytes. With an estimated age of some 350 million years, the family is historically important as one of the oldest known groups of vascular plants. Selaginellaceae is herbaceous with a worldwide distribution. However, the majority of the ca. 750 species in the single genus Selaginella are found in the tropics and subtropics. This thesis aims at elucidating the systematics and historical biogeography of Selaginellaceae. The evolutionary relationships of the family were inferred from DNA sequence data (plastid and single-copy nuclear) of one-third of the species richness in the group. Attention was paid to cover the previously undersampled taxonomic, morphological, and geographical diversity. Morphological features were studied and mapped onto the phylogeny. The results show an overall well-supported phylogeny and even more complex morphological patterns than previously reported. Despite this, many clades can be distinguished by unique suites of morphological features. With the phylogeny as a basis, together with the thorough morphological studies, a new subgeneric classification with seven subgenera, representing strongly supported monophyletic groups, is presented for Selaginella. By mainly using gross morphological features, easily studied by the naked eye or with a hand lens, the intention is that the classification should be useful to a broader audience. During the work with species determinations, it was revealed that the correct name for an endemic Madagascan Selaginella species is S. pectinata Spring, not S. polymorpha Badré as previously proposed. The robust phylogeny of Selaginellaceae allowed for a historical biogeographical analysis of the group. A time-calibrated phylogeny, together with extant species distribution data, formed the basis. The results show pre-Pangean diversification patterns, Gondwanan vicariance, and more recent Cenozoic long-distance dispersals. The many inferred transoceanic dispersals during the last 50 million years are surprising considering Selaginella’s large megaspores that are thought to have a negative effect on dispersal. In conclusion, this thesis presents a well-founded hypothesis of the evolutionary history of Selaginellaceae including its phylogeny, morphology, and historical biogeography. The thesis forms a firm basis for further studies on Selaginellaceae in particular, and gives us a better understanding of early land plant evolution in general.

The discipline of historical biogeography seeks to understand the contribution of earth history to the generation of biodiversity. Traditionally, the study of historical biogeography has been approached by examining the distribution of a biota at or above the species level. While this approach has provided important insights into the relationship between biological diversity and earth history, a significant amount of information recorded below the species level (intraspecific variation), regarding the biogeographical history of a region, may be lost. The application of phylogeography - which considers information recorded below the species level - goes some way to addressing this problem. Patterns of intraspecific molecular variation in wide-ranging taxa can be useful for inferring biogeography, and can also be used to test competing biogeographical hypotheses (often based on the dispersal-vicariance debate). Moreover, it is argued here that phylogeographical studies have recently begun to unite these two disparate views, in the recognition that both dispersal and vicariance have played fundamental roles in the generation of biodiversity. Freshwater dependent taxa are ideal model organisms for the current field of research, as they reflect well the underlying biogeographical history of a given region, due to limited dispersal abilities - their requirement for freshwater restricts them. To this end, this study documented the phylogeographical history of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) utilising both mitochondrial (COI & 16S) and nuclear (microsatellite) markers. Samples (n = ~1000) were obtained from across most of the natural distribution of M. rosenbergii [Southern and South East (SE) Asia, New Guinea, northern Australia]. Initial phylogenetic analyses identified two highly divergent forms of this species restricted to either side of Huxley's extension of Wallace's Line; a pattern consistent with ancient vicariance across the Makassar Strait. Subsequent analyses of molecular variation within the two major clades specifically tested a number of biogeographical hypotheses, including that: 1.) a major biogeographical transition zone between the Sundaic and Indochinese biotas, located just north of the Isthmus of Kra in SE Asia, results from Neogene marine transgressions that breached the Isthmus in two locations for prolonged periods of time; 2.) Australia's Lake Carpentaria [circa 80 000 - 8 500 before present (BP)] facilitated genetic interchange among freshwater organisms during the Late Pleistocene; 3.) sea-level fluctuations during the Pleistocene constrained evolutionary diversification of M. rosenbergii within the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA); and 4.) New Guinea's Fly River changed course from its current easterly outflow to flow westwards into Lake Carpentaria during the Late Pleistocene. The results support hypotheses 1-3, but not 4. The potential for phylogeography to contribute significantly to the study of historical biogeography is also discussed.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Charles Morphy D. dos Santos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução e Diversidade, 2017. / O conhecimento da história da vida na Terra é fundamental para entender a atual distribuição dos organismos e para prevê-la no futuro. O estabelecimento de áreas de endemismo e a análise da estruturação filogenética dessas áreas são os primeiros passos para que se possa compreender a história evolutiva e as interações ecológicas entre organismo-espaço e organismo-organismo, a fim de fornecer subsídios para ações conservacionistas. A infraordem Tabanomorpha (Diptera, Brachycera), um grupo antigo, de distribuição global e pouca resolução biogeográfica, é um bom modelo de estudo para discutir a relação entre biodiversidade, padrões filogenéticos e conservação. Os objetivos desta tese foram: i) estudar aspectos biogeográficos dos grupos de Tabanomorpha, em particular identificar áreas de endemismo neotropicais e globais, e ii) estudar o índice de diversidade filogenética de Faith. Para isso, um banco de dados com registros de ocorrência de ~5.000 espécies de Tabanomorpha foi compilado. As áreas de endemismo foram delimitadas a partir de uma análise de endemicidade, utilizando o programa NDM/VNDM. Na região Neotropical, 13 áreas de endemismo foram identificadas, compreendendo cinco componentes: Norte da América do Sul (NSA), Sudeste da América do Sul (SESA), América Central (CA), Savana Brasileira (BS), Andes Central (CAn). De modo geral, estes componentes são congruentes com as propostas de regionalização mais recentes para a região Neotropical. Na análise global, 18 áreas de endemismo foram identificadas: seis áreas na região Neártica, duas na região Paleártica, as regiões Oriental, Australiana e Africana tiveram três áreas cada, e a região Neotropical apareceu como uma área única. Essas áreas foram comparadas com estudos realizados para diversos táxons, apresentando congruências e evidenciando a possibilidade de utilização dos insetos na determinação de padrões globais de endemismo. A partir dos resultados de ambas as análises de endemicidade, a família Rhagionidae foi utilizada como modelo para sugestão de um protocolo de análise de biogeografia histórica, utilizando três distintos de biogeografia cladística: (1) um método baseado em padrão (BPA), um método baseado em eventos (DIVA) e um método baseado em barreiras (SAV). O método baseado em padrão descreve o padrão geral das relações das áreas, com possíveis áreas problemáticas a serem explicadas pelo método baseado em eventos (sob interpretação de diferentes processos: vicariância, dispersão, duplicação, extinção). O método baseado em barreiras testa a história biogeográfica estabelecida pelos métodos anteriores, apontando possíveis barreiras. Essas informações biogeográficas mais amplas facilitam a incorporação subsequente da história evolutiva nas análises de diversidade. Por fim, foi realizada uma análise de diversidade filogenética da família Tabanidae nas áreas de endemismo identificadas na região Neotropical, baseada no Índice de Diversidade Filogenética de Faith. O resultado mostrou que a distribuição geral dos gêneros de tabanídeos é agrupada filogeneticamente, ou seja, constituída por gêneros estreitamente relacionados. A presente tese configura o início de um inventário de dípteros tabanomorfos em áreas neotropicais potencialmente favorável aos estudos de biogeografia da conservação por tratar explicitamente da determinação de áreas de endemismo Neotropicais baseadas na distribuição de Tabanomorpha, e avaliadas em sua diversidade filogenética em Tabanidae, a família mais abrangente da infraordem. / The knowledge of the history of life on Earth is fundamental to understand the current distribution of organisms and to predict it in the future. The establishment of areas of endemism and the analysis of the phylogenetic structure of these areas are the first steps in understanding the evolutionary history and the ecological interactions between organismspace and organism-organism, in order to provide subsidies for conservation actions. The infraorder Tabanomorpha (Diptera, Brachycera), an ancient group with a global distribution and low biogeographic resolution, is a good study model to discuss the relationship between biodiversity, phylogenetic patterns and conservation. The objectives of this PhD thesis were: i) to study biogeographical aspects of groups of Tabanomorpha, particularly identifying Neotropical and global areas of endemism, and ii) to study Faith's phylogenetic diversity index. For this purpose, a database with occurrence records of ~ 5,000 species of Tabanomorpha was compiled. The areas of endemism were delimited from an endemicity analysis of this database, using the NDM/VNDM program. In the Neotropical region, 13 areas of endemism were identified for the Neotropical region, comprising five components: Northern South America (NSA), Southeastern South America (SESA), Central America(CA), Brazilian Savannah (BS), and Central Andes (CAn). In general, those components are congruent with the most recent bioregionalization proposals of Neotropical region. In the global analysis, 18 areas of endemism were identified: six areas in Neartic region, two areas in Palearctic region, Oriental, Australian and African regions presented three areas each, and Neotropical region appeared as a single area. Those areas were compared with global studies carried out for several taxa, presenting congruencies and showing the possibility of using insects in the determination of global patterns of endemism. From the results of both analyzesof endemicity, the family Rhagionidae was used as a model to suggest a protocol for historical biogeography analyses using three distinct methods of cladistic biogeography: (1) a pattern based method (BPA), an event-based method (DIVA) and a barrier-based method (SAV). The pattern-based method depicts the general pattern of area relationships, with possible problematic areas to be explained by the event-based method (under interpretation of different processes: vicariance, dispersion, duplication, extinction). The barrier-based method tests the biogeographical history established by the previous methods, revealing possible barriers. This broader biogeographical information facilitates the subsequent incorporation of evolutionary history into diversity analyses. Finally, an analysis of the phylogenetic diversity of the family Tabanidae was carried out in the areas of endemism identified in the Neotropical region, based on Faith¿s Phylogenetic Divers ty index. The result of the analysis showed that the general distribution of the tabanid genera in the five main areas of endemism in theNeotropical region is phylogenetically clustered, that is, composed of closely related genera. The present thesis is the beginning of an inventory of dipterans of infraorder Tabanomorpha in Neotropical areas, potentially favorable to conservation biogeography studies by explicitly determining Neotropical areas of endemism based on the Tabanomorpha distribution, and evaluating their phylogenetic diversity in Tabanidae, the major family of the infraorder.