Thesis (M. Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1997. / Restricted until November 1998. Bibliography: leaves 172-179.

Thesis (Honors)--College of William and Mary, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-98). Also available online.

The current thesis reviews a cross-section of studies dealing with several problems of systematics of the mayfly (Ephemeroptera) family Baetidae. It is based on classic morphological characters as well as molecular-based methods in order to solve specific taxonomic problems and reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the selected taxa.

Dispersal of aquatic insects is difficult to measure with traditional direct trapping methodologies. However, genetic markers are an ideal surrogate to indirectly infer dispersal and gene flow. For this research, a portion of the cytochrome oxidase I gene was used to evaluate gene flow and dispersal of Epeorus pleuralis located in the northern Appalachian headwater streams of the Allegheny, Genesee, and Susquehanna watersheds. A total of 536 basepairs from 16 individual insects were used for analysis. Thirteen haplotypes were discovered, two of which were shared between the Allegheny and Genesee streams. Although no shared haplotypes were found in the Susquehanna, analysis of molecular variance results suggest that there is not a significant genetic difference between the three populations and attributes the majority of variation to within population differences.

This research was divided into four objectives for assessing the impacts of coal mining on ecosystem health. The first objective was to provide an ecotoxicological assessment in the upper Clinch River using standard bioassessment techniques. Analysis of sediments and interstitial water (porewater) indicate higher concentrations of trace metals in samples from sites located above both a power plant (CRP) and Dumps Creek mining influences. The furthest sampling site located near Pounding Mill, Virginia (CR-PM) had higher concentrations of aluminum (2,250.9 mg/kg), copper (5.9 mg/kg) and iron (12,322.6 mg/kg) compared to samples collected directly below the Dumps Creek confluence (site CR-2). Similar results were obtained from bioaccumulation in-situ tests with the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) in 2009. Aluminum (7.81 mg/kg), Fe (48.25 mg/kg) and Zn (7.69 mg/kg) were accumulated in higher concentrations at CR-PM site than CR-2. However, the site located below the CRP effluent discharges (CR-3L) on the left bank had substantially higher concentrations of Al (14.19 mg/kg), Cu (6.78 mg/kg), Fe (88.78 mg/kg) and Zn (7.75 mg/kg) than both CR-PM and samples collected directly opposite of this site at CR-3R. To further understand the potential impact active mining on the Clinch River, a more comprehensive ecotoxicological evaluation was conducting in the Dumps Creek subwatershed. Field bioassessments determined that biological impairment occurred directly below a deep mine discharge (CBP 001), which was characterized by a distinct hydrogen sulfide odor. Total abundance and richness of benthic macroinvertebrates decreased to 3.5-20 and 1.25-2.3, respectively at DC-1 Dn. The discharge also caused the proliferation of a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, Thiothrix nivea. During continuous discharge of the effluent, the bacteria was observed coating all surfaces at DC-1 Dn and may also contribute to an Fe-encrusted biofilm observed on in-situ clams at downstream site, DC-2 Dn. Toxicity tests with mining effluents indicate some potential toxicity of the 001 discharge, but this was variable between test organisms. Selecting the most appropriate test species for sediment and water column assays has been a primary goal for ecotoxicologists. Standard test organisms and established test guidelines exist, but US EPA recommended species may not be the most sensitive organisms to anthropogenic inputs. Therefore, Chapter Three and Four addressed the use of mayflies in routine laboratory testing. Preliminary results of toxicity tests with the mayfly, Isonychia sp. (Ephemeroptera) suggested that Isonychia were moderately sensitive to NaCl after 96-hr with an average LC50 value of 3.10 g NaCl/L. When exposed to a coal-mine processed effluent, Isonychia generated LC50 values that ranged from 13 to 39% effluent and were more sensitive to the effluent than Ceriodaphnia dubia. Based on results of the feasibility study in presented in Chapter Four, field collected organisms appear to be too unpredictable in test responses and therefore, such tests would be unreliable as stand-alone indicators of effluent toxicity. / Ph. D.

A study of the life history and secondary production of Caenis latipennis, a caenid mayfly, was conducted on Honey Creek, OK. from August 1999 through September 2000. The first instar nymph was described. Nymphs were separated into five development classes. Laboratory egg and nymph development rates, emergence, fecundity, voltinism, and secondary production were analyzed. C. latipennis eggs and nymphs take 132 and 1709 degree days to develop. C. latipennis had an extended emergence with five peaks. Females emerged, molted, mated, and oviposited in an estimated 37 minutes. Mean fecundity was 888.4 ± 291.9 eggs per individual (range 239 -1576). C. latipennis exhibited a multivoltine life cycle with four overlapping generations. Secondary production was 6,052.57 mg/m2/yr.

The life history of Isonychia sicca (Walsh) was elucidated from samples collected at Clear Creek from Oct. 1976-Jun. 1978, and Elm Fork of the Trinity River from Sept. 1977-Jun. 1978, Denton County, Texas. Adaptations for existence in an intermittent stream were of primary concern. Eggs are capable of diapausing through hot, dry summers and cold, wet or dry winters. Diapause is broken in the fall after rehydration and/or in the spring. I. sicca is usually bivoltine during a Sept.-Jul. wet period. Observations from Elm Fork indicate that emergence continues to Oct. if the stream remains permanent. Considerable overlap occurs between overwintering, spring, and summer populations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-108). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2006. / Description based on contents viewed Jan. 26, 2007; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-105).

Orientadores: Mary Anne Heidi Dolder, Frederico Falcão Salles / Texto em português e inglês / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T13:00:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Brito_PedroValedeAzevedo_D.pdf: 100648281 bytes, checksum: 084741b621bdeef83fe1e691e02ad06f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Entre as ordens de insetos alados com representantes vivos, os membros da ordem Ephemeroptera estão entre os mais antigos que existem. Suas ninfas são aquáticas e os adultos, alados, sobrevivem por pouco tempo, morrendo logo após o acasalamento. Ainda existem algumas dúvidas sobre a relação dos Ephemeroptera com os demais Pterygota, bem como algumas famílias dentro da ordem são atualmente consideradas parafiléticas. A morfologia do sistema reprodutivo masculino e dos espermatozoides dos insetos pode fornecer informações úteis para estudos filogenéticos. No entanto, tais estudos envolvendo espécies de Ephemeroptera são escassos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a morfologia do sistema reprodutivo masculino e dos espermatozoides de espécies de Ephemeroptera existentes no Brasil, analisando a variabilidade morfológica encontrada nessas espécies. No Brasil são encontradas espécies pertencentes a dez famílias de Ephemeroptera e analisamos a morfologia do sistema reprodutor masculino de seis espécies pertencentes a cinco famílias e os espermatozoides de 17 espécies pertencentes a nove famílias. Nas seis espécies a morfologia do sistema reprodutivo foi muito constante sem glândulas acessórias ou órgãos especializados no armazenamento de espermatozoides. No entanto, observamos diferentes padrões de organização da musculatura intrínseca dos ductos espermáticos, provavelmente refletindo diferenças na fisiologia reprodutiva de cada espécie. A morfologia dos espermatozoides se mostrou mais variável. As espécies da família Leptophlebiidae possuem espermatozoides aflagelados e imóveis. Nas demais famílias, os espermatozoides são flagelados e móveis. A organização do axonema se mostrou constante nas diferentes espécies com o padrão 9+9+0 típico para esses insetos. Apenas os microtúbulos acessórios mostraram variação na estrutura, podendo assumir o padrão de subunidades 13+7 ou 13+0. Os flagelos são caracterizados por apenas uma mitocôndria que se alonga por quase todo flagelo. A morfologia dos corpos acessórios dos flagelos varia entre as espécies. Parece haver correlação entre a organização das cristas mitocondriais e os corpos acessórios. A morfologia da vesícula acrossomal é variável podendo estar relacionada com diferenças na espessura do corion dos ovos. No início dos flagelos observamos o adjunto do centríolo, que acreditava-se estar ausente nos espermatozoides dos Ephemeroptera. Em uma espécie estudada o núcleo dos espermatozoides está associado paralelamente ao flagelo. Nossos resultados sugerem que os espermatozoides dos Ephemeroptera possuem variabilidade morfológica suficiente para fornecer dados para futuros estudos filogenéticos. No entanto, é preciso que mais espécies sejam estudadas aumentando a abrangência dentro do grupo. Alem disso, alguns pontos como a origem dos corpos acessórios dos espermatozoides dos Ephemeroptera precisam ser melhor estudados / Abstract: Ephemeroptera species are the oldest living winged insects. Their nymphs are aquatic and the adults are short living, dying just after mating. At the present, there are still some doubts about the phylogenetic relationships between Ephemeroptera and the other Pterygota. The morphology of the male reproductive systems and of the spermatozoa is useful to furnish data for phylogenetic studies. However, there are few studies on this subject for Ephemeroptera. This study analyzes the morphology of the male reproductive system and of the spermatozoa of Brazilian Ephemeroptera species.. Species from ten Ephemeroptera families are found in Brazil. In the present study we analyzed the male reproductive system of six species from five families. We also analyzed the sperm morphology of 17 species from nine families. The male reproductive systems analyzed were very similar in the different species, with no accessory glands or specialized organs for sperm storage. However, the intrinsic musculatures of the sperm ducts have different organization patterns, probably related to differences in the reproductive physiology of each species. Greater morphological variation was observed among the spermatozoa. Species from Leptophlebiidae family have aflagellate and immotile spermatozoa. Species from the other families have mobile and flagellate spermatozoa. The organization of the axoneme was the same in all species, with the 9+9+0 microtubule pattern, typical for this insect group. Only the accessory microtubules vary between the 13+7 and the 13+0 subunit patterns. The flagella are characterized by the presence of only one mitochondrion along the flagellum. The accessory bodies morphology may vary between the species and it seems to be correlated to the organization of the mitochondrial cristae and the accessory bodies morphology. The acrosomal vesicles have morphological variations that must be related to differences in the egg chorion thickness. A centriolar adjunct is observed at the flagellum anterior region of the spermatozoa. This structure was thought to be absent in the Ephemeroptera spermatozoa. One species studied has its nucleus laterally associated to the flagellum. Our results suggest that the spermatozoa of Ephemeroptera have enough morphological variation to furnish useful data for future phylogenetic studies. However, more species, representing different groups of the order must be studied, increasing the scope of these studies. Also some questions, such as the origin of the accessory bodies of Ephemeroptera must be further studied / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural