Developing a Continental Atlas of the Distribution and Trypanosomal
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BIOGEOGRAPHY of DIPTERA 9 Ashley H
SURICATA 4 (2017) 203 BIOGEOGRAPHY OF DIPTERA 9 Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs and Burgert S. Muller Introduction is central to the concept of speciation by natural selection as promulgated by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace. Biogeography entails the study of the geographic distribution of taxa and their attributes in space and time. This requires Studies of the distribution patterns of Diptera have been in- the interpretation of a suite of abiotic and biotic information fluential in biogeographical thought, e.g., Brundin (1966), de sets, if the distribution of organisms is to be understood. Many Jong (1998), Hennig (1960), Matile (1990) and Munroe (1974) factors are obvious, such as geology, topography, elevation, (Cranston 2005: 274), but probably less so than for more sed- precipitation, soil types and vegetation, but the relations to entary groups of invertebrates. More recent published diptero- palaeoclimatology, evaporation rates and proximity to the sea, logical studies have focused primarily on disjunctions between mountains and arid zones are more problematic to explain. In continental faunas, especially ancient groups exhibiting an recent years, data on palynology, palaeobotany, palaeontology, austral vicariance pattern attributable to common Gondwanan geomorphology, plate tectonics, volcanism, desertification and continental ancestry (e.g., Cranston & Edwards 1992; Krosch other climatic trends, has increased greatly. et al. 2011; Martin et al. 2003; Miranda-Esquivel & Coscarón 2003; Sæther & Ekrem 2003; Sinclair 2003) (see below). Diptera species occur in ranges governed by such biotic and abiotic environmental factors and distribution ranges are Stuckenberg (1962) published an account of palaeogenic determined by physical and climatic factors and topography, (meaning of, or relating to the Paleogene period) elements while environmental parameters also constrain distributions. -
Keeping Track of the Enemy Flight Analyses of the Host-Seeking Malaria Mosquito Anopheles Gambiae S.S
Keeping track of the enemy Flight analyses of the host-seeking malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s. Jeroen Spitzen Propositions 1. The use of infrared light illuminates the behavioural ecology of nocturnal mosquitoes. (this thesis) 2. Human odour causes prolonged and highly convoluted flight tracks and the combination with heat is crucial to induce landings of host-seeking mosquitoes. (this thesis) 3. The taboo on decreasing the global human population size should be lifted and needs to be addressed in a multifaceted approach on political and societal agendas. 4. Introduction of the ‘polluter pays’ principle will result in more environmental benefits than stimulating a growing market of organic and sustainable products. 5. Practice what you teach augments science for impact. 6. With the increase in number of PhD candidates, it becomes extremely challenging for the reviewing committee to check the originality of propositions. Propositions belonging to the thesis, entitled ‘Keeping track of the enemy: Flight analyses of the host-seeking malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s.’ Jeroen Spitzen Wageningen, 23 May 2018 Keeping track of the enemy Flight analyses of the host-seeking malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s. Jeroen Spitzen Thesis committee Promotors Prof. Dr W. Takken Personal chair at the Laboratory of Entomology Wageningen University & Research Prof. Dr M. Dicke Professor of Entomology Wageningen University & Research Other members Prof. Dr M. Naguib, Wageningen University & Research Dr F.O. Okumu, Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania Dr J.T. Bousema, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Dr M.A.H. Braks, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands This research was conducted under the auspices of the C.T. -
A Review of Wing Reduction and Loss in the Sphaeroceridae and the Evolution of Winglessness In
A review of wing reduction and loss in the Sphaeroceridae and the evolution of winglessness in the Australian species of Howickia Richards (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae). By Hailey Ashbee A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Sciences Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Hailey Ashbee, April 2019 ABSTRACT A review of wing reduction and loss in the Sphaeroceridae and the evolution of winglessness in the Australian species of Howickia Richards (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae). Hailey Ashbee Advisor: University of Guelph, 2019 Steve Marshall Flightlessness in Diptera is discussed and incidence of wing reduction and loss in the Sphaeroceridae is reviewed. The genus Howickia Richards is particularly unique among genera which display flightlessness because it contains macropterous, brachypterous and apterous species, making it ideal for the study of the evolution of winglessness. This study illustrated, documented and phylogenetically analysed 26 Australian Howickia and Howickia-like species from the University of Guelph Insect Collection. COI data from sphaerocerids around the world as well as morphological data are used to determine outgroups for a morphology-based phylogenetic analysis. Results of the molecular analysis contentiously place Howickia within the strictly New World epandrial process group. Results of the morphological phylogenetic analysis establish one large clade and seven species groups. According to the phylogenetic analysis, wing loss has evolved independently at least three times in Australian Howickia. Several synonymies are suggested for consideration in a future revision. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Stephen A. Marshall for initially inspiring me to pursue insect systematics as an undergraduate and for providing me with the opportunity to study these fascinating flies. -
The Evolution of Asymmetric Genitalia in Spiders and Insects
Biol. Rev. (2007), 82, pp. 647–698. 647 doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2007.00029.x The evolution of asymmetric genitalia in spiders and insects Bernhard A. Huber*, Bradley J. Sinclair** and Michael Schmitt Alexander Koenig Research Museum of Zoology, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany (Received 12 February 2007; revised 13 August 2007; accepted 22 August 2007) ABSTRACT Asymmetries are a pervading phenomenon in otherwise bilaterally symmetric organisms and recent studies have highlighted their potential impact on our understanding of fundamental evolutionary processes like the evolution of development and the selection for morphological novelties caused by behavioural changes. One character system that is particularly promising in this respect is animal genitalia because (1) asymmetries in genitalia have evolved many times convergently, and (2) the taxonomic literature provides a tremendous amount of comparative data on these organs. This review is an attempt to focus attention on this promising but neglected topic by summarizing what we know about insect genital asymmetries, and by contrasting this with the situation in spiders, a group in which genital asymmetries are rare. In spiders, only four independent origins of genital asymmetry are known, two in Theridiidae (Tidarren/ Echinotheridion, Asygyna) and two in Pholcidae (Metagonia, Kaliana). In insects, on the other hand, genital asymmetry is a widespread and common phenomenon. In some insect orders or superorders, genital asymmetry is in the groundplan (e.g. Dictyoptera, Embiidina, Phasmatodea), in others it has evolved multiple times convergently (e.g. Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Lepidoptera). Surprisingly, the huge but widely scattered information has not been reviewed for over 70 years.