DOCSLIB.ORG

A Nondichotomous Key to Protist Species Identification of Reticulitermes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Nondichotomous Key to Protist Species Identification of Reticulitermes SYSTEMATICS A Nondichotomous Key to Protist Species Identification of Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) 1 J. L. LEWIS AND B. T. FORSCHLER Department of Entomology, 413 Biological Sciences Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 99(6): 1028Ð1033 (2006) ABSTRACT A key was developed using morphological and behavioral characters to identify nine genera and 13 species of protists found in the hindgut of three Reticulitermes speciesÑ Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), and Reticulitermes hageni BanksÑby using the online IDnature guides by Discover Life. There are seven characters and 13 taxa, each attached to species descriptions, digital stills, or movies to aid in protist species identiÞcation. We chose characters for protist species identiÞcation that were easy to observe with live samples and a light microscope at 400ϫ magniÞcation. All 11 protists from R. flavipes and nine each in R. virginicus and R. hageni were recognized using original and revised species descriptions. This was the Þrst report of the protist genera Trichomitus from both R. virginicus and R. hageni. KEY WORDS symbiotic protists, termite identiÞcation, anaerobic protists identiÞcation, Parabasa- lia, Oxymonadida The anaerobic symbiotic protist orders found in the (workers have Ϸ57 Ϯ 11%), because it is not found in hindgut of lower termites (Isoptera) include Tricho- R. virginicus and R. hageni (Lewis and Forschler monadida Kirby, Oxymonadida Grasse´, and Hyper- 2004b). Trichonympha agilis Leidy (1877) is Ϸ19 Ϯ 5% mastigida Grassi & Foa` (Yamin 1979). None of these of the protist population in R. virginicus compared protist species are found outside of the insect host with 4 Ϯ 3% in R. flavipes and 7 Ϯ 5% in R. hageni (Kirby 1941, Margulis et al. 1986), and their identiÞ- (Lewis and Forschler 2004b). Dinenympha fimbriata cation has relied on two established techniques, high- Kirby (1924) is Ϸ27 Ϯ 9% of the protist population in deÞnition microscopy of Þxed cells and light micros- R. hageni compared with 11 Ϯ 7% in R. flavipes and 2 Ϯ copy of living cells (Inoue et al. 2000). Although 2% in R. virginicus (Lewis and Forschler 2004b). molecular techniques can identify protist species, ver- There are generic keys to termite protists (Calkins iÞcation still requires correct morphological identiÞ- 1926, Lee et al. 1985), but they do not provide species- cation (Kudo et al. 1998; Ohkuma et al. 1999, 2000). level determinations. Here, we describe an approach Examining Þxed cells by using high-deÞnition micros- to identify termite hindgut protists from R. flavipes, copy is time-consuming and often requires a specialist R. virginicus, and R. hageni by using a nondichotomous to identify distinguishing characteristics. In contrast, key with morphological and behavioral characters eas- observing live cells simpliÞes species identiÞcation ily observed with a light microscope by using the and study of the protist community (Kirby 1932, Lewis online IDnature guides by Discover Life (Lewis and and Forschler 2004a). Forschler 2006) and a revision to and consolidation of Three Reticulitermes Holmgren (Rhinotermitidae) Koidzumi (1921) and Kudo (1966). termite species have been described in the southeast- ern United States: Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Materials and Methods Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), and Reticulitermes hageni Banks (Weesner 1970, Nutting 1990). Eleven We referred to all original and revised protist spe- protists are recognized from R. flavipes, eight in cies descriptions (Leidy 1877, 1881; Grassi 1879, 1892, R. virginicus, and eight in R. hageni (Yamin 1979, Lewis 1917; Koidzumi 1916, 1917; Dubosq and Grasse´ 1924, and Forschler 2004b). It was proposed, although not 1928; Kirby 1924, Powell 1928, Brown 1930a,b, 1931; widely accepted, that the termite protist community Boykin et al. 1986; Lewis and Forschler 2004b) fol- can substitute for termite species identiÞcation lowing the terminology of Koidzumi (1921) and Kudo (Brown 1930a, Kirby 1937, Dropkin 1944, Cook 1996, (1966) for distinguishing characters (Figs. 1Ð3; Ap- Lewis and Forschler 2004b). The presence of Dine- pendix 1). These characters include termite host, pro- nympha gracilis Leidy (1877) distinguishes R. flavipes tist cell size and shape, number and placement of ßagella, axostyle, and indicator protist species used in 1 Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]. termite identiÞcation. 0013-8746/06/1028Ð1033$04.00/0 ᭧ 2006 Entomological Society of America November 2006 LEWIS AND FORSCHLER:IDENTIFICATION OF TERMITE PROTISTS 1029 Fig. 1. Protist species in R. flavipes. (a) Dinenympha fimbriata Kirby 1924. (b) Dinenympha gracilis Leidy 1877. (c) Spirotrichonympha flagellata (Grassi 1892). (d) Trichonympha agilis Leidy 1877. (e) Trichomitus trypanoides (Dubosq and Grasse´ 1924). (f) Microjoenia fallax (Dubosq and Grasse´ 1928). (g) Spironympha kofoidi Koidzumi 1917. (h) Monocercomonas sp. Grassi 1879. (i) Holomastigotes elongatum Grassi 1892. (j) Pyrsonympha vertens Leidy 1877. (k) Pyrsonympha major Powell 1928. Scale bar ϭ 10 ␮m (photos taken using a Leica microscope at 400ϫ magniÞcation and images acquired using an AxioCam digital camera). Termites were collected from different established CoolPix 995 digital camera equipped with 4ϫ digital Þeld sites and laboratory colonies from Georgia, USA. zoom. Collections were made in Clarke, Lamar, McIntosh, Spalding, and Union counties as presented by Lewis and Forschler (2004b). Termite species were identi- Results Þed using dichotomous keys to both the soldier and We identiÞed nine genera and 13 species of pro- alate castes (Scheffrahn and Su 1994). Termites col- tists found in the hindgut of R. flavipes, R. virginicus, lected from Þeld sites were sampled for protists within and R. hageni (Figs. 1Ð3; Appendix 1; Lewis and 72 h. Laboratory cultures were sampled at various Forschler 2006). All 11 protist species previously de- times after collection and maintained as described scribed from R. flavipes were observed (Yamin 1979, previously (Grube and Forschler 2004). Voucher Lewis and Forschler 2004b). These species included specimens from each termite collection were pre- Dinenympha fimbriata, D. gracilis, Holomastigotes served in 100% ethanol and deposited at the House- elongatum Grassi (1892), Microjoenia fallax (Dubosq hold and Structural Entomology Laboratory at the and Grasse´ 1928), Monocercomonas sp. Grassi (1879), University of Georgia (Athens, GA). Pyrsonympha major Powell (1928), P. vertens Leidy The termite hindgut was removed using forceps to (1877), Spironympha kofoidi Koidzumi (1917), Spiro- pull the last two abdominal segments away from the trichonympha flagellata (Grassi 1892), Trichomitus rest of the termite and placed in a saline solution as trypanoides (Dubosq and Grasse´ 1924), and Tricho- described by Lewis and Forschler (2004a). The nympha agilis (Fig. 1; Lewis and Forschler 2006). worker caste was chosen because this caste has all Other than being in a separate termite species, we representatives of the protist community for each could not distinguish P. major from P. minor. termite species (Dropkin 1944, Mannesmann 1972, We identiÞed nine protist species from R. virginicus: Lewis and Forschler 2004b). Protists were observed D. fimbriata, H. elongatum, M. fallax, Monocercomonas with a Leica compound microscope at 400ϫ magniÞ- sp., P. minor Powell (1928), S. kofoidi, S. flagellata, cation. Digital stills were acquired with an AxioCam T. trypanoides, and T. agilis (Fig. 2; Lewis and Forsch- digital camera, with all scale bars equal to 10 ␮m. All ler 2006). Nine protists were identiÞed from R. hageni, movies were taken at 400ϫ magniÞcation with a Nikon including: D. fimbriata, H. elongatum, Microjoenia 1030 ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Vol. 99, no. 6 Fig. 2. Protist species in R. virginicus. (a) Trichonympha agilis Leidy 1877. (b) Spironympha kofoidi Koidzumi 1917. (c) Spirotrichonympha flagellata (Grassi 1892). (d) Holomastigotes elongatum Grassi 1892. (e) Microjoenia fallax (Dubosq and Grasse´ 1928). (f) Trichomitus trypanoides (Dubosq and Grasse´ 1924). (g) Pyrsonympha minor Powell 1928. (h) Dinenympha fimbriata Kirby 1924. (i) Monocercomonas sp. Grassi 1879. Scale bar ϭ 10 ␮m (photos taken using a Leica microscope at 400ϫ magniÞcation and images acquired using an AxioCam digital camera). pyriformis Brown (1930), Monocercomonas sp., number of ßagella, site of ßagellar attachment, and P. minor, S. kofoidi, S. flagellata, T. trypanoides, and the presence of an axostyle (Koidzumi 1921, Honig- T. agilis (Fig. 3; Lewis and Forschler 2006). This is berg 1963, Kudo 1966). Preserving protist cells is the Þrst report of T. trypanoides in R. hageni and R. difÞcult because different stains are needed for virginicus. some distinctive organelles; thus, several slide prep- We were able to identify termite protists from arations are often needed, and Þnding the same R. flavipes, R. virginicus, and R. hageni by using protist species on each slide is time-consuming. Pre- the following characters: termite host, cell size and paring a fresh slide mount allows for correct species shape, number and placement of ßagella, and axo- identiÞcation by observing protist movement pat- style (Figs. 1Ð3; Appendix 1; Lewis and Forschler terns, which simpliÞes distinguishing similar spe- 2006). cies, especially hard-to-observe organelles, such as axostyle, ßagellum number, and placement of ßagella. Discussion This is the Þrst termite protist key to consolidate We were able
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Isoptera) in New Guinea 55 Doi: 10.3897/Zookeys.148.1826 Research Article Launched to Accelerate Biodiversity Research
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 148: 55–103Revision (2011) of the termite family Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) in New Guinea 55 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.148.1826 RESEARCH ARTICLE www.zookeys.org Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Revision of the termite family Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) in New Guinea Thomas Bourguignon1,2,†, Yves Roisin1,‡ 1 Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, CP 160/12, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium 2 Present address: Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido Uni- versity, Sapporo 060–0810, Japan † urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:E269AB62-AC42-4CE9-8E8B-198459078781 ‡ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:73DD15F4-6D52-43CD-8E1A-08AB8DDB15FC Corresponding author: Yves Roisin ([email protected]) Academic editor: M. Engel | Received 19 July 2011 | Accepted 28 September 2011 | Published 21 November 2011 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:27B381D6-96F5-482D-B82C-2DFA98DA6814 Citation: Bourguignon T, Roisin Y (2011) Revision of the termite family Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) in New Guinea. In: Engel MS (Ed) Contributions Celebrating Kumar Krishna. ZooKeys 148: 55–103. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.148.1826 Abstract Recently, we completed a revision of the Termitidae from New Guinea and neighboring islands, record- ing a total of 45 species. Here, we revise a second family, the Rhinotermitidae, to progress towards a full picture of the termite diversity in New Guinea. Altogether, 6 genera and 15 species are recorded, among which two species, Coptotermes gambrinus and Parrhinotermes barbatus, are new to science. The genus Heterotermes is reported from New Guinea for the first time, with two species restricted to the southern part of the island.
    [Show full text]
  • Feeding and Foraging Behaviors of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae)
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1989 Feeding and Foraging Behaviors of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae). Keith Scott elD aplane Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Delaplane, Keith Scott, "Feeding and Foraging Behaviors of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae)." (1989). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 4838. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/4838 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely afreet reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution and Population Dynamics of the Asian Cockroach
    DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE ASIAN COCKROACH (BLATTELLA ASAHINIA MIZUKUBO) IN SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this thesis is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This thesis does not include proprietary or classified information. ___________________________________ Edward Todd Snoddy Certificate of Approval: ___________________________ ___________________________ Micky D. Eubanks Arthur G. Appel, Chair Associate Professor Professor Entomology and Plant Pathology Entomology and Plant Pathology ___________________________ ___________________________ Xing Ping Hu George T. Flowers Associate Professor Interim Dean Entomology and Plant Pathology Graduate School DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE ASIAN COCKROACH (BLATTELLA ASAHINIA MIZUKUBO) IN SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA Edward Todd Snoddy A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama May 10, 2007 DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE ASIAN COCKROACH (BLATTELLA ASAHINIA MIZUKUBO) IN SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA Edward Todd Snoddy Permission is granted to Auburn University to make copies of this thesis at its discretion, upon request of individuals or institutions and at their expense. The author reserves all publication rights. _______________________ Signature of Author _______________________ Date of Graduation iii VITA Edward Todd Snoddy was born in Auburn, Alabama on February 28, 1964 to Dr. Edward Lewis Snoddy and Lucy Mae Snoddy. He graduated Sheffield High School, Sheffield, Alabama in 1981. He attended Alexander Junior College from 1981 to 1983 at which time he transferred to Auburn University. He married Tracy Smith of Uchee, Alabama in 1984.
    [Show full text]
  • Isoptera Book Chapter
    Isoptera 535 See Also the Following Articles Biodiversity ■ Biogeographical Patterns ■ Cave Insects ■ Introduced Insects Further Reading Carlquist , S. ( 1974 ) . “ Island Biology . ” Columbia University Press , New York and London . Gillespie , R. G. , and Roderick , G. K. ( 2002 ) . Arthropods on islands: Colonization, speciation, and conservation . Annu. Rev. Entomol. 47 , 595 – 632 . Gillespie , R. G. , and Clague , D. A. (eds.) (2009 ) . “ Encyclopedia of Islands. ” University of California Press , Berkeley, CA . Howarth , F. G. , and Mull , W. P. ( 1992 ) . “ Hawaiian Insects and Their Kin . ” University of Hawaii Press , Honolulu, HI . MacArthur , R. H. , and Wilson , E. O. ( 1967 ) . “ The Theory of Island Biogeography . ” Princeton University Press , Princeton, NJ . Wagner , W. L. , and Funk , V. (eds.) ( 1995 ) . “ Hawaiian Biogeography Evolution on a Hot Spot Archipelago. ” Smithsonian Institution Press , Washington, DC . Whittaker , R. J. , and Fern á ndez-Palacios , J. M. ( 2007 ) . “ Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation , ” 2nd ed. Oxford University Press , Oxford, U.K . I Isoptera (Termites) Vernard R. Lewis FIGURE 1 Castes for Isoptera. A lower termite group, University of California, Berkeley Reticulitermes, is represented. A large queen is depicted in the center. A king is to the left of the queen. A worker and soldier are he ordinal name Isoptera is of Greek origin and refers to below. (Adapted, with permission from Aventis Environmental the two pairs of straight and very similar wings that termites Science, from The Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, 1997.) Thave as reproductive adults. Termites are small and white to tan or sometimes black. They are sometimes called “ white ants ” and can be confused with true ants (Hymenoptera).
    [Show full text]
  • Termite Biology and Research Techniques
    Termite Biology and Control 2017 ENY 4221 / ENY 6248 2 credit hours Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center University of Florida 3205 College Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314 Dates: Registration Deadline is Friday May 5, 2017 for Summer C Lectures and Laboratory Activities June 19-23, 2017 in FLREC Teaching Lab Rm 121 Exam and Term Papers due Friday July 28, 2017 Instructors: Dr. Rudolf Scheffrahn (954) 577-6312 [email protected] Dr. Nan-Yao Su (954) 577-6339 [email protected] Dr. William Kern, Jr. (954) 577-6329 [email protected] Dr. Thomas Chouvenc (954) 577-6320 [email protected] Teaching Assistant: Aaron Mullins (954) 577-6395 [email protected] Course Objectives: • Students will learn about the natural history, ecology, behavior, and distribution of all seven major termite families. • Students will be able to recognize three major termite families and 16 important genera. • Six primary invasive pest species must be recognized to species. • Students will produce a reference collection of termites for their future use. • Student will learn and gain field experience in a range of techniques for the collection and control of subterranean and drywood termites. Topics to be covered Monday 8:00 Introduction to the Isoptera Anatomy and Terminology – Chouvenc Higher Taxonomy - Scheffrahn Evolution – Chouvenc Ecological Significance – Su/Scheffrahn 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Biology and ecology of Kalotermitidae – Scheffrahn 2:00 Biology and ecology of Rhinotermitidae – Chouvenc 3:00 Principles of IPM and the Use of Bait and Alternative Technologies for Control of Subterranean Termites – Mullins 4:00 Biology and ecology of Termitidae - Scheffrahn 5:00 Biology and ecology of “minor” families (Hodotermitidae, Serritermitidae, Mastotermitidae, Termopsidae) – Scheffrahn 5:30 Welcome Dinner Tuesday 8:00 – 12:00 Termite collection field trip to FLL property or Secret Woods Park – Scheffrahn/Kern 1:00 – 5:00 ID Laboratories (Rm 205) Scheffrahn Identification of Important Rhinotermitidae Laboratory: Coptotermes, Heterotermes, and Reticulitermes, Prorhinotermes.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of the Chemical Defense Fluids of Macrotermes Carbonarius
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Evaluation of the chemical defense fuids of Macrotermes carbonarius and Globitermes sulphureus as possible household repellents and insecticides S. Appalasamy1,2*, M. H. Alia Diyana2, N. Arumugam2 & J. G. Boon3 The use of chemical insecticides has had many adverse efects. This study reports a novel perspective on the application of insect-based compounds to repel and eradicate other insects in a controlled environment. In this work, defense fuid was shown to be a repellent and insecticide against termites and cockroaches and was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC– MS). Globitermes sulphureus extract at 20 mg/ml showed the highest repellency for seven days against Macrotermes gilvus and for thirty days against Periplaneta americana. In terms of toxicity, G. sulphureus extract had a low LC50 compared to M. carbonarius extract against M. gilvus. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the M. carbonarius extract indicated the presence of six insecticidal and two repellent compounds in the extract, whereas the G. sulphureus extract contained fve insecticidal and three repellent compounds. The most obvious fnding was that G. sulphureus defense fuid had higher potential as a natural repellent and termiticide than the M. carbonarius extract. Both defense fuids can play a role as alternatives in the search for new, sustainable, natural repellents and termiticides. Our results demonstrate the potential use of termite defense fuid for pest management, providing repellent and insecticidal activities comparable to those of other green repellent and termiticidal commercial products. A termite infestation could be silent, but termites are known as destructive urban pests that cause structural damage by infesting wooden and timber structures, leading to economic loss.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomy, Biogeography, and Notes on Termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae) of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands
    SYSTEMATICS Taxonomy, Biogeography, and Notes on Termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae) of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands RUDOLF H. SCHEFFRAHN,1 JAN KRˇ ECˇ EK,1 JAMES A. CHASE,2 BOUDANATH MAHARAJH,1 3 AND JOHN R. MANGOLD Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 99(3): 463Ð486 (2006) ABSTRACT Termite surveys of 33 islands of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (BATC) archipelago yielded 3,533 colony samples from 593 sites. Twenty-seven species from three families and 12 genera were recorded as follows: Cryptotermes brevis (Walker), Cr. cavifrons Banks, Cr. cymatofrons Schef- Downloaded from frahn and Krˇecˇek, Cr. bracketti n. sp., Incisitermes bequaerti (Snyder), I. incisus (Silvestri), I. milleri (Emerson), I. rhyzophorae Herna´ndez, I. schwarzi (Banks), I. snyderi (Light), Neotermes castaneus (Burmeister), Ne. jouteli (Banks), Ne. luykxi Nickle and Collins, Ne. mona Banks, Procryptotermes corniceps (Snyder), and Pr. hesperus Scheffrahn and Krˇecˇek (Kalotermitidae); Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann, Heterotermes cardini (Snyder), H. sp., Prorhinotermes simplex Hagen, and Reticulitermes flavipes Koller (Rhinotermitidae); and Anoplotermes bahamensis n. sp., A. inopinatus n. sp., Nasuti- termes corniger (Motschulsky), Na. rippertii Rambur, Parvitermes brooksi (Snyder), and Termes http://aesa.oxfordjournals.org/ hispaniolae Banks (Termitidae). Of these species, three species are known only from the Bahamas, whereas 22 have larger regional indigenous ranges that include Cuba, Florida, or Hispaniola and beyond. Recent exotic immigrations for two of the regional indigenous species cannot be excluded. Three species are nonindigenous pests of known recent immigration. IdentiÞcation keys based on the soldier (or soldierless worker) and the winged imago are provided along with species distributions by island. Cr. bracketti, known only from San Salvador Island, Bahamas, is described from the soldier and imago.
    [Show full text]
  • Blattabacterium Genome: Structure, Function, and Evolution Austin Alleman
    University of Texas at Tyler Scholar Works at UT Tyler Biology Theses Biology Spring 6-5-2014 Blattabacterium Genome: Structure, Function, and Evolution Austin Alleman Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uttyler.edu/biology_grad Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Alleman, Austin, "Blattabacterium Genome: Structure, Function, and Evolution" (2014). Biology Theses. Paper 20. http://hdl.handle.net/10950/215 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Biology at Scholar Works at UT Tyler. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology Theses by an authorized administrator of Scholar Works at UT Tyler. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BLATTABACTERIUM GENOME: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND EVOLUTION by AUSTIN ALLEMAN A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Biology Srini Kambhampati, Ph. D., Committee Chair College of Arts and Sciences The University of Texas at Tyler May 2014 © Copyright by Austin Alleman 2014 All rights reserved Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Sam A. Lindsey Endowment, without whose support this research would not have been possible. I would also like to thank my research advisor, Dr. Srini Kambhampati, for his knowledge, insight, and patience; and my committee, Dr. John S. Placyk, Jr. and Dr. Blake Bextine, for their assistance and feedback. “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” --Albert Einstein Table of Contents Chapter
    [Show full text]
  • Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve
    Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve Arthropods are characterized by having jointed limbs and exoskeletons. They include a diverse assortment of creatures: Insects, spiders, crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, pill bugs), centipedes and millipedes among others. Column Headings Scientific Name: The phenomenal diversity of arthropods, creates numerous difficulties in the determination of species. Positive identification is often achieved only by specialists using obscure monographs to ‘key out’ a species by examining microscopic differences in anatomy. For our purposes in this survey of the fauna, classification at a lower level of resolution still yields valuable information. For instance, knowing that ant lions belong to the Family, Myrmeleontidae, allows us to quickly look them up on the Internet and be confident we are not being fooled by a common name that may also apply to some other, unrelated something. With the Family name firmly in hand, we may explore the natural history of ant lions without needing to know exactly which species we are viewing. In some instances identification is only readily available at an even higher ranking such as Class. Millipedes are in the Class Diplopoda. There are many Orders (O) of millipedes and they are not easily differentiated so this entry is best left at the rank of Class. A great deal of taxonomic reorganization has been occurring lately with advances in DNA analysis pointing out underlying connections and differences that were previously unrealized. For this reason, all other rankings aside from Family, Genus and Species have been omitted from the interior of the tables since many of these ranks are in a state of flux.
    [Show full text]
  • Blattodea: Hodotermitidae) and Its Role As a Bioindicator of Heavy Metal Accumulation Risks in Saudi Arabia
    Article Characterization of the 12S rRNA Gene Sequences of the Harvester Termite Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Blattodea: Hodotermitidae) and Its Role as A Bioindicator of Heavy Metal Accumulation Risks in Saudi Arabia Reem Alajmi 1,*, Rewaida Abdel-Gaber 1,2,* and Noura AlOtaibi 3 1 Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia 2 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (R.A.), [email protected] (R.A.-G.) Received: 28 December 2018; Accepted: 3 February 2019; Published: 8 February 2019 Abstract: Termites are social insects of economic importance that have a worldwide distribution. Identifying termite species has traditionally relied on morphometric characters. Recently, several mitochondrial genes have been used as genetic markers to determine the correlation between different species. Heavy metal accumulation causes serious health problems in humans and animals. Being involved in the food chain, insects are used as bioindicators of heavy metals. In the present study, 100 termite individuals of Anacanthotermes ochraceus were collected from two Saudi Arabian localities with different geoclimatic conditions (Riyadh and Taif). These individuals were subjected to morphological identification followed by molecular analysis using mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene sequence, thus confirming the morphological identification of A. ochraceus. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted to determine the genetic relationship between the acquired species and other termite species with sequences previously submitted in the GenBank database. Several heavy metals including Ca, Al, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ba, Cr, Co, Be, Ni, V, Pb, Cd, and Mo were measured in both collected termites and soil samples from both study sites.
    [Show full text]
  • The Phylogeny of Termites
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48 (2008) 615–627 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev The phylogeny of termites (Dictyoptera: Isoptera) based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers: Implications for the evolution of the worker and pseudergate castes, and foraging behaviors Frédéric Legendre a,*, Michael F. Whiting b, Christian Bordereau c, Eliana M. Cancello d, Theodore A. Evans e, Philippe Grandcolas a a Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Département Systématique et Évolution, UMR 5202, CNRS, CP 50 (Entomologie), 45 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France b Department of Integrative Biology, 693 Widtsoe Building, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA c UMR 5548, Développement—Communication chimique, Université de Bourgogne, 6, Bd Gabriel 21000 Dijon, France d Muzeu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré 481, 04263-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil e CSIRO Entomology, Ecosystem Management: Functional Biodiversity, Canberra, Australia article info abstract Article history: A phylogenetic hypothesis of termite relationships was inferred from DNA sequence data. Seven gene Received 31 October 2007 fragments (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome oxidase II Revised 25 March 2008 and cytochrome b) were sequenced for 40 termite exemplars, representing all termite families and 14 Accepted 9 April 2008 outgroups. Termites were found to be monophyletic with Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae) Available online 27 May 2008 as sister group to the remainder of the termites. In this remainder, the family Kalotermitidae was sister group to other families. The families Kalotermitidae, Hodotermitidae and Termitidae were retrieved as Keywords: monophyletic whereas the Termopsidae and Rhinotermitidae appeared paraphyletic.
    [Show full text]
  • Insect Classification Standards 2020
    RECOMMENDED INSECT CLASSIFICATION FOR UGA ENTOMOLOGY CLASSES (2020) In an effort to standardize the hexapod classification systems being taught to our students by our faculty in multiple courses across three UGA campuses, I recommend that the Entomology Department adopts the basic system presented in the following textbook: Triplehorn, C.A. and N.F. Johnson. 2005. Borror and DeLong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7th ed. Thomson Brooks/Cole, Belmont CA, 864 pp. This book was chosen for a variety of reasons. It is widely used in the U.S. as the textbook for Insect Taxonomy classes, including our class at UGA. It focuses on North American taxa. The authors were cautious, presenting changes only after they have been widely accepted by the taxonomic community. Below is an annotated summary of the T&J (2005) classification. Some of the more familiar taxa above the ordinal level are given in caps. Some of the more important and familiar suborders and families are indented and listed beneath each order. Note that this is neither an exhaustive nor representative list of suborders and families. It was provided simply to clarify which taxa are impacted by some of more important classification changes. Please consult T&J (2005) for information about taxa that are not listed below. Unfortunately, T&J (2005) is now badly outdated with respect to some significant classification changes. Therefore, in the classification standard provided below, some well corroborated and broadly accepted updates have been made to their classification scheme. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this classification.
    [Show full text]