|
|
Evolution of Host Specialisation, Phylogeography and Taxonomic Revision of Xenidae (Strepsiptera)
Benda, Daniel
Twisted-winged parasites (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) are an excellent group for studying the specialisation of parasites on hosts. Their parasitic lifestyle led to the evolution of numerous morphological, behavioural, physiological, and reproductive adaptations. Moreover, many complex adaptive traits of Strepsiptera have no parallel in other organisms. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the study of strepsipteran molecular phylogeny, phylogeography, species delimitation, and their implications for taxonomic classification. Using the methods of molecular phylogeny, we created the first dated phylogenetic study of the family Xenidae. By investigating historical biogeography and ancestral host groups, we indicate that multiple lineages were exchanged between the New World and the Old World + Australia until Antarctica became completely frozen over. During the late Paleogene and Neogene periods, several lineages spread from the Afrotropics to other Old World regions and Australia. The original hosts of Xenidae were most likely social wasps, and the subsequent host switch from social to solitary wasps was secondary and probably occurred only once. The parallel host switch from solitary wasps to digger wasps (Sphecidae) occurred independently in the New and Old World. The biogeography and...
|
|
|
Evolution of Host Specialisation, Phylogeography and Taxonomic Revision of Xenidae (Strepsitera)
Benda, Daniel ; Straka, Jakub (advisor) ; Malenovský, Igor (referee) ; Cook, Jerry L. (referee)
Twisted-winged parasites (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) are an excellent group for studying the specialisation of parasites on hosts. Their parasitic lifestyle led to the evolution of numerous morphological, behavioural, physiological, and reproductive adaptations. Moreover, many complex adaptive traits of Strepsiptera have no parallel in other organisms. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the study of strepsipteran molecular phylogeny, phylogeography, species delimitation, and their implications for taxonomic classification. Using the methods of molecular phylogeny, we created the first dated phylogenetic study of the family Xenidae. By investigating historical biogeography and ancestral host groups, we indicate that multiple lineages were exchanged between the New World and the Old World + Australia until Antarctica became completely frozen over. During the late Paleogene and Neogene periods, several lineages spread from the Afrotropics to other Old World regions and Australia. The original hosts of Xenidae were most likely social wasps, and the subsequent host switch from social to solitary wasps was secondary and probably occurred only once. The parallel host switch from solitary wasps to digger wasps (Sphecidae) occurred independently in the New and Old World. The biogeography and...
|
|
|
Molecular phylogeny of Nearctic proteocephalids of the \kur{Proteocephalus-aggregate} (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea)
UHROVÁ, Lucie
Phylogenetic relationships of species of the Proteocephalus-aggregate, a group of proteocephalidean tapeworms from freshwater teleosts with Holarctic distribution, were evaluated with emphasis on enlarged sampling of representative taxa from the Nearctic region. Molecular Phylogenetic analyses based on 28S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 supported validity of the newly sampled species and showed that Nearcitc species of the Proteocephalus-aggregate parasitizing common fish host groups share a common evolutionary history. In addition, the current molecular data are not capable of resolving internal phylogeny of the group and alternative molecular markers should be aimed in future phylogenetic treatments of the group.
|
|
|
Diversity and phylogeny of symbiotic partners in zeorin-containing red-fruited Cladonia species.
Steinová, Jana ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio (referee) ; Vondrák, Jan (referee)
Lichens are a classic example of mutualistic symbiotic associations, yet the views on lichen symbiosis have changed considerably during the last fifty years. Nowadays, lichens are generally understood to be microecosystems consisting of several symbiotic partners which contribute in different ways to the prosperity of the whole system and which differ by the strength of their bond to other symbiotic partners. The level of knowledge of the individual partners (mycobionts vs. photobionts vs. bacteria) varies greatly in terms of their specificity, diversity and in the forces that shape this diversity. The main aim of this work was to reveal the diversity of organisms participating in lichen symbiosis and to better understand the biological forces which shape this diversity. We worked with a relatively common lichen group, zeorin-containing red-fruited Cladonia species, and specifically, we focused on the mycobionts, photobionts and bacteria that participate in this association. During the course of the study, it became apparent that species delimitation, which is a fundamental requirement for accurate diversity estimates, is another topic that requires further research. Our analyses revealed that species circumscription of most of recently recognized Cladonia mycobionts cannot by supported by...
|
|
|
Evolution, biogeography and systematics of moss-inhabiting flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)
Damaška, Albert ; Fikáček, Martin (advisor) ; Bezděk, Jan (referee)
Flea beetles (Alticini) are a highly diversified group of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) with about 8 000 known species from about 560 genera distributed worldwide except Antarctica. The major life strategy of flea beetles is external feeding on vascular plants, similarly to other leaf beetles. However, studies published during last years revealed existence of numerous different flea beetle genera feeding on mosses. Moss-inhabiting flea beetles are usually highly specialized and share similar morphological characteristics, including flightlessness, compact body shape and modified antennae. However, their phylogenetic position remained unknown. In this study, I performed a phylogenetic analysis of 14 known moss- and leaf litter inhabiting flea beetle genera, included into a large dataset of various genera of flea beetles. I sequenced 2 mitochondrial and 2 nuclear genes previously used for phylogenetic analyses of Alticini. I also added numerous Neotropical external feeding alticine genera, because taxon samples from previous studies (Ge et al. 2012; Nie et al. 2017) consisted mainly of Oriental genera. Although deep divergences and phylogenetic positions of several genera were not resolved, the analysis revealed a multiple origin of moss- and leaf litter inhabitance among flea beetles. The morphologically...
|
|
|
Biologická a molekulární charakteristika Cryptosporidium suis-like
VLNATÁ, Gabriela
Cryptosporidium parvum VF383, more commonly known as Cryptosporidium suis-like, has been reported in humans, domesticated ruminants, and wild rats worldwide and described under several names including Cryptosporidium suis-like, based on its close phylogenetic relationship to C. suis. Unlike C. suis, however, it has never been detected in pigs. In the present work, Cryptosporidium suis-like originating from wild brown rats was not infectious for piglets or calves but was infectious for laboratory brown rats, BALB/c mice, and Mongolian gerbils. The prepatent period was 4-5 days for all rodents. The patent period was longer for rats (>30 days) than other rodents (<20 days). None of the rodents developed clinical signs of infection. In all rodents, life cycle stages were detected in the colon by histology and electron microscopy. Oocysts were morphometrically similar to those of C. parvum and smaller than those of C. suis, measuring 5.20 × 4.94 m. Phylogenetic analyses of SSU, actin, and HSP70 gene sequences revealed Cryptosporidium suis-like to be genetically distinct from, C. suis, and other described species of Cryptosporidium. Morphological, genetic, and biological data support the establishment of Cryptosporidium suis-like as a new species, and we propose the name Cryptosporidium occultus sp. n.
|
|
|
Diversity and phylogeny of symbiotic partners in zeorin-containing red-fruited Cladonia species.
Steinová, Jana ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio (referee) ; Vondrák, Jan (referee)
Lichens are a classic example of mutualistic symbiotic associations, yet the views on lichen symbiosis have changed considerably during the last fifty years. Nowadays, lichens are generally understood to be microecosystems consisting of several symbiotic partners which contribute in different ways to the prosperity of the whole system and which differ by the strength of their bond to other symbiotic partners. The level of knowledge of the individual partners (mycobionts vs. photobionts vs. bacteria) varies greatly in terms of their specificity, diversity and in the forces that shape this diversity. The main aim of this work was to reveal the diversity of organisms participating in lichen symbiosis and to better understand the biological forces which shape this diversity. We worked with a relatively common lichen group, zeorin-containing red-fruited Cladonia species, and specifically, we focused on the mycobionts, photobionts and bacteria that participate in this association. During the course of the study, it became apparent that species delimitation, which is a fundamental requirement for accurate diversity estimates, is another topic that requires further research. Our analyses revealed that species circumscription of most of recently recognized Cladonia mycobionts cannot by supported by...
|
|
|
Origin and genetic diversity of Czech populations of critically endangered Spotted Fritillary
STAŠOVÁ, Petra
In my bachelor thesis I focused on a critically endangered species from the cosmopolitan family of Melitaeinae, the spotted fritillary (Melitaea didyma). In the Czech Republic, this species was considered as extinct from majority of its original distribution sites, but but new populations appeared in some Czech localities. The aim of my work was to find out if these populations are indigenous and to classify the Czech population as a subspecies.
|
|
|
Evolutionary history of Parnassiinae
Kaman, Ondřej ; Čepička, Ivan (advisor) ; Král, David (referee)
This review is devoted to the evolutionary history of the Parnassiinae subfamily of the family Papilionidae and particularly to the nominate genus Parnassius which is the main group among the eight extant Parnassiinae genera. At first, the taxonomic concept, monophyly, and phylogenetic position of Parnassiinae are thoroughly discussed. It is shown that all its genera form three clades that are currently classified as tribes. Further, the estimated time of the divergence of Parnassiinae is given together with the description of all fossil taxa. The subsequent part is entirely focused on Parnassius whose internal phylogeny largely corroborates the traditional classification on eight subgenera, although the phylogenetic relationships among these clades remain mostly unresolved. All the clades are systematically discussed and interesting phylogenetic cases of species complexes and closely related taxa are analysed and supplemented by taxonomic remarks. The last three chapters are dedicated to the phylogeography of P. mnemosyne, P. apollo, and P. phoebus complex. Their evolutionary history is discussed in relation to glacial events in Pleistocene and warming of the climate in Holocene. The whole treatment attempts to integrate morphological, molecular, and biogeographical views together in order to provide a...
|
|
|
Cryptic and pseudocryptic diversity of conjugating green algae (Zygnematophyceae)
Kupčíková, Eva ; Šťastný, Jan (advisor) ; Škaloud, Pavel (referee)
This bachelor thesis summarizes the most commonly used species concepts in the class Zygnematophyceae. This group of algae and the molecular markers used in the zygnematophytes' molecular phylogeny will be presented in this thesis. Zygnematophytes have unicellular or multicellular forms and they generally occur in freshwater habitats. Desmids are useful as indicators of water quality and they are also used for scoring of conservation value. Therefore it is important to have the species well defined. The confusion in defining of desmid species was caused by often very variable morphology. Some authors had different opinions on the classifying of desmid species and theirs subunits. The combination of molecular phylogeny, electron microscopy and geometric morphometrics was used in revealing of (pseudo)cryptic species in the genera Micrasterias or Xanthidium. The geometic morphometrics was helpful for finding of important details for distinguishing of particular pseudocryptic species. Key words: cryptic and pseudocryptic diversity, conjugation, desmids, Micrasterias, Euastrum, Xanthidium, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy, geometric morphometrics, biogeography, green algae
|
guest ::
