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The study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of selected genera of Erebidae (Lepidoptera; Noctuoidea) as a tool for understanding of origin of the Afrotropical moth fauna
IGNATEV, Nikolai
In this thesis, I conducted the taxonomical and phylogenetical research of selected Afrotropical moth genera, especially an Old-World moth genus Amerila, Walker 1855. All the studied genera belong to the family Erebidae (Lepidoptera; Noctuoidea) and are well-presented in the state European entomological collections. In our research, we used mitochondrial, or mitochondrial and nuclear markers and different molecular analyses to resolve relationships within the studied genera (exclude Meganaclia, Aurivillius 1892). Comparative morphological analysis was used in all the studies. We aimed to update the classification of studied Lepidoptera genera, and to highlight the gaps in taxonomical study of Afrotropical moth fauna in general.
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Tribe Microdontomerini (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Torymidae) - phylogeny and evolution
Stiblík, Petr ; Janšta, Petr (advisor) ; Bogusch, Petr (referee)
Superfamily Chalcidoidea (chalcid wasps) represent the most species-rich group of the Hymenoptera and includes 22 families. Family Torymidae is one of those families and it's monophyly is currently intensively discussed. This particular thesis aims at the tribe Microdontomerini (Torimidae: Toryminae). Species of this tribe are usually minute inconspicuous wasps (body length ranges from 2 to 4 mm). Recent progress in phylogenetics of chalcid wasps allowes us to formulate robust hypothesis of Microdontomerini evolution, as a component of broader study of Chalcidoidea phylogeny and classification. My approach combines molecular and morphological evidence to formulate the most plausible evolutionary scenario. Dataset of 35 mostly morphological characters for 33 taxa including all existing Microdontomerini genera and 10 outgroups has been scored. Almost all characters has been studied and documented using Hitachi S-3700N-VP scanning electron microscope. In 117 taxa, 5 nuclear genes segments (18S, 28SD2, 28SD3-5, EF1alfa, Wingless) and 3 mitochondrial genes segments (COI-LCOHCO, COI-JerryPat, CytB) were sequenced, to get together the final molecular dataset of 387 Kbp. Molecular trees were built using maximum likelihood and Mr.Bayes algorithms. Evolution of morphological characters were mapped on the...
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Characters used for determining of spiders (Araneae)
KRIŠTOFOVÁ, Lucie
This bachelor thesis focuses on a current issue of classifying spiders into their families. The incorrect recognitions of a family are often caused by inappropriate choice of morphological features and their ambiguous characteristics for determination usage. In a literary review, various morphological characters of spiders used for their determination to families are summarized and described. Subsequently, two Czech keys were tested by respondents, which provided a view of the steps and features causing difficulties in classifying spider families. Thus, I outline both unquestioning acceptance of features from older sources and the fact that their usage is not always a reliable tool for determination. Often neglected is the attitude of inexperienced observers who look upon the spider body inexpertly, not being influenced by arachnological traditions, and therefore, with a certain dose of exaggeration, objectively. This is the reason why the research was done mainly with the help of amateur public. In the final parts of the bachelor thesis, I both discuss problems that emerged and were recorded during the observation and recommend suitable improvements concerning the classification keys.
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