A review of African praying mantises (Dictyoptera: Mantodea) incorporating molecular and morphological data
- Authors: Roestof, Bruce
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Biogeography , Mantodea Morphology , Mantodea Geographical distribution , Mantodea Classification , Sampling bias , Systematics
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464428 , vital:76510
- Description: Praying mantises (Dictyoptera: Mantodea) are an iconic group of predatory insects, comprising around 2500 species globally, that occur in all zoogeographic regions except the poles. Their presence in the social psyche of many cultures has existed for millennia, but until the past decade, Mantodea has received little attention from the scientific community as the constituent species are of little economic or medical importance. Africa is rich in praying mantis diversity, accounting for approximately 45% of all described species, yet it remains largely under-sampled compared to the New World and Asian regions. Recent exploration of Gabon and Central African Republic have proved fruitful, with new species descriptions being major highlights. A recent re-cataloguing of southern African praying mantises has proved useful as specimen identifications were checked, new distributions were recorded, and most importantly, it was revealed that museum collections have significantly more diversity than previously recorded. A meta-analysis of African praying mantises was conducted; we present a species checklist to the countries of Africa, including Madagascar and surrounding islands. Currently, 17 families, 182 genera, and 1104 species occur in Africa.Historically, the classification of praying mantises was based solely on morphological features, and the novelty of the field at the time made it unclear which characteristics were of taxonomic importance. The onset of molecular systematics brought attention to incongruences between morphological and molecular phylogenies, believed to be attributed to convergent evolution masking the underlying evolutionary processes that occurred. Significant progress has been made in the past two decades regarding Mantodean classification and most described genera have their phylogenetic position. With the addition of more African taxa, we present mantodean phylogenies for molecular and morphological data. Molecular phylogenies were estimated through Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood analyses using two nuclear (28S and H3) and two mitochondrial markers (16S and COI) for 210 individuals that represented 24 of the 29 families globally. Morphological phylogenies were estimated through Maximum Likelihood analyses of a morphological data matrix comprising 149 characters for 248 individuals that represent 24 families. The same data matrix was used to produce a key to all African mantodean families, accompanied by their descriptions. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2024
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A systematic revision of Aprionyx Barnard, an endemic South African genus of Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera)
- Authors: Ferreira, Ina Susan
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Biogeography , Leptophlebiidae Geographical distribution , Leptophlebiidae Morphology , Leptophlebiidae Phylogeny , Leptophlebiidae Classification
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466770 , vital:76777 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466770
- Description: Aprionyx Barnard, 1940 is the most speciose genus of Leptophlebiidae in South Africa and endemic to the southern region. Like the other African Leptophlebiidae, Aprionyx has received limited research. The earliest described Aprionyx species were based only on adults that were then placed in Atalophlebia Eaton, 1881. The first descriptions of nymphs were contributed by Barnard (1932), with the smooth claws of the nymphs being the distinctive feature that allowed him to create Aprionyx for all of the South African species placed in Atalophlebia at that time. This research aimed to improve knowledge of Aprionyx species by revising its molecular and morphological systematics. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the COI, 16S and 28S genes generated a species tree illustrating the species’ relationships within Aprionyx. Species delimitation analyses (bPTP and GMYC methods) were generally congruent with the molecular phylogenetic species composition. The phylogeny identified up to ten potentially new species, a substantial increase in the species diversity of Aprionyx. Review of the descriptions of the eight named Aprionyx species resulted in major nomenclatural changes concerning A. tabularis (Eaton, 1884), A. phoeocera (Lestage, 1924) stat. rev. and A. intermedius Barnard, 1932 n. syn. With the redescriptions of all currently known species, the nymph of A. rubicundus Barnard, 1932 was described for the first time. An identification key to the species of Aprionyx was compiled from newly recognized descriptive characteristics and, for the first time, includes both imagos and nymphs. Molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses recovered Aprionyx as monophyletic, although this was poorly supported morphologically. The phylogenies were topologically congruent and identified two clear geographically separated clades, a western and eastern Aprionyx group. Molecularly, morphologically and geographically, these two clades were recovered as two clearly distinct groups within the genus. The analyses further identified three lineages in Aprionyx: rubicundus, pellucidulus and eastern Aprionyx. The estimated age of Aprionyx indicated that initial diversification occurred during the Cretaceous (approximately 100 ma). Aprionyx peterseni (Lestage, 1924) was shown as the oldest of the analysed species, and the main drivers to species diversification were possibly the glacial cycles of the Quaternary period, through the mechanism of river anastomosis during fluctuating sea levels. Further research is needed to strengthen the support for the hypothesis identified in this study, but a substantial foundation has been laid by this work for future research, conservation and environmental decision-making. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2024
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The taxonomy of the topminnows (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) (Procatopodidae: Procatopodinae) of southern Africa
- Authors: Van Zeeventer, Ryan Matthew
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cyprinodontiformes -- Africa, Southern , Killifishes -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145559 , vital:38449
- Description: Taxonomy is a tool that plays a crucial role in the implementation of effective management assessments, the ability to identify different fish species and their life stages, and create effective conservation strategies. Recent years have seen an increase in the discovery of cryptic species which could have an effect on how we implement conservation strategies, increasing the importance of accurate taxonomic assessments. The southern African topminnows of the genera Micropanchax and Lacustricola (Family Procatopodidae) include several species of egg-laying fishes that live in the marginal areas of rivers and lakes throughout the river systems of southern Africa in separated and connected populations. It was recently discovered that these populations showed subtle differences in their morphology and colouration, which led to the belief that new and cryptic species may be present. Previous studies of the Procatopodidae relied heavily on phylogenetic analyses that drew on morphological traits without reliance on molecular methods of analysis. A few of the taxonomic issues were resolved through these limited studies but ultimately the taxonomic status of the Procatopodidae remained poorly understood. Furthermore, these studies had not been updated in recent years and hence the benefits of new technology had not been brought to bear on the issues. A multi-gene analysis using standard phylogenetic methods and five molecular markers (mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COI), mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb), mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) and mitochondrial Tyrosine Kinase (X-src) (TyrK)) allowed phylogenetic trees to be made which demonstrated clear relationships within Micropanchax and Lacustricola of southern Africa and the out-groups used in the analysis. The inference trees showed that Micropanchax johnstoni was represented by three clades and was shown to be polyphyletic while Micropanchax hutereaui, which was represented by two clades, and Micropanchax katangae, which was represented by one clade, were monophyletic. The two species of Lacustricola, L. myaposae and L. macrurus showed very close relationships to Micropanchax and it is suggested that these two species be transferred to Micropanchax, leaving Lacustricola to only be found in central Africa.
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A systematic revision of selected genera of afrotropical curtonotidae (Diptera: schizophora: ephydroidea) : a phylogenetic approach
- Authors: Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Curtonotidae -- Research Diptera -- Research Flies -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5627 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004747
- Description: The first comprehensive phylogeny of the family Curtonotidae is presented based on molecular markers and morphology. This enabled assessment of evolutionary relatedness, species radiation and zoogeography. A revised classification of the world fauna of the family, based on the results of this study is outlined. Nomenclatural acts flowing from these analyses include: the recognition three new Afrotropical species of Axinota van der Wulp; four new species of a new genus, Tigrisomyia Kirk-Spriggs; and nineteen new species of Curtonotum (six Madagascan and thirteen African). Ten informal species-groups of Curtonotum are recognised. Identification keys are provided for the Afrotropical species of these genera and errors in previous interpretations and designation of type specimens are resolved. Species distributions are mapped and interpreted and discussion is made of the historical biogeographical significance of these distributions.
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Composition and phenology of insect pests of Capsicum (Solanaceae) cultivated in the Makana District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Hepburn, Colleen
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Insects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Composition Insects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Phenology Agricultural pests -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Peppers -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Solanaceae -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Insect pests -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Insect pests -- Biological control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Insect pests -- Control -- Methods -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Insects -- Host plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Insect-plant relationships -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5656 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005339
- Description: Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum was first grown in the Makana District in 2005. Extremely little was known about best practices for cultivation or the insects and diseases associated with the crop in this area. The study was conducted during the second year of production, November 2005 and November 2006, in an attempt to identify the composition and phenology of insects occurring on C. baccatum. In the more rural parts of the Eastern Cape, and more particularly in Grahamstown, there are very few industries. With the advent of this new agricultural venture, a processing factory has been opened in Grahamstown creating more than 600 seasonal jobs in the factory and 1000 seasonal jobs on farms for local people. This business enterprise has not only brought about the creation of jobs, but also training and skills development and empowerment, generating much-needed income in this area. An extensive literature review yielded limited information on insect pests associated with Capsicum. Data from a pilot sampling trial undertaken were statistically analyzed to establish the number of plants to be scouted per site and the most effective scouting techniques to use. Based on the data available and insects collected during the pilot sampling trial, a surveillance programme was designed. Five different types of monitoring traps were placed in each of the eight study sites. Collection of trap catches and scouting of fifteen individual plants per site was undertaken on a weekly basis over the 52-week study period. The most commonly occurring potential insect pests were African Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), False Codling Moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta (= Cryptophlebia leucotreta) (Meyrick), Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and several species of thrips. Population densities of these pests and their phenology on Capsicum were determined. Statistical analyses established the efficacy of the monitoring traps for each pest, tested for differences among and between study sites, calculated an estimate of the number of pods damaged and a measure of plant damage.The results show that the majority of damage caused to the Capsicum baccatum cropping system was due to Mediterranean Fruit Fly populations. It was established that, although African Bollworm and False Codling Moth were present during the study period, their numbers were negligible and only nominal damage was caused by these pests. Damage caused by thrips species was apparent but not quantifiable. Intervention strategies using an Integrated Pest Management approach, are discussed.
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