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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Nelsonioideae (Lamiales: Acanthaceae): Revision Of Genera And Catalog Of Species, Thomas F. Daniel, Lucinda A. Mcdade Jan 2014

Nelsonioideae (Lamiales: Acanthaceae): Revision Of Genera And Catalog Of Species, Thomas F. Daniel, Lucinda A. Mcdade

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

A taxonomic account of Acanthaceae subfamily Nelsonioideae based on morphological and phylogenetic data treats five genera with 172 species: Anisosepalum (3), Elytraria (21), Nelsonia (2), Saintpauliopsis (1), and Staurogyne (145). Two other currently recognized genera, Gynocraterium and Ophiorrhiziphyllon, are included within Staurogyne, and the new combinations, Staurogyne guianensis and S. macrobotrya, are proposed. Probable apomorphic and other diagnostic macro- and micromorphological characters are discussed relative to the subfamily and genera. Characters of the inflorescence, androecium (especially pollen), and seed show important phylogenetic and diagnostic signal. A key to genera, generic descriptions and discussions, illustrations, and distribution maps …


A New Species Of Ovabunda (Octocorallia, Xeniidae) From The Andaman Sea, Thailand With Notes On The Biogeography Of This Genus, Catherine S. Mcfadden, Michael P. Janes, Thanongsak Chanmethakul Jan 2014

A New Species Of Ovabunda (Octocorallia, Xeniidae) From The Andaman Sea, Thailand With Notes On The Biogeography Of This Genus, Catherine S. Mcfadden, Michael P. Janes, Thanongsak Chanmethakul

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

A survey of xeniid octocorals was carried out in the waters off Southwestern Thailand in September, 2007. Microscopic investigation of the colonies revealed that three specimens belonged to the genus Ovabunda. Gross morphological examination is presented here accompanied by scanning electron micrographs of the sclerites. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed identical genotypes at mtMutS, COI, and 28S rDNA for all three specimens and supports their generic assignment. Colony size and shape, sclerite size, and pinnule arrangement differ from nominal species of Ovabunda and thus a new species, O. andamanensis is introduced here. This work also presents a new …


Effects Of Phylogeny On Structural Correlations Of Vertebrate Eyes, Amanda Yl Jacobs Jan 2014

Effects Of Phylogeny On Structural Correlations Of Vertebrate Eyes, Amanda Yl Jacobs

Scripps Senior Theses

Common ancestry prevents scientists from using traditional statistical tests in dimensional comparisons that span entire clades. Data in these cases are non-independent, so a variety of special statistical methods have been developed specifically for phylogenetic comparative analyses. A phylogenetic least squares method was used to re-examine four published datasets detailing structural correlates of eyes while factoring in the different ways the phylogeny was expected to affect the covariance in trait values. All analyses were carried out in a strict phylogenetic context, using published time-calibrated phylogenies and the statistical platform R. Specifically, Pagel’s lambda was used to determine how much of …


Trait Evolution In Anseriformes: Is Evolution Of Body Mass, Diet, Locomotory Behavior, And Diel Activity Pattern Correlated?, Zoe M. Kao Jan 2014

Trait Evolution In Anseriformes: Is Evolution Of Body Mass, Diet, Locomotory Behavior, And Diel Activity Pattern Correlated?, Zoe M. Kao

Scripps Senior Theses

The morphologies and behaviors of animals evolve and diversify, filling ecological niches in their environments. In this study I examine how a morphological trait, body mass, and three ecological traits, namely diel activity patterns, diving/non-diving locomotion, and diet, evolve in the Anseriformes (waterfowl). Through ancestral state reconstructions using a maximum likelihood approach the evolution of these traits was compared to see if any patterns of trait coevolution emerged. Body mass was compared to each ecological trait using a phylogenetic ANOVA to test if there were body size differences between ecological groups. The pattern of male and female body mass evolution …