Comparative Systematics of Subterranean Amphipod Crustaceans (Hadzioidea)

<p>The research project presented in this doctoral dissertation is a compilation of six published papers. Therefore, instead of being a single comprehensive project, it is composed of a number of sub-projects. Introductory and summary sections provide structure for the compilation of papers.</p> <p>The research for this dissertation investigates the systematics of genera within the amphipod families Hadziidae Karaman, 1943 and Melitidae Bousfield, 1973. In the family Hadziidae, <em>Bahadzia patilarga</em> is described from an anchialine cave on the southern coast of Cuba, <em>B. caymanensis </em>is described from a weakly brackish-water pool in a small cave on Grand Cayman Island in the Cayman Islands, <em>B. yagerae</em> is thoroughly redescribed, and a phylogenetic analysis of <em>Bahadzia</em> and a number of outgroup genera is performed.</p> <p>Two new genera, <em>Paraholsingerius</em> and <em>Tamaweckelia </em>and two new species, <em>P. mexicanus</em> and <em>T. apalpa</em> are desribed from caves in eastern Coahuila and southern Tamaulipas, Mexico respectively. <em>Holsingerius smaragdinus</em> previously known from a single cave in Val Verde Co., Texas, is elevated to the new genus <em>Paraholsingerius</em> and a second population of <em>P. smaragdinus</em> is recorded from northern Coahuila, Mexico. A new record for <em>Paramexiweckelia</em> from a cave in north-central Coahuila is documented.</p> <p>Four new stygobitic species of <em>Hadzia</em> are described from subterranean waters in the Philippines, Palau and Guam. <em>Liagoceradocus </em>is synonymized with <em>Hadzia</em>and an updated diagnosis for the latter is provided.</p> <p>In the family Melitidae three new species of <em>Tegano</em> are described, two from Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines and one from Peleliu Island, Palau. <em>Tegano</em> is synonymized with <em>Sriha</em>. A new species of <em>Melita</em> is described that has characters intermediate between those used to define the genera <em>Abludomelita, Melita</em>and <em>Paraniphargus</em>. Based on this new species and studies by previous authors, it is suggested that <em>Abludomelita </em>may need to be synonymized with <em>Melita</em>. The genus <em>Paraniphargus</em> is synonymized with <em>Melita</em>.</p> <p><em>Flagitopisa philippensis</em> is redescribed based on collections made from various localities throughout the Philippines. Paratypes of <em>Psammogammarus fluviatilis</em>also from the Philippines were examined and in both this species and <em>F. philippensis</em>, a new structure was described, which consists of a weakly stalked, subovate coxal-like gill attached to the ventral surface of the first pleonite, just anterior to pleopod 1. Based on this unique character, <em>P. fluviatilis</em> is reassigned<em>Flagitopisa</em>.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2004

Author dc:creator

• Sawicki, Thomas R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• John R. Holsinger
• Kent E. Carpenter
• Michael F. Gable

• Amphipod
• Caves
• Crustaceans
• Hadzioidea
• Subterranean
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Zoology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9780496759842

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:biology_etds-1078