SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACTS
Summer Systematics Institute
Internship in Biological Illustration
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Board Room
SummerSystematicsInstituteSymposium
9:00AM Thursday, August 7,2014BoardRoom
Speakerorder:
Like a bat out of heaven: The phylogeny and diversity of the bat-winged slugs, Gastropteridae
Elise Ong(Macalester Coll.,MN),Terry Gosliner(IZ&G)
Examining morphological variation in two Miocene Dominican Republic gastropod species across time and ecological change: Olivella indivisa and Oliva brevispira
Courtney Chin(Saint Mary's Coll., CA),Peter Roopnarine (IZ&G)
New fossil and extant species of Fibularia: Evolution of the most highly miniaturized "sand dollars"
Carrisa Gomez (Skyline Coll., CA),Rich Mooi (IZ&G)
A generic key to Malagasy and Afrotropical males of the revised genus Pachycondyla
Isabella Muratore(Haverford Coll., PA),Brian Fisher (Ent)
Evolution and taxonomy of Griswoldia, an endemic genus of cryptic South African running spiders
Rachel Gibbs(Colorado Coll., CO),Charles Griswold(Ent)
A new species of skink (Scincidae: Eugongylus) from the Republic of Palau in the western Pacific
Mayteé Contés-De Jesús (U. of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR),DaveBlackburn(Herp)
LUNCHBREAK
Wewillbeginagainat1:00PM
A proof-of-concept study to characterize population genomics and introgression in the slider turtle genus Trachemys
Madison Hansen(Harvey Mudd Coll., CA),Brian Simison (CCG)
DNA analysis and morphological comparison of the damselfish genus Chromis (Labroidei: Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the Philippines suggest new species
Gabriela Alfaro (Santa Rosa Junior College, CA),ClaudiaLuizRocha(Ich)
Digital biological illustration and its place in an age of photography
Sabrina Thi(ClevelandInst.ofArt),Gary Williams & Rich Mooi (IZ&G)
Occurrence of avian malaria in the California Tioga
Lauren Titus(Ohio Northern U., OH),ShannonBennettMaxineZylberberg(Micro)
Potential integration of cell fusing agent virus in the genome of the Thai mosquito species Aedes aegypti
Kye Duren (Kenyon Coll., OH),ShannonBennett(Micro)
Creating a melastome multi-access key using the Lucid software suite
Zack Guignardi(U. of Florida, Gainesville, FL),FrankAlmedaDarinPenneys(Bot)
DNA analysis and morphological comparison of the damselfish genus Chromis (Labroidei: Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the Philippines suggest new species
Gabriela Alfaro
Claudia Rocha
Luiz Rocha
Santa Rosa Junior College, CA
Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, CA
The lack of knowledge concerning biodiversity of the oceanic mesophotic zone (also known as the "Twilight Zone") is caused by the previous absence of deeper diving techniques that now allow exploration below depths at which conventional SCUBA diving is safe. As technology improves and diving techniques are perfected, new frontiers await to be explored. The California Academy of Sciences led an expedition to the Philippines during 2013 and 2014 to explore the seldom-studied mesophotic zone (60-120m depth). Several species of Chromis were observed and collected at about 100 m deep. The aim of this study was to investigate possible cryptic diversity in deep reef species of Chromis. To test this hypothesis, morphological characters were scored and the mitochondrial fragment cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) was sequenced to estimate relationships among Chromis. Bayesian inference analysis of COI strongly supports the existence of at least one new species of Chromis from the mesophotic zone, allowing us to describe a new species of damselfish from this poorly explored region. Further collection and analyses of deep reef specimens will be needed to create a more comprehensive phylogenetic tree for fishes from the mesophotic zone.
***** We acknowledge generous support from the NSF REU program*****
Examining morphological variation in two Miocene Dominican Republic gastropod species across time and ecological change: Olivella indivisa and Oliva brevispira
Courtney Chin
Peter Roopnarine
Saint Mary’s College of California, CA
Department of Invertebrate Zoology & Geology, California Academy of Sciences, CA
Olivella indivisa and Oliva brevispira, extinct marine species native to the Caribbean, were found in abundance in the Miocene Rio Gurabo Formation of the Dominican Republic. Due to their robust representation in the fossil record, O. indivisa and O. brevispira are ideal species to investigate small-scale morphological changes over time. Because ontogenetic events often directly correspond to gastropod shell growth, studying the morphology of the shell spire and aperture reveals differences in growth patterns among individuals. Here, defining spiral and apertural shape through the use of landmark-based geometric morphometrics and relative warps analyses allow for the detection and examination of such changes among samples distributed within a narrow stratigraphic interval. Previous studies on other Dominican Republic mollusks found that specific bivalve morphologies possibly evolved in response to changes in the environment and community structure. Thus, the bivalves that existed within the same samples were often similar in morphology and growth pattern. Preliminary results derived from relative warps analyses indicate that O. indivisa and O. brevispira could potentially exhibit the same phenomena. Further evaluation of shell form distribution through statistical analyses will provide insight into how ecological change might have a significant influence on evolutionary events over time. In addition, exploration into the paleoenvironmental conditions present during each time period (as represented by the samples chosen) would contribute to an exciting analysis of morphology in relation to the geographic mosaic theory of co-evolution.
*****We acknowledge generous support from the NSF REU Program*****
A new species of skink (Scincidae: Eugongylus) from the Republic of Palau in the western Pacific
Mayteé M. Contés-De Jesús
David C. Blackburn
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, PR
Department of Vertebrate Zoology Anthropology, California Academy of Sciences, CA
A new species of scincid lizard in the genus Eugongylus from the islands of Palau is described. It was discovered in the late 1960s in the Palauan archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean and was initially identified as Eugongylus mentovarius,probably due to morphological conservatism among the isolated populations of skinks, though more recent studies have recognized it as an undescribed species. The genus Eugongylus belongs to the subfamily Lygosominae, which has a wide-ranging distribution over the islands of the western Pacific. The new species described here appears restricted to the Palauan archipelago, suggesting it is an endemic species. Using DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial genes, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2; 443 bp) and Cytochrome b (CYTB; 361 bp), we evaluate both intraspecific variation of the new species within the archipelago and its relationship to other Eugongylus species for which data is available (E. albofasciolatus, and E. rufescens). We also used morphological data to distinguish the new species from the five recognized species of Eugongylus: E. mentovarius, E. sulaensis, E. unilineatus, E. albofasciolatus, and E. rufescens. Using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods, we found two distinct but closely related mitochondrial lineages within Palau and also observed that the new species may be more closely related to E. rufescens than E. albofasciolatus. While the six species are morphologically similar, the new species can be diagnosed by a combination of its medium body size, dorsal coloration with small dark spots but lacking a distinct pattern of transverse bars, and tail length similar to snout-vent length. The description of this new species provides insight into genetic variation across the islands of Palau, as well as additional information on variation among other species in the genus Eugongylus.
*****We acknowledge generous support from the NSF REU program*****
Potential integration of cell fusing agent virus into the genome of the Thai mosquito species Aedes aegypti
Kye Duren
Shannon Bennett
Kenyon College, OH
Department of Microbiology, California Academy of Sciences, CA
The genus Flavivirus contains at least 70 viruses including both mosquito-borne human pathogens spread by Aedes mosquitoes, and viruses that are limited to insect hosts that are non-pathogenic to humans. The insect-specific flaviviruses are ancestral to the mosquito-borne flaviviruses and thus characterization of their diversity and distribution in nature could reveal important evolutionary processes behind the emergence of pathogenic forms. In addition, reports of insect-specific flaviviruses that have become integrated into the genomes of their hosts, Aedes mosquitoes, reveal important evolutionary routes for host genetic diversification that may ultimately contribute to their defense.This research seeks to determine whether the insect-specific Flavivirus cell fusing agent virus (CFAV), discovered in field-caught Aedes aegypti mosquito populations from Thailand, represents circulation of this virus in this population or evidence of virus integration into the mosquito host genome. Mosquitoes were trapped in the Nahok Nhayon province in central Thailand in 2008 from multiple sites. Unbiased Illumina shotgun sequencing of total RNA revealed the presence of Flavivirus-like sequences similar to CFAV, however only the first half of the CFAV genome was detected. Since genes necessary for replication are present on the second half of the CFAV genome, their absence may suggest the integration of CFAV into the A. aegypti genome. Alternatively, partial presence of the CFAV genome might represent differential virus degradation, for example, due to host defense mechanisms, or be an artifact of the sample processing and handling. Preliminary results on DNA from the Thai samples are positive for CFAV. As these RNA viruses are not known to have a significant DNA stage during replication, this is highly suggestive of integration into the host genome. This integration event would be novel because the presence of CFAV is not found within the sequenced strain of West African A. aegypti, meaning that this integration occurred after a divergence between African and Asian A. aegypti.
*****We acknowledge generous support from the NSF REU program*****
Evolution and taxonomy of Griswoldia, an endemic genus of cryptic South African running spiders
Rachel Gibbs
Charles Griswold
Colorado College, CO
Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, CA
The complex evolutionary histories of endemic species provide important insights for conservation efforts in regions of high biodiversity. The genus of cryptic, nocturnal running spiders, Griswoldia (Araneae, Zoropsidae), is abundant throughout the temperate, moist forests and grasslands of South Africa. Recently placed in the zoropsid subfamily, Griswoldiinae, Griswoldia contains 16 species, 12 described and four new. To study evolution and taxonomy, molecular and morphologic data were compared. Four molecular markers, (CO1, H3, 28S and 18S) were sequenced for 17Griswoldia specimens. Using Phanotea as sister group and Zorocrates for rooting analyses, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference were employed to resolve genetic divergence within the genus. Morphology was observed through dissection, illustration of male genitalia, scanning electron and light microscopy, and mapping leg spination patterns. These observations were coded andanalyzed using equal and implied weight parsimony. Previously unknown males of Griswoldia leleupi and G. natalensis were discovered and new species of G. "Hogsback A" and "B", G. "Graskop", G. "Ngome" were described. The study points to a need for further investigations on possible new species within G. robusta and the placement of G."Hogsback B"in the Griswoldiinae subfamily. The published results, including descriptions, generic diagnoses, keys to species, maps of distribution and descriptive imaging, will be provided to the South African National Survey of Arachnida, and thus contribute to international knowledge of the delicate and intricate evolutionary patterns and biogeography of endemic South African species.
*****We acknowledge generous support from the NSF REU program*****
New fossil and extant species of Fibularia: Evolution of the most highly miniaturized "sand dollars"
Carrisa Gomez
Rich Mooi
Skyline College, CA
Invertebrate Zoology & Geology, California Academy of Sciences, CA
The Clypeasteroida is a diverse clade of sea urchins commonly known as sand dollars. Among these, the genus Fibularia is unique because of its extreme miniaturization (resulting in their other name, "micro-echinoids") and lack of an internal support system (known as"buttresses") found in nearly every other clypeasteroid group.Currently, little is known about the phylogeny of Fibularia. In this study, we greatly expanded a previously existing dataset containing measurements of specimens of all known extant and extinct species of Fibularia. Bivariate plots among several crucial parameters have allowed reassessment of the relationships among all the known extant taxa of Fibularia. We can reaffirm earlier suppositions that one form, F. "bean", represented a species new to science. In addition, we explored the possibility that another extant form, provisionally called F. "oddovulum", represented a new species close in morphology to the type species of the genus, F. ovulum, but differing not only in some morphometric aspects, but in the apparent presence of sexual dimorphism in gonopore dimensions. Recently, material sent to us by colleagues working in Australia, New Zealand, and Madagascar provided us with an opportunity to examine the diversity of Oligocene and Eocene Fibularia. Among these specimens, we have found atleast three new species. With this new knowledge of diversity withinFibularia, and with new specimens and data from recent expeditions to the Philippines, we are suggesting new phylogenetic relationships that will better show the evolution of taxa within the genus Fibularia. Because of the extreme reduction in morphology among these micro-echinoids, phylogenetic work remains challenging. However, we are discovering that sexual dimorphism seems to have evolved more than once within the group, that brooding behavior has evolved at least once, and that there seems to be a distinctive morphological subset of Fibularia in the Eocene of the western Indian Ocean, including Madagascar.
*****We acknowledge generous support from NSF REU program*****
Creating a melastome multi-access key using the Lucid software suite
Zack Guignardi
Frank Almeda
Darin Penneys
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Department of Botany, California Academy of Sciences, CA
The plant family Melastomataceae comprises over 5,000 species in about 170 genera mainly spread throughout the jungles and forests of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. A molecular phylogeny for this family is currently being estimated. Previous studies have also indicated that some genera have been described arbitrarily. Much of what we know about the Melastomataceae is still to be determined, making a reliable identification key to the genus level difficult to develop. The goal of this project was to create a multi-access identification key for the Melastomataceae that is comprehensive, free to access online, and can be updated regularly. Using the program Lucid, a multi-access key generator, we have produced an identification key to all known genera in the family. A multi-access key has many advantages over traditional dichotomous keys, including the absence of a “start” to the key, allowing users to use any characters they choose to start narrowing the options in progress towards identification. The key is mutable, and has the facility to be updated as frequently as new data are collected, and as often as users scrutinize the key. This allows for much wider access and longevity than traditional print copies of dichotomous keys. It is also more user-friendly than traditional dichotomous keys, with the ability for both novices and established researchers to accurately and reliably use the key. Through the creation of this powerful plant identification tool, we hope to facilitate further studies in the family, as well as permit dissemination of knowledge about one of the single most important components of jungle and forest ecosystems. By gathering research from the late 19th century onward, this key serves as a compilation of morphological and phylogenetic work done on melastomes to date.
*****We acknowledge generous support from the Robert T. Wallace endowment*****
A proof-of-concept study to characterize population genomics and introgression in the slider turtle genus Trachemys
Madison Hansen
Brian Simison
Harvey Mudd College, CA
Center for Comparative Genomics, California Academy of Sciences, CA
Although its native range is in North America, from the Rio Grande to the Atlantic Coast, the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a globally invasive taxon. It is often farmed, sold, and eventually released into the wild.The native range overlaps with that of the Big Bend slider (T. gaigeae) to the west and of the yellow-bellied slider (T. scripta scripta) to the east. Genetic evidence suggests that T. scripta elegans hashistorically hybridized with T. gaigeae, and is currently hybridizing with T. scripta scripta. Thus multiple stages of hybridization can be compared in a single system. This proof-of-concept study lays the groundwork for a novel approach to determining the genomic population dynamics of the Trachemys species complex using second-generation sequencing and new computational techniques. The goal is to map Trachemys whole genome sequences to a Trachemys reference genome and discover introgression in the North American populations via single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). First, a draft reference was created by aligning Illumina NEXTERA whole genome sequences from a T. scripta elegans individual to the complete, published genome of a distantly related species, the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii). Whole genome sequence data from four Trachemys individuals were then mapped to that draft reference and scanned for SNPs. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial control region was used to confirm historical hybridization with T. gaigeae. This proof-of-concept approach will be applicable to a larger set of Trachemys genomes, in order to characterize population structure and to study the effects of hybridization on speciation.
*****We acknowledge generous support from the NSF REU program*****
A generic key to Malagasy and Afrotropical males of the revised genus Pachycondyla
Isabella Muratore
Brian Fisher
Haverford College, PA
Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, CA