Research Grants 21/06373-0 - Filogenia, Ontogenia - BV FAPESP
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Phylogeny, ontogeny and occurrence of Tenuipalpidae (Arachnida: Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychoidea), an important family of plant-feeding mites

Abstract

The Tenuipalpidae is an important family of plant-feeding mites. It includes several species that cause significant damage to commercially cultivated and ornamental plants worldwide. Recent studies led to advances in the understanding of its systematics, but many aspects about the group remain poorly studied and understood. For example, studies on evolutionary history and relationships between the genera of the family are lacking as well details of its phylogeny remain a mystery. Thus, detailed studies are required to fill in these critical knowledge gaps. To achieve this, the main objective of this project is infer the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the family Tenuipalpidae through analysis of combined morphological and molecular data, including as terminals representatives of all described genera. In addition, it is proposed to: 1) obtain highly detailed Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) micrographs to assist in the taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the family; 2) describe the patterns of ontogenetic additions of leg setae across genera; 3) summarize patterns of host plant associations and geographic distributions using the data available in the Tenuipalpidae database and phylogenetic comparative methods; and 4) provide regular updates to the Tenuipalpidae database and perform system maintenance. The project will involve the participation of researchers with expertise in morphological and molecular studies specific to this important family of mites and mites in general. It is expected that our results will lead to a better understanding of the phylogeny, systematics, ontogeny and occurrence of the family Tenuipalpidae worldwide, and contribute to our understanding of the Superfamily Tetranychoidea. (AU)

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VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)
VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)

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