Postembryonic development of diplopod Poratia salvator (Polydesmida, Pyrgodesmidae): differentiation of female germ cells

• Grant number: 11/23461-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Carmem Silvia Fontanetti Christofoletti
• Grantee: Vinicius Daguano Gastaldi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diplopoda correspond to the largest class of the subphylum Myriapoda and probably to the third largest group of terrestrial Artrophoda. They are mostly detritivores and have an important role in the decomposition of organic material and, consequently, on nutrient cycling in edaphic environments. Within this class, the order Polydesmida corresponds to more than half of the described species, and the family Pyrgodesmidae, predominantly tropical, is one of the largest families. This project aims to study the post-embryonic development of the female reproductive system of the parthenogenetic diplopod Poratia salvator Golovatch & Sierwald, 2001, describing the differentiation of the tissues and structures that comprises it, in particular, the female germ cells in all seven stages of the development of this species. In addition, this work aims to obtain information to subsidize discussions about morphological evolution of this system in the group. For this, we'll carry histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin. The slides will be mounted and analyzed with optical microscopy and then photographed with the photomicroscope for record of results. (AU)