Morphological and Molecular variation of the Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei populations (Testudines: Chelidae)

• Grant number: 12/08639-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Grantee: Rodrigo Araujo de Souza
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei belongs to the Family Chelidae, the most diverse group of South American turtles. Although the monophyly of the Family is well established, there are many questions regarding the relationships between the included taxons. Moreover, there is a strong possibility of some of the groups included being paraphyletic. M. vanderhaegei is widely distributed along south and central South America, and its ecology is relatively well studied. The taxonomic and evolutionary aspects, however, should be more deeply investigated as this might in fact be a species complex. Considering that conservation strategies are largely dependent on the correct identification of monophyletyc groups, the aim of this project is to investigate the molecular and morphological aspects of the populations of M. vanderhaegei. To attain this goal, the first step will be to characterize from the molecular and morphological standpoint all known populations along the range of this species. The morphological approach will consist of anatomical descriptions combined with a quantitative analysis of the head and shell, based on traditional and geometric morphometrics. The molecular analysis based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes will test the hypothesis of the monophyly of M. vanderhaegei and determine the position of this species in the phylogeny of the genus. The analysis will be based on phylogenetic methods such as parsimony, likelihood and Bayesian approaches, combined with estimated population parameters.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SOUZA, Rodrigo Araujo de. Morphological and molecular variation of the Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei populations (Testudines: Chelidae). 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.