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| Author(s): |
Pedro Augusto da Silva Peres
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia |
| Defense date: | 2016-10-27 |
| Examining board members: |
Fosca Pedini Pereira Leite;
Sónia Cristina da Silva Andrade;
Karina Lucas Silva Brandão
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| Advisor: | Fosca Pedini Pereira Leite |
| Abstract | |
Marine plant-herbivore interactions represent an interesting natural system to perform multiple scales approaches in order to have a better comprehension of their ecological interactions. Amphipods are an abundant group of crustaceans in rocky shore environments, and the ampithoid amphipods are one of the most frequent herbivores. These animals are tubicolous and sedentary, they are direct developers (i.e. they do not have a larval phase), probably presenting a limited dispersion capability, and they use macroalgae as food and shelter. Macroalgae can affect the fitness of these animals, so it is expected that different macroalgae species vary in how they contribute to survival and mate encounter of amphipods. Here, the species Cymadusa filosa Savigny,1816 and its host macroalgae were used as models to test the hypothesis that amphipods are genetically and morphologically structured in fine scales because of differences in host traits. Furthermore, it was tested if there are differences among populations from distinct rocky shores because of limited dispersion in amphipods. Microsatellites were the molecular markers used to access the genetic diversity, along with geometric morphometric analyses to access morphological diversity. Our results indicate that host macroalgae or locations are a factor that has a role on the genetic diversity. Individuals seem to be highly mobile in local scales or to have a juvenile based dispersal, and they seem capable to disperse among shores by rafting. Even though there are indication of intense gene flow, the occurrence of distinct morphological groups occurs probably because of environmental conditions of each location, characterizing a metapopulation structure with phenotypic divergence (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 14/15614-7 - Herbivorous amphipods and algae interactions: does the identity of the host algae influences on the populations genetic structure? |
| Grantee: | Pedro Augusto da Silva Peres |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |