Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of West Indian lycidae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Elateroidea)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2021) Ferreira, Vinicius de Souza; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael A. Ivie; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.The Thonalmini and Leptolycini are two tribes of Net-winged beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera, Lycidae) endemic to the West Indies. Both tribes are characterized by their confusing taxonomic history and poorly known biology and evolutionary patterns, and the study of both groups is the topic of this dissertation. One of the chapters of this dissertation provides a taxonomic revision of the genus Thonalmus Bourgeois, 1883, the sole member of the tribe Thonalmini. In this study, I provide an updated taxonomic revision of the group, illustration of diagnostic characters, an identification key, distribution maps, updates in the nomenclature of the group and description of seven new species. I also provide the first species level phylogenetic hypotheses for Thonalmus (morphology, molecular based and total evidence), biogeographical dispersal patterns hypotheses, a time-calibrated phylogeny and character state reconstruction for the species of the genus. The other chapter of this dissertation investigates the different life- stages of the Leptolycini of the Puerto Rican bank. The morphology of the Leptolycini males conforms with other groups suspected to be paedomorphic, whilst the females are unknown and suspected to be completely larviform. In this chapter, I provided for the first time DNA barcoding life stages associations based on partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) of adult males and their immature forms from Puerto Rico, altogether with collections- based associations of adult males, immatures and one extreme paedomorphic female from the Virgin Islands. In order to carry out these life-stage associations, I prepared an in-depth review of the Leptolycini fauna of the Puerto Rican bank (Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands), which is also presented in this chapter. This study provided the morphological diagnoses of the semaphoronts that were found in the region and several taxonomic and nomenclatural changes are proposed, including the descriptions of one new genus and seven new species and an updated key for all species and genera of the region.Item Taxonomic studies on click-beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Etzler, Frank Eric; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael A. Ivie; Paul J. Johnson was a co-author of the article, 'Athoplastus johnson and etzler (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Dendrometrinae), a new genus of click beetle from the northwestern continental USA' in the journal 'Coleopterists bulletin' which is contained within this dissertation.Click-beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) have historic difficulties at the subfamilial, tribal, and generic level, with many genera poorly defined at the global scale. This dissertation makes the definitions of four groups work world-wide to enable easier communication between regions. These clearer definitions also serve as foundations for future studies at higher levels, such as the tribal and subfamilial level. In this work, two new genera are described, seven species are described as new, 109 new combinations are proposed, and 5 new names are proposed to correct new homonyms. Keys to species are provided for the North American species in Athoplastus and Hemicrepidius and the species north of Mexico for Paradonus. A key to genera in the Limonius genus-group is provided, with a key to species provided for the newly described genus in that group. Important morphological characters are illustrated for each genus or genus group, and habitus photos are provided for all species in the examined regions for the genera Athoplastus, Hemicrepidius, and Paradonus.Item Osteology, phylogeny, taphonomy, and ontogenetic histology of Oryctodromeus cubicularis, from the middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) of Montana and Idaho(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2017) Krumenacker, L. J.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David Varricchio; David J. Varricchio, Chris Organ, Clint Boyd and Brooks Britt were co-authors of the article, 'Osteology and phylogeny of the neornithischian dinosaur Oryctodromeus cubicularis from the middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) of Montana and Idaho' submitted to the journal 'Journal of vertebrate paleontology' which is contained within this thesis.; David J. Varricchio, John Wilson and Ashley Ferguson were co-authors of the article, 'Taphonomy of Oryctodromeus cubicularis from the mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) of Idaho, and additional Oryctodromeus burrows from Idaho and Montana' submitted to the journal 'Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology' which is contained within this thesis.; David J. Varricchio, John R. Horner and Kelli Taddy were co-authors of the article, 'Ontogenetic histology and growth of the neornithischian dinosaur Oryctodromeus cubicularis from the middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) of Montana and Idaho' submitted to the journal 'Journal of vertebrate paleontology' which is contained within this thesis.Oryctodromeus is a small bipedal dinosaur known from middle Cretaceous (95-100 My) Wayan Formation of Idaho and the Vaughn Member of the Blackleaf Formation of Montana. This taxon is hypothesized to be a burrowing dinosaur, which cared for its young within these burrows. This dissertation is a broad three-part treatment of this taxon, and excepting the introductory and concluding chapters this dissertation consists of three main chapters. Chapter two describes the osteology and phylogenetic relationships of this animal. Notable features of the Oryctodromeus skeleton described include a network of ossified tendons along the vertebral column that completely ensheath the tail, a long tail that forms more than half the length of the animal, and unusual femoral heads whose morphology may be related to burrowing behavior. The first full skeletal and skull reconstructions of this animal are presented. Chapter three investigates patterns of preservation of Oryctodromeus. Data suggests that preservation of single to multiple individuals of this taxon typically occurred in burrows that may be difficult to impossible to recognize in the fossil record. New examples of burrows from Oryctodromeus from the Vaughn and Wayan, as well as additional evidence for social behavior, are also described. A third chapter details the ontogenetic histology, growth rates and patterns of skeletal fusion based on seven limb elements (femora and tibiae) from different individuals. Based on the data in this dissertation, three growth stages can be recognized in Oryctodromeus based on bone histology. Juveniles are defined by more rapidly growing fibrolamellar tissue, sub-adults are defined by a cortex of inner fibrolamellar tissue and outer zonal parallel fibered tissue, and near-adult individuals have tissue similar to sub adults with dense avascular bone in the outermost cortex that signals a decrease in growth rate. LAG's suggest a minimum age of six to seven years for more mature individuals. Patterns of neurocentral fusion in Oryctodromeus appear similar to those of crocodylians and some other small ornithischians, while the growth rates of Oryctodromeus appear slower than those of some dinosaurs, but similar to taxa such as Orodromeus and Tenontosaurus.Item Osteology of Orodromeus makelai and the phylogeny of basal ornithopod dinosaurs(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1999) Scheetz, Rodney DwayneItem Phylogenetic systematics of Strophostyles (Fabaceae)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2003) Riley-Hulting, Erin ThaisItem The phytochrome gene family in legumes (Fabaceae) : evidence for a new locus and analysis of evolutionary rates(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1998) Eshbaugh, Elisa JeanItem Studies on the basal kernel blight disease of barley : pathogenesis and phylogeny of the causal agent Pseudomonas Syringae pv. syringae and its biological control by antagonistic Pantoea agglomerans(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1998) Braun, AndreaItem Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the verrula and alberta species of Rhyacophila pictet 1834 with description of a new species (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2002) Giersch, Jonathan JosephItem Cloning and characterizing repetitive sequences for the study of molecular diversity in Triticeae(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1992) Sarkar, IpsitaItem Evolution of the phytochrome gene family in land plants and its utility for phylogenetic analyses of flowering plants(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1995) Mathews, Sarah L.