A5018539367- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Coleoptera: Cerambycidae studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Marine and environmental studies
- Beetle Biology and Toxicology Studies
- Artificial Intelligence in Law
- Web and Library Services
- Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Food Industry and Aquatic Biology
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
University of Arizona
2015-2024
Wake Forest University
2024
Artistic Realization Technologies
2004-2014
Arizona Science Center
2013
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
2013
Optica
2012
California Academy of Sciences
2007-2008
University of Warwick
2005-2007
University of Portsmouth
2000-2003
Furman University
1998-1999
Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. To investigate the genomic basis of explore new avenues vector control, we sequenced genomes 16 anopheline from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years evolution. Comparative analyses show faster rates gene gain loss, elevated shuffling on X chromosome, more intron losses, relative to Drosophila. Some determinants capacity,...
A large number of dry-preserved insect specimens exist in collections around the world that might be useful for genetic analyses. However, until now, recovery nucleic acids from such has involved at least partial destruction specimen. This is clearly undesirable when dealing with rare species or otherwise important specimens, as type specimens.We describe a method extraction PCR-amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA dry insects without causing external morphological damage. Using PCR to...
Models analyzing how Southwestern plant communities will respond to climate change predict that increases in temperature lead upward elevational shifts of montane species. We tested this hypothesis by reexamining Robert Whittaker's 1963 transect the Santa Catalina Mountains southern Arizona, finding process is already well underway. Our survey, five decades after Whittaker's, reveals large changes ranges common plants, while mean annual rainfall has decreased over past 20 years, and...
Abstract The National Ecological Observatory Network ( NEON ) will monitor ground beetle populations across a network of broadly distributed sites because beetles are prevalent in food webs, sensitive to abiotic factors, and have an established role as indicator species habitat climatic shifts. We describe the design population sampling context 's long‐term, continental‐scale monitoring program, emphasizing design, priorities, collection methods. Freely available data associated field...
Bombardier beetles (Brachinini) use a rapid series of discrete explosions inside their pygidial gland reaction chambers to produce hot, pulsed, quinone-based defensive spray. The mechanism brachinines' spray pulsation was explored using anatomical studies and direct observation living synchrotron x-ray imaging. Quantification the dynamics vapor chamber indicates that is controlled by specialized, contiguous cuticular structures located at junction between reservoir (reactant) chambers....
The beetle suborder Adephaga is traditionally divided into two sections on the basis of habitat, terrestrial Geadephaga and aquatic Hydradephaga. Monophyly both groups uncertain, relationship has implications for inferring habitat transitions within Adephaga. Here we examine phylogenetic relationships these using evidence provided by DNA sequences from all four suborders beetles, including 60 species Adephaga, Archostemata, three Myxophaga, ten Polyphaga. We studied 18S ribosomal 28S DNA,...
Significance The enigmatic millipede Xystocheir bistipita has been rediscovered after a half-century. rediscovery unexpectedly reveals that the species is bioluminescent. By reconstructing its evolutionary history, we show X. sister of Motyxia , only bioluminescent genus in order Polydesmida. We demonstrate bioluminescence originated group’s common ancestor and incrementally grew brighter through time. Luminescence may have initially evolved to cope with metabolic stress triggered by hot,...
Abstract Aim The Madrean Sky Island Archipelago is a North American biodiversity hotspot composed of ~60 isolated mountains that span the Cordilleran Gap between Rocky Mountains and Sierra Madre Occidental. Characterized by discrete patches high‐elevation montane habitat, these “sky islands” serve as stepping stones across “sea” desert scrub/grassland. Over this coming century, region expected to shift towards warmer drier climate. We used species distribution modelling predict how spatial...
Adipokinetic hormones are peptide that mobilize lipids and/or carbohydrates for flight in adult insects and activate glycogen phosphorylase larvae during starvation molt. We previously examined the functional roles of adipokinetic hormone Manduca sexta L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Here we report cloning full-length cDNA encoding putative receptor from fat body M. sexta. The sequence analysis shows deduced amino acid shares common motifs G protein-coupled receptors, by having seven...
Several specimens of the myrmecophilous beetle Paussus favieri were reared in ant nests Pheidole pallidula . Their interactions recorded and all behaviors observed are described. Duration frequency five P. analyzed with ANOVA post hoc Tukey tests; these comprised rewarding, antennal shaking, antennation, escape, “no contact”. Significant differences both duration among detected. The main result is that rewarding behavior, during which provides attractive substances to host, performed...
Bombardier beetles (Carabidae: Brachininae) are well known for their unique explosive defensive chemistry. These found in riparian corridors throughout the American Southwest, where they commonly form large diurnal multispecies aggregations moist areas under rocks, crevices, and leaf litter. Using high throughput 16S amplicon sequencing, we provide first microbiome survey of a bombardier beetle, Brachinus elongatulus, collected from two sites Arizona. Two bacterial taxa were present all...
The few studies that have addressed past effects of climate change on species distributions mostly focused plants due to the rarity historical faunal baselines. However, hyperdiverse groups like Arthropoda are vital monitor in order understand impacts biodiversity. This is first investigation ground-dwelling arthropod (GDA) assemblages along full elevation gradient a mountain range Madrean Sky Island Region, establishing baseline for monitoring future changes GDA To determine how relate...
Stridulatory organs in the myrmecophilous carabid beetle tribe Paussini have long been recognized and used as a defining character of some genera higher level taxa, however their morphology has only roughly described.Here, we describe fine stridulatory using scanning electron (SeM) focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy.Within this tribe, there are three types organs, each with different positions scraper (plectrum) file (pars stridens).type I (abdomen-femur type) is located on abdomen (scraper)...
Asthma is a clinical syndrome with various underlying pathomechanisms and phenotypes. Genetic, ethnic, geographic factors may influence the differences in presentation, severity, prognosis. We compared characteristics of asthma based on geographical background by analyzing representative cohorts from United States, Europe, South America, Asia using Severe Research Program (SARP), Unbiased Biomarkers for Prediction Respiratory Disease Outcomes (U-BIOPRED), Control Bahia (ProAR), Cohort...
Abstract. Ant nest beetles ( P aussus L .) are ecologically fascinating and phenotypically bizarre. Obligate myrmecophiles, have undergone extreme adaptations for life with ants their profound range of phenotypic diversity has been difficult to reconcile in a systematic framework. We conducted detailed morphological study utilizing novel techniques character systems order discover anatomical apomorphies diagnostic the major clades strongly supported by molecular data. Bayesian inference BI )...
Paussus favieri Fairmaire is one of only two species the myrmecophilous carabid tribe Paussini known from Europe.Larvae are 10 580 paussine species.As in many beetles with considerably modified later instar larvae, first instars represent a valuable source informative characters for taxonomy and phylogenetic analyses (primary chaetotaxy, eggbursters, etc.).Therefore, discovery larva P. particularly important, as it represents second which this larval stage known.In paper we describe behavior...
Goniotropis species are large, parallel-sided paussine beetles common in the New World tropics and ranging from southern Arizona to northern Argentina. Specimens of kuntzeni Bänninger were collected larvae reared under laboratory conditions. The egg, first instar larva second described illustrated, providing larval description for this genus. live burrows that they construct seal with their terminal disk (which is composed modified urogomphi dorsal plates). They feed by trapping insect prey...