Diversity and systematics of ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae) with emphasis on Xyleborina
by Hulcr, Jiri, Ph.D., MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, 2009, 511 pages; 3381235

Abstract:

Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae Platypodinae), woodboring beetles living in a nutritional symbiosis with wood-decomposing fungi, dominate beetle faunas of the tropics and belong to the most pestiferous insects. This study consists of four chapters related to ecology, evolution, and systematics of ambrosia beetles: A study of the spatial turnover of ambrosia beetle community in Papua New Guinea showed, that the composition of local communities of ambrosia beetles does not display statistically significant turnover over 1000 km.

A discovery of a previously unknown foraging strategy in ambrosia beetles—mycocleptism (fungus stealing)—is presented. Analysis of fungal communities associated with mycocleptae and morphological adaptations of the beetles show ecological and evolutionary stability of the strategy.

A phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters of Xyleborina (Scolytinae) distinguished phylogenetically informative characters from uninformative, and provided preliminary revision of the generic concept.

A monograph of Xyleborina of New Guinea presents a comprehensive revision of genus- and species-level classification of the group. Introduced are eleven new genera, 69 new combinations, and 87 synonymies.

 
AdviserAnthony I. Cognato
SchoolMICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
SourceDAI/B 70-10, p. , Nov 2009
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsEcology; Entomology
Publication Number3381235
Adobe PDF Access the complete dissertation:
 

» Find an electronic copy at your library.
  Use the link below to access a full citation record of this graduate work:
  http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3381235
  If your library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database, you may be entitled to a free electronic version of this graduate work. If not, you will have the option to purchase one, and access a 24 page preview for free (if available).

About ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
With over 2.3 million records, the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database is the most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses in the world. It is the database of record for graduate research.

The database includes citations of graduate works ranging from the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to those accepted as recently as last semester. Of the 2.3 million graduate works included in the database, ProQuest offers more than 1.9 million in full text formats. Of those, over 860,000 are available in PDF format. More than 60,000 dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

If you have questions, please feel free to visit the ProQuest Web site - http://www.proquest.com - or call ProQuest Hotline Customer Support at 1-800-521-3042.