Characteriza*on and quan*fica*on of communi*es

Characteriza*on and quan*fica*on of communi*es

Species Richness

Species richness & evenness: The Shannon-Wiener index More accurately captures diversity within a community. Takes into account relative abundance. P i is the proportion of the i th species; s is the number of species: H ' = s i=1 p i log e p i

Species richness & evenness: The Shannon- Wiener index

Experimental Design Sample communities numerous times. Why does the number of replicates matter?

Hypothesis testing in this framework What variables are likely to affect insect community structure? Contrasting these variables can then allow you test the hypotheses that they affect diversity.

The Holometabolous Orders

HYMENOPTERA Symphyta Apocrita Aculeata Sawflies Parasitic wasps Stinging wasps Hornets, yellowjackets, ants, bees, etc. - Haplo-diploidy - Hamuli - First abdominal segment fused with thorax forming a propodeum

Symphyta : The sawflies Paraphyletic grade of phytophagous Hymenoptera Thorax still broadly joined to abdomen.

Symphyta Apocrita Aculeata - Second abdominal segment constricted, forming narrow waist, the petiole; - Constriction between second and third and formation of a joint that increases movability of abdomen

Apocrita: Parasitic wasps Small to medium sized. Most of the diversity of Hymenoptera 75 of 90 families. Taxonomy VERY difficult. Parasitic/parasitoids Ichneumonidae and Braconidae are common parasitoid wasps

Aculeata Monophyletic group of stinging wasps Ovipositor modified into a venomous stinger Bees, ants, stinging wasps Evolution of most social insects embedded here

Mutillidae: Velvet Ants NOT ANTS!!! Females wingless Males winged Very hairy, brightly colored Paralyze and parasitize ground-nesting bees (especially bumblebees) Very potent venom!

Formicidae: True Ants Perhaps derived within vespid wasps. Pedicel is distinctive. Very complex social behavior.

Formicidae: True Ants Perhaps derived within vespid wasps. Pedicel is distinctive. Very complex social behavior. Females with elbowed antennae. Wings and males only present at nuptial flights.

Pompilidae: Spider wasps These hunt spiders for a living. Can be quite large, usually very longlegged. Distinctive transverse suture on mesopleura Curly-Q antenna

Vespidae Diverse assemblage of hornets, paper wasps, potter wasps, yellowjackets. Often aposematic

Sphecidae: Thread-waisted wasps Sister taxon to Apidae (true bees) Thread-waisted (or not-- e.g. cicada killers) All with very short, collar-like pronotum Predatory, provision burrows or mud nests

Apidae: True bees Once consisted of numerous families, now considered subfamilies. Mostly hairy, exceptions include reversions to parasitic lifestyle. Collect nectar AND pollen. Honey bees (subfamily Apinae) Sweat bees (subfamily Halictinae)

Coleoptera Very well-defined group with rather consistent morphology Elytra

Adephaga Include large family Carabidae, also Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae With notopleural sutures Antennae always straight and slender

Polyphaga Most beetles Useful traits include antennae Lamellate (Scarabaeoidea) Filiform Moniliform Serrate Geniculate Pectinate

Other traits include the number of tarsomeres on the tarsi. Polyphaga

Neuroptera Lacwings & Antlions Wings held roof-like over abdomen at rest. Fore & hind wings subequal with numerous cross-veins and distal twigging of veins. Immatures predominantly terrestrial, prognathous, with slender mandibles and maxillae usually forming piercing/sucking mouthparts.

MEGALOPTERA: Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies Aquatic predaceous larvae. Anal gills in larvae.

snakeflies

DIPTERA Important features: Halteres Form of the antennae Wing vennation Mouthparts Patterns of hairs, scales, spines: chaetotaxy

DIPTERA I will ask you to learn a handful of larger taxonomic breakdowns. Aschiza

Lepidoptera Butterflies & Moths

Habits Vast majority are phytophagous. Also fungivores, lichenivores (especially microlepidoptera). Decomposers (especially Tineidae). Some predators and parasites.

Sister to the Trichoptera 21 well-identified morphological synapomorphies of Amphiesmenoptera All have females as heterogametic sex Split in the late Jurassic Monophyly well established 26 well-identified morphological synapomorphies Moths is a paraphyletic grade with butterflies a monophyletic group within Phylogeny

Mouthpart trends Coiled proboscis first shows up with origins of Glossata. Trend toward decreasing functionality of mandibles. Intrinsic musculature in proboscis shows up with origins of Ditrysia.