Phylogeography of two neotropical termites (Isoptera) species with different life styles

Abstract

This proposal aims to perform phylogeographical studies of the species Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen, 1858) and Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar in Pohl, 1832). These species were already studied in my laboratory, during my doctoral thesis (Taxonomic revision of Cornitermes) and the doctoral thesis of my student Tiago F. Carrijo (Population genetics of H. tenuis from the upper Madeira River, in Rondônia, Brazil). Heterotermes tenuis is a subterranean species, and the molecular results point to at least two independent lineages inside what we were calling H. tenuis (Ht. A and Ht. B), suggesting the existence of two morphological cryptic species. Cornitermes cumulans builds conspicuous epigeal nests, and shows a huge morphological variation among populations of different localities. Nevertheless, it is not known if this variation is a morphological plasticity in response to environment, or by genetic differentiation of the populations by the interruption or reduction of genetic flow. These two species can be pests, causing several damage to humans, and the phylogeographical studies here proposed will help: 1) to clarify the taxonomy of these groups, helping in establish limits among populations and species inside the groups; 2) to understand the evolutionary and demographic history of the natural populations inside both groups; 3) to understand the macroecological events that drove the evolution of Neotropical termites as a whole. The phylogeographical analysis of H. tenuis is already being performed by my student T. F. Carrijo, with a Fapesp post-doctoral scholarship (Process: 2013/03767-0), and this proposal aims to give support to his project, as well as to give support to the project of my doctoral student, Rafaella G. Santos, consisting the Phylogeography of C. cumulans, and submitted to Fapesp scholarship evaluation (Process: 2013/19869-7). (AU)