Phylogeny of Syntermitinae subfamily (Isoptera, Termitidae) based on morphology and molecular data

Abstract

The Syntermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae) are a group of termites endemic to Neotropical region, well characterized by soldiers that have well developed mandibles and a frontal tube with a wide opening. They bear an ecological relevance and some species are considered "keystone species" in biomes, especially in Cerrado. In the last years the taxonomy on the group advanced considerably, most of genera having already been revised, what allows the improvement of several comprehensive studies involving the group.In this project, I propose to make a phylogenetic analysis employing at least one third of the subfamily species, with morphological data and DNA sequences, in order to make a consistent proposition of phylogeny for the Syntermitinae. (AU)