Entomological Society of Canada Student Member Information Form

Name: Tonya Mousseau



University: University of Calgary

Address: Division of Zoology; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Calgary; Alberta; T2N 1N4

E-mail Address: tmoussea@ucalgary.ca

Advisor(s): Dr. Derek Sikes

Thesis Title: "Systematics and biogeography of the nepalensis species group (Coleoptera: Silphidae: Nicrophorus)"

Research Summary: In order to address important issues of speciation and biogeography, I am investigating the systematics and phylogeny of a group of southeast Asian beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae: Nicrophorus: nepalensis sp.group). The nepalensis group is comprised of 15 species, distributed from across India to Japan, south into the Philippines and Indonesia, and east to the Solomon Islands. The geological history of this region is incredibly complex, and incorporating phylogenetic information from these organisms shows great potential for revealing biogeographic patterns in Southeast Asia.
Thirteen of the 15 nepalensis species have already been collected and extracted for DNA material. Through museum loans, all species are available to study structural data. Both mitochondrial and nuclear genes will be sequenced to provide molecular data. The relationships among the nepalensis species will be analysed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Baysesian phylogenetics. In order to study date estimates of speciation, a molecular clock procedure will investigated using the DNA data.
The objectives of this study are: 1) to reconstruct the phylogeny of the nepalensis species group; 2) compare estimates of phylogeny derived from different data sources, specifically morphological versus molecular data sets, and nuclear versus mitochondrial genes; 3) correlate the phylogeny with particular geologic events in southeast Asia to assess sequences of speciation and biogeographic patterns.

Keywords: Nicrophorusnepalensis species group, systematics, phylogeny, southeast Asian biogeography

Degrees Sought: PhD

Expected Year of Completion: 2008

Publication(s):

Refereed Journal Articles

1. Shaverdo, H.V., R.E. Roughley, and T. Mousseau. 2002. New records of Dytiscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Manitoba. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Manitoba. 58: 8-9.

Technical Reports

1. T. Mousseau and R.E. Roughley. 2003. Status report on Brychius hungerfordi Spangler(Coleoptera: Haliplidae). Prepared for the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario. The Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. iii., 17pp.

Non-refereed Publications

1. T. Mousseau. 2003. Morphometric analysis of Nearctic species of Brychius Thomson (Coleoptera: Haliplidae). Methods and Approaches to the Analysis of Biological Data (Part II) Proceedings. 2003: 1-8.

2. T. Mousseau. 2003. The Orange Blossom Wheat Midge – An insect pest of wheat. Pest Management. Fall 2003: 18-19.