Date of Award
Summer 6-27-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)
Department
Biology
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Todd Pierson
Major Professor
Dr. Clint Penick
Second Committee Member
Dr. Chih-Chen Hung
Abstract
My thesis covers the intricacies of ant microsculpture diversity, classification, evolution and function. To do this, the thesis is organized into two chapters. The first chapter is a review of ant cuticle and microsculpture diversity as well as including analyses examining the evolution and lability of microsculpture traits. I then review the literature for functional hypotheses related to ant microsculpture. The second chapter explores the relationship of microsculpture and important morphological, physiological, and ecological traits to evaluate support for functional hypotheses.
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