Systematics of the Apteropanorpidae (Insecta : Mecoptera) based on morphological and molecular evidence

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Palmer ◽  
John W. H. Trueman ◽  
David K. Yeates

Apteropanorpa Carpenter, 1941 is a genus of scorpionflies endemic to Tasmania. The genus comprised two described species before the current study. However, many anecdotal reports suggested that Apteropanorpa was more widespread in Tasmania than had previously been thought, and that more species awaited discovery and description. Intensive field surveys for the Apteropanorpidae were conducted from 2001 to 2003 in a range of altitudes and habitats all over Tasmania. These surveys yielded a large number of adult specimens, collected at many new localities and at a range of elevations. Cladistic analyses of COI molecular and morphological data were congruent in their inferred species composition of the family. Phylogenetic analyses with evaluation of species concepts provided evidence for two new species: Apteropanorpa warra, sp. nov. and A. hartzi, sp. nov. The distribution of the Apteropanorpidae is much more extensive than was previously thought; many populations discovered as part of this research represent extensions of the known ranges of A. evansi Byers & Yeates and A. tasmanica Carpenter. A key to species is presented. The altitudinal range of each species is closely associated with the local climatic treeline. Hypotheses concerning the biogeography of the family are consistent with the glacial history of Tasmania.

2021 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 325-339
Author(s):  
Shirley A. Graham ◽  
Peter W. Inglis ◽  
Taciana B. Cavalcanti

Crenea Aubl. (Lythraceae) is a ditypic genus of subshrubs occurring in mangrove vegetation on the coasts of northern South America. Phylogenetic analyses based on morphology have offered unresolved and conflicting phylogenetic positions for the genus in the family. This study presents the first molecular sequences for Crenea, from nrITS, rbcL, trnL, trnL-F, and matK regions. Molecular phylogenetic analyses find full support for Crenea within Ammannia L., a relationship not previously recognized. Ammannia is a globally distributed genus of terrestrial to amphibious herbs mostly occurring in freshwater marshes and wetlands. It was recently reconfigured based on phylogenetic evidence to include the genera Nesaea Comm. ex Kunth and Hionanthera A. Fern. & Diniz. The transfer of Crenea to Ammannia further extends the morphological, ecological, and biogeographical diversity of Ammannia and provides the final evidence defining Ammannia as a monophyletic lineage of the Lythraceae. A revised circumscription of Ammannia s.l. adds several new morphological character states and the first species in the genus restricted to mangrove vegetation. Two changes in taxonomic status are made: Ammannia maritima (Aubl.) S. A. Graham, P. W. Inglis, & T. B. Cavalc., comb. nov., and Ammannia patentinervius (Koehne) S. A. Graham, P. W. Inglis, & T. B. Cavalc., comb. nov. The new combinations are described, a list of exsiccatae examined is provided, and the effects of the reconfiguration to the morphology and biogeography of the genus are detailed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keerthic Aswin ◽  
Srinivasan Ramachandran ◽  
Vivek T Natarajan

AbstractEvolutionary history of coronaviruses holds the key to understand mutational behavior and prepare for possible future outbreaks. By performing comparative genome analysis of nidovirales that contain the family of coronaviruses, we traced the origin of proofreading, surprisingly to the eukaryotic antiviral component ZNFX1. This common recent ancestor contributes two zinc finger (ZnF) motifs that are unique to viral exonuclease, segregating them from DNA proof-readers. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that following acquisition, genomes of coronaviruses retained and further fine-tuned proofreading exonuclease, whereas related families harbor substitution of key residues in ZnF1 motif concomitant to a reduction in their genome sizes. Structural modelling followed by simulation suggests the role of ZnF in RNA binding. Key ZnF residues strongly coevolve with replicase, and the helicase involved in duplex RNA unwinding. Hence, fidelity of replication in coronaviruses is a result of convergent evolution, that enables maintenance of genome stability akin to cellular proofreading systems.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Clouse ◽  
Gonzalo Giribet

Opiliones (harvestmen) in the suborder Cyphophthalmi are not known to disperse across oceans and each family in the suborder is restricted to a clear biogeographic region. While undertaking a revisionary study of the South-east Asian family Stylocellidae, two collections of stylocellids from New Guinea were noted. This was a surprising find, since the island appears never to have had a land connection with Eurasia, where the rest of the family members are found. Here, 21 New Guinean specimens collected from the westernmost end of the island (Manokwari Province, Indonesia) are described and their relationships to other cyphophthalmids are analysed using molecular sequence data. The specimens represent three species, Stylocellus lydekkeri, sp. nov., S. novaguinea, sp. nov. and undescribed females of a probable third species, which are described and illustrated using scanning electron microscope and stereomicroscope photographs. Stylocellus novaguinea, sp. nov. is described from a single male and it was collected with a juvenile and the three females of the apparent third species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species are indeed in the family Stylocellidae and they therefore reached western New Guinea by dispersing through Lydekker’s line – the easternmost limit of poor dispersers from Eurasia. The New Guinean species may indicate at least two episodes of oceanic dispersal by Cyphophthalmi, a phenomenon here described for the first time. Alternatively, the presence in New Guinea of poor dispersers from Eurasia may suggest novel hypotheses about the history of the island.


2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (3a) ◽  
pp. 383-398
Author(s):  
M. L. Christoffersen ◽  
M. E. Araújo ◽  
M. A. M. Moreira

Total sequence phylogenies have low information content. Ordinary misconceptions are that character quality can be ignored and that relying on computer algorithms is enough. Despite widespread preference for a posteriori methods of character evaluation, a priori methods are necessary to produce transformation series that are independent of tree topologies. We propose a stepwise qualitative method for analyzing protein sequences. Informative codons are selected, alternative amino acid transformation series are analyzed, and most parsimonious transformations are hypothesized. We conduct four phylogenetic analyses of philodryanine snakes. The tree based on all nucleotides produces least resolution. Trees based on the exclusion of third positions, on an asymmetric step matrix, and on our protocol, produce similar results. Our method eliminates noise by hypothesizing explicit transformation series for each informative protein-coding amino acid. This approaches qualitative methods for morphological data, in which only characters successfully interpreted in a phylogenetic context are used in cladistic analyses. The method allows utilizing character information contained in the original sequence alignment and, therefore, has higher resolution in inferring a phylogenetic tree than some traditional methods (such as distance methods).


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. e20195943
Author(s):  
Marcoandre Savaris ◽  
Felipe Da Luz ◽  
Lisete Maria Lorini ◽  
Silvana Lampert

In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, there are few records of geographical distribution and host plants to species of Tomoplagia Coquillett, as well as other genera of Tephritidae, especially those associated with plants of the family Asteraceae. Here, we report the first occurrence of Tomoplagia rudolphi (Lutz & Lima, 1918) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, inducing stem galls in Vernonanthura tweediana (Baker) H. Rob. (Asteraceae, Vernonieae), whose plant becomes a new host record for this species. In this way, is increased to nine species of Tomoplagia recorded for Rio Grande do Sul. Biological and morphological data and photos of gall, larvae, pupae at new host and distribution map of the species in Brazil are provided.


Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1142 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIETER KOCK ◽  
COLLEEN M. INGRAM ◽  
LAURENCE J. FRABOTTA ◽  
RODNEY L. HONEYCUTT ◽  
HYNEK BURDA

Recently, in an examination of the phylogenetic relationships among the mole-rats of the family Bathyergidae (Mammalia: Rodentia), Ingram et al. (2004) documented molecular evidence for the recognition of the Cryptomys mechowii species group at the generic level and resurrected the name Coetomys Gray, 1864 for this group. Subsequent literature review revealed that Coetomys is not available to this species group, being a junior synonym of Cryptomys Gray, 1864. Here, we describe and diagnose Fukomys genus novum. In addition, we discuss the taxonomic history of this group in an attempt to reduce the nomenclatural confusion that has plagued studies of the Bathyergidae for over a century.


1998 ◽  
Vol 30 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 463-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Eric Mattsson ◽  
Mats Wedin

AbstractIn order to identify monophyletic groups within the family Parmeliaceae, eleven taxa (Bryoria capillaris, Cetraria islandica, Evernia pruniastri, Hypogymnia physodes, Parmelia saxatilis, Platismatia glauca, Pleurosticta acetabulum, Usneaflorida, Vulpicida juniperina, V. pinastri, and Xanthoparmelia conspersa) were studied using newly produced nuclear rDNA sequence data from the ITS and 5·8S regions. The resulting evolutionary hypothesis was compared with results from previous phylogenetic analyses based on anatomy, morphology, and chemistry. The outcome of this comparison does not support the earlier proposed phylogenies but is not stable enough for identifying monophyletic groups, with one exception. The results indicate a close relationship between Cetraria and Vulpicida, which is contradictory to previous published analyses. The variation in ascus structures in the Parmeliaceae is discussed and it is questioned whether the earlier distinguished ‘ forms ’ of ascus types represent synapomorphies, if they are based on poorly supported analyses, or if they are exaggerations of relatively slight variation in shape. Further interpretations of the results are discussed and areas of future studies based on DNA-data are suggested.


MycoKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 161-172
Author(s):  
Yue Cai ◽  
Yong Nie ◽  
Heng Zhao ◽  
ZiMin Wang ◽  
ZhengYu Zhou ◽  
...  

The fungal genus Conidiobolus sensu lato was delimited into four genera based on morphology and phylogeny. However, the taxonomic placement of C. parvus has not been determined until now. Here, we show that C. parvus belongs to a distinct lineage based on mitochondrial (mtSSU) and nuclear (TEF1 and nrLSU) phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses further revealed a new species as sister to C. parvus. We identified a synapomorphy uniting these lineages (azygospore production) that was not observed in other allied genera of the family Ancylistaceae, and erected a new genus Azygosporusgen. nov. for this monophyletic group, with a new combination, A. parvuscomb. nov. as the type species. Within Azygosporus, the novel species A. macropapillatussp. nov. was introduced from China based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, which is characterized by its prominent basal papilla, in comparison to other closely related species, measuring 7.5–10.0×5.0–10.0 µm. Our study resolved the phylogenetic placement of C. parvus and improved the taxonomic system of the Ancylistaceae family.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Foley ◽  
Tim Lueddecke ◽  
Dong-Qiang Chen ◽  
Henrik Krehenwinkel ◽  
Sven Kuenzel ◽  
...  

Mygalomorph spiders of the family Theraphosidae, known to the broader public as tarantulas, are among the most recognizable arachnids on earth due to their large size and widespread distribution. Their use of urticating setae is a notable adaptation that has evolved exclusively in certain New World theraphosids. Thus far, the evolutionary history of Theraphosidae remains poorly understood; theraphosid systematics still largely relies on morphological datasets, which suffer from high degrees of homoplasy, and traditional targeted sequencing of preselected genes failed to provide strong support for supra-generic clades (i.e. particularly those broader than subfamilies). In this study, we provide the first robust phylogenetic hypothesis of theraphosid evolution inferred from transcriptome data. A core ortholog approach was used to generate a phylogeny from 2460 orthologous genes across 25 theraphosid genera, representing all of the major theraphosid subfamilies, except Selenogyrinae. For the first time our phylogeny recovers a monophyletic group that comprises the vast majority of New World theraphosid subfamilies including Aviculariinae and Theraphosinae. Concurrently, we provide additional evidence for the integrity of questionable subfamilies, such as Poecilotheriinae and Psalmopoeinae, and support the non-monophyly of Ischnocolinae. The deeper relationships between almost all subfamilies are confidently inferred for the first time. We also used our phylogeny in tandem with published morphological data to perform ancestral state analyses on urticating setae. This revealed that the evolution of this important defensive trait might be explained by three equally parsimonious scenarios.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3451 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICARDO BELMONTE-LOPES ◽  
GUSTAVO A. BRAVO ◽  
MARCOS R. BORNSCHEIN ◽  
GIOVANNI N. MAURÍCIO ◽  
MARCIO R. PIE ◽  
...  

Recent DNA-based phylogenetic analyses of the family Thamnophilidae have shown that the genus Myrmotherula is polyphyletic. Traditional plumage-based taxonomy has been misleading in terms of identifying independently evolving lineages within the complex. Here, we integrate a molecular phylogeny with morphometric information and ancestral reconstruction of syringeal character states of the Musculi vocales ventrales, to investigate the taxonomic position of M. gularis, a species for which phylogenetic affinities have long been uncertain. We show that M. gularis represents a long branch in the tribe Thamnophilini that is not closely related to any other member of the Myrmotherula complex. Its relationships within the tribe remain uncertain because of the lack of phylogenetic resolution at the base of the tribe. M. gularis shares a derived character state of the M. vocalis ventralis with Taraba, Hypoedaleus, and Mackenziaena, which supports a close relationship between M. gularis and the large antshrikes. M. gularis can be diagnosed from Myrmotherula and Epinecrophylla by this condition of its M. vocalis ventralis, and from Isleria by plumage and other morphological traits. The phylogenetic and morphological distinctiveness of M. gularis does not warrant merging it into any other genus. We propose that this species be placed in a monotypic genus, for which the available name Rhopias applies.


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