Parallel evolution of mound-building and grass-feeding in Australian nasute termites

Termite mounds built by representatives of the family Termitidae are among the most spectacular constructions in the animal kingdom, reaching 6–8 m in height and housing millions of individuals. Although functional aspects of these structures are well studied, their evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Australian representatives of the termitid subfamily Nasutitermitinae display a wide variety of nesting habits, making them an ideal group for investigating the evolution of mound building. Because they feed on a variety of substrates, they also provide an opportunity to illuminate the evolution of termite diets. Here, we investigate the evolution of termitid mound building and diet, through a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Australian Nasutitermitinae. Molecular dating analysis indicates that the subfamily has colonized Australia on three occasions over the past approximately 20 Myr. Ancestral-state reconstruction showed that mound building arose on multiple occasions and from diverse ancestral nesting habits, including arboreal and wood or soil nesting. Grass feeding appears to have evolved from wood feeding via ancestors that fed on both wood and leaf litter. Our results underscore the adaptability of termites to ancient environmental change, and provide novel examples of parallel evolution of extended phenotypes.

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The Emperor’s Cadlina, hidden diversity and gill cavity evolution: new insights for the taxonomy and phylogeny of dorid nudibranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz126 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 189 (3) ◽

pp. 762-827 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tatiana Korshunova ◽

Karin Fletcher ◽

Bernard Picton ◽

Kennet Lundin ◽

Sho Kashio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family System ◽

Ancestral State ◽

Japanese Species ◽

New Family ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Gill Cavity ◽

Cavity Evolution ◽

First Time ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Dorids are one of the largest nudibranch groups, encompassing more than 2000 species. One of the crucial problems with tracing the evolution of dorids is the relationship between cryptobranch dorids (gill cavity present) and phanerobranch dorids (gill cavity absent). Integrative morphological and molecular studies of the enigmatic Japanese dorid species of the cryptobranch genus Cadlina, C. japonica and ‘C.’ sagamiensis, which were collected by the Emperor of Japan (Shōwa era), are presented here for the first time. It is shown that while C. japonica does belong to the Cadlina clade, another Japanese species ‘C.’ sagamiensis is not part of the cryptobranch dorids of the family Cadlinidae, but is related to both the phanerobranch dorid family, Hexabranchidae, and to the cryptobranch family Cadlinellidae stat. nov. A new genus, Showajidaia gen. nov., and new family, Showajidaiidae fam. nov., are proposed for ‘C.’ sagamiensis, and four new species of the genus Cadlina are described based on a dorid-wide molecular phylogenetic analysis, which is the first substantial update of the dorid family system since 2010. Integration of phylogenetic data with an ontogenetic model of dorid evolution suggests that cryptobranch organization can be most reliably assessed as the ancestral state for the majority of dorids.

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The double odyssey of Madagascan polystome flatworms leads to new insights on the origins of their amphibian hosts

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2008.1530 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 276 (1662) ◽

pp. 1575-1583 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Olivier Verneau ◽

Louis H Du Preez ◽

Véronique Laurent ◽

Liliane Raharivololoniaina ◽

Frank Glaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Dating ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Late Mesozoic ◽

Biogeographic History ◽

On This Island ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

History Of ◽

Recent Origin ◽

High Species Richness

Polystomatid flatworms are parasites of high host specificity, which mainly infect amphibian hosts. Only one polystome species has so far been recorded from Madagascar despite the high species richness and endemicity of amphibians on this island. Out of the 86 screened Malagasy frog species, we recovered polystomes from 25 in the families Ptychadenidae and Mantellidae. Molecular phylogenetic analysis uncovered an unexpected diversity of polystome species belonging to two separate clades: one forming a lineage within the genus Metapolystoma , with one species in Ptychadena and several species in the mantellid host genera Aglyptodactylus and Boophis ; and the second corresponding to an undescribed genus that was found in the species of the subfamily Mantellinae in the family Mantellidae. The phylogenetic position of the undescribed genus along with molecular dating suggests that it may have colonized Madagascar in the Late Mesozoic or Early Cainozoic. By contrast, the more recent origin of Metapolystoma in Madagascar at ca 14–2 Myr ago strongly suggests that the ancestors of Ptychadena mascareniensis colonized Madagascar naturally by overseas dispersal, carrying their Metapolystoma parasites. Our findings provide a striking example of how parasite data can supply novel insights into the biogeographic history of their hosts.

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Towards a Natural Classification of Hyphodontia Sensu Lato and the Trait Evolution of Basidiocarps within Hymenochaetales (Basidiomycota)

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7060478 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 478

Author(s):

Xue-Wei Wang ◽

Tom W. May ◽

Shi-Liang Liu ◽

Li-Wei Zhou

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Ancestral State ◽

Trait Evolution ◽

Natural Classification ◽

Multiple Loci ◽

The Family ◽

Phylogenetic Perspective ◽

Taxonomic Framework ◽

First Time

Hyphodontia sensu lato, belonging to Hymenochaetales, accommodates corticioid wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi with resupinate basidiocarps and diverse hymenophoral characters. Species diversity of Hyphodontia sensu lato has been extensively explored worldwide, but in previous studies the six accepted genera in Hyphodontia sensu lato, viz. Fasciodontia, Hastodontia, Hyphodontia, Kneiffiella, Lyomyces and Xylodon were not all strongly supported from a phylogenetic perspective. Moreover, the relationships among these six genera in Hyphodontia sensu lato and other lineages within Hymenochaetales are not clear. In this study, we performed comprehensive phylogenetic analyses on the basis of multiple loci. For the first time, the independence of each of the six genera receives strong phylogenetic support. The six genera are separated in four clades within Hymenochaetales: Fasciodontia, Lyomyces and Xylodon are accepted as members of a previously known family Schizoporaceae, Kneiffiella and Hyphodontia are, respectively, placed in two monotypic families, viz. a previous name Chaetoporellaceae and a newly introduced name Hyphodontiaceae, and Hastodontia is considered to be a genus with an uncertain taxonomic position at the family rank within Hymenochaetales. The three families emerged between 61.51 and 195.87 million years ago. Compared to other families in the Hymenochaetales, these ages are more or less similar to those of Coltriciaceae, Hymenochaetaceae and Oxyporaceae, but much older than those of the two families Neoantrodiellaceae and Nigrofomitaceae. In regard to species, two, one, three and 10 species are newly described from Hyphodontia, Kneiffiella, Lyomyces and Xylodon, respectively. The taxonomic status of additional 30 species names from these four genera is briefly discussed; an epitype is designated for X. australis. The resupinate habit and poroid hymenophoral configuration were evaluated as the ancestral state of basidiocarps within Hymenochaetales. The resupinate habit mainly remains, while the hymenophoral configuration mainly evolves to the grandinioid-odontioid state and also back to the poroid state at the family level. Generally, a taxonomic framework for Hymenochaetales with an emphasis on members belonging to Hyphodontia sensu lato is constructed, and trait evolution of basidiocarps within Hymenochaetales is revealed accordingly.

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A REVISED GENERIC SYNOPSIS OF HYACINTHACEAE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, BASED ON MOLECULAR EVIDENCE, INCLUDING NEW COMBINATIONS AND THE NEW TRIBE PSEUDOPROSPEREAE

Edinburgh Journal of Botany ◽

10.1017/s0960428603000404 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 533-568 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

J. C. MANNING ◽

P. GOLDBLATT ◽

M. F. FAY

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

New Combinations ◽

Generic Level ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Single Genus ◽

New Tribe ◽

Sub Saharan

A revised generic synopsis of sub-Saharan Hyacinthaceae is presented, based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the family. Generic rank is accorded only to reciprocally monophyletic clades that can be distinguished by recognizable morphological discontinuities, thereby permitting an appropriate generic assignment of species not included in the analysis. Three subfamilies are recognized within the region. Subfamily Ornithogaloideae, characterized by flattened or angular seeds with tightly adhering testa, is considered to include the single genus Ornithogalum, which is expanded to include the genera Albuca, Dipcadi, Galtonia, Neopatersonia and Pseudogaltonia. Recognizing any of these segregates at generic level renders the genus Ornithogalum polyphyletic, while subdivision of Ornithogalum into smaller, morphologically distinguishable segregates in order to preserve the monophyly of each is not possible. Subfamily Urgineoideae, characterized by flattened or winged seeds with brittle, loosely adhering testa, comprises the two mainland African genera Bowiea and Drimia. The latter is well circumscribed by its deciduous, short-lived perianth and includes the previously recognized genera Litanthus, Rhadamanthus, Schizobasis and Tenicroa. The monotypic Madagascan Igidia is provisionally included in the subfamily as a third genus on the basis of its seeds, pending molecular confirmation of its relationships. Subfamily Hyacinthoideae resolves into three clades, distinguished as tribes Hyacintheae (strictly northern hemisphere and not treated further), Massonieae and Pseudoprospereae tribus nov. Full descriptions and a key to their identification are provided for all genera. New combinations reflecting the generic circumscriptions adopted here are made for most African and all Indian and Madagascan species.

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Pseudogenized Amelogenin Reveals Early Tooth Loss in True Toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

Integrative and Comparative Biology ◽

10.1093/icb/icab039 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

John Shaheen ◽

Austin B Mudd ◽

Thomas G H Diekwisch ◽

John Abramyan

Keyword(s):

Tooth Loss ◽

Tooth Enamel ◽

Synonymous Substitution ◽

Bufo Bufo ◽

Molecular Dating ◽

Bufo Gargarizans ◽

The Family ◽

Synonymous Substitution Rates ◽

Mandibular Teeth ◽

Early Tooth Loss

Abstract Extant anurans (frogs and toads) exhibit reduced dentition, ranging from a lack of mandibular teeth to complete edentulation, as observed in the true toads of the family Bufonidae. The evolutionary timeline of these reductions remains vague due to a poor fossil record. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between the lack of teeth in edentulous vertebrates and the pseudogenization of the major tooth enamel gene amelogenin (AMEL) through accumulation of deleterious mutations and the disruption of its coding sequence. In the present study we have harnessed the pseudogenization of AMEL as a molecular dating tool to correlate loss of dentition with genomic mutation patterns during the rise of the family Bufonidae. Specifically, we have utilized AMEL pseudogenes in three members of the family as a tool to estimate the putative date of edentulation in true toads. Comparison of AMEL sequences from Rhinella marina, Bufo gargarizans and Bufo bufo, with nine extant, dentulous frogs, revealed mutations confirming AMEL inactivation in Bufonidae. AMEL pseudogenes in modern bufonids also exhibited remarkably high 86–93% sequence identity among each other, with only a slight increase in substitution rate and relaxation of selective pressure, in comparison to functional copies in other anurans. Moreover, using selection intensity estimates and synonymous substitution rates, analysis of functional and pseudogenized AMEL resulted in an estimated inactivation window of 46-60 MYA in the lineage leading to modern true toads, a timeline that coincides with the rise of the family Bufonidae.

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The Role of Botanical Families in Medicinal Ethnobotany: A Phylogenetic Perspective

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10010163 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 163

Author(s):

Airy Gras ◽

Oriane Hidalgo ◽

Ugo D’Ambrosio ◽

Montse Parada ◽

Teresa Garnatje ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diversity Indices ◽

Specific Level ◽

Medicinal Uses ◽

The Family ◽

Family Level ◽

Phylogenetic Level ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

Medicinal Flora

Studies suggesting that medicinal plants are not chosen at random are becoming more common. The goal of this work is to shed light on the role of botanical families in ethnobotany, depicting in a molecular phylogenetic frame the relationships between families and medicinal uses of vascular plants in several Catalan-speaking territories. The simple quantitative analyses for ailments categories and the construction of families and disorders matrix were carried out in this study. A Bayesian approach was used to estimate the over- and underused families in the medicinal flora. Phylogenetically informed analyses were carried out to identify lineages in which there is an overrepresentation of families in a given category of use, i.e., hot nodes. The ethnobotanicity index, at a specific level, was calculated and also adapted to the family level. Two diversity indices to measure the richness of reported taxa within each family were calculated. A total of 47,630 use reports were analysed. These uses are grouped in 120 botanical families. The ethnobotanicity index for this area is 14.44% and the ethnobotanicity index at the family level is 68.21%. The most-reported families are Lamiaceae and Asteraceae and the most reported troubles are disorders of the digestive and nutritional system. Based on the meta-analytic results, indicating hot nodes of useful plants at the phylogenetic level, specific ethnopharmacological research may be suggested, including a phytochemical approach of particularly interesting taxa.

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Revisiting the type of Cespitularia stolonifera Gohar, 1938 leads to the description of a new genus and a species of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4964.2.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4964 (2) ◽

pp. 330-344

Author(s):

YEHUDA BENAYAHU ◽

LEEN P. VAN OFWEGEN ◽

J. P. RUIZ ALLAIS ◽

CATHERINE S. MCFADDEN

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Genus ◽

Soft Coral ◽

Taxonomic Assignment ◽

Coral Genus ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Membranous Part ◽

Green Island ◽

A New Species

Because of the problematical identity and status of the type of the xeniid soft coral genus Cespitularia Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1850, the species C. stolonifera Gohar, 1938 is revised. Examination of the type colonies has led to the establishment of the new genus Unomia gen. n. which is described and depicted. This genus features a stalk, commonly divided into branches featuring a diffuse polypiferous part consisting of distal clustered polyps and proximal individual ones on the stalk or the basal membranous part of the colonies. The sclerites are ellipsoid platelets composed of dendritic calcite rods whose tips are distinct on the surface of the platelets. Freshly collected material from Venezuelan reefs where the species is invasive was subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis, the results of which substantiate the taxonomic assignment of the new genus under U. stolonifera comb. n. A new species, U. complanatis, from Japan and Green Island (Taiwan) is described and further illustrates the extent of the interspecific morphological variation within the genus. The results reveal that the biogeographic distribution of Unomia gen. n. includes Pacific Ocean reefs in addition to the previously reported invaded Caribbean reefs.

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Discovery of Four Novel Circular Single-Stranded DNA Viruses in Fungus-Farming Termites

Genome Announcements ◽

10.1128/genomea.00318-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (17) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mason Kerr ◽

Karyna Rosario ◽

Christopher C. M. Baker ◽

Mya Breitbart

Keyword(s):

Termite Mounds ◽

Single Stranded Dna ◽

Dna Viruses ◽

Content Type ◽

The Family

ABSTRACT Here, we describe four novel circular single-stranded DNA viruses discovered in fungus-farming termites ( Odontotermes sp.). The viruses, named termite-associated circular virus 1 (TaCV-1) through TaCV-4, are most similar to members of the family Genomoviridae and were widely detected in African termite mounds.

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Multilocus Sequence Analysis of the Marine Bacterial Genus Tenacibaculum Suggests Parallel Evolution of Fish Pathogenicity and Endemic Colonization of Aquaculture Systems

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01177-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 80 (17) ◽

pp. 5503-5514 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Christophe Habib ◽

Armel Houel ◽

Aurélie Lunazzi ◽

Jean-François Bernardet ◽

Anne Berit Olsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Analysis ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

Multilocus Sequence Analysis ◽

Fish Pathogens ◽

Long Distance ◽

Marine Aquaculture ◽

Content Type ◽

The Family ◽

Cohesive Group

ABSTRACTThe genusTenacibaculum, a member of the familyFlavobacteriaceae, is an abundant component of marine bacterial ecosystems that also hosts several fish pathogens, some of which are of serious concern for marine aquaculture. Here, we applied multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) to 114 representatives of most known species in the genus and of the worldwide diversity of the major fish pathogenTenacibaculum maritimum. Recombination hampers precise phylogenetic reconstruction, but the data indicate intertwined environmental and pathogenic lineages, which suggests that pathogenicity evolved independently in several species. At lower phylogenetic levels recombination is also important, and the speciesT. maritimumconstitutes a cohesive group of isolates. Importantly, the data reveal no trace of long-distance dissemination that could be linked to international fish movements. Instead, the high number of distinct genotypes suggests an endemic distribution of strains. The MLSA scheme and the data described in this study will help in monitoringTenacibaculuminfections in marine aquaculture; we show, for instance, that isolates from tenacibaculosis outbreaks in Norwegian salmon farms are related toT. dicentrarchi, a recently described species.

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A new species of Pilarella (Copepoda, Calanoida, Arietellidae) from the hyperbenthic layer of Japan, with a molecular phylogenetic analysis of some representative genera of the Arietellidae

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.1038.63170 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1038 ◽

pp. 179-194

Author(s):

Sota Komeda ◽

Kenta Adachi ◽

Susumu Ohtsuka

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Species ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Posterior Border ◽

The Third ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

New Diagnosis ◽

Caudal Rami ◽

A New Species

A new species of the continental shelf hyperbenthic genus Pilarella is described, the first from the Indo-Pacific. This is the second species of Pilarella known, and the first description of a male in the genus. The new species is easily distinguished from other species of Pilarella (P. longicornis) based on: (1) short caudal rami, approximately 1.5 times longer than wide; (2) 2 setae on the mandibular endopod; (3) 6 setae on the maxillular coxal epipodite; and (4) in the female, a short left antennule reaching the posterior border of the genital double-somite. The new diagnosis of Pilarella differs from Metacalanus in the separation of ancestral segments IX–XII and XIV–XV of the antennule, and the presence of 5–6 setae on the maxillular praecoxal arthrite. Pilarella is also separated from Metacalanalis based on the absence of a seta on the third ancestral segment of the antennary exopod, the symmetry of legs 1–3, the presence of a medial basal seta on the female leg 5, and 2 lateral exopodal spines on the female leg 5. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of some representative genera of the family Arietellidae, including the present new species, recovers two arietellid clades (Metacalanus- and Arietellus-clades) as in previous studies. Dichotomous keys for the genera of Arietellidae and the species of Pilarella are included.

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