scholarly journals Engellaria (Caryophyllaceae), a new North American genus segregated from Stellaria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duilio Iamonico
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Separate Genus ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Diagnostic Key

Background and Aims: Stellaria traditionally comprises 150-200 species, mainly distributed in the temperate regions of Eurasia and North America. Molecular studies demonstrated that Stellaria is polyphyletic and includes about 120 species. The genus has a high phenotypic variability which has led to nomenclatural disorders, making the identification of the various species difficult. A note is presented about a taxon currently accepted under the genus Stellaria -Stellaria obtusa- which should be recognized as a separate genus, here proposed as Engellaria gen. nov.Methods: This study is based on examination of specimens of American and European herbaria and analysis of relevant literature.Key results: Available molecular data show that Stellaria obtusa is not included in the Stellaria s.s. clade, but instead is basal to another clade comprising the genera Honckenya, Schiedea, and Wilhelmsia. Stellaria obtusa was, therefore, compared with these three groups and with morphologically similar apetalous members of Stellaria s.s. (S. crispa, S. media, S. pallida, and S. irrigua). The results obtained lead to the recognition of S. obtusa as a separate new North American monotypic genus. A diagnostic key of the apetalous members belonging to the American Caryophyllaceae genera is proposed. Finally, the names Stellaria obtusa and S. washingtoniana (= S. obtusa) are lectotypified based on specimens deposited, respectively, at UC (isolectotypes at GH, NY, and YU) and GH (isolectotypes at BM, CAN, CAS, CS, DOV, F, GH, K, MIN, MSC, NY, US, and VT). For the name Alsine viridula (= S. obtusa) the holotype was found at US (isotypes at CAS, F, GH, NY, OSC, RM, and UC).Conclusions: Stellaria obtusa does not belong to the genus Stellaria. The present study shows that the combined use of morphological data and phylogenetic analyses helped to clarify the taxonomic position of difficult plant groups, as in Stellaria.

scholarly journals Disentangling relationships among eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria including description of a novel species from the southern Peloponnese (Greece)

2021 ◽  
Vol 307 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Carnicero ◽  
Núria Garcia-Jacas ◽  
Llorenç Sáez ◽  
Theophanis Constantinidis ◽  
Mercè Galbany-Casals
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Aegean Islands ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic

AbstractThe eastern Mediterranean basin hosts a remarkably high plant diversity. Historical connections between currently isolated areas across the Aegean region and long-distance dispersal events have been invoked to explain current distribution patterns of species. According to most recent treatments, at least two Cymbalaria species occur in this area, Cymbalaria microcalyx and C. longipes. The former comprises several intraspecific taxa, treated at different ranks by different authors based on morphological data, evidencing the need of a taxonomic revision. Additionally, some populations of C. microcalyx show exclusive morphological characters that do not match any described taxon. Here, we aim to shed light on the systematics of eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria and to propose a classification informed by various sources of evidence. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, 3’ETS, ndhF and rpl32-trnL sequences and estimated the ploidy level of some taxa performing relative genome size measures. Molecular data combined with morphology support the division of traditionally delimited C. microcalyx into C. acutiloba, C. microcalyx and C. minor, corresponding to well-delimited nrDNA lineages. Furthermore, we propose to combine C. microcalyx subsp. paradoxa at the species level. A group of specimens previously thought to belong to Cymbalaria microcalyx constitute a well-defined phylogenetic and morphological entity and are described here as a new species, Cymbalaria spetae. Cymbalaria longipes is non-monophyletic, but characterized by being glabrous and diploid, unlike other eastern species. The nrDNA data suggest at least two dispersals from the mainland to the Aegean Islands, potentially facilitated by marine regressions.

A revision of the Leptogium saturninum group in North America

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphne F. STONE ◽  
James W. HINDS ◽  
Frances L. ANDERSON ◽  
James C. LENDEMER
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Morphological Study ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
The North ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Nrits Sequence

AbstractA revision of the North American members of the Leptogium saturninum group (i.e. species with long lower-surface hairs, isidia, and usually smooth upper surface) is presented based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of mtSSU and nrITS sequence data, together with an extensive morphological study. Three species supported by both molecular and morphological characteristics are recognized: L. acadiense sp. nov. (distinguished by granular saturninum-type isidia, medulla composed of irregularly arranged or perpendicular hyphae), L. cookii sp. nov. (distinguished by cylindrical saturninum-type isidia) and L. hirsutum (distinguished by hirsutum-type isidia and medulla composed of loosely intertwined hyphae). One species supported by morphological characteristics, but for which no molecular data could be generated, is also recognized: L. compactum sp. nov. (distinguished by hirsutum-type isidia and medulla composed of tightly packed hyphae). Finally, L. saturninum (distinguished by granular saturninum-type isidia and medulla composed of perpendicular and parallel hyphae) is supported by morphological characteristics but molecular data from geographically diverse populations, including those near the type locality, indicate that the morphologically defined species is paraphyletic. Leptogium burnetiae is excluded from North American based on morphological study of the type. The species are described and illustrated in detail, and are distinguished morphologically by their isidium development, morphology of mature isidia, and pattern of hyphae in the medulla in transverse sections near lobe margins. A key to the members of the L. saturninum group and related species is also presented.

Is accurate taxon identification important for molecular studies? Several cases of faux pas in pentatomoid bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2932 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JERZY A. LIS ◽  
BARBARA LIS
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Phylogenetic Inference ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Taxonomic Study ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Taxon Identification

Recently, DNA has become a major source for phylogenetic inference. Although, in entomology, morphology-based methods of taxon identification and the use of morphological data for phylogenetic analyses remain prevalent, the value of these types of studies (often called “traditional”) are depreciated from time to time. It is obvious, that wrong taxon identification may affect results of any taxonomic study. Here we examine evidence that not only the modern “molecular” taxonomists, but even the so-called “traditional” taxonomists, may be casual and irresponsible in taxa identification, when they do their phylogenomic research. We also argue that a researcher’s responsibility for proper taxon identification and its naming is actually much higher in molecular studies than in any others.

scholarly journals Improvements in the fossil record may largely resolve current conflicts between morphological and molecular estimates of mammal phylogeny

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1893) ◽  
pp. 20181632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin M. D. Beck ◽  
Charles Baillie
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Morphological Character ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Ancestral State ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
State Reconstruction ◽  
Consensus View

Phylogenies of mammals based on morphological data continue to show several major areas of conflict with the current consensus view of their relationships, which is based largely on molecular data. This raises doubts as to whether current morphological character sets are able to accurately resolve mammal relationships. We tested this under a hypothetical ‘best case scenario’ by using ancestral state reconstruction (under both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood) to infer the morphologies of fossil ancestors for all clades present in a recent comprehensive DNA sequence-based phylogeny of mammals, and then seeing what effect the subsequent inclusion of these predicted ancestors had on unconstrained phylogenetic analyses of morphological data. We found that this resulted in topologies that are highly congruent with the current consensus phylogeny, at least when the predicted ancestors are assumed to be well preserved and densely sampled. Most strikingly, several analyses recovered the monophyly of clades that have never been found in previous morphology-only studies, such as Afrotheria and Laurasiatheria. Our results suggest that, at least in principle, improvements in the fossil record—specifically the discovery of fossil taxa that preserve the ancestral or near-ancestral morphologies of the nodes in the current consensus—may be sufficient to largely reconcile morphological and molecular estimates of mammal phylogeny, even using current morphological character sets.

scholarly journals The phylogenetic conundrum of Lutzia (Diptera: Culicidae: Culicini): a cautionary account of conflict and support

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian J. Kitching ◽  
C. Lorna Culverwell ◽  
Ralph E. Harbach
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Generic Status ◽  
Strong Signal ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Data Support

Lutzia Theobald was reduced to a subgenus of Culex in 1932 and was treated as such until it was restored to its original generic status in 2003, based mainly on modifications of the larvae for predation. Previous phylogenetic studies based on morphological and molecular data have provided conflicting support for the generic status of Lutzia: analyses of morphological data support the generic status whereas analyses based on DNA sequences do not. Our previous phylogenetic analyses of Culicini (based on 169 morphological characters and 86 species representing the four genera and 26 subgenera of Culicini, most informal group taxa of subgenus Culex and five outgroup species from other tribes) seemed to indicate a conflict between adult and larval morphological data. Hence, we conducted a series of comparative and data exclusion analyses to determine whether the alternative positions of Lutzia are due to conflicting signal or to a lack of strong signal. We found that separate and combined analyses of adult and larval data support different patterns of relationships between Lutzia and other Culicini. However, the majority of conflicting clades are poorly supported and once these are removed from consideration, most of the topological disparity disappears, along with much of the resolution, suggesting that morphology alone does not have sufficiently strong signal to resolve the position of Lutzia. We critically examine the results of other phylogenetic studies of culicinine relationships and conclude that no morphological or molecular data set analysed in any study conducted to date has adequate signal to place Lutzia unequivocally with regard to other taxa in Culicini. Phylogenetic relationships observed thus far suggest that Lutzia is placed within Culex but further data and extended taxon sampling are required to confirm its position relative to Culex.

Instant taxonomy: choosing adequate characters for species delimitation and description through congruence between molecular data and quantitative shape analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomislav Karanovic ◽  
Seunghan Lee ◽  
Wonchoel Lee
Keyword(s):  
Shape Analysis ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Molecular Barcoding ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
University Funding ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Northern Pacific

The lack of university funding is one of the major impediments to taxonomy, partly because traditional taxonomic training takes longer than a PhD course. Understanding ranges of phenotypic variability for different morphological structures, and their use as characters for delimitation and description of taxa, is a tedious task. We argue that the advent of molecular barcoding and quantitative shape analysis makes it unnecessary. As an example, we tackle a problematic species-complex of marine copepods from Korea and Japan, approaching it as a starting taxonomist might. Samples were collected from 14 locations and the mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced from 42 specimens. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal four distinct clades in Korea and Japan, and an additional nine belonging to a closely related complex from other parts of the Northern Pacific. Twenty different morphological structures were analysed for one Japanese and two Korean clades using landmark-based two-dimensional geometric morphometrics. Although there is no single morphological character that can distinguish with absolute certainty all three cryptic species, most show statistically significant interspecific differences in shape and size. We use five characters to describe two new species from Korea and to re-describe Tigriopus japonicus Mori, 1938 from near its type locality.

scholarly journals Assessment of available anatomical characters for linking living mammals to fossil taxa in phylogenetic analyses

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 20151003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Guillerme ◽  
Natalie Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Total Evidence ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Anatomical Characters ◽  
The Impact

Analyses of living and fossil taxa are crucial for understanding biodiversity through time. The total evidence method allows living and fossil taxa to be combined in phylogenies, using molecular data for living taxa and morphological data for living and fossil taxa. With this method, substantial overlap of coded anatomical characters among living and fossil taxa is vital for accurately inferring topology. However, although molecular data for living species are widely available, scientists generating morphological data mainly focus on fossils. Therefore, there are fewer coded anatomical characters in living taxa, even in well-studied groups such as mammals. We investigated the number of coded anatomical characters available in phylogenetic matrices for living mammals and how these were phylogenetically distributed across orders. Eleven of 28 mammalian orders have less than 25% species with available characters; this has implications for the accurate placement of fossils, although the issue is less pronounced at higher taxonomic levels. In most orders, species with available characters are randomly distributed across the phylogeny, which may reduce the impact of the problem. We suggest that increased morphological data collection efforts for living taxa are needed to produce accurate total evidence phylogenies.

scholarly journals DNA-barcoding of forensically important blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the Caribbean Region

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohath Z. Yusseff-Vanegas ◽  
Ingi Agnarsson
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
The Caribbean

Correct identification of forensically important insects, such as flies in the family Calliphoridae, is a crucial step for them to be used as evidence in legal investigations. Traditional identification based on morphology has been effective, but has some limitations when it comes to identifying immature stages of certain species. DNA-barcoding, using COI, has demonstrated potential for rapid and accurate identification of Calliphoridae, however, this gene does not reliably distinguish among some recently diverged species, raising questions about its use for delimitation of species of forensic importance. To facilitate DNA based identification of Calliphoridae in the Caribbean we developed a vouchered reference collection from across the region, and a DNA sequence database, and further added the nuclear ITS2 as a second marker to increase accuracy of identification through barcoding. We morphologically identified freshly collected specimens, did phylogenetic analyses and employed several species delimitation methods for a total of 468 individuals representing 19 described species. Our results show that combination of COI + ITS2 genes yields more accurate identification and diagnoses, and better agreement with morphological data, than the mitochondrial barcodes alone. All of our results from independent and concatenated trees and most of the species delimitation methods yield considerably higher diversity estimates than the distance based approach and morphology. Molecular data support at least 24 distinct clades within Calliphoridae in this study, recovering substantial geographic variation forLucilia eximia, Lucilia retroversa, Lucilia ricaandChloroprocta idioidea, probably indicating several cryptic species. In sum, our study demonstrates the importance of employing a second nuclear marker for barcoding analyses and species delimitation of calliphorids, and the power of molecular data in combination with a complete reference database to enable identification of taxonomically and geographically diverse insects of forensic importance.

Discovery of a new species of Anolis lizards from Brazil and its implications for the historical biogeography of montane Atlantic Forest endemics

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Prates ◽  
Paulo Roberto Melo-Sampaio ◽  
Kevin de Queiroz ◽  
Ana Carolina Carnaval ◽  
Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Time Estimation ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Divergence Time Estimation ◽  
The City

Abstract Recent biological discoveries have changed our understanding of the distribution and evolution of neotropical biotas. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the discovery of closely related species isolated on distant mountains has led to the hypothesis that the ancestors of montane species occupied and dispersed through lowland regions during colder periods. This process may explain the distribution of an undescribed Anolis lizard species that we recently discovered at a montane site in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, a popular tourist destination close to the city of Rio de Janeiro. To investigate whether this species is closely related to other Atlantic Forest montane anoles, we implement phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimation based on molecular data. We infer the new species nested within the Dactyloa clade of Anolis, forming a clade with A. nasofrontalis and A. pseudotigrinus, two species restricted to montane sites about 400 km northeast of Serra dos Órgãos. The new species diverged from its sister A. nasofrontalis around 5.24 mya, suggesting a cold-adapted lowland ancestor during the early Pliocene. Based on the phylogenetic results, we emend the definitions of the series taxa within Dactyloa, recognizing a clade containing the new species and several of its relatives as the nasofrontalis series. Lastly, we provide morphological data supporting the recognition of the new species and give it a formal scientific name. Future studies are necessary to assess how park visitors, pollutants, and shrinking montane habitats due to climate change will affect this previously overlooked anole species.

Revision of the Parmelia saxatilis group in Italy based on morphological, chemical, and molecular data

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 512 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIA BEATRICE CASTELLANI ◽  
ELISABETTA BIANCHI ◽  
ANDREA COPPI ◽  
JURI NASCIMBENE ◽  
RENATO BENESPERI
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Italian Peninsula ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Shed Light

Recent molecular studies on Parmelia revealed several new semi-cryptic and cryptic species, suggesting the existence of considerable genetic diversity within this genus that may not yet be expressed at the phenotypic level. This is the case of the two species Parmelia ernstiae and P. serrana that have been described in the P. saxatilis group from Europe and that are still poorly known in Italy. The main aim of this study is to shed light into the Italian distribution of these cryptic species on the basis of a systematic and taxonomic revision of exiccata and new specimens of the Parmelia saxatilis group collected along a biogeographical gradient through the Italian peninsula. In this revision, we combined morphological, chemical, and molecular data and evaluated their reliability for identification at the species level. Results indicate that P. saxatilis is the most widespread species and that P. ernstiae is much more widespread than previously thought. In contrast, P. serrana seems to be a rare species in Italy. Our results also indicate that the combined use of morphological and chemical data does not provide a reliable tool to discriminate the cryptic species of this group and that molecular data are thus indispensable for identification at the species level. Finally, our phylogenetic analysis supports the existence of an unrecognized diversity in parmelioid lichens that should be further investigated.

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