Comparative Morphology, Phylogeny, Classification and Evolution of Interstitial Habits in Microcambevine Catfishes (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)

The Microcambevinae are a catfish subfamily endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, comprising rare species with interstitial habits. Microcambevines have been classified in two genera, Listrura and Microcambeva, but the relationships among included intrageneric lineages are still poorly understood. The objectives of this study are to conduct a phylogenetic analysis integrating morphological characters and a multigene dataset, and to propose a classification better reflecting morphological diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Phylogenetic analyses combining 57 morphological characters and a 2563 bp molecular dataset generated similar phylogenetic trees with high support values for most clades, including the two genera and some intrageneric groups. Six morphologically distinctive infrageneric lineages, three in Listrura and three in Microcambeva, are classified as subgenera, as well as two new species are described. The morphological diversity here recorded integrated to available information about habitat indicate high level of divergent specialisation among lineages. The analyses indicate a series of convergent morphological traits between Listrura and other teleosts sharing a fossorial lifestyle, as well as specialised traits independently occurring within Listrura lineages. Similarly, a great diversity of morphological traits occurs convergently in Microcambeva lineages and other teleosts sharing psammophilic habits. This study shows that combining molecular and morphological data yields well-supported phylogenies, making possible to unambiguously diagnose clades and to establish evolutionary hypothesis on morphological evolution.

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A systematist’s guide to estimating Bayesian phylogenies from morphological data

10.31233/osf.io/jupva ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

April Wright

Keyword(s):

Bayesian Methods ◽

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

Morphological Evolution ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Biological Knowledge ◽

Comparative Biology ◽

Prior Beliefs ◽

Biological Meaning ◽

Phylogenetic Estimation

Phylogenetic trees are crucial to many aspects of taxonomic and comparative biology. Many researchers have adopted Bayesian methods to estimate their phylogenetic trees. In this family of methods, a model of morphological evolution is assumed to have generated the data observed by the researcher. These models make a variety of assumptions about the evolution of morphological characters, and these assumptions are translated into mathematics as parameters. The incorporation of prior distributions further allows researchers to quantify their prior beliefs about the value any one parameter can take. How to translate biological knowledge into mathematical language is difficult, and can be confusing to many biologists. This review aims to help systematics researchers understand the biological meaning of common models and assumptions. Using examples from the insect fossil record, I will demonstrate empirically what assumptions mean in concrete terms, and discuss how researchers can use and understand Bayesian methods for phylogenetic estimation.

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

Plant Systematics and Evolution ◽

10.1007/s00606-020-01730-3 ◽

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.

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A re-evaluated taxon: Genetic values and morphological characters support the recognition of the Canary Island juniper of the phoenicea group at a specific level

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.406.1.3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 406 (1) ◽

pp. 64 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ANGEL ROMO ◽

MAŁGORZATA MAZUR ◽

MONTSERRAT SALVÀ-CATARINEU ◽

ADAM BORATYŃSKI

Keyword(s):

Canary Island ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Genetic Differences ◽

Specific Level ◽

Data Support ◽

Juniperus Phoenicea ◽

High Level

Analyses based on cone, seed and needle characteristics revealed that J. canariensis Guyot in Mathou & Guyot is distinct from both the Circum-Mediterranean J. turbinata and West-Mediterranean J. phoenicea. The genetic differences between these three taxa, which make up the aggregate of J. phoenicea, are found also at a high level. These data support the recognition of the Canarian juniper at the specific level. A key is proposed, in which taxa of the J. phoenicea aggregate can be distinguished on the basis of morphological traits. The nomenclatural name: Juniperus phoenicea subsp. canariensis, widely employed in the literature, is validly published. Besides we adduce that Juniperus canariensis Knight ex Godron, is not a validly published name, and therefore can not be considered an earlier homonym of J. canariensis Guyot in Mathou & Guyot.

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

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/1876312x-45032119 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 269-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

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.

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The ‘xenosmatoid’ group of Cortinarius (Agaricales) in New Zealand

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.438.4.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 438 (4) ◽

pp. 223-236

Author(s):

BÁLINT DIMA ◽

KARL SOOP

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Zealand ◽

Bayesian Inference ◽

Type Species ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

The Other ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Nrdna Its ◽

One New Species

Cortinarius section Xenosmatae, originally based on solely morphological characters, was subsequently shown to contain phylogenetically distantly related species. The type species C. xenosma is a singleton, and this study aims to revise the other members of the section using combined molecular (nrDNA ITS and LSU) and morphological data. Based on phylogenetic analyses using RAxML, PhyML and Bayesian Inference and additional morphological features one new species (C. paraxenosma) and one new section (sect. Olorinati) are proposed. Furthermore sect. Carbonelli is extended and emended to include two former members of sect. Xenosmatae. A key to the species in New Zealand with xenosmatoid morphology is provided.

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Evolution in the Proteaceae.

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9630021 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

LAS Johnson ◽

BG Briggs

Keyword(s):

Early Stage ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

Comparative Morphology ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

South American ◽

Evolutionary Scheme ◽

The Family ◽

Cytological Features ◽

Primitive Condition ◽

Relationship Of

The sources of evidence bearing on the evolution of the Proteaceae are outlined. New cytological data are presented for Embothrium (South American), Beauprea (New Caledonian), and 15 Australian genera which are mostly tropical or subtropical and with morphological characters considered primitive. Beauprea, Buckinghamia, Opisthiolepis, Embothrium, Oreocallis, and Strangea have 2n = 22 and this number is also confirmed for Stenocarpus and Lomatia. Hollandaea, Darlingia, Cardwellia, Carnarvonia, Helicia, Hicksbeachia, Gevuina, Musgravea, and Austromuellera have 2n = 28. In all these cases the chromosomes are comparable in size with those previously described in Grevillea and other genera. Placospermum has 2n = 14 and its chromosomes are many times larger, comparable with those which have been reported in Persoonia. The palaeobotanical evidence is discussed, but does not throw much light on the detailed phylogeny or on the origin of the family, although it suggests that Proteaceae were well developed in the Upper Cretaceous period. From comparative morphology and cytology, together with considerations of distribution, ecology, and other factors, the characters of the ancestral "Proto-Proteaceae" are postulated and an evolutionary scheme of probable relationships of subfamilies, tribes, and genera is put forward, but formal taxonomic rearrangement is deferred for a later publication. Morphological features of the ovule and seed and of floral orientation are discussed. The characters and probable evolutionary trends within each individual group are dealt with in detail and form the basis of a number of proposed rearrangements in the taxonomic system. Placospermum is considered to combine many primitive morphological and cytological features, and it is excluded from both the subfamilies Proteoideae and Grevilleoideae, being thought to represent an early offshoot before the differentiation of those groups. The Proteoideae are probably polyphyletic but the Grevilleoideae represent a more close-knit assemblage. Within the subfamilies certain groups consist of clearly allied genera and appear to be monophyletic. These constitute the majority of the formally recognized tribes, viz. Proteeae (here including Synaphea and Conospermum), Grevilleeae (here restricted to Finschia, Grevillea, and Hakea), Musgraveeae (Musgravea, Austromuellera), and Banksieae. The tribe Embothrieae, here restricted to those genera of the Grevilleoideae with n = 11, shows considerable morphological diversity but is accepted for the present. It is shown that Strangea should be removed from the Grevilleeae and placed in the Embothrieae near Stenocarpus, with which it shares distinctive seed and inflorescence characters. Some isolated genera, viz. Orites (Grevilleoideae) and in particular Franklandia (Proteoideae), show marked specialization in many features and may be given tribal status. The other two tribes recognized, Persoonieae (in the Proteoideae) and Macadamieae (in the Grevilleoideae), consist of genera which, although advanced in certain respects, preserve numerous primitive features. Each of these tribes comprises a number of groups and individual genera which appear to be the result of evolutionary lines that have been independent from a very early stage. The African genus Brabeium, formerly placed in Persoonieae, is shown to be related to Macadamia. There remain certain genera, viz. Dilobeia (Proteoideae) and also Hollandaea, Knightia, Darlingia, Cardwellia, and Carnarvonia (Grevilleoideae), for which no formal grouping is at present suggested. The frequent independence of trends of specialization in individual characters is stressed, and the relationship of zygomorphy and other floral and inflorescence specializations to pollination by higher insects and birds is discussed. The primitive condition of the inflorescence is considered to have been essentially racemose, not a thyrse as recently suggested. Racemose inflorescences are found in many Proteoideae but the apparent raceme in Grevilleoideae is thought to be a reduced panicle.The phytogeography of the family is briefly discussed. There is evidence indicating a tropical origin, and therefore suggestions of southern connections between Australia and Africa are discounted, though they may have occurred between Australia and South America. Stress is placed on the need for an understanding of evolution within the family as a prerequisite to the development of theories on its position among the Angiosperms and on its historical phytogeography.

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Phylogeny, morphology and the role of hybridization as driving force of evolution in grass tribes Aveneae and Poeae (Poaceae)

10.1101/707588 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Natalia Tkach ◽

Julia Schneider ◽

Elke Döring ◽

Alexandra Wölk ◽

Anne Hochbach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

Morphological Evolution ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Data Matrix ◽

Hybrid Origin ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Study Group ◽

Ancestral State ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic

ABSTRACTTo investigate the evolutionary diversification and morphological evolution of grass supertribe Poodae (subfam. Pooideae, Poaceae) we conducted a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis including representatives from most of their accepted genera. We focused on generating a DNA sequence dataset of plastid matK gene–3’trnK exon and trnL– trnF regions and nuclear ribosomal ITS1–5.8S gene–ITS2 and ETS that was taxonomically overlapping as completely as possible (altogether 257 species). The idea was to infer whether phylogenetic trees or certain clades based on plastid and nuclear DNA data correspond with each other or discord, revealing signatures of past hybridization. The datasets were analysed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Instances of severe conflicts between the phylogenetic trees derived from both datasets, some of which have been noted earlier, unambiguously point to hybrid origin of several lineages (subtribes, groups of genera, sometimes genera) such as Phalaridinae, Scolochloinae, Sesleriinae, Torreyochloinae; Arctopoa, Castellia, Graphephorum, Hyalopodium, Lagurus, Macrobriza, Puccinellia plus Sclerochloa, Sesleria, Tricholemma, American Trisetum, etc. and presumably Airinae, Holcinae and Phleinae. ‘Calamagrostis’ flavens appears to be an intergeneric hybrid between Agrostis and Calamagrostis. Most frequently there is good agreement of other regions of the trees, apart from intrinsic different phylogenetic resolution of the respective DNA markers. To explore the to date rather unclear morphological evolution of our study group a data matrix encompassing finally 188 characters was analysed for ancestral state reconstructions (ASR) using the tree from the combined molecular dataset as presumably best approximation to the species phylogeny. For 74 characters ASRs were feasible and yielded partly surprising results for the study group as a whole but also for some of their subdivisions. Considering taxonomy and classification it became evident, that many morphological characters show a very high degree of homoplasy and are seemingly able to change within comparatively short timespans in the evolution of our grasses. Most of the taxonomic units distinguished within our study group, e.g. as subtribes, are defined less by consistent morphological characters or character combinations and should be rather understood as clades revealed by molecular phylogenetic analysis. One reason for this extreme homoplasy concerning traditionally highly rated characters of inflorescences or spikelets and their components might be that they have little to do with pollination (always wind) or adaptation to pollinators as in other angiosperms but rather with dispersal and diaspores. Easily changing structure of spikelet disarticulation, of glume, lemma or awn characters might be advantageous in the rapid adaptation to different habitats and micro-habitats, which was evidently most successfully accomplished by these grasses. A partly revised classification of Poodae is presented, including a re-instatement of tribes Aveneae and Poeae s.str. Following a comparatively narrow delineation of preferably monophyletic subtribes, Antinoriinae, Avenulinae, Brizochloinae, Helictochloinae, Hypseochloinae are described as new. New genera are Arctohyalopoa and Hyalopodium. New combinations are Arctohyalopoa lanatiflora, A. lanatiflora subsp. ivanoviae, A. lanatiflora subsp. momica, Colpodium biebersteinianum, C. kochii, C. trichopodum, C. verticillatum, Deschampsia micrathera, Dupontia fulva, Festuca masafuerana, Hyalopodium araraticum, Paracolpodium baltistanicum, Parapholis cylindrica, P. ×pauneroi. Festuca masatierrae is a new name.Supporting Information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article.

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Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals new species in Rhytismataceae (Rhytismatales, Leotiomycetes, Ascomycota) from Guizhou Province, China

MycoKeys ◽

10.3897/mycokeys.76.58465 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 76 ◽

pp. 81-106

Author(s):

Jin-Feng Zhang ◽

Jian-Kui Liu ◽

Kevin D. Hyde ◽

Anusha H. Ekanayaka ◽

Zuo-Yi Liu

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Comparative Morphology ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Guizhou Province ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Phylogenetic Affinities ◽

Karst Terrains

Karst formations represent a unique eco-environment. Research in the microfungi inhabiting this area is limited. During an ongoing survey of ascomycetous microfungi from karst terrains in Guizhou Province, China, we discovered four new species, which are introduced here as Hypoderma paralinderae, Terriera karsti, T. meitanensis and T. sigmoideospora placed in Rhytismataceae, based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters. Molecular analyses, based on concatenated LSU-ITS-mtSSU sequence data, were used to infer phylogenetic affinities. Detail descriptions and comprehensive illustrations of these new taxa are provided and relationships with the allied species are discussed, based on comparative morphology and molecular data.

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Variation of specific morphological traits and ploidy level of five Aegilops L. species in Morocco.

Acta Botanica Malacitana ◽

10.24310/abm.v28i0.7265 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 47-58

Author(s):

Bouchra Belkadi ◽

Nourredine Assali ◽

Ouafae Benlhabib

Keyword(s):

Ploidy Level ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Cytogenetic Study ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Wheat Breeding ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽

Triticum Spp ◽

Total Variability

ABSTRACT. Variation of specific morphological traits and ploidy level of five Aegilops L. species in Morocco.The genus Aegilops L. represents an important natural source of useful genes for wheat breeding, with particular emphasis on biotic and abiotic stress resistance. For successful crosses, the primarily step is to select appropriate Aegilops accessions. In this paper, we studied five Moroccan species of an Aegilops collection on the basis of spike structure and chromosome number. Twenty-eight specific morphological characters were used to differentiate the species. Statistical analyses, in particular the DFA, allowed the characterization of the genetic variability of the species; the two first standardized axes explained 96,2% of the total variability and 100% of the entities were classified within their own group. In addition, the dendrogram constructed using morphological data reveals a significant variability within and between species. Cytogenetic study revealed four species, A. geniculata Roth, A. triuncialis L., A. ventricosa Tausch and A.peregrina Maire & Weiller, to be tetraploid. However, A. neglecta Req. ex. Bertol., where only two accessions are represented in the collection, revealed to be hexaploid, and can then be classified as A. neglecta subsp. recta Chennav.Key words. Aegilops, Variation, Morphology, Ploidy, Morocco.RÉSUMÉ. Variation des caracteres morphologiques specificities et niveau de plordie de an(' espéces Aegilops L. au Maroc. Le genre Aegilops L. représente une importante source de genes, potentiellement utilisables dans Pamelioration des blés cultivés (Triticum spp.) notamment pour la resistance aux stress biotiques et abiotiques. Le choix des accessions Aegilops á employer, dans un programme d' hybridation interspécifique, necessite une caractérisation taxonomique et une evaluation préalables. L'objectif de ce travail a ete d'étudier des accessions, appartenant á 5 especes marocaines constituant une collection d'Aegilops, sur la base de caracteres morphologiques specifiques de l'épi et du niveau de ploYdie. La caractérisation phénotypique a été basée sur l'étude de 28 caracteres morphologiques qui discriminent entre les especes. Les resultats des analyses statistiques, en particulier de l'AFD, ont permis de caractériser la variabilite génetique de ces especes et ant donne un pourcentage d'appartenance á l'espece de 100%. Aussi, les deux premiers axes standardises expliquent 96,2% de la variabilité totale. Un demlrogramme a éte aussi construit, revelant une variabilite interspecifique. L'étude cytogenétique a révélé une tetraploYdie pour A. geniculata Roth, A. triuncialis L., A. ventricosa Tausch et A. peregrina Maire & Weiller. Quant á A. neglecta Req. ex. Bertol., une hexaploYdie a été mise en evidence pour les deux uniques accessions disponibles dans la collection, permettant de leur attribuer le nom A. neglecta subsp. recta Chennav.Mots clés. Aegilops, Variation, Morphologic, Plolidie, Maroc.

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Genetic and morphological data support placement of Myrmotherula gularis (Spix) in the monotypic genus Rhopias Cabanis and Heine (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3451.1.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3451 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

RICARDO BELMONTE-LOPES ◽

GUSTAVO A. BRAVO ◽

MARCOS R. BORNSCHEIN ◽

GIOVANNI N. MAURÍCIO ◽

MARCIO R. PIE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Morphological Traits ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Character State ◽

Monotypic Genus ◽

Ancestral Reconstruction ◽

The Family ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Phylogenetic Resolution ◽

Phylogenetic Affinities

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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