scholarly journals A revised multilocus phylogeny of Old World sparrows (Aves: Passeridae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 353-366
Author(s):  
Martin Päckert ◽  
Jens Hering ◽  
Abdelkrim Ait Belkacem ◽  
Yue-Hua Sun ◽  
Sabine Hille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽  
Phylogenetic Information ◽  
Old World ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Firm Evidence ◽  
Multilocus Phylogeny

Abstract The Old World sparrows include some of the best-studied passerine species, such as the cosmopolitan human commensal, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) as well as poorly studied narrow-range endemics like the Iago sparrow (P. iagoensis) from the Cape Verde Archipelago or specialists from extreme environments like the desert sparrow (P. simplex). It is therefore notable that to date the most complete phylogenetic hypothesis for the Old World sparrows comprised only ten of 43 currently accepted species. With this study we provide an updated phylogeny of Passeridae covering about two third of the family’s species richness. Though still being far from taxon-complete, this new phylogenetic hypothesis provides firm evidence to clarify some open taxonomic questions. All genus-level taxa were reciprocally monophyletic with strong support. Contrary to previous classifications, bush sparrows and rock sparrows were not sister taxa, and therefore their classification in separate genera Gymnoris and Petronia is justified. Plumage color traits like the yellow throat patch of the latter two genera or head color pattern in Passer species do not provide reliable phylogenetic information, except for the large-sized African grey-headed sparrows that resulted as a monophyletic group (P. diffusus, P. griseus, P. gongoensis). Unexpectedly, two small-sized species, P. eminibey and P. luteus that to date are regarded as close relatives were firmly nested in two separate clades of Passer sparrows. Therefore, their separate generic treatment under Sorella eminibey and Auripasser luteus (together with A. euchlorus) does not seem justified.

scholarly journals Muellerella, a lichenicolous fungal genus recovered as polyphyletic within Chaetothyriomycetidae (Eurotiomycetes, Ascomycota)

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-381
Author(s):  
Lucia Muggia ◽  
Sergio Pérez-Ortega ◽  
Damien Ertz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Taxon Sampling ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Monophyletic Lineage ◽  
Black Fungi ◽  
Culture Dependent ◽  
Multilocus Phylogeny

AbstractMolecular data and culture-dependent methods have helped to uncover the phylogenetic relationships of numerous species of lichenicolous fungi, a specialized group of taxa that inhabit lichens and have developed diverse degrees of specificity and parasitic behaviors. The majority of lichenicolous fungal taxa are known in either their anamorphic or teleomorphic states, although their anamorph-teleomorph relationships have been resolved in only a few cases. The pycnidium-forming Lichenodiplis lecanorae and the perithecioid taxa Muellerella atricola and M. lichenicola were recently recovered as monophyletic in Chaetothyriales (Eurotiomycetes). Both genera are lichenicolous on multiple lichen hosts, upon which they show a subtle morphological diversity reflected in the description of 14 species in Muellerella (of which 12 are lichenicolous) and 12 in Lichenodiplis. Here we focus on the teleomorphic genus Muellerella and investigate its monophyly by expanding the taxon sampling to other species occurring on diverse lichen hosts. We generated molecular data for two nuclear and one mitochondrial loci (28S, 18S and 16S) from environmental samples. The present multilocus phylogeny confirms the monophyletic lineage of the teleomorphic M. atricola and M. lichenicola with their L. lecanorae-like anamorphs, but places the rest of the Muellerella species studied in two different monophyletic lineages with strong support. The first, Muellerella spp. 1, is nested within some new lineages of black fungi isolated from different epilithic lichen thalli, while the second, Muellerella spp. 2, is closely related to the Verrucariales. Based on these results, we reappraise the phylogenetic placement of Muellerella and suggest its polyphyly within Chaetothyriomycetidae.

scholarly journals Using Biogeography to Assess Key Adaptation Strength in Two Bird Families

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdel H. Halloway ◽  
Christopher J. Whelan ◽  
Çağan H. Şekercioğlu ◽  
Joel S. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
New World ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
The Other ◽  
Latitudinal Gradients ◽  
Old World ◽  
Extended Range

AbstractAdaptations can be thought of as evolutionary technologies which allow an organism to exploit environments. Among convergent taxa, adaptations may be largely equivalent with the taxa operating in a similar set of environmental conditions, divergent with the taxa operating in different sets of environmental conditions, or superior with one taxon operating within an extended range of environmental conditions than the other. With this framework in mind, we sought to characterize the adaptations of two convergent nectarivorous bird families, the New World hummingbirds (Trochilidae) and Old World sunbirds (Nectariniidae), by comparing their biogeography. Looking at their elevational and latitudinal gradients, hummingbirds not only extend into but also maintain species richness in more extreme environments. We suspect that hummingbirds have a superior key adaptation that sunbirds lack, namely a musculoskeletal architecture that allows for hovering. Through biogeographic comparisons, we have been able to assess and understand adaptations as evolutionary technologies among two convergent bird families, a process that should work for most taxa.

Phylogeny of Philornis Meinert species (Diptera: Muscidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1530 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
MÁRCIA SOUTO COURI ◽  
CLAUDIO JOSÉ BARROS DE CARVALHO ◽  
PETER LÖWENBERG-NETO
Keyword(s):  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Lower Half ◽  
Evolutionary Trends ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽  
Old World ◽  
Male Characters ◽  
Median Width

This study presents a cladistic analysis of the Neotropical Philornis species based on morphological characters of adults and larvae, as well as biological data on larvae. Forty-one species of Philornis were used in the analysis, which was based on a total of 64 characters and included six outgroup taxa, half of which belong to Passeromyia Rodhain & Villeneuve, an Old World genus that shows the same variety of associations with birds as Philornis. Four most parsimonious cladograms (242 steps in length; ci=30; ri=69) were produced. According to the analysis, the genus Philornis is supported by the following synapomorphies (adults): only the pre-scutellar pair of acrostichal postsutural setae developed and setulae on anepimeron present. The resulting phylogenetic hypothesis (strict consensus) shows a basal polytomy that includes the species that traditionally correspond to the “aitkeni-group”. This group is mainly defined by male characters, which are known for only about half of these species. The next clade is divided into two others, the first one supported by the homoplasies: cheek hairs yellow; setulae on anepimeron black on upper half and yellow on lower half and proepimeral hairs yellow. This group traditionally corresponds to the “falsificus-group” and more data on the biology of the species will certainly clarify and/or confirm their relationships. Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken is the sister group of all the remaining Philornis species. This third clade corresponds to the “angustifrons-group”, defined in this analysis by the following synapomorphies: concave shape of posterior end of puparium and the median width of female frons. These “traditional” groups, the relationships among the species and their evolutionary trends are discussed.

scholarly journals Phylogeny of the family Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes): from characters to taxonomy

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Marcos Mirande
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽  
Phylogenetic Information ◽  
Neotropical Fishes ◽  
Incertae Sedis ◽  
The Family ◽  
Taxonomic Implications

The family Characidae is the most diverse among Neotropical fishes. Systematics of this family are mainly based on pre-cladistic papers, and only recently a phylogenetic hypothesis for Characidae was proposed by the author. That phylogeny was based on 360 morphological characters studied for 160 species, including representatives of families related to Characidae. This paper is based on that phylogenetic analysis, with the analyzed characters described herein and documented, accompanied by comparisons of their definition and coding in previous papers. Synapomorphies of each node of the proposed phylogeny are listed, comparisons with previous classifications provided, and autapomorphies of the analyzed species listed. Taxonomic implications of the proposed classification and the position of the incertae sedis genera within Characidae are discussed. A discussion of the phylogenetic information of the characters used in the classical systematics of the Characidae is provided.

Do Hind Wing Eyespots of Caligo Butterflies Function in Both Mating Behavior and Antipredator Defense? (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Logan D Crees ◽  
Phil DeVries ◽  
Carla M Penz
Keyword(s):  
Hind Wing ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Visual Signal ◽  
Antipredator Defense ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract In general, butterfly ventral hind wing eyespots are considered to play a role in predator–prey interactions. These eyespots are prominent wing pattern elements in Brassolini butterflies, and they vary in size, position, and number across taxa. Female Caligo Hübner, 1819 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) appear to use the large eyespots of lekking males as a mate-locating cue, but female Opsiphanes Doubleday, 1849 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) do not because males patrol to find mates. These behaviors led us to predict that male Caligo should have larger eyespots than females, but eyespot size would not differ between sexes in Opsiphanes. Our analyses supported these predictions. As displacement of the eyespots to the center of the wing might make them more conspicuous, we asked if eyespot position and size covaried across the Brassolini phylogeny. While we found a positive association between position and size, the relationship of these two variables contained significant phylogenetic signal. Two Brassolini species show strong sexual dimorphism where females converge on the color pattern of sympatric species of Caligo. Their ventral hind wing eyespots are much larger than those of close relatives, approximating those of Caligo, and further reinforcing the importance of ventral hind wing eyespots as a visual signal in this group of butterflies. Importantly, our results suggest that, in addition to antipredation defense, ventral hind wing eyespots can function in mating activities, and consequently they might be evolving under both natural and sexual selection in Caligo butterflies.

Transfer of four species of Cryptantha to the genus Johnstonella (Boraginaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 425 (5) ◽  
pp. 279-289
Author(s):  
MICHAEL G. SIMPSON ◽  
MAKENZIE E. MABRY ◽  
KRISTEN HASENSTAB-LEHMAN
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Herbaceous Plant ◽  
New Combinations ◽  
Morphological Similarity ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
The Family ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Close Relatives

Based on a previous molecular phylogenetic analysis, Cryptantha, an herbaceous plant genus of the family Boraginaceae, subtribe Amsinckiinae, was split into five genera: Eremocarya, Greeneocharis, Johnstonella, Oreocarya, and a reduced Cryptantha, the last in two separate clades. As a result of this study, Johnstonella was expanded to 13 species and 15 minimum-rank taxa, these formerly classified in Cryptantha s.l. More recent analyses of this complex, with an increased sample size and high-throughput sequence data, indicate that four additional Cryptantha species not previously sampled—C. albida, C. mexicana, C. texana—plus what was originally identified as C. hispida nest within Johnstonella with strong support. However, the identity of C. hispida used in this analysis is now in doubt. The material used likely represents a new species, in the process of being investigated. Two additional species not sequenced to date—C. geohintonii and C. gypsites—are clearly close relatives of C. albida and C. mexicana, based on morphological similarity. In order to maintain monophyly of genera, we here make new combinations in transferring four of these species from Cryptantha to Johnstonella, with the new combinations Johnstonella albida, J. geohintonii, J. gypsites, and J. mexicana. We delay the transfer of Cryptantha texana to Johnstonella because of its morphological similarity to other species that clearly nest within Cryptantha s.s. These same molecular phylogenetic studies may also support the transfer of two previously recognized Johnstonella species—J. echinosepala and J. micromeres—to Cryptantha, one to each of two separate clades. Additional phylogenetic studies focusing on some of these taxa are needed to confirm the position of these latter three species and the possible recognition of a new genus in the complex.

Phylogenetic evaluation of systematics and biogeography of the leech family Glossiphoniidae

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E. Siddall ◽  
Rebecca B. Budinoff ◽  
Elizabeth Borda
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
North American ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽  
The North ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
High Degree

The phylogenetic relationships of Glossiphoniidae, a leech family characterised by its high degree of parental care, were investigated with the combined use of morphological data and three molecular datasets. There was strong support for monophyly of most accepted genera in the group, many of which are consistent with eyespot morphology. The genera Desserobdella Barta & Sawyer, 1990 and Oligobdella Moore, 1918 are suppressed as junior synonyms of Placobdella Blanchard, 1893 and thus recognising each of Placobdella picta (Verrill, 1872) Moore, 1906, Placobdella phalera (Graf, 1899) Moore, 1906, and Placobdella biannulata (Moore, 1900), comb. nov. The species Glossiphonia elegans (Verrill, 1872) Castle, 1900 and Helobdella modesta (Verrill, 1872), comb. nov. are resurrected for the North American counterparts to European non-sanguivorous species. Glossphonia baicalensis (Stschegolew, 1922), comb. nov. is removed from the genus Torix Blanchard 1898 and Alboglossiphonia quadrata (Moore, 1949) Sawyer, 1986 is removed from the genus Hemiclepsis Vejdovsky, 1884. The biogeographic implications of the phylogenetic hypothesis are evaluated in the context of what is already known for vertebrate hosts and Tertiary continental arrangements.

scholarly journals The expeditions of the research yacht Utowana and the building of the plant living collections of the oldest botanical garden of Cuba

Webbia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-166
Author(s):  
Rosalina Montes Espín ◽  
Ileana Fernández-Santana ◽  
Amanda Lucía Vitlloch Ramos ◽  
Leosveli Vasallo Rodríguez ◽  
Mario A. Lima Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Harvard University ◽  
Panama Canal ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
United Fruit Company ◽  
Old World ◽  
Germplasm Collections ◽  
The Caribbean

Cienfuegos Botanical Garden is the oldest functioning botanical institution of Cuba. It was established originally as a joint endeavor between sugar magnate Edwin F. Atkins and Harvard University in 1901. Between 1925 and 1934, the research yacht Utowana performed ample plant germplasm collections for the USDA in the New and Old World as well as archeological and zoological surveys in the Neotropics. The botanical expeditions were conducted mostly, under the leadership of David Fairchild. In this contribution we review to what extent Utowana expeditions and collections were instrumental in building the living collections of Cienfuegos Botanical Garden. A total of 278 accessions (comprising 254 species) were introduced into this garden directly or indirectly through these expeditions. Currently 57 of these species (132 individuals) are still part of its living collections. Interestingly, five of the Caribbean expeditions of this research yacht carried plant material between the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden and two other botanic gardens that were operated by US entities, namely the Lancetilla Botanical Garden in Honduras (owned by the United Fruit Company) and the Summit Gardens in Panama City (managed by the Panama Canal governmental agency). Our study also shows that plant material collected during Utowana expeditions was sent from Old World and Caribbean Island botanic gardens to Cienfuegos Botanical Garden. Thomas Barbour, director of this botanical institution between 1927 and 1946 joined four of these plant hunting endeavors. He provided strong support for the growing of the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden living collections with plant material collected during Utowana expeditions. 

scholarly journals Patterns of avian malaria in tropical and temperate environments: testing the "The enemy release hypothesis"

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmine Antonini ◽  
Debora Nogueira Campos Lobato ◽  
Ana Cláudia Norte ◽  
Jaime A. Ramos ◽  
Patrícia de Abreu Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
New World ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Enemy Release Hypothesis ◽  
Enemy Release ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Old World ◽  
Ecological Release

Abstract: According to the enemy release hypothesis (ERH) the spread of invasive species will be facilitated by release from their enemies as they occupy new areas. However, the ERH has rarely been tested by comparing populations of native (non-invasive, long established) species with expanding or shifting ranges, to the same species as invasive in another area. We tested the ERH with respect to blood parasite levels (prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp.) of (a) two closely related, widely distributed species of thrush (Turdus leucomelas and T. merula), and (b) an invasive sparrow (Passer domesticus) whose range has expanded from the Old World to the New World since the 18th century. A total of 158 birds were sampled in Portugal and 99 in Brazil. All bird species were parasitized, and 55% of the individuals collected were parasitized, and the mean intensity of infection was of 28 parasites per 10,000 erythrocytes. We assessed whether differences in levels of infection (prevalence and intensity) were due to site (tropical/New World and temperate/Old World) or host species. The ERH was supported: Passer domesticus and Turdus merula had higher levels of parasitism in the Old World than in the New World. Thus, P. domesticus seems to be benefitting from its "recent" range expansion, compared to T. leucomelas, through ecological release from its native parasites and because the parasites of the recently invaded area seem to be infesting native species instead.

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