Molecular Phylogeny of the Notomicrine Water Beetles (Coleoptera: Noteridae) Reveals Signatures of Gondwanan Vicariance and Ecological Plasticity

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M Baca ◽  
Andrew E Z Short

Abstract Notomicrinae (Coleoptera: Noteridae) is a subfamily of minute and ecologically diverse aquatic beetles distributed across the Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. We investigate the evolution of Notomicrinae and construct the first species-level phylogeny within Noteridae using five nuclear and mitochondrial gene fragments. We focus on the genus Notomicrus Sharp (Coleoptera: Noteridae), sampling 13 of the 17 known Notomicrus species and an additional 11 putative undescribed species. We also include Phreatodytes haibaraensis Uéno (Coleoptera: Noteridae). Datasets are analyzed in Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian frameworks. With these, we 1) estimate divergence times among notomicrine taxa and reconstruct the biogeographical history of the group, particularly testing the hypothesis of Gondwanan vicariance between Old World and New World Notomicrus; 2) additionally, we assess ecological plasticity within Notomicrinae in the context of the phylogeny; and 3) finally, we test the monophyly of tentative species groups within Notomicrus and place putative new taxa. We recover a monophyletic Notomicrinae, with Phreatodytes sister to Notomicrus. We estimate the crown age of Notomicrinae to be ca. 110 Mya. The crown age of Notomicrus is recovered as ca. 75 Mya, there diverging into reciprocally monophyletic Old and New World clades, suggesting Gondwanan vicariance. Our phylogenetic estimate indicates a strong degree of ecological plasticity within Notomicrinae, with habitat switching occurring in recently diverging taxa. Finally, we recover five main species groups in Notomicrus, one Old World, Four New World, with tentative affirmation of the placement of undescribed species.

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3370 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
OWEN LONSDALE ◽  
STEPHEN A. MARSHALL

Sobarocephala Czerny is divided into nine newly erected species groups: the S. archisobarocephala (4 spp.), S. erwini (3spp.), S. flava (8 New World spp.; 2 Old World spp.), S. flaviseta (86 New World spp.; 1 Old World sp.), S. interrupta (86spp.), S. isla (25 spp.), S. latipennis (16 spp.), S. plumicornis (9 Old World spp.), and S. ruebsaameni (11 spp.) groups; 1species (S. setulocetra spec. nov.) remains unplaced. There are 240 species of Sobarocephala in the New World, including17 Nearctic (2 extend into the Neotropical Region) and 170 new species, some of which were previously considered va-rieties of S. humeralis Melander & Argo. The Neotropical fauna is here described, illustrated, keyed, and placed in a phy-logenetic context. Sobarocephala peruana Soós stat. nov., formerly a subspecies of S. nigronota Melander & Argo, israised to the species level, S. imitans Curran syn. nov. and S. diversipes Curran syn. nov. are synonymized with S. liturataMelander & Argo, S. annulata albiventris Soós syn. nov. is synonymized with S. annulata Melander & Argo, S. albitarsisCzerny syn. nov. is synonymized with S. humeralis, and S. pruinosa pallidor Steyskal syn. n. is synonymized with S. pru-inosa Soós. Lectotypes are designated for S. bistrigata (Kertesz) , S. lumbalis Williston, S. plumicornis Lamb and S. variegata Melander & Argo. The egg of S. uberis spec. nov. is described.


The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 874-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Johnson ◽  
Selvino de Kort ◽  
Karen Dinwoodey ◽  
A. C. Mateman ◽  
Carel ten Cate ◽  
...  

Abstract Evolutionary history of the dove genus Streptopelia has not been examined with rigorous phylogenetic methods. We present a study of phylogenetic relationships of Streptopelia based on over 3,600 base pairs of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences. To test for monophyly of Streptopelia, we used several other columbiform taxa, including Columba (Old and New World), Macropygia, Reinwardtoena, and the enigmatic Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri). On the basis of our analyses, Streptopelia (as currently defined) is not monophyletic; Nesoenas mayeri is the sister species to S. picturata, resulting in paraphyly of Streptopelia. Three main clades of Streptopelia are identified: (1) S. chinensis plus S. senegalensis, (2) S. picturata plus Nesoenas mayeri, and (3) all other species of Streptopelia. It is unclear whether those clades form a monophyletic group to the exclusion of Old World Columba, but several analyses produce that result. Species of Old World Columba are closely related to Streptopelia, with species of New World Columba clustering outside that group. Taxonomic changes suggested by our results include merging Nesoenas with Streptopelia and changing the generic name for New World Columba species to Patagioenas. Vocal similarities between S. picturata and N. mayeri are striking, given the general diversity of vocalizations in other species.


1955 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-539
Author(s):  
Richard M. Morse

Latin americanists have in recent years become increasingly concerned with constructing the basis for a unified history of Latin America. Frequently this enterprise leads them to contemplate the even larger design of a history of the Americas. While the New World may still be, in Hegel’s words, “a land of desire for all those who are weary of the historical lumber-room of old Europe,” it is now recognized as having an independent heritage; its history is no longer experienced as “only an echo of the Old World.”


Bothalia ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 14 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 845-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Eshbaugh

The genus Capsicum (Solanaceae) includes approximately 20 wild species and 4-5 domesticated taxa commonly referred to as ‘chilies’ or ‘peppers’. The pre-Colombian distribution of the genus was New World. The evolutionary history of the genus is now envisaged as including three distinct lines leading to the domesticated taxa. The route of Capsicum to the Old World is thought to have followed three different courses. First, explorers introduced it to Europe with secondary introduction into Africa via further exploratory expeditions; second, botanical gardens played a major role in introduction; and third, introduction followed the slave trade routes. Today, pepper production in Africa is of two types, vegetable and spice. Statistical profiles on production are difficult to interpret, but the data available indicate that Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Ghana are the leading producers. Production is mainly a local phenomenon and large acreage is seldom devoted to the growing of peppers. The primary peppers in Africa are C.  annuum and C.  frutescens.


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1737 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. BLAIR HEDGES ◽  
WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN ◽  
MATTHEW P. HEINICKE

New World frogs recently placed in a single, enormous family (Brachycephalidae) have direct development and reproduce on land, often far away from water. DNA sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genes of 344 species were analyzed to estimate their relationships. The molecular phylogeny in turn was used as the basis for a revised classification of the group. The 882 described species are placed in a new taxon, Terrarana, and allocated to four families, four subfamilies, 24 genera, 11 subgenera, 33 species series, 56 species groups, and 11 species subgroups. Systematic accounts are provided for all taxa above the species level. Two families (Craugastoridae and Strabomantidae), three subfamilies (Holoadeninae, Phyzelaphryninae, and Strabomantinae), six genera (Bryophryne, Diasporus, Haddadus, Isodactylus, Lynchius, and Psychrophrynella), and two subgenera (Campbellius and Schwartzius) are proposed and named as new taxa, 13 subspecies are considered to be distinct species, and 613 new combinations are formed. Most of the 100 informal groups (species series, species groups, and species subgroups) are new or newly defined. Brachycephalus and Ischnocnema are placed in Brachycephalidae, a relatively small clade restricted primarily to southeastern Brazil. Eleutherodactylidae includes two subfamilies, four genera, and five subgenera and is centered in the Caribbean region. Craugastoridae contains two genera and three subgenera and is distributed mainly in Middle America. Strabomantidae is distributed primarily in the Andes of northwestern South America and includes two subfamilies, 16 genera, and three subgenera. Images and distribution maps are presented for taxa above the species level and a complete list of species is provided. Aspects of the evolution, biogeography, and conservation of Terrarana are discussed.


Author(s):  
Sabrina Simon ◽  
Harald Letsch ◽  
Sarah Bank ◽  
Thomas R. Buckley ◽  
Alexander Donath ◽  
...  

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4291 (2) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNA N. NERETINA ◽  
ALEXEY A. KOTOV

The Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) is an ancient group of predominantly freshwater microscopic invertebrates. During the last three decades a cosmopolitanism paradigm in the biogeography of these animals is gradually being replaced by a concept of continental endemism. Current morphological and molecular genetic data demonstrate that many Holarctic taxa actually represent sibling species groups with localized distributions. Similarly, some circumtropical cladocerans are poorly studied and must be considered using the same concept. Grimaldina Richard, 1892 (Cladocera: Macrothricidae) is an example of such taxon. Since the first description time, this genus was considered as monotypic, including a single species Grimaldina brazzai Richard, 1892, distributed in tropical regions all around the World, but being rare everywhere across its distribution range. We carefully examined specimens of Grimaldina from different tropical water bodies, redescribed morphology of G. brazzai based on new material from Africa, supplemented the genus diagnosis, and demonstrated that G. brazzai is limited to the Old World (Africa and Asia). Population from New World tropical regions are described as Grimaldina freyi sp. nov., based on material from the collection of Prof. Dr David G. Frey and named in his honor. It clearly differs from G. brazzai in: (1) antenna II with longest endopod seta bearing more densely set spinulae and (2) limb V medial portion with a smaller ratio of seta 2 to seta 3. These traits in G. freyi sp. nov. are presumably plesiomorphic, while G. brazzai has more apomorphies. Divergence between American (G. freyi sp. nov.) and Old World (G. brazzai) populations could be related to the ancient vicariant events (Gondwana breakup) or to more recent trans-continental dispersal events. 


1959 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Premvati

A study of the comparative morphology and life history of S. fülleborni, S. cebus, and S. simiae in both the parasitic and free-living generations under different environmental conditions, and their comparison with the free-living stages from faeces of Old World and New World primates has led to the conclusion that the three species should be synonymized into one, for which the name Strongyloides fülleborni von Linstow (1905) has priority.


1882 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 134-202
Author(s):  
Hyde Clarke

Although the results in this paper may appear to be novel, and are largely derived from sources newly opened up, in reality they are only the sequence of previous investigations. Long since there were published by me in the Journal of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and of the Anthropological Institute, and also in the Transactions of this Royal Historical Society, a list of place names. These tables showed the identity of the ancient names of cities in the Old World from India to Britain, and of those in the New World in wide regions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie F Salter ◽  
Peter A Hosner ◽  
Edward L Braun ◽  
Rebecca T Kimball ◽  
Robb T Brumfield ◽  
...  

As phylogenomics focuses on comprehensive taxon sampling at the species and population/subspecies levels, incorporating genomic data from historical specimens has become increasingly common. While historical samples can fill critical gaps in our understanding of the evolutionary history of diverse groups, they also introduce additional sources of phylogenomic uncertainty, making it difficult to discern novel evolutionary relationships from artifacts caused by sample quality issues. These problems highlight the need for improved strategies to disentangle artifactual patterns from true biological signal as historical specimens become more prevalent in phylogenomic datasets. Here, we tested the limits of historical specimen-driven phylogenomics to resolve subspecies-level relationships within a highly polytypic family, the New World quails (Odontophoridae), using thousands of ultraconserved elements (UCEs). We found that relationships at and above the species-level were well-resolved and highly supported across all analyses, with the exception of discordant relationships within the two most polytypic genera which included many historical specimens. We examined the causes of discordance and found that inferring phylogenies from subsets of taxa resolved the disagreements, suggesting that analyzing subclades can help remove artifactual causes of discordance in datasets that include historical samples. At the subspecies-level, we found well-resolved geographic structure within the two most polytypic genera, including the most polytypic species in this family, Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), demonstrating that variable sites within UCEs are capable of resolving phylogenetic structure below the species level. Our results highlight the importance of complete taxonomic sampling for resolving relationships among polytypic species, often through the inclusion of historical specimens, and we propose an integrative strategy for understanding and addressing the uncertainty that historical samples sometimes introduce to phylogenetic analyses.


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