scholarly journals Probabilistic methods surpass parsimony when assessing clade support in phylogenetic analyses of discrete morphological data

Palaeontology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E. O'Reilly ◽  
Mark N. Puttick ◽  
Davide Pisani ◽  
Philip C. J. Donoghue
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Probabilistic Methods ◽  
Morphological Data

scholarly journals Habitat Partitioning and Overlap by Large Lacertid Lizards in Southern Europe

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Daniel Escoriza ◽  
Félix Amat
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Probabilistic Methods ◽  
Climate Niche ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Occupancy Patterns ◽  
Lacertid Lizards

South-western Europe has a rich diversity of lacertid lizards. In this study, we evaluated the occupancy patterns and niche segregation of five species of lacertids, focusing on large-bodied species (i.e., adults having >75 mm snout-vent length) that occur in south-western Europe (Italian to the Iberian Peninsula). We characterized the niches occupied by these species based on climate and vegetation cover properties. We expected some commonality among phylogenetically related species, but also patterns of habitat segregation mitigating competition between ecologically equivalent species. We used multivariate ordination and probabilistic methods to describe the occupancy patterns and evaluated niche evolution through phylogenetic analyses. Our results showed climate niche partitioning, but with a wide overlap in transitional zones, where segregation is maintained by species-specific responses to the vegetation cover. The analyses also showed that phylogenetically related species tend to share large parts of their habitat niches. The occurrence of independent evolutionary lineages contributed to the regional species richness favored by a long history of niche divergence.

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.

scholarly journals High parasite diversity in a neglected host: larval trematodes of Bithynia tentaculata in Central Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Schwelm ◽  
O. Kudlai ◽  
N.J. Smit ◽  
C. Selbach ◽  
B. Sures
Keyword(s):  
Central Europe ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Snail Host ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Curonian Lagoon ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Bithynia Tentaculata ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Host Families ◽  
High Parasite

Abstract Bithynids snails are a widespread group of molluscs in European freshwater systems. However, not much information is available on trematode communities from molluscs of this family. Here, we investigate the trematode diversity of Bithynia tentaculata, based on molecular and morphological data. A total of 682 snails from the rivers Lippe and Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and 121 B. tentaculata from Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania were screened for infections with digeneans. In total, B. tentaculata showed a trematode prevalence of 12.9% and 14%, respectively. The phylogenetic analyses based on 55 novel sequences for 36 isolates demonstrated a high diversity of digeneans. Analyses of the molecular and morphological data revealed a species-rich trematode fauna, comprising 20 species, belonging to ten families. Interestingly, the larval trematode community of B. tentaculata shows little overlap with the well-studied trematode fauna of lymnaeids and planorbids, and some of the detected species (Echinochasmus beleocephalus and E. coaxatus) constitute first records for B. tentaculata in Central Europe. Our study revealed an abundant, diverse and distinct trematode fauna in B. tentaculata, which highlights the need for further research on this so far understudied host–parasite system. Therefore, we might currently be underestimating the ecological roles of several parasite communities of non-pulmonate snail host families in European fresh waters.

scholarly journals Contrasting Phylogeographic Patterns Among Northern and Southern Hemisphere Fin Whale Populations With New Data From the Southern Pacific

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJosé Pérez-Alvarez ◽  
Sebastián Kraft ◽  
Nicolás I. Segovia ◽  
Carlos Olavarría ◽  
Sergio Nigenda-Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phylogeographic Structure ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Middle Latitudes ◽  
The North ◽  
Southeastern Pacific ◽  
Fin Whales ◽  
Dispersal Events

Four fin whale sub-species are currently considered valid: Balaenoptera physalus physalus in the North Atlantic, B. p. velifera in the North Pacific, B. p. quoyi and B. p. patachonica in the Southern Hemisphere. The last, not genetically validated, was described as a pygmy-type sub-species, found in low to mid latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Genetic analyses across hemispheres show strong phylogeographic structure, yet low geographic coverage in middle latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere impeded an assessment within the area, as well as evaluating the validity of B. p. patachonica. New mtDNA sequences from the Southeastern Pacific allowed an improved coverage of the species’ distribution. Our phylogenetic analyses showed three main lineages and contrasting phylogeographic patterns between Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Absence of recurrent female mediated gene flow between hemispheres was found; however, rare dispersal events revealing old migrations were noted. The absence of genetic structure suggests the existence of one single taxa within the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, until further evidence supporting this subspecies can be produced, such as genetic, ecological, behavioral, or morphological data, we propose that all fin whales from the Southern Hemisphere, including those from middle latitudes of the Southeastern Pacific belong to B. p. quoyi subspecies. This information is important for the current assessment of fin whales, contributing to the evaluation of the taxonomic classification and the conservation of the species.

A combined morphological and molecular phylogeny for sea urchins (Echinoidea: Echinodermata)

1995 ◽  
Vol 347 (1320) ◽  
pp. 213-234 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Data Base ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Total Evidence ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Molecular Sequences ◽  
Higher Taxa ◽  
Stem Group

Phylogenedc reladonships of higher taxa of echinoids have been invesdgated using a 163 character morphological data base and molecular sequences from large and small subunit (LSU and SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The complete ssu rRNA gene has been sequenced for 21 taxa, with representatives from nine of the 14 extant orders of Echinoidea. Partial LSU sequences, representing the first 400 base pairs (b.p.) from the 5' end were also sequenced for three taxa to complement an existing data base of ten taxa. The two molecular sequences provided a total of 371 variable sites, of which 143 were phylogenetically informative (compared to 145 phylogenetically informative sites from morphological data). Morphological, LSU and SSU data have been analysed separately and together. Morphological and ssu sequence data generate topologies that are not significantly in conflict (under Templeton’s test), but the strong signal pairing arbaciids with clypeasteroids in the LSU derived tree marks the LSU sequence data as anomalous for this taxon. A ‘ total evidence’ approach derived a tree very similar in topology to that derived from morphological data. Rooted on the stem group echinoid Archaeocidaris , our total evidence tree suggested relationships of higher taxa as follows: Gidaroida Phormosomatidae Echinothuriidae Diadematidae Spatangoida Clypeasteroida, Cassiduloida Calycina, Arbacioida Stomopneustidae Glyphocidaridae Temnopleuridae Echinometridae Echinidae, Strongylocentridae. Phylogenetic analyses run both with and without key fossil taxa yielded slightly different topologies. It is important to include fossil taxa in a phylogenetic analysis where there are long stem-group branches or where the crown group is highly derived.

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.

Selected Ordovician Trilobites from the Lake St. John District of Quebec and Their Bearing on Systematics

1995 ◽  
Vol 69 (S42) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre J. Lespérance ◽  
Sylvain Desbiens
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Minimal Length ◽  
Large Data Sets ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Eye Position ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Status

The thorax of Hypodicranotus has ten segments and a spine on the eighth. The ages of Erratencrinurus s.l. spicatus and Erratencrinurus (Erratencrinurus?) vigilans in the Lake St. John district do not confirm their temporal roles leading to subgenera of Erratencrinurus, as has been recently suggested. Phylogenetic analyses of large data sets of species previously referred to Encrinuroides and Physemataspis yield a minimal length cladogram containing 18 species. Encrinuroides is restricted to four species, two of which have biogeographic affinities with Iapetus. These results lead to three clades, named the Walencrinuroides n. gen. clade, Frencrinuroides n. gen. clade, and finally the Physemataspis clade, with an enlarged concept of the genus with the erection of Physemataspis (Prophysemataspis) n. subgen. These last three clades are restricted to North America and Scotland, with alternating predominance of one region. Walencrinuroides s.l. gelaisi n. gen. n. sp. is described. New morphological data on Erratencrinurus s.l. spicatus confirm its close relationship with the clades discussed above. Data are insufficient for phylogenetic analysis of selected cheirurine species here surveyed. Eye position, glabellar segmentation, and pygidial shape differentiate the genera Ceraurus and Gabriceraurus; emended diagnoses of these genera are presented. Ceraurus globulobatus and C. matranseris are distinct, but morphologically close to one another. The status of Gabriceraurus dentatus can be stabilized on its extant types.

scholarly journals A molecular method for a qualitative analysis of potentially coding sequences of DNA

2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (3a) ◽  
pp. 383-398
Author(s):  
M. L. Christoffersen ◽  
M. E. Araújo ◽  
M. A. M. Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Computer Algorithms ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Tree Topologies ◽  
Alternative Amino Acid ◽  
Cladistic Analyses ◽  
Transformation Series

Total sequence phylogenies have low information content. Ordinary misconceptions are that character quality can be ignored and that relying on computer algorithms is enough. Despite widespread preference for a posteriori methods of character evaluation, a priori methods are necessary to produce transformation series that are independent of tree topologies. We propose a stepwise qualitative method for analyzing protein sequences. Informative codons are selected, alternative amino acid transformation series are analyzed, and most parsimonious transformations are hypothesized. We conduct four phylogenetic analyses of philodryanine snakes. The tree based on all nucleotides produces least resolution. Trees based on the exclusion of third positions, on an asymmetric step matrix, and on our protocol, produce similar results. Our method eliminates noise by hypothesizing explicit transformation series for each informative protein-coding amino acid. This approaches qualitative methods for morphological data, in which only characters successfully interpreted in a phylogenetic context are used in cladistic analyses. The method allows utilizing character information contained in the original sequence alignment and, therefore, has higher resolution in inferring a phylogenetic tree than some traditional methods (such as distance methods).

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document