Large-scale molecular phylogeny of metallic wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestoidea) provides new insights into relationships and reveals multiple evolutionary origins of the larval leaf-mining habit

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMANDA M. EVANS ◽  
DUANE D. MCKENNA ◽  
CHARLES L. BELLAMY ◽  
BRIAN D. FARRELL
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Leaf Mining ◽  
Wood Boring

scholarly journals Diversification of the Balloon bushcrickets (Orthoptera, Hexacentrinae, Aerotegmina) in the East African mountains

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Grzywacz ◽  
Elżbieta Warchałowska-Śliwa ◽  
Maciej Kociński ◽  
Klaus-Gerhard Heller ◽  
Claudia Hemp
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diploid Number ◽  
Karyotype Analysis ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Eastern Arc Mountains ◽  
East African ◽  
Habitat Islands ◽  
Extinction Event ◽  
Underlying Processes

AbstractEast African mountains constitute a network of isolated habitat islands among dry savannah and are thus ideal for studying species diversification processes. This study elucidated the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of all bushcricket species comprising the genus Aerotegmina. Our analysis indicated that large-scale climatic and topographic processes in Africa are likely to have driven speciation in this group, and revealed the cytogenetic traits of the species. Molecular phylogeny supported the monophyly of Aerotegmina and showed that the genus probably originated in the old Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya. Two lineages were distinguished: small- and large-sized species with geographically distinct habitats. The underlying processes are thought to be eight dispersals, ten vicariance events, and one extinction event linked to repeated fragmentation of the African rainforest. Those processes, in conjunction with habitat change, probably also led to the spatial separation of the species into a northern clade with a diploid number of chromosomes 2n = 32 + X0 or 2n = 30 + neo-XY and a southern clade with a reduced number of chromosomes (2n = 28 + X0 or 24 + neo-X1X2Y). Karyotype analysis suggests that Aerotegmina is currently in the process of speciation.

scholarly journals Correction: Large-scale molecular phylogeny, morphology, divergence-time estimation, and the fossil record of advanced caenophidian snakes (Squamata: Serpentes)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e0217959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussam Zaher ◽  
Robert W. Murphy ◽  
Juan Camilo Arredondo ◽  
Roberta Graboski ◽  
Paulo Roberto Machado-Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Time Estimation ◽  
Divergence Time Estimation

scholarly journals Diversity, diets and disparity: determining the effect of the terminal Cretaceous extinction on insect evolution

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 174-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad C. Labandeira
Keyword(s):  
Data Base ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Insect Evolution ◽  
Leaf Mining ◽  
Extinction Event ◽  
Wood Boring

A considerable amount of research has been devoted toward evaluating the impact of the Cretaceous/Tertiary extinction on terrestrial life. This research has focused primarily on terrestrial vertebrates (primarily dinosaurs), marine invertebrates (notably molluscs and foraminifera), and to a lesser extent, terrestrial vascular plants. Terrestrial arthropods, especially insects, have seldomly been investigated, principally because of an alleged depauperate fossil record. Nevertheless, within the past two decades, some of the most productive and taxonomically diverse insect faunas have originated from Cretaceous amber- and compression-fossil deposits from every continent. Whereas it was once thought that the Cretaceous represented an unknown void in the understanding of insect evolution, now it appears that many extant lineages are traceable to Cretaceous precursors.Three approaches are available for determining the extent of the effect of the terminal Cretaceous extinction event on insects. Assessed for the interval from the Early Cretaceous to the Early Paleogene, these approaches are: (1) establishing the secular pattern of familial- and generic-based taxonomic diversity (macroevolution); (2) recognizing the persistence or eradication of specific insect/vascular plant interactions, such as leaf-mining, wood-boring and pollination (behavior); and (3) establishing temporal trends in the range of mouthpart design, as an indicator of faunal disparity or structural diversity (morphology). These three operationally separate but complimentary approaches allow the advantage of using distinct data bases to bear on a common question. The body-fossil record of insects provides primary data for the taxonomic expansion, steady-state, or contraction of insect faunas. The trace-fossil record of those insect interactions that are coevolved with plant hosts reveals the temporal continuity of highly stereotyped and taxonomically obligate behaviors. Both of these are contrasted to an assessment of insectan structural disparity, herein determined from a robust data base of 30 modern insect mouthpart classes that are traced back in geologic time.A preliminary analysis of each of these three approaches indicates broad agreement–namely that insects were not dramatically affected by the terminal Cretaceous extinction event. First, insects experienced only a modest decline in diversity, about 9 percent at the family level. (The generic level is not yet analyzed.) Second, although the data base is limited, there is no indication of the extinction of major leaf-mining, wood-boring, pollinating or other plant-specific behaviors at the end of the Cretaceous. In fact, leaf-mine morphologies for three lepidopteran families with Cretaceous occurrences are apparently indistinguishable from their modern descendants. Last, of the 30 mouthpart classes occurring during the Paleogene, 28 are represented during the Cretaceous. These data provide strong evidence for a largely uninterrupted continuum of insect faunas across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary as measured by taxonomic diversity, coevolved behavior, and structural disparity.Because of abundant and often intimate associations between insects and flowering plants, these results are consistent with a gradual and not catastrophic change in terrestrial floras across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary. Acceptance of a catastrophic extinction of flowering plants during the terminal Cretaceous would necessitate an unprecedented level of host-switching by coevolved insects on contemporaneous plants. This is unlikely, based on evidence from the prolific literature on modern insect/plant interactions. These studies indicate the ubiquity of obligate insect specificity for various secondary chemicals on many flowering plant species.

scholarly journals Integrative analysis of large scale transcriptome data draws a comprehensive functional landscape of Phaeodactylum tricornutum genome and evolutionary origin of diatoms

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achal Rastogi ◽  
Uma Maheswari ◽  
Richard G. Dorrell ◽  
Florian Maumus ◽  
Fabio Rocha Jimenez Vieira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phaeodactylum Tricornutum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Intron Retention ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Reference Sequence ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Eukaryotic Phytoplankton ◽  
Solid Foundation

AbstractDiatoms are one of the most successful and ecologically important groups of eukaryotic phytoplankton in the modern ocean. Deciphering their genomes is a key step towards better understanding of their biological innovations, evolutionary origins, and ecological underpinnings. Here, we have used 90 RNA-Seq datasets from different growth conditions combined with published expressed sequence tags and protein sequences from multiple taxa to explore the genome of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and introduce 1,489 novel genes. The new annotation additionally permitted the discovery for the first time of extensive alternative splicing (AS) in diatoms, including intron retention and exon skipping which increases the diversity of transcripts to regulate gene expression in response to nutrient limitations. In addition, we have used up-to-date reference sequence libraries to dissect the taxonomic origins of diatom genomes. We show that the P. tricornutum genome is replete in lineage-specific genes, with up to 47% of the gene models present only possessing orthologues in other stramenopile groups. Finally, we have performed a comprehensive de novo annotation of repetitive elements showing novel classes of TEs such as SINE, MITE, LINE and TRIM/LARD. This work provides a solid foundation for future studies of diatom gene function, evolution and ecology.

scholarly journals The Modulation of DNA Content: Proximate Causes and Ultimate Consequences

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ryan Gregory ◽  
Paul D.N. Hebert
Keyword(s):  
Genome Size ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nucleotide Composition ◽  
Character State ◽  
Selfish Dna ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Chromosomal Architecture ◽  
Somatic Genome ◽  
Abrupt Shifts

The forces responsible for modulating the large-scale features of the genome remain one of the most difficult issues confronting evolutionary biology. Although diversity in chromosomal architecture, nucleotide composition, and genome size has been well documented, there is little understanding of either the evolutionary origins or impact of much of this variation. The 80,000-fold divergence in genome sizes among eukaryotes represents perhaps the greatest challenge for genomic holists. Although some researchers continue to characterize much variation in genome size as a mere by-product of an intragenomic selfish DNA “free-for-all” there is increasing evidence for the primacy of selection in molding genome sizes via impacts on cell size and division rates. Moreover, processes inducing quantum or doubling series variation in gametic or somatic genome sizes are common. These abrupt shifts have broad effects on phenotypic attributes at both cellular and organismal levels and may play an important role in explaining episodes of rapid—or even saltational—character state evolution.

Gall-attacking behavior in phytophagous insects, with emphasis on Coleoptera and Lepidoptera

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Sugiura ◽  
Kazuo Yamazaki
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Gall Midges ◽  
Physicochemical Interactions ◽  
Leaf Mining ◽  
Gall Wasps ◽  
Wood Boring ◽  
Plant Galls

AbstractPlant galls are induced by physicochemical interactions between plants and gall-inducing organisms, such as insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Organisms that are unable to create galls on plants, but feed on gall tissues induced by other species, are referred to as gall-attackers (gall-feeders) and include various insect orders (Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera). Gall-attacking weevils (Coleoptera) and moths (Lepidoptera) may have acquired their gall-feeding habits independently (i.e. cecidophages), whereas other gall-attacking insects, such as inquiline gall wasps (Hymenoptera) and gall midges (Diptera) may have evolved these habits from gall-inducing ancestors (i.e., inquilines). Most species of gall-attacking weevils feed only on galls (obligate cecidophages), while most gall-attacking moths feed on galls and also on ungalled or normal plant tissues (facultative cecidophages). Weevils may have acquired their gall-attacking habits independently from other types of feeding habits, such as leaf mining, seed-feeding, and bud-feeding, while moths may have acquired them from leaf-chewing and wood-boring. Studies on the effects of gall-attacking weevils on gall-inducing arthropods report a higher proportion of lethal effects than studies on effects from gall-attacking moths. Weevil larvae rarely move around food resources because they have no legs, while moth larvae can actively move among food resources using their prolegs. This difference in mobility between weevils and moth larva may be related to their differential gall-attacking behaviors and effects on gall-inducers. Cecidophages provide a model system for investigating the evolution of feeding habits and the ecology of species interactions.

scholarly journals The apicoplast link to fever-survival and artemisinin-resistance in the malaria parasite

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Zhang ◽  
Chengqi Wang ◽  
Jenna Oberstaller ◽  
Phaedra Thomas ◽  
Thomas D. Otto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Artemisinin Derivatives ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Algal Endosymbiont ◽  
Phenotype Screen ◽  
Artemisinin Combination Therapies

AbstractThe emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to front-line antimalarial artemisinin-combination therapies (ACT) threatens to erase the considerable gains against the disease of the last decade. Here, we develop a large-scale phenotypic screening pipeline and use it to carry out a large-scale forward-genetic phenotype screen in P. falciparum to identify genes allowing parasites to survive febrile temperatures. Screening identifies more than 200 P. falciparum mutants with differential responses to increased temperature. These mutants are more likely to be sensitive to artemisinin derivatives as well as to heightened oxidative stress. Major processes critical for P. falciparum tolerance to febrile temperatures and artemisinin include highly essential, conserved pathways associated with protein-folding, heat shock and proteasome-mediated degradation, and unexpectedly, isoprenoid biosynthesis, which originated from the ancestral genome of the parasite’s algal endosymbiont-derived plastid, the apicoplast. Apicoplast-targeted genes in general are upregulated in response to heat shock, as are other Plasmodium genes with orthologs in plant and algal genomes. Plasmodium falciparum parasites appear to exploit their innate febrile-response mechanisms to mediate resistance to artemisinin. Both responses depend on endosymbiont-derived genes in the parasite’s genome, suggesting a link to the evolutionary origins of Plasmodium parasites in free-living ancestors.

scholarly journals TreeVibes: Modern tools for Global Monitoring of Trees Against Borers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iraklis Rigakis ◽  
Ilyas Potamitis ◽  
Nicolas Alexander Tatlas ◽  
Stelios M. Potirakis ◽  
Stavros Ntalampiras
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Automatic Monitoring ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Longhorn Beetles ◽  
Cloud Server ◽  
Wood Boring

Is there a wood-feeding insect inside a tree or wooden structure? We investigate several ways on how deep learning approaches can massively scan recordings of vibrations stemming from probed trees to infer their infestation state with wood-boring insects that feed and move inside wood. The recordings come from remotely controlled devices that sample the internal soundscape of trees on a 24/7 basis and wirelessly transmit brief recordings of the registered vibrations to a cloud server. We discuss the different sources of vibrations that can be picked up from trees in urban environments and how deep learning methods can focus on those originating from borers. Our goal is to match the problem of the accelerated—due to global trade and climate change— establishment of invasive xylophagus insects by increasing the capacity of inspection agencies. We aim at introducing permanent, cost-effective, automatic monitoring of trees based on deep learning techniques, in commodity entry point as well as in wild, urban and cultivated areas in order to effect large-scale, sustainable pest-risk analysis and management of wood boring insects such as those from the Cerambycidae family (longhorn beetles).

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