Systematics and biogeography of the family Scorpionidae (Chelicerata : Scorpiones), with a discussion on phylogenetic methods

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Prendini ◽  
Timothy M. Crowe ◽  
Ward C. Wheeler

A cladistic analysis of relationships among the genera of Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802—Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828; Opistophthalmus C. L. Koch, 1837; Pandinus Thorell, 1876; and Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758—based on morphology and DNA sequence data from loci of three genes in the mitochondrial genome (12S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase I) and one gene in the nuclear genome (28S rDNA) is presented. The analysis makes use of exemplar species, specifically selected to test the monophyly of the genera, rather than supraspecific terminal taxa. Other methods used in the analysis are justified in the context of a discussion of current methods for phylogenetic reconstruction. Relationships among the scorpionid genera are demonstrated to be as follows: (Opistophthalmus (Scorpio (Heterometrus + Pandinus))). This reconstruction identifies Opistophthalmus as the basal lineage of the Scorpionidae, rather than the sister-group of Scorpio. Revised descriptions, diagnoses and a key to identification of the four scorpionid genera are provided, together with a summary of what is known about their ecology, distribution and conservation status.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 911-927
Author(s):  
Lucia Muggia ◽  
Yu Quan ◽  
Cécile Gueidan ◽  
Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi ◽  
Martin Grube ◽  
...  

AbstractLichen thalli provide a long-lived and stable habitat for colonization by a wide range of microorganisms. Increased interest in these lichen-associated microbial communities has revealed an impressive diversity of fungi, including several novel lineages which still await formal taxonomic recognition. Among these, members of the Eurotiomycetes and Dothideomycetes usually occur asymptomatically in the lichen thalli, even if they share ancestry with fungi that may be parasitic on their host. Mycelia of the isolates are characterized by melanized cell walls and the fungi display exclusively asexual propagation. Their taxonomic placement requires, therefore, the use of DNA sequence data. Here, we consider recently published sequence data from lichen-associated fungi and characterize and formally describe two new, individually monophyletic lineages at family, genus, and species levels. The Pleostigmataceae fam. nov. and Melanina gen. nov. both comprise rock-inhabiting fungi that associate with epilithic, crust-forming lichens in subalpine habitats. The phylogenetic placement and the monophyly of Pleostigmataceae lack statistical support, but the family was resolved as sister to the order Verrucariales. This family comprises the species Pleostigma alpinum sp. nov., P. frigidum sp. nov., P. jungermannicola, and P. lichenophilum sp. nov. The placement of the genus Melanina is supported as a lineage within the Chaetothyriales. To date, this genus comprises the single species M. gunde-cimermaniae sp. nov. and forms a sister group to a large lineage including Herpotrichiellaceae, Chaetothyriaceae, Cyphellophoraceae, and Trichomeriaceae. The new phylogenetic analysis of the subclass Chaetothyiomycetidae provides new insight into genus and family level delimitation and classification of this ecologically diverse group of fungi.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Damgaard ◽  
Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo Moreira ◽  
Tom A. Weir ◽  
Herbert Zettel

The phylogenetic relationships among selected species and genera of Gerrinae (Heteroptera: Gerridae) were investigated in a parsimony analysis of 2268 bp of DNA sequence data from the genes encoding COI + II, 16S rRNA and 28S rRNA. The taxa represented 12 of 15 recognized genera of Gerrinae and with outgroup taxa from all other subfamilies of Gerridae, including three of five recognized genera of Eotrechinae, which is considered the sister-group of Gerrinae. The resulting phylogeny shows that Gerrinae is not monophyletic, since a clade comprising Gerris, Aquarius, Limnoporus, Tachygerris, Eurygerris and Gigantometra is more closely related to representatives of the subfamily Eotrechinae than to a clade comprising Limnogonus, Neogerris, Limnometra, Tenagogerris and Tenagogonus. The two currently recognized gerrine tribes, Tachygerrini and Gerrini, were also paraphyletic, since Eurygerris was sister-group to Gigantometra, while Tachygerris was sister-group to Limnoporus + Aquarius + Gerris. Limnogonus and Neogerris were found to be strongly supported sister-taxa, and their sister-group was a clade comprising Limnometra, Tenagogerris and Tenagogonus, none of which were monophyletic. Finally, Aquarius chilensis (Berg, 1881) was sister-group to a clade comprising Aquarius amplus (Drake & Harris, 1938), A. remigis (Say, 1832) and A. remigoides (Gallant & Fairbairn, 1993), recognized as the A. remigis species group, and the entire clade was sister-group to Gerris. Based on the phylogenetic reconstruction, we outline possible diagnostic character combinations for a future revision of the Gerrinae and discuss the fossil record. While some of the relationships reinstate earlier ideas, e.g., Limnogonus and Neogerris being sister groups, many others are poorly supported and poorly diagnosed, and therefore, we retain from drawing taxonomic conclusions until data is available from the remaining genera, which can support a future generic revision of the Gerrinae. The updated checklist of species assigned to the subfamily is therefore based on the established taxonomy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 175-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Damgaard ◽  
Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo Moreira ◽  
Masakazu Hayashi ◽  
Tom A. Weir ◽  
Herbert Zettel

The phylogenetic relationships among selected species and genera of Mesoveliidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) were investigated in a parsimony analysis of 2858 bp of DNA sequence data from the genes encoding COI + II, 16S rRNA and 28S rRNA. The resulting phylogeny showed that Mesoveloidea williamsiHungerford, 1929, from the subfamily Madeoveliinae, was sister group to Mniovelia Andersen & J.T. Polhemus, 1980, from the Mesoveliinae, thus making the latter subfamily paraphyletic. The genus MesoveliaMulsant & Rey, 1852 also showed to be paraphyletic, since an undescribed Laotian relative of M. indicaHorváth, 1915 and M. ujhelyiiLundblad, 1933 resulted as sister group to PhrynoveliaHorváth, 1915; and M. amoenaUhler, 1894 was sister species to Speovelia maritimaEsaki, 1929. Whereas these relationships were poorly or moderately supported, the remaining species of Mesovelia formed two distinct and well-supported clades, one comprising M. horvathiLundblad, 1933, M. hackeriHarris & Drake, 1941, and two undescribed species from Nigeria and New Caledonia, and another comprising M. vittigeraHorváth, 1895, M. stysi J.T. Polhemus & D.A. Polhemus, 2000, M. ebbenielseniAndersen & Weir, 2004, M. furcata Mulsant & Rey, 1952, and M. mulsantiWhite, 1879. A large genetic difference was found between populations of M. vittigera from Europe and Africa on one side and populations from Australia and New Caledonia on the other. DNA sequence data from a Japanese “M. vittigera” obtained from GenBank placed the specimen as strongly supported sister group to a Danish specimen of M. furcata. Comparisons of the 28S rRNA sequence data between the two specimens revealed a single C/T transition, while comparison with a Chinese female of M. furcata revealed one A/G and one C/T transition, thus suggesting mislabelling of the Japanese specimen, or an unrecognized presence of M. furcata in Japan. Considerable genetic differentiation was found between specimens of M. horvathi from Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Laos, and between sympatric specimens of M. mulsanti from Honduras, thus supporting earlier ideas of species-complexes in these two clades. Samples of Austrovelia caledonicaMalipatil & Monteith, 1983 from New Caledonia and Mniovelia kuscheli Andersen & J.T. Polhemus, 1980 from New Zealand’s North Island also revealed considerable intraspecific divergences indicating genetic isolation among geographically separated populations on these ancient islands.


2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gitte Petersen ◽  
Ole Seberg ◽  
Sidsel Larsen

The relationships of the genusLilaeopsis Greene have been difficult to determine primarily due to its simple morphology with entire, linear to spathulate leaves, simple umbels and lack of carpophore. Consequently, the genus has been referred to both Hydrocotyloideae and Apioideae. DNA sequence data from different genes (rbcL and matK) and non-coding regions (rpoC1 intron and ITS) were explored in order to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Lilaeopsis. Separate and combined analyses of rpoC1 intron, rbcL and matK data give almost congruent results with respect to a clade including Lilaeopsis. The three species of Lilaeopsis included in the analyses form a monophyletic group within the Oenanthe clade and hence belong to the Apioideae. Presently, the Mexican genus Neogoezia Hemsl. is considered its most likely sister group. Optimisation alignment of the ITS sequence data results in widely different phylogenetic hypotheses, but on the basis of congruence tests, two very similar trees can be selected. These trees are, however, incongruent with the trees obtained from analyses of the chloroplast sequences. As alignment of the ITS sequences is problematic even within the Oenanthe clade, the reliability of phylogenies on the basis of ITS data of higher taxonomic levels in the Apiaceae is questioned. However, for phylogenetic analysis within Lilaeopsis ITS sequences may prove useful and unproblematic.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (51) ◽  
pp. 15696-15700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Sawyer ◽  
Gabriel Renaud ◽  
Bence Viola ◽  
Jean-Jacques Hublin ◽  
Marie-Theres Gansauge ◽  
...  

Denisovans, a sister group of Neandertals, have been described on the basis of a nuclear genome sequence from a finger phalanx (Denisova 3) found in Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains. The only other Denisovan specimen described to date is a molar (Denisova 4) found at the same site. This tooth carries a mtDNA sequence similar to that of Denisova 3. Here we present nuclear DNA sequences from Denisova 4 and a morphological description, as well as mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data, from another molar (Denisova 8) found in Denisova Cave in 2010. This new molar is similar to Denisova 4 in being very large and lacking traits typical of Neandertals and modern humans. Nuclear DNA sequences from the two molars form a clade with Denisova 3. The mtDNA of Denisova 8 is more diverged and has accumulated fewer substitutions than the mtDNAs of the other two specimens, suggesting Denisovans were present in the region over an extended period. The nuclear DNA sequence diversity among the three Denisovans is comparable to that among six Neandertals, but lower than that among present-day humans.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Carr ◽  
Michael Balke ◽  
Marion Kotrba

AbstractThe placement of Diopsina in a monophyletic clade with Diopsis and Eurydiopsis is confirmed and a sister group relationship between Diopsina and Diopsis recovered with moderate support. The clarification of the phylogenetic position of Diopsina nested deeply within Diopsini is of crucial importance for the understanding of the relationships and the evolution of various morphological characters within the family.


2010 ◽  
Vol 100 (12) ◽  
pp. 1340-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Moral ◽  
Concepción Muñoz-Díez ◽  
Nazaret González ◽  
Antonio Trapero ◽  
Themis J. Michailides

Species in the family Botryosphaeriaceae are common pathogens causing fruit rot and dieback of many woody plants. In this study, 150 Botryosphaeriaceae isolates were collected from olive and other hosts in Spain and California. Representative isolates of each type were characterized based on morphological features and comparisons of DNA sequence data of three regions: internal transcribed spacer 5.8S, β-tubulin, and elongation factor. Three main species were identified as Neofusicoccum mediterraneum, causing dieback of branches of olive and pistachio; Diplodia seriata, causing decay of ripe fruit and dieback of olive branches; and Botryosphaeria dothidea, causing dalmatian disease on unripe olive fruit in Spain. Moreover, the sexual stage of this last species was also found attacking olive branches in California. In pathogenicity tests using unripe fruit and branches of olive, D. seriata isolates were the least aggressive on the fruit and branches while N. mediterraneum isolates were the most aggressive on both tissues. Isolates of B. dothidea which cause dalmatian disease on fruit were not pathogenic on branches and only weakly aggressive on fruit. These results, together with the close association between the presence of dalmatian disease symptoms and the wound created by the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae), suggest that the fly is essential for the initiation of the disease on fruit. Isolates recovered from dalmatian disease symptoms had an optimum of 26°C for mycelial growth and 30°C for conidial germination, suggesting that the pathogen is well adapted to high summer temperatures. In contrast, the range of water activity in the medium for growth of dalmatian isolates was 0.93 to 1 MPa, which was similar to that for the majority of fungi. This study resolved long-standing questions of identity and pathogenicity of species within the family Botryosphaeriaceae attacking olive trees in Spain and California.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4254 (5) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIA-HSUAN WEI ◽  
SHEN-HORN YEN

The Epicopeiidae is a small geometroid family distributed in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions. It exhibits high morphological diversity in body size and wing shape, while their wing patterns involve in various complex mimicry rings. In the present study, we attempted to describe a new genus, and a new species from Vietnam, with comments on two assumed congeneric novel species from China and India. To address its phylogenetic affinity, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the family by using sequence data of COI, EF-1α, and 28S gene regions obtained from seven genera of Epicopeiidae with Pseudobiston pinratanai as the outgroup. We also compared the morphology of the new taxon to other epicopeiid genera to affirm its taxonomic status. The results suggest that the undescribed taxon deserve a new genus, namely Mimaporia gen. n. The species from Vietnam, Mimaporia hmong sp. n., is described as new to science. Under different tree building strategies, the new genus is the sister group of either Chatamla Moore, 1881 or Parabraxas Leech, 1897. The morphological evidence, which was not included in phylogenetic analyses, however, suggests its potential affinity with Burmeia Minet, 2003. This study also provides the first, although preliminary, molecular phylogeny of the family on which the revised systematics and interpretation of character evolution can be based. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-65l ◽  
Author(s):  
Dick S.J. Groenenberg ◽  
Peter Subai ◽  
Edmund Gittenberger

A new starting-point in Ariantinae systematics is presented by combining data on traditional shell morphology and genital anatomy, with phylogeny reconstructions based on DNA sequence data. For nearly all genera and subgenera one or more shells are depicted and drawings of the proximal part of the genital organs are shown to illustrate the morphological diversification within the subfamily. For as much as our material allowed it, partial sequences are presented for Histone H3 (H3), Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), Cytochrome B (CytB) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S). Some of the allegedly speciose genera like Chilostoma and Campylaea (Zilch, 1960) do not represent monophyletic groups of species, whereas most of the remaining nominal taxa (e.g. Causa, Dinarica, Josephinella, Faustina, Liburnica, Kosicia and Thiessea) warrant a separate taxonomic status indeed. Sequence data from individual markers were informative at the species-level, but not for higherlevel phylogenetics. Insight in genus-level relationships was obtained after concatenation of the individual datasets. The Ariantinae are estimated to have originated during the late Cretaceous (Campanian), not later than ca. 80 million years ago. The enigmatic and morphologically aberrant, monotypic genus Cylindrus is shown as the sister-group of Arianta, a genus including A. arbustorum, which is also unusual in shell-shape and habitat. Ariantopsis and Wladislawia are classified as subgenera of neither Campylaea nor Chilostoma, but Cattania. Sabljaria is considered a subgenus of Dinarica. The nominal genus Superba is shown to be paraphyletic; additional data should demonstrate whether Superba has to be synonymised with Liburnica. The Ariantinae are here divided in 21 genera (2 new) and 13 subgenera (3 new).


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
David James Harris ◽  
Daniela Rosado ◽  
Raquel Xavier ◽  
Daniele Salvi

The genus Quedenfeldtia is composed of two species, Q. moerens and Q. trachyblepharus, both endemic to the Atlas Mountains region of Morocco. Previous studies recovered two main genetic lineages within each Quedenfeldtia species, although sampling did not cover a substantial portion of their known distribution. In this study we collected individuals from previously unsampled localities of Quedenfeldtia and carried out genetic analyses in order to assess the range of previously identified lineages and the occurrence of additional lineages. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on both mitochondrial (12S and ND4 + tRNA) and nuclear (MC1R) markers revealed that while the new individuals of Q. moerens belong to previously described lineages, two new lineages of Q. trachyblepharus were uncovered from the northern and southern parts of the range. Genetic divergence of these new lineages (8-9% ND4 + tRNA p-distance) was higher than values observed between other lizard sister species. In the future a thorough morphological assessment is needed to complement this study and allow a taxonomic revision of these taxa. The results of this study highlight the importance of biodiversity assessments in mountainous regions characterized by high endemicity but which are difficult to access.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document