Abstract Background and Aims Cycads are regarded as an ancient lineage of living seed plants, and hold important clues to understand the early evolutionary trends of seed plants. The molecular phylogeny and spatio-temporal diversification of one of the species-rich genera of cycads, Macrozamia, have not been well reconstructed. Methods We analysed a transcriptome dataset of 4740 single-copy nuclear genes (SCGs) of 39 Macrozamia species and two outgroup taxa. Based on concatenated (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood) and multispecies coalescent analyses, we first establish a well-resolved phylogenetic tree of Macrozamia. To identify cyto-nuclear incongruence, the plastid protein coding genes (PCGs) from transcriptome data are extracted using the software HybPiper. Furthermore, we explore the biogeographical history of the genus and shed light on the pattern of floristic exchange between three distinct areas of Australia. Six key diagnostic characters are traced on the phylogenetic framework using two comparative methods, and infra-generic classification is investigated. Key Results The tree topologies of concatenated and multi-species coalescent analyses of SCGs are mostly congruent with a few conflicting nodes, while those from plastid PCGs show poorly supported relationships. The genus contains three major clades that correspond to their distinct distributional areas in Australia. The crown group of Macrozamia is estimated to around 11.80 Ma, with a major expansion in the last 5–6 Myr. Six morphological characters show homoplasy, and the traditional phenetic sectional division of the genus is inconsistent with this current phylogeny. Conclusions This first detailed phylogenetic investigation of Macrozamia demonstrates promising prospects of SCGs in resolving phylogenetic relationships within cycads. Our study suggests that Macrozamia, once widely distributed in Australia, underwent major extinctions because of fluctuating climatic conditions such as cooling and mesic biome disappearance in the past. The current close placement of morphologically distinct species in the phylogenetic tree may be related to neotenic events that occurred in the genus.
more »
« less
A genome‐wide phylogeny and the diversification of genus Liriomyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) inferred from anchored phylogenomics
Abstract The genusLiriomyzaMik (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a diverse and globally distributed group of acalyptrate flies. Phylogenetic relationships amongLiriomyzaspecies have remained incompletely investigated and have never been fully addressed using molecular data. Here, we reconstruct the phylogeny of the genusLiriomyzausing various phylogenetic methods (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and gene tree coalescence) on target‐capture‐based phylogenomic datasets (nucleotides and amino acids) obtained from anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE). We have recovered tree topologies that are nearly congruent across all data types and methods, and individual clade support is strong across all phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, defined morphological species groups and clades are well‐supported in our best estimates of the molecular phylogeny.Liriomyza violivora(Spencer) is a sister group to all remaining sampledLiriomyzaspecies, and the well‐known polyphagous vegetable pests [L. huidobrensis(Blanchard),L. langeiFrick,L. bryoniae.(Kaltenbach),L. trifolii(Burgess),L. sativaeBlanchard, andL. brassicae(Riley)]. belong to multiple clades that are not particularly closely related on the trees. Often, closely relatedLiriomyzaspecies feed on distantly related host plants. We reject the hypothesis that cophylogenetic processes betweenLiriomyzaspecies and their host plants drive diversification in this genus. Instead,Liriomyzaexhibits a widespread pattern of major host shifts across plant taxa. Our new phylogenetic estimate forLiriomyzaspecies provides considerable new information on the evolution of host‐use patterns in this genus. In addition, it provides a framework for further study of the morphology, ecology, and diversification of these important flies.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2030345
- PAR ID:
- 10371333
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Systematic Entomology
- Volume:
- 48
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0307-6970
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 178-197
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract The genus Asparagus arose ∼9 to 15 million years ago (Ma), and transitions from hermaphroditism to dioecy (separate sexes) occurred ∼3 to 4 Ma. Roughly 27% of extant Asparagus species are dioecious, while the remaining are bisexual with monoclinous flowers. As such, Asparagus is an ideal model taxon for studying the early stages of dioecy and sex chromosome evolution in plants. Until now, however, understanding of diversification and shifts from hermaphroditism to dioecy in Asparagus has been hampered by the lack of robust species tree estimates for the genus. In this study, a genus-wide phylogenomic analysis including 1,726 nuclear loci and comprehensive species sampling supports two independent origins of dioecy in Asparagus—first in a widely distributed Eurasian clade and then in a clade restricted to the Mediterranean Basin. Modeling of ancestral biogeography indicates that both dioecy origins were associated with range expansion out of southern Africa. Our findings also reveal several bursts of diversification across the phylogeny, including an initial radiation in southern Africa that gave rise to 12 major clades in the genus, and more recent radiations that have resulted in paraphyly and polyphyly among closely related species, as expected given active speciation processes. Lastly, we report that the geographic origin of domesticated garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) was likely in western Asia near the Mediterranean Sea. The presented phylogenomic framework for Asparagus is foundational for ongoing genomic investigations of diversification and functional trait evolution in the genus and contributes to its utility for understanding the origin and early evolution of dioecy and sex chromosomes.more » « less
-
Abstract Speciation processes in plants can be difficult to evaluate, but are essential to understanding evolutionary processes that lead to diversification. Determining the juncture at which a genetically and/or morphologically divergent population can be reliably considered a separate species is often challenging. This is particularly so with respect to recent divergences amongst closely related taxa wherein factors such as incomplete lineage sorting may yield confounding results. Taxa in theCymopterus terebinthinus(Apiaceae) species complex have long puzzled botanists. Named entities in this group display similar, yet apparently distinct morphologies that have been classified as varieties under various generic names highlighting long‐standing nomenclatural instability. Previous phylogenetic studies have challenged the monophyly of this complex. This study aims to clarify taxonomic boundaries and infer evolutionary relationships among the fourC. terebinthinusvarieties andC. petraeusby applying phylogenetic inference and incorporating ecological, morphological, and geographical evidence. We sampled from populations of all varieties ofC. terebinthinusandC. petraeusfor target capture with the Angiosperms353 bait kit. We performed phylogenetic analyses with maximum likelihood (RAxML and IQ‐TREE) and coalescent‐based phylogenetic analysis (ASTRAL). We also conducted principal component analysis of soil samples and climatic variables. We find thatC. terebinthinusand its varietal infrataxa comprise a monophyletic clade that includesC. petraeus. Clade groupings correspond to previous taxonomic assignments and morphology. Clades are often closely associated with geographical variables and at times correlated with ecological variables. Exceptions to this are here attributed to various evolutionary factors that often confound other phylogenetic analyses such as incomplete lineage sorting, introgression, and paralogous loci. Our findings suggests that geographical factors might play a major role in genetic and morphological differentiation in this complex. Despite finding well‐supported clades that correspond to defined morphological characters; further sampling amongC. petraeuspopulations is required to make taxonomic decisions.more » « less
-
Abstract Calceolaria (Calceolariaceae) is an emblematic and diverse genus in the Americas. Despite being one of the most easily recognized genera in the region and a system with great potential to improve our understanding of different drivers of species diversification in the Andes, its intrageneric evolutionary relationships are still poorly understood. Responding to the need for additional molecular markers to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the group, we perform plastome analyses and resolve the backbone of the genus. Specifically, using low-coverage genomes for 14 species, we assembled plastomes, estimated and dated phylogenetic hypotheses and evaluated evolutionary trends in the group. Our approach allowed us to resolve the backbone of the genus, identify two main clades and estimate a timing of diversification contemporaneous to major climatic and orogenic events. Our biogeographic reconstructions suggest an independent colonization of the whole range of the genus by both clades. Finally, our evaluations of floral morphology reveal future avenues for investigating the relationship between the pollination biology and diversification of the group.more » « less
-
null (Ed.)Millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae (Polydesmida) are often referred to as “colorful, flat-backed millipedes” for their bright aposematic coloration and tendency to form Müllerian mimicry rings in the Appalachian region. However, there are many species of Xystodesmidae that do not display colorful warning patterns, and instead have more cryptic appearances. Perhaps for this reason, groups such as the genus Nannaria have remained understudied, despite containing a large number of undescribed species. Before his death in 2012, R. L. Hoffman worked on a revision of the genus Nannaria , and synthesized material and drawings since 1949. Here the work is continued, inferring a molecular phylogeny of the Nannariini ( Nannaria + Oenomaea pulchella ), and revealing two clades within the genus. One clade is named the minor species group, and the second is the wilsoni species group. This revision, using a molecular phylogenetic framework, is the basis for descriptions of 35 new species in the minor species group. A multi-gene molecular phylogeny is used to make taxonomic changes in the taxon. Eleven putative species of Nannaria are also illustrated and discussed. Additionally, detailed collection, natural history and habitat notes, distribution maps, and a key to species of the Nannaria minor species group are provided. These items are synthesized as a basis for a revision of the genus, which hopefully will aid conservation and evolutionary investigations of this cryptic and understudied group.more » « less
An official website of the United States government
