Evolution and phylogeny of the New Zealand cicada genusKikihiaDugdale (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae) with special reference to the origin of the Kermadec and Norfolk Islands' species

Abstract

Aim Determine the phylogeny and dispersal patterns of the cicada genus Kikihia in New Zealand and the origin of the Norfolk, Kermadec, and Chatham Island cicadas. Location New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Kermadec Islands and Chatham Island. Methods DNA sequences from 16 species and four soon to be described species of cicadas from New Zealand and Norfolk Island (Australia) were examined. A total of 1401 base pairs were analysed from whole genome extraction of three mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase subunit II, ATPase6 and ATPase8). These DNA sequences were aligned and analysed using standard likelihood approaches to phylogenetic analysis. Dates of divergences between clades were determined using a molecular clock based on Bayesian statistics. Results Most species in the genus Kikihia diverged between 3 and 5 million years ago (Ma) coincident with a period of rapid mountain building in New Zealand. Cicada species on the Kermadec and Norfolk Islands invaded recently from New Zealand and are closely related to the New Zealand North Island species Kikihia cutora. Main conclusions Speciation in the genus Kikihia was likely due in large part to the appearance of new habitats associated with the rise of the Southern Alps, starting c. 5 Ma. Dispersal of Kikihia species within mainland New Zealand probably occurred gradually rather than through long‐distance jumps. However, invasion of Norfolk, the Kermadecs and Chatham Islands had to have occurred through long‐distance dispersal.

Evolution of New Zealand's terrestrial fauna: a review of molecular evidence

“…Cicadas of the genus Kikihia are found throughout New Zealand in many lowland habitats and several species have moved into the sub-alpine region, but none are alpine. Relaxed molecular clock dating indicates that the major radiation in Kikihia species happened ca 4 Ma (Arensburger et al 2004b;Marshall et al in press). However, some invertebrates, including peripatus (Trewick 2000b) and giant spring-tails (Holacanthella; Stevens et al 2007), have more complex and often sympatric distributions over the same landscape, or have high within-group genetic diversity (mite harvestmen: ).…”

Biodiversity of Australasian Insects

“…Among the endemics, most have affinities with Australia and New Caledonia, only two with New Zealand (Holloway 1977). The single Norfolk Island endemic species of the otherwise New Zealand cicada genus Kikihia, K. convicta, apparently derives from a recent long-distance dispersal from New Zealand (Arensburger et al 2004b). Half of the 20 species of Orthoptera on Norfolk Island have associations with Australia, the remainder with New Caledonian or Southeast Asia; three native Blattodea are known, with five introduced species especially on the degraded Phillip Island (Rentz 1988).…”

The character of the New Zealand land snail fauna and communities: some evolutionary and ecological perspectives

“…Recent molecular phylogeographic studies suggest that many elements of the flora and fauna exhibited elevated cladogenesis and speciation between 5 and 3 mya, coincident with the period of rapid mountain building (e.g. Trewick et al, 2000;Buckley et al, 2001;Trewick, 2001;Trewick and Wallis, 2001;Winkworth et al, 2002;Arensburger et al, 2004). It is likely that for some taxa at least, speciation was mediated by the rapid development of many new habitat types at this time, while for others isolation as a result of mountain barriers may have been important.…”