Molecular phylogeny of rootworms and related galerucine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Molecular phylogeny of rootworms and related galerucine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). -Zoologica Scripta, 37 , The Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) sensu stricto (true galerucines) comprise a large assemblage of diverse phytophagous beetles containing over 5000 described species. Together with their sister taxon, the flea beetles, which differ from true galerucines by having the hind femora usually modified for jumping, the Galerucinae sensu lato comprises over 13 000 described species and is the largest natural group within the Chrysomelidae. Unlike the flea beetles, for which robust hierarchical classification schemes have not been erected, an existing taxonomic structure exists for the true galerucines, based mostly on the works of the late John Wilcox. In the most recent taxonomic list of the Galerucinae sensu stricto , five tribes were established comprising 29 sections housing 488 genera. The majority of the diversity within these tribes is found within the tribe Luperini, in which two genera, Monolepta and Diabrotica , are known to contain over 500 described species. Here, we extend the work from previous phylogenetic studies of the Galerucinae by analysing four amplicons from three gene regions (18S and 28S rRNA; COI) representing 249 taxa, providing the largest phylogenetic analysis of this taxon to date. Using two seven-state RNA models, we combine five maximum likelihood models (RNA + DNA for the rRNAs; three separate DNA models for the COI codon positions) for these partitions and analyse the data under likelihood using Bayesian inference. The results of these two analyses are compared with those from equally weighted parsimony. Instead of choosing the results from one optimality criterion over another, either based on statistical support, tree topology or philosophical predisposition, we elect to draw attention to the similar results produced by all three analyses, illustrating the robustness of the data to these different analytical methods. In general, the results from all three analyses are consistent with each other and previous molecular phylogenetic reconstructions for Galerucinae, except that increased taxon sampling for several groups, namely the tribes Hylaspini and Oidini, has improved the phylogenetic position of these taxa. As with previous analyses, under-sampled taxa, such as the Old World Metacyclini and all sections of the subtribe Luperina, continue to be unstable, with the few taxa representing these groups fluctuating in their positions based on the implemented optimality criterion. Nonetheless, we report here the most comprehensive phylogenetic estimation for the Galerucinae to date.

Secondary Sexual Characteristics in the Galerucinae (Sensu Stricto) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…They suggested that more independent characters are needed. More recently, Gillespie et al [1] claimed to have the most comprehensive phylogeny estimation and showed consistency with previous molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of Galerucinae, but at the same time agreed that there was a lack of taxon representation from the Old World. There is no doubt that more characteristics need to be utilised from a more complete range of taxa selected from the Old and New Worlds, that is, better taxon sampling, including secondary sexual characteristics.…”

“…The present paper has three objectives: (1) to compile all known of SSCs found in chrysomelid beetles of the subfamily Galerucinae (sensu stricto) from all over the world, (2) to provide some explanation on functions of the various modified structures, and (3) to highlight the myriad forms of SSCs in the Galerucinae and their taxonomic significance in the Chrysomelidae.…”

“…Galerucinae (sensu stricto) is the second largest subfamily within the Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera), represented by about 520 genera and between some 5000 species [1], 5500 species [2], and 6300 species [3] and its most diverse distribution concentrated mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions.…”

“…Acroxena (1), Agetocera (1), Apophylia (6), Arimetus (2), Arthrotus (1), Asbecesta (14), Aulacophora (5), Austrotella (2), Bonesia (2), Buckbrotica (1), Cerophysa (6), Cerophysella (1), Chapuisia (10), Chthoneis (3),…”

Análise cladística da seção Diabroticites Chapuis, 1875 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Luperini)

“…São aceitas, atualmente, 11 subfamílias, a saber: Bruchinae, Chrysomelinae, Criocerinae, Cryptocephalinae (incluindo Clytrinae e Chlamisinae), Donaciinae, Eumolpinae (incluindo Megascelidinae e Synetinae), Galerucinae (incluindo Alticinae), Cassidinae (incluindo Hispinae), Lamprosomatinae (incluindo Sphaerocharitinae), Sagrinae (Borowiec 1995;Lawrence & Newton 1995;Reid 1995;Staines 2002) e Spylopirinae (Reid 2000;Gómez-Zurita et al 2008) da história evolutiva desses táxons está longe de ser trivial (Kim et al 2003). Apesar de existirem estudos que suportem o conceito de duas subfamílias reciprocamente mono léticas (ver, por exemplo, Farrell 1998;Farrell & Sequeira 2004;Gillespie et al 2004;Gómez-Zurita et al 2008), estudos com amostragem mais abrangente indicam que a hipótese mais prevalente seja a de Alticinae poli lética, composta de uma série de linhagens incluídas em diversos níveis em Galerucinae (Lingafelter & Konstantinov 1999;Kim et al 2003;Gillespie et al 2003;Duckett et al 2004;Bünnige et al 2008;Gillespie et al 2008;Ge et al 2011Ge et al , 2012. Além da hipótese de Alticinae incluída em Galerucinae, a classi cação adotada aqui para os níveis abaixo de subfamília segue o sistema de Seeno & Wilcox (1982).…”