Molecular species delimitation methods recover most song‐delimited cicada species in the European Cicadetta montana complex

Abstract

Molecular species delimitation is increasingly being used to discover and illuminate species level diversity, and a number of methods have been developed. Here, we compare the ability of two molecular species delimitation methods to recover song-delimited species in the Cicadetta montana cryptic species complex throughout Europe. Recent bioacoustics studies of male calling songs (premating reproductive barriers) have revealed cryptic species diversity in this complex. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses were used to analyse the mitochondrial genes COI and COII and the nuclear genes EF1α and period for thirteen European Cicadetta species as well as the closely related monotypic genus Euboeana. Two molecular species delimitation methods, general mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) and Bayesian phylogenetics and phylogeography, identified the majority of song-delimited species and were largely congruent with each other. None of the molecular delimitation methods were able to fully recover a recent radiation of four Greek species.

Complex within a Complex: Integrative Taxonomy Reveals Hidden Diversity in Cicadetta brevipennis (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) and Unexpected Relationships with a Song Divergent Relative

“…The dataset improves upon previous work [2,3] by increasing the number of specimens and sampling new geographic regions. The eight newly sequenced specimens of C .…”

“…From previous studies, we know that described species in this complex are morphologically almost indistinguishable and molecularly interdigitated. Behaviour, represented by acoustic song patterns, is similar in cases with distinct mitochondrial haplotypes; but song patterns are clearly different in some taxa that possess closely related or identical haplotypes [2,3]. In this complicated system, we attempt to revise the taxonomy in light of modern species concepts and address the question of how such a strange phylogenetic pattern might have evolved.…”

“…In a second step, the addition of molecular studies of the entire Cicadetta montana species complex [3] demonstrated a phylogenetically close relationship between the Cicadetta cerdaniensis song group and Cicadetta brevipennis . In particular, they comprised two interdigitated (polyphyletic), well supported main clades based on analysis of segments of the mitochondrial genes cytochrome C oxidase subunits I and II (COI and COII): “ cerdaniensis -A + brevipennis -A” and “ cerdaniensis -B + brevipennis -B + C .…”

“…In particular, they comprised two interdigitated (polyphyletic), well supported main clades based on analysis of segments of the mitochondrial genes cytochrome C oxidase subunits I and II (COI and COII): “ cerdaniensis -A + brevipennis -A” and “ cerdaniensis -B + brevipennis -B + C . anapaistica ” [3]. Some haplotypes were shared between song-divergent taxa and contamination was ruled out by re-sequencing.…”

The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka: an annotated provisional catalogue, regional checklist and bibliography

“…Many of the cicada groups may contain cryptic species that will be discovered using these methods, which is a common experience in Cicadidae (e.g. Price et al 2007, Price et al 2010, Popple 2013, Marshall et al 2015, Hertach et al 2015, Wade et al 2015) especially in recently neglected biodiversity hotspots such as India. We hope that this current taxonomic update will facilitate species discovery and further systematic and ecological work on cicadas of the Indian region.…”