Phylogenomics and Fossil Data Inform the Systematics and Geographic Range Evolution of a Diverse Neotropical Ant Lineage

Abstract

Recent advances in phylogenomics allow for the use of large amounts of genetic information in phylogenetic inference. Ideally, the increased resolution and accuracy of such inferences facilitate improved understanding of macroevolutionary processes. Here, we integrate ultraconserved elements (UCEs) with fossil and biogeographic range data to explore diversification and geographic range evolution in the diverse turtle ant genus Cephalotes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). We focus on the potential role of the uplift of the Panamanian land bridge and the putative ephemeral GAARlandia land bridge linking South America and the Antilles in shaping evolution in this group. Our phylogenetic analyses provide new resolution to the backbone of the turtle ant phylogeny. We further found that most geographic range shifts between South America and Central America regions were temporally consistent with the development of the Panamanian land bridge, while we did not find support for the GAARlandia land bridge. Additionally, we did not infer any shifts in diversification rates associated with our focal land bridges, or any other historical events (we inferred a single diversification rate regime across the genus). Our findings highlight the impact of the Panamanian land bridge for Cephalotes geographic range evolution as well as the influence of taxonomic sampling on macroevolutionary inferences.

Untangling the complex interactions between turtle ants and their microbial partners

“…This analysis was performed with the most recent and robust phylogenomic tree (UCE) for the genus Cephalotes [ 45 ]. Each core bacterial community associated with Cephalotes turtle ants was analyzed separately to understand the evolutionary history of these associations with the Mantel test and PACo (Procrustean Approach to Cophylogeny) analyses (Fig.…”

“…Each microbial lineage has an independent and complex evolutionary history with the host, therefore two methods were applied to test for coevolutionary signal between the core gut bacteria (50%) and the host’s evolutionary history: Mantel test and PACo (Procrustean Approach to Cophylogeny) analyses [ 111 , 112 ]. For this, the host Cephalotes phylogenomic tree of Price et al [ 45 ] was used in the following analyses. First, the 10 main strains of bacteria recovered were analyzed separately because we know that each bacterial lineage may have a different evolutionary history.…”

“…In addition, using 454 pyrosequencing, Sanders and collaborators [ 31 ] were able to identify the potential role of host phylogeny in structuring the entire intestinal bacterial community (16S rRNA) of 25 Cephalotes species. However, with an increased scale of sampling, the inclusion of a host phylogenetic tree with greater resolution generated through a reduced representation genome sequencing approach [ 45 ], and the continuous technological advances to both sample and analyze microbial communities this may provide us with greater insights into host specificity and the evolutionary histories of symbiotic microbes. Furthermore, as each bacterial lineage has an independent and complex history of how it was acquired by the host, studies that aim to understand each of these processes of acquisition of each bacterial lineage separately is crucial.…”

Partner fidelity and environmental filtering preserve stage‐specific turtle ant gut symbioses for over 40 million years

“…Collected samples were identified to the species, or near‐species, level by Scott Powell and Corrie Moreau using the taxonomic key of De Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999). Several specimens came from the same colonies as those utilized in the recent genus‐wide molecular phylogeny of Price et al (2022). The 13 targeted species came from 18 colonies, and included Cephalotes aff.…”

Stigma and Depression Among Chinese High School Students

“…Disruptions in daily routines, schooling, and social interactions are just some of how young people have been affected [25]. Furthermore, these changes hurt anxiety and depression [26].…”