Phylogeography of the gall-inducing micromoth Eucecidoses minutanus Brèthes (Cecidosidae) reveals lineage diversification associated with the Neotropical Peripampasic Orogenic Arc

Abstract

We investigated the molecular phylogenetic divergence and historical biogeography of the gall-inducing micromoth Eucecidoses minutanus Brèthes (Cecidosidae) in the Neotropical region, which inhabits a wide range and has a particular life history associated with Schinus L. (Anacardiaceae). We characterize patterns of genetic variation based on 2.7 kb of mitochondrial DNA sequences in populations from the Parana Forest, Araucaria Forest, Pampean, Chacoan and Monte provinces. We found that the distribution pattern coincides with the Peripampasic orogenic arc, with most populations occurring in the mountainous areas located east of the Andes and on the Atlantic coast. The phylogeny revealed a marked geographically structured differentiation, which highlights a first split into two major clades: western (Monte and Chacoan) and eastern (Pampean and coastal forests). Together with AMOVA and network analysis, phylogeny revealed the existence of six well-defined lineages, which are isolated by distance. The TMRCA for Eucecidoses was estimated at ca. 65 Mya, and the divergence among major clades occurred by the Plio-Pleistocene ca. 20–25 Mya, with the extant six lineages emerging about 0.9 to 5.7 Mya (later than the rise of Schinus). These results are associated with a diversification pattern of either a late burst of speciation or early extinction. Population range expansion for some lineages concurring with major climatic changes that occurred during the wet–dry events of the Pleistocene in the region was recovered in both neutrality tests and past dynamics through time analysis. A possible biogeographic scenario reconstructed suggests that Eucecidoses likely emerged from a central meta-population in the south and later dispersed (ca. 38 Mya) using western and eastern as two major routes. Thus, a combination of dispersal and vicariance events that occurred in the ancestral populations might have shaped the current distribution of extant lineages. Speciation driven by host plant shift is potentially involved in the evolutionary history of Eucecidoses.

Overlooked gall-inducing moths revisited, with the description of Andescecidium parrai gen. et sp. n. and Oliera saizi sp. n. from Chile (Lepidoptera, Cecidosidae)

“…Based on a broader survey exploring several southern South America biomes, Silva et al (2018) suggested that the uplift of the Andes had a major role on speciation of Eucecidoses (Brèthes), a related genus with distribution restricted to the eastern Andes. Similar studies should be conducted for the west Andean cecidosid species described here.…”

Beyond endemism, expanding conservation efforts: a relictual Pleistocene distribution and first report of the prickly pear cactus,Opuntia bonaerensis,in Brazil and Uruguay

“…These records were previously reported by Font (2014) with accurate species identification, who suggested that this seemingly anomalous distribution could be from non-natural dispersion, as minor ornamental uses of the species are known in home-gardens in the capital of the province. However, our new records, combined with the previously known distribution, revealed a congruent distributional pattern that includes mountainous areas of southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina - known as the Neotropical Peripampasic Orogenic Arc – that has been reported for an array of animal taxa, such as spiders, scorpions, harvestmen and moths (Ferretti et al, 2012; Silva et al, 2018b), suggesting new insight for the historical biogeography of Opuntia bonaerensis that must be further explored.…”

Beyond endemism, expanding conservation efforts: What can new distribution records reveal?

“…These records were previously reported by Font (2014) with accurate species identification, who suggested that this seemingly anomalous distribution could be from non-natural dispersion, as minor ornamental uses of the species are known in home-gardens in the capital of the province. However, our new records, combined with the previously known distribution, revealed a congruent distributional pattern that includes mountainous areas of southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina -known as the Neotropical Peripampasic Orogenic Arcthat has been reported for an array of animal taxa, such as spiders, scorpions, harvestmen and moths (Ferretti et al, 2012;Silva et al, 2018b), suggesting new insight for the historical biogeography of Opuntia bonaerensis that must be further explored.…”