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Pohl H, Wipfler B, Boudinot B, Georg Beutel R. On the value of Burmese amber for understanding insect evolution: Insights from †Heterobathmilla - an exceptional stem group genus of Strepsiptera (Insecta). Cladistics 2021; 37:211-229. [PMID: 34478185 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Burmese amber and amber from other periods and regions became a rich source of new extinct insect species and yielded important insights in insect evolution in the dimension of time. Amber fossils have contributed to the understanding of the phylogeny, biology, and biogeography of insects and other groups, and have also gained great importance for dating molecular trees. Another major potential is the documentation of faunal, floral and climatic shifts. Evolutionary transitions can be well-documented in amber fossils and can reveal anatomical transformations and the age of appearance of structural features. Here, using a new stem group species of Strepsiptera from Burmite, we evaluate this potential of amber insect fossils to assess the current phylogeny of Strepsiptera, with the main emphasis on the early splitting events in the stem group. Amber fossils have greatly contributed to the understanding of the evolution of Strepsiptera in the late Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. †Heterobathmilla kakopoios Pohl and Beutel gen. et sp. n. described here is placed in the stem group of the order, in a clade with †Kinzelbachilla (†Kinzelbachillidae) and †Phthanoxenos (†Phthanoxenidae). †Phthanoxenidae has priority over †Kinzelbachillidae, and the latter is synonymised. The superb details available from this new fossil allowed us to explore unique features of the antennae, mouthparts, and male copulatory apparatus, and to provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the order. The younger †Protoxenos from Eocene Baltic amber was confirmed as sister to all remaining extinct and extant groups of Strepsiptera, whereas the position of the Cretaceous †Cretostylops in the stem group remains ambivalent. While the value of Burmite and amber from other periods has a recognized impact on our knowledge of the evolution in various lineages, this new fossil does not fundamentally change our picture of the phylogeny and evolution of early Strepsiptera. However, it offers new insights into the morphological diversity in the early evolution of the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Pohl
- Entomology Group, Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Erbertstrasse 1, Jena, D-07743, Germany
| | | | - Brendon Boudinot
- Department of Entomology/Nematology, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis,Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Rolf Georg Beutel
- Entomology Group, Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Erbertstrasse 1, Jena, D-07743, Germany
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Beutel RG, Friedrich F, Economo EP. Patterns of morphological simplification and innovation in the megadiverse Holometabola (Insecta). Cladistics 2021; 38:227-245. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Georg Beutel
- Entomology Group Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung Friedrich‐Schiller‐Universität Jena Erbertstrasse 1 Jena D‐07743 Germany
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919‐1 Tancha, Onna‐son Kunigami‐gun Okinawa 904‐0495 Japan
| | - Frank Friedrich
- Institut für Zoologie Universität Hamburg Martin‐Luther‐King‐Platz 3 Hamburg D‐20146 Germany
| | - Evan P. Economo
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919‐1 Tancha, Onna‐son Kunigami‐gun Okinawa 904‐0495 Japan
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Tröger D, Grabe V, Beutel RG, Pohl H. The endoparasitic larval stages of Eoxenos laboulbenei: An atypical holometabolan development (Strepsiptera, Mengenillidae). ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2020; 56:100932. [PMID: 32375099 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2020.100932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Endoparasitic larval stages of Eoxenos laboulbenei were documented with different techniques, with a main focus on the male tertiary larva. Two discrete endoparasitic stages occur, the secondary and the tertiary larva. The presence of large compound eyes and externally visible wing buds in the tertiary larva is a unique feature within Holometabola. The brain with large optic lobes is followed by a single postcephalic ganglionic complex. The cephalic musculature is greatly reduced but pharyngeal dilators and muscles associated with the mouth field are present. Postcephalic sclerites are absent except for the pronotum. The segmented legs bear filiform pretarsal claws. The indirect flight muscles fill up a large part of the metathorax. The 10-segmented abdomen lacks appendages. Pleural folds are present on the thorax and abdomen. The digestive tract is characterized by a very short oesophagus. The large midgut and the narrow hindgut are disconnected. Six short Malpighian tubules are present. Large testes fill out almost the entire abdomen. In contrast to the tertiary larva, the muscles of the secondary larva are not fully differentiated. Cephalic appendages are present as bud-shaped anlagen. The legs lack a pretarsal claw. The developmental transformations are outlined and discussed, also with respect to phylogenetic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Tröger
- Entomology Group, Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Veit Grabe
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Rolf G Beutel
- Entomology Group, Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans Pohl
- Entomology Group, Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany.
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Naumann B, Reip HS, Akkari N, Neubert D, Hammel JU. Inside the head of a cybertype – three-dimensional reconstruction of the head muscles of Ommatoiulus avatar (Diplopoda: Juliformia: Julidae) reveals insights into the feeding movements of Juliformia. Zool J Linn Soc 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe origin and diversification of the arthropod head is one of the major topics in the field of evolutionary morphology of Arthropoda. Among the major arthropod groups, Myriapoda and, more precisely Diplopoda, are generally poorly studied regarding their head anatomy. However, this group is of pivotal importance to understand the evolutionary functional morphology of the arthropod head. In this study, we investigate the complete musculoskeletal system of the diplopod head with a detailed description of the cephalic anatomy of the recently described species Ommatoiulus avatar. The comparison of our data with the literature on the few other species available show that the morphology of the musculoskeletal system within Juliformia, a subgroup of the Diplopoda, is relatively conservative. Using video recordings of the feeding movements in addition to the anatomical data, we revise the mechanism of the mandibular movements in Juliformia. There was a controversy whether mandibular abduction is an active process, facilitated by contraction of an abductor muscle, or if it is a passive process, mediated by tentorial and gnathochilarial movements not involving a direct abduction by muscular contraction. We show that mandibular abduction in Ommatoiulus is an active movement involving the contraction of an abductor muscle. This is similar to the mandibular abduction in other arthropod groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Naumann
- Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans S Reip
- Department of Soil Zoology, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Nesrine Akkari
- 3rd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Neubert
- Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Jörg U Hammel
- Institute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, Germany
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Abstract
Abstract
The head of adult dipterans is mainly characterized by modifications and more or less far-reaching reductions of the mouthparts (e.g., mandibles and maxillae), linked with the specialization on liquid food and the reduced necessity to process substrates mechanically. In contrast, the compound eyes and the antennae, sense organs used for orientation and for finding a suitable mating partner and oviposition site, are well developed. Some evolutionary novelties are specific adaptations to feeding on liquefied substrates, such as labellae with furrows or pseudotracheae on their surface, and the strongly developed pre– and postcerebral pumping apparatuses. In some dipteran groups specialized on blood, the mandibles are still present as piercing stylets. They are completely reduced in the vast majority of families. Within the group far-reaching modifications of the antennae take place, with a strongly reduced number of segments and a specific configuration in Brachycera. The feeding habits and mouthparts of dipteran larvae are much more diverse than in the adults. The larval head is prognathous and fully exposed in the dipteran groundplan and most groups of lower Diptera. In Tipuloidea and Brachycera it is partly or largely retracted, and the sclerotized elements of the external head capsule are partly or fully reduced. The larval head of Cyclorrhapha is largely reduced. A complex and unique feature of this group is the cephaloskeleton. The movability of the larvae is limited due to the lack of thoracic legs. This can be partly compensated by the mouthparts, which are involved in locomotion in different groups. The mouth hooks associated with the cyclorrhaphan cephaloskeleton provide anchorage in the substrate.
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Abstract
The head of adult dipterans is mainly characterized by modifications and more or less far reaching reductions of the mouthparts (e.g., mandibles, maxillae), linked with the specialization on liquid food and the reduced necessity to process substrates mechanically. In contrast, the compound eyes and the antennae, sense organs used for orientation and for finding a suitable mating partner and oviposition site, are well developed. Some evolutionary novelties are specific adaptations to feeding on less liquefied substrates, such as labellae with furrows or pseudotracheae on their surface, and the strongly developed pre- and postcerebral pumping apparatuses. In some dipteran groups specialized on blood the mandibles are still present as piercing stylets. They are completely reduced in the vast majority of families. Within the group far-reaching modifications of the antennae take place, with a strongly reduced number of segments and a specific configuration in Brachycera. The feeding habits and mouthparts of dipteran larvae are much more diverse than in the adults. The larval head is prognathous and fully exposed in the dipteran groundplan and most groups of lower Diptera. In Tipuloidea and Brachycera the head is partly or largely retracted and the sclerotized elements of the external head capsule are partly or fully reduced. The head of Cyclorrhapha is largely reduced. A complex and unique feature of this group is the cephaloskeleton. The movability of the larvae is limited due to the lack of thoracic legs. This can be partly compensated by the mouthparts, which are involved in locomotion in different groups. The mouth hooks associated with the cyclorrhaphan cephaloskeleton provide anchorage in the substrate.
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The spermatozoon of Mengenilla moldrzyki (Strepsiptera, Mengenillidae): Ultrastructure and phylogenetic considerations. Tissue Cell 2013; 45:446-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Revised: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Schneeberg K, Polilov A, Harris MO, Beutel RG. The adult head morphology of the hessian fly Mayetiola destructor (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). J Morphol 2013; 274:1299-311. [PMID: 24026972 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The adult head of the Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor was examined and described in detail. Morphological features are evaluated with respect to phylogenetic implications and possible effects of miniaturisation. Preserved groundplan features of Diptera are the orthognathous orientation of the head, the vestiture of small microtrichia (possible autapomorphy), filiform antennae inserted frontally between the compound eyes, the presence of a clypeolabral muscle (possible autapomorphy), the presence of labellae (autapomorphy), and the presence of only one premental retractor. Potential synapomorphies of the groups assigned to Bibionomorpha are the origin of M. tentorioscapalis medialis on the frons and the loss of M. craniolacinialis. Further apomorphies of Cecidomyiidae identified in Mayetiola are the unusually massive anterior tentorial arm, the absence of the labro-epipharyngeal food channel, the absence of the lacinia, and the presence of antennal sensilla connected by a seta, a feature not known from any other group of Diptera. The very large size of the compound eyes (in relation to the entire head surface) and the complete loss of ocelli are possible effects of miniaturization. The large size of the brain (in relation to the cephalic lumen), the unusual shape of the optic lobes, and the absence of the frontal ganglion as a separate structure are probably also linked with size reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schneeberg
- Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, FSU Jena, Jena, 07743, Germany
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Ma N, Huang J, Hua B. Functional morphology and sexual dimorphism of mouthparts of the short-faced scorpionfly Panorpodes kuandianensis (Mecoptera: Panorpodidae). PLoS One 2013; 8:e60351. [PMID: 23533677 PMCID: PMC3606246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouthparts are closely associated with the feeding behavior and feeding habits of insects. The features of mouthparts frequently provide important traits for evolutionary biologists and systematists. The short-faced scorpionflies (Panorpodidae) are distinctly different from other families of Mecoptera by their extremely short rostrum. However, their feeding habits are largely unknown so far. In this study, the mouthpart morphology of Panorpodes kuandianensis Zhong et al., 2011 was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and histological techniques. The mandibulate mouthparts are situated at the tip of the short rostrum. The clypeus and labrum are short and lack distinct demarcation between them. The epipharynx is furnished with sublateral and median sensilla patches. The blade-shaped mandibles are sclerotized and symmetrical, bearing apical teeth and serrate inner margins. The maxilla and labium retain the structures of the typical pattern of biting insects. The hirsute galea, triangular pyramid-shaped lacinia, and labial palps are described in detail at ultrastructural level for the first time. Abundant sensilla are distributed on the surface of maxillary and labial palps. The sexual dimorphism of mouthparts is found in Panorpodes for the first time, mainly exhibiting on the emargination of the labrum and apical teeth of mandibles. Based on the features of mouthparts, the potential feeding strategy and feeding mechanism are briefly discussed in Panorpodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Baozhen Hua
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Pohl H, Niehuis O, Gloyna K, Misof B, Beutel RG. A new species of Mengenilla (Insecta, Strepsiptera) from Tunisia. Zookeys 2012; 198:79-101. [PMID: 22707907 PMCID: PMC3368257 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.198.2334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Accepted: 01/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A new species of Mengenilla Hofeneder, 1910 (Strepsiptera, Mengenillidae) from southern Tunisia is described. Mengenilla moldrzykisp. n. can be distinguished from congeners by a slightly emarginated posterodorsal margin of the head, compound eyes with a light tan dorsal part, mandibles with a narrow distal part, and a v-shaped pronotum. With the description of Mengenilla moldrzykisp. n., eleven valid species of Mengenilla are currently recognised. Mengenilla moldrzykisp. n. is the third species of the genus with known females and female puparia. First instar larvae, endoparasitic larval stages, the male puparium and the host are unknown. The new species is also the first strepsipteran with a fully sequenced genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Pohl
- Entomology Group, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie and Evolutionsbiologie, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erbertstraße 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Niehuis
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biodiversitätsforschung, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kai Gloyna
- TL Bio-Test Labor GmbH Sagerheide, Birkenallee 19, 18184 Sagerheide, Germany
| | - Bernhard Misof
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biodiversitätsforschung, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Rolf G. Beutel
- Entomology Group, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie and Evolutionsbiologie, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erbertstraße 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Weirauch C, Schuh RT. Systematics and evolution of Heteroptera: 25 years of progress. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2011; 56:487-510. [PMID: 20822450 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120709-144833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Heteroptera, or true bugs, are part of the most successful radiation of nonholometabolous insects. Twenty-five years after the first review on the influence of cladistics on systematic research in Heteroptera, we summarize progress, problems, and future directions in the field. The few hypotheses on infraordinal relationships conflict on crucial points. Understanding relationships within Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha, Leptopodomorpha, Cimicomorpha, and Pentatomomorpha is improving, but progress within Enicocephalomorpha and Dipsocoromorpha is lagging behind. Nonetheless, the classifications of several superfamily-level taxa within the Pentatomomorpha, such as Aradoidea, Coreoidea, and Pyrrhocoroidea, are still unaffected by cladistic studies. Progress in comparative morphology is slow and drastically impedes our understanding of the evolution of major clades. Molecular systematics has dramatically contributed to accelerating the generation and testing of hypotheses. Given the fascinating natural history of true bugs and their status as model organisms for evolutionary studies, integration of cladistic analyses in a broader biogeographic and evolutionary context deserves increased attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Weirauch
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA.
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Schneeberg K, Beutel RG. The adult head structures of Tipulomorpha (Diptera, Insecta) and their phylogenetic implications. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2010.00463.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Pohl H, Wipfler B, Grimaldi D, Beckmann F, Beutel RG. Reconstructing the anatomy of the 42-million-year-old fossil Mengea tertiaria (Insecta, Strepsiptera). Naturwissenschaften 2010; 97:855-9. [PMID: 20711557 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-010-0703-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2010] [Revised: 07/23/2010] [Accepted: 07/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Fossilization in amber is unique in preserving specimens with microscopic fidelity; however, arthropod inclusions are rarely examined beyond the exoskeleton as this requires destructive sampling when traditional techniques are used. We report the first complete, digital 3D, non-destructive reconstruction of the anatomy of an insect fossil, a specimen of Mengea tertiaria embedded in a 42-Ma Baltic amber. This was made possible using Synchrotron micro-CT. The species belongs to the stem group of the phylogenetically enigmatic and extremely specialized Strepsiptera. Most internal structures of the fossil are preserved, but small parts of the lumen had decayed due to incomplete infiltration of the resin. Data on internal organs provided additional information for resolving phylogenetic relationships. A sister group relationship between Mengea and all extant lineages of the group was confirmed with characters previously not accessible. The newly gained information also yielded some insights in the biology of Mengea and the early evolutionary history of Strepsiptera. The technique has a tremendous potential for a more accurate interpretation of diverse fossil arthropods preserved in ambers from 130 Ma to the present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Pohl
- Entomology Group, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum, FSU Jena, Erbertstrasse 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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Head morphology of Osmylus fulvicephalus (Osmylidae, Neuroptera) and its phylogenetic implications. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-010-0024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Letsch HO, Kück P, Stocsits RR, Misof B. The impact of rRNA secondary structure consideration in alignment and tree reconstruction: simulated data and a case study on the phylogeny of hexapods. Mol Biol Evol 2010; 27:2507-21. [PMID: 20530152 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msq140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of secondary structures has been advocated to improve both the alignment and the tree reconstruction processes of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) data sets. We used simulated and empirical rRNA data to test the impact of secondary structure consideration in both steps of molecular phylogenetic analyses. A simulation approach was used to generate realistic rRNA data sets based on real 16S, 18S, and 28S sequences and structures in combination with different branch length and topologies. Alignment and tree reconstruction performance of four recent structural alignment methods was compared with exclusively sequence-based approaches. As empirical data, we used a hexapod rRNA data set to study the influence of nucleotide interdependencies in sequence alignment and tree reconstruction. Structural alignment methods delivered significantly better sequence alignments compared with pure sequence-based methods. Also, structural alignment methods delivered better trees judged by topological congruence to simulation base trees. However, the advantage of structural alignments was less pronounced and even vanished in several instances. For simulated data, application of mixed RNA/DNA models to stems and loops, respectively, led to significantly shorter branches. The application of mixed RNA/DNA models in the hexapod analyses delivered partly implausible relationships. This can be interpreted as a stronger sensitivity of mixed model setups to nonphylogenetic signal. Secondary structure consideration clearly influenced sequence alignment and tree reconstruction of ribosomal genes. Although sequence alignment quality can considerably be improved by the use of secondary structure information, the application of mixed models in tree reconstructions needs further studies to understand the observed effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald O Letsch
- Molecular Biodiversity Research Unit, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
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Bravo F, Pohl H, Silva-Neto A, Beutel RG. Bahiaxenidae, a “living fossil” and a new family of Strepsiptera (Hexapoda) discovered in Brazil. Cladistics 2009; 25:614-623. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2009.00264.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Abstract
Strepsiptera are obligate endoparasitoids that exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism and parasitize seven orders and 33 families of Insecta. The adult males and the first instar larvae in the Mengenillidia and Stylopidia are free-living, whereas the adult females in Mengenillidia are free-living but in the suborder Stylopidia they remain endoparasitic in the host. Parasitism occurs at the host larval/nymphal stage and continues in a mobile host until that host's adult stage. The life of the host is lengthened to allow the male strepsipteran to complete maturation and the viviparous female to release the first instar larvae when the next generation of the host's larvae/nymphs has been produced. The ability of strepsipterans to parasitize a wide range of hosts, in spite of being endoparasitoids, is perhaps due to their unique immune avoidance system. Aspects of virulence, heterotrophic heteronomy in the family Myrmecolacidae, cryptic species, genomics, immune response, and behavior of stylopized hosts are discussed in this chapter.
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Beutel RG, Baum E. A longstanding entomological problem finally solved? Head morphology ofNannochorista(Mecoptera, Insecta) and possible phylogenetic implications. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00473.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Pohl H, Beutel RG. The evolution of Strepsiptera (Hexapoda). ZOOLOGY 2008; 111:318-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2007.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2007] [Revised: 06/04/2007] [Accepted: 06/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Giusti F, Dallai L, Beani L, Manfredini F, Dallai R. The midgut ultrastructure of the endoparasite Xenos vesparum (Rossi) (Insecta, Strepsiptera) during post-embryonic development and stable carbon isotopic analyses of the nutrient uptake. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2007; 36:183-97. [PMID: 18089098 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2007.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2006] [Revised: 01/09/2007] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Females of the endoparasite Xenos vesparum (Strepsiptera, Stylopidae) may survive for months inside the host Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). The midgut structure and function in larval instars and neotenic females has been studied by light and electron microscope and by stable carbon isotopic technique. The 1st instar larva utilizes the yolk material contained in the gut lumen, whereas the subsequent larval instars are actively involved in nutrient uptake from the wasp hemolymph and storage in the adipocytes. At the end of the 4th instar, the neotenic female extrudes with its anterior region from the host; the midgut progressively degenerates following an autophagic cell death program. First the midgut epithelial cells accumulate lamellar bodies and then expel their nuclei into the gut lumen; the remnant gut consists of a thin epithelium devoid of nuclei but still provided with intercellular junctions. We fed the parasitized wasps with sugar from different sources (beet or cane), characterized by their distinctive carbon isotope compositions, and measured the bulk (13)C/(12)C ratios of both wasps and parasites. Female parasites developing inside the wasp hemocoel are able to absorb nutrients from the host but, after their extrusion, they stop incorporating nutrients and survive thanks to the adipocytes content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Giusti
- Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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