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Vogt JC, Olefeld JL, Bock C, Boenigk J, Albach DC. Patterns of protist distribution and diversification in alpine lakes across Europe. Microbiologyopen 2021; 10:e1216. [PMID: 34459549 PMCID: PMC8311734 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biogeography in Europe is known to be crucially influenced by the large mountain ranges serving as biogeographical islands for cold-adapted taxa and geographical barriers for warm-adapted taxa. While biogeographical patterns are well-known for plants and animals in Europe, we here investigated diversity and distribution patterns of protist freshwater communities on a European scale (256 lakes) in the light of the well-studied post-glacial distribution patterns of macroorganisms. Thus, our study compared 43 alpine protist communities of lakes located in the Alps, Carpathians, Pyrenees, and the Sierra Nevada with that of surrounding lowland lakes. We verified altitudinal diversity gradients of freshwater protists with decreasing richness and diversity across altitudes similar to those observed for plants and animals. Alpine specialists and generalists could be identified differing significantly in richness and diversity, but hardly in occurrence and proportions of major taxonomic groups. High proportions of region-specific alpine specialists indicate an increased occurrence of distinct lineages within each mountain range and thus, suggested either separated glacial refugia or post-glacial diversification within mountain ranges. However, a few alpine specialists were shared between mountain ranges suggesting a post-glacial recolonization from a common lowland pool. Our results identified generalists with wide distribution ranges and putatively wide tolerance ranges toward environmental conditions as main drivers of protist diversification (specification) in alpine lakes, while there was hardly any diversification in alpine specialists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina C. Vogt
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Science (IBU)Plants Biodiversity and EvolutionCarl von Ossietzky UniversityOldenburgGermany
| | - Jana L. Olefeld
- Department of BiodiversityUniversity of Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Christina Bock
- Department of BiodiversityUniversity of Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Jens Boenigk
- Department of BiodiversityUniversity of Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Dirk C. Albach
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Science (IBU)Plants Biodiversity and EvolutionCarl von Ossietzky UniversityOldenburgGermany
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Kikuchi DW, Waldron SJ, Valkonen JK, Dobler S, Mappes J. Biased predation could promote convergence yet maintain diversity within Müllerian mimicry rings of Oreina leaf beetles. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:887-898. [PMID: 32202678 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Müllerian mimicry is a classic example of adaptation, yet Müller's original theory does not account for the diversity often observed in mimicry rings. Here, we aimed to assess how well classical Müllerian mimicry can account for the colour polymorphism found in chemically defended Oreina leaf beetles by using field data and laboratory assays of predator behaviour. We also evaluated the hypothesis that thermoregulation can explain diversity between Oreina mimicry rings. We found that frequencies of each colour morph were positively correlated among species, a critical prediction of Müllerian mimicry. Predators learned to associate colour with chemical defences. Learned avoidance of the green morph of one species protected green morphs of another species. Avoidance of blue morphs was completely generalized to green morphs, but surprisingly, avoidance of green morphs was less generalized to blue morphs. This asymmetrical generalization should favour green morphs: indeed, green morphs persist in blue communities, whereas blue morphs are entirely excluded from green communities. We did not find a correlation between elevation and coloration, rejecting thermoregulation as an explanation for diversity between mimicry rings. Biased predation could explain within-community diversity in warning coloration, providing a solution to a long-standing puzzle. We propose testable hypotheses for why asymmetric generalization occurs, and how predators maintain the predominance of blue morphs in a community, despite asymmetric generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Kikuchi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Samuel J Waldron
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janne K Valkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Susanne Dobler
- Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johanna Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Molecular Biogeography of the High Mountain Systems of Europe: An Overview. HIGH MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-55982-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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4
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Trujillo AL, Hoffman EA. Uncovering discordance between taxonomy and evolutionary history in Florida raccoons. SYST BIODIVERS 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2016.1214190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexa L. Trujillo
- University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - Eric A. Hoffman
- University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
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Kramp K, Cizek O, Madeira PM, Ramos AA, Konvicka M, Castilho R, Schmitt T. Genetic implications of phylogeographical patterns in the conservation of the boreal wetland butterflyColias palaeno(Pieridae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katja Kramp
- Senckenberg German Entomological Institute; 15374 Müncheberg Germany
- Department of Biogeography; Trier University; 54296 Trier Germany
| | - Oldrich Cizek
- Hutur NGO; J. Purkyne 1616 50002 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sciences; University South Bohemia; Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environment; Czech University of Life Sciences; Kamycka 961 165 21 Praha Czech Republic
| | - Pedro M. Madeira
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR); Universidade do Algarve; Campus de Gambelas 8005-139 Faro Portugal
| | - Ana A. Ramos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR); Universidade do Algarve; Campus de Gambelas 8005-139 Faro Portugal
| | - Martin Konvicka
- Faculty of Sciences; University South Bohemia; Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology; Biological Centre CAS; Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Rita Castilho
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR); Universidade do Algarve; Campus de Gambelas 8005-139 Faro Portugal
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Senckenberg German Entomological Institute; 15374 Müncheberg Germany
- Department of Biogeography; Trier University; 54296 Trier Germany
- Department of Zoology; Faculty Natural Sciences I; Institute of Biology; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg; 06099 Halle (Saale) Germany
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Schmitt T, Louy D, Zimmermann E, Habel JC. Species radiation in the Alps: multiple range shifts caused diversification in Ringlet butterflies in the European high mountains. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-016-0282-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Buerki
- Department of Life Sciences; Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
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8
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Population Diversity in Cuticular Hydrocarbons and mtDNA in a Mountain Social Wasp. J Chem Ecol 2014; 41:22-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-014-0531-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Schmitt T, Habel JC, Rödder D, Louy D. Effects of recent and past climatic shifts on the genetic structure of the high mountain yellow-spotted ringlet butterfly Erebia manto (Lepidoptera, Satyrinae): a conservation problem. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2014; 20:2045-2061. [PMID: 24753365 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Mountain species have evolved important genetic differentiation due to past climatic fluctuations. The genetic uniqueness of many of these lineages is now at risk due to global warming. Here, we analyse allozyme polymorphisms of 1306 individuals (36 populations) of the mountain butterfly Erebia manto and perform Species Distribution Models (SDMs). As a consensus of analyses, we obtained six most likely genetic clusters: (i) Pyrenees with Massif Central; (ii) Vosges; (iii-v) Alps including the Slovakian Carpathians; (vi) southern Carpathians. The Vosges population showed the strongest genetic split from all other populations, being almost as strong as the split between E. manto and its sister species Erebia eriphyle. The distinctiveness of the Pyrenees-Massif Central group and of the southern Carpathians group from all other groups is also quite high. All three groups are assumed to have survived more than one full glacial-interglacial cycle close to their current distributions with up-hill and down-slope shifts conforming climatic conditions. In contrast with these well-differentiated groups, the three groups present in the Alps and the Slovakian Carpathians show a much shallower genetic structure and thus also should be of a more recent origin. As predicted by our SDM projections, rising temperatures will strongly impact the distribution of E. manto. While the populations in the Alps are predicted to shrink, the survival of the three lineages present here should not be at risk. The situation of the three other lineages is quite different. All models predict the extinction of the Vosges lineage in the wake of global warming, and also the southern Carpathians and Pyrenees-Massif Central lineages might be at high risk to disappear. Thus, albeit global warming will therefore be unlikely to threaten E. manto as a species, an important proportion of the species' intraspecific differentiation and thus uniqueness might be lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schmitt
- Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, D-54286, Germany
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Previšić A, Schnitzler J, Kučinić M, Graf W, Ibrahimi H, Kerovec M, Pauls SU. Microscale vicariance and diversification of Western Balkan caddisflies linked to karstification. FRESHWATER SCIENCE (PRINT) 2014; 33:250-262. [PMID: 27042385 PMCID: PMC4813752 DOI: 10.1086/674430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The karst areas in the Dinaric region of the Western Balkan Peninsula are a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity. Many investigators have examined diversification of the subterranean freshwater fauna in these karst systems. However, diversification of surface-water fauna remains largely unexplored. We assessed local and regional diversification of surface-water species in karst systems and asked whether patterns of population differentiation could be explained by dispersal-diversification processes or allopatric diversification following karst-related microscale vicariance. We analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) sequence data of 4 caddisfly species (genus Drusus) in a phylogeographic framework to assess local and regional population genetic structure and Pliocene/Pleistocene history. We used BEAST software to assess the timing of intraspecific diversification of the target species. We compared climate envelopes of the study species and projected climatically suitable areas during the last glacial maximum (LGM) to assess differences in the species climatic niches and infer potential LGM refugia. The haplotype distribution of the 4 species (324 individuals from 32 populations) was characterized by strong genetic differentiation with few haplotypes shared among populations (16%) and deep divergence among populations of the 3 endemic species, even at local scales. Divergence among local populations of endemics often exceeded divergence among regional and continental clades of the widespread D. discolor. Major divergences among regional populations dated to 2.0 to 0.5 Mya. Species distribution model projections and genetic structure suggest that the endemic species persisted in situ and diversified locally throughout multiple Pleistocene climate cycles. The pattern for D. discolor was different and consistent with multiple invasions into the region. Patterns of population genetic structure and diversification were similar for the 3 regional endemic Drusus species and consistent with microscale vicariance after the onset of intensified karstification in the Dinaric region. Karstification may induce microscale vicariance of running surface-water habitats and probably promotes allopatric fragmentation of stream insects at small spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Previšić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jan Schnitzler
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Mladen Kučinić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Wolfram Graf
- Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecology Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Max-Emanuel-Straße 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Halil Ibrahimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Prishtina, Mother Theresa p.n., 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Mladen Kerovec
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Steffen U Pauls
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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Biondi M, Urbani F, D'Alessandro P. Endemism patterns in the Italian leaf beetle fauna (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Zookeys 2013:177-205. [PMID: 24163584 PMCID: PMC3805321 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.332.5339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this contribution the results of a zoogeographical analysis, carried out on the 123 endemic leaf beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) occurring in Italy and its immediately adjacent regions, are reported. To assess the level of faunistic similarity among the different geographic regions studied, a cluster analysis was performed, based on the endemic component. This was done by calculating the Baroni Urbani & Buser’s similarity index (BUB). Finally, a parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to identify the most important areas of endemism in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Biondi
- Department of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 Coppito-L'Aquila, Italy
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Louy D, Habel JC, Abadjiev S, Schmitt T. Genetic legacy from past panmixia: high genetic variability and low differentiation in disjunct populations of the Eastern Large Heath butterfly. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Louy
- Department of Biogeography; Trier University; D-54286; Trier; Germany
| | - Jan Christian Habel
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; Technische Universität München; D-85350; Freising-Weihenstephan; Germany
| | - Stanislav Abadjiev
- National Museum of Natural History; Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; BG-1000; Sofia; Bulgaria
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Department of Biogeography; Trier University; D-54286; Trier; Germany
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Triponez Y, Arrigo N, Pellissier L, Schatz B, Alvarez N. Morphological, ecological and genetic aspects associated with endemism in the Fly Orchid group. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:1431-46. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2011] [Revised: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yann Triponez
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics; Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology; University of Neuchâtel; Emile-Argand 11 CH-2000 Neuchâtel Switzerland
| | - Nils Arrigo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Arizona; Tucson AZ 85721 USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; Biophore Dorigny; University of Lausanne; CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; Biophore Dorigny; University of Lausanne; CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Bertrand Schatz
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive; CNRS Montpellier; UMR 5175; 1919 Route de Mende F-34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Nadir Alvarez
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; Biophore Dorigny; University of Lausanne; CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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Espíndola A, Buerki S, Alvarez N. Ecological and historical drivers of diversification in the fly genus Chiastocheta Pokorny. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2012; 63:466-74. [PMID: 22342934 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 01/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Coevolution is among the main forces shaping the biodiversity on Earth. In Eurasia, one of the best-known plant-insect interactions showing highly coevolved features involves the fly genus Chiastocheta and its host-plant Trollius. Although this system has been widely studied from an ecological point of view, the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of the flies have remained little investigated. In this integrative study, we aim to test the monophyly of the five Chiastocheta eco-morphological groups, defined by Pellmyr in 1992, by inferring a mitochondrial phylogeny. We further apply a new approach to assess the effect of (i) different molecular substitution rates and (ii) phylogenetic uncertainty on the inference of the spatio-temporal evolution of the group. From a taxonomic point of view, we demonstrate that only two of Pellmyr's groups (rotundiventris and dentifera) are phylogenetically supported, the other species appearing para- or polyphyletic. We also identify the position of C. lophota, which was not included in previous surveys. From a spatio-temporal perspective, we show that the genus arose during the Pliocene in Europe. Our results also indicate that at least four large-scale dispersal events are required to explain the current distribution of Chiastocheta. Moreover, each dispersal to or from Asia is associated with a host-shift and seems to correspond to an increase in speciation rates. Finally, we highlight the correlation between diversification and climatic fluctuations, which indicate that the cycles of global cooling over the last million years had an influence on the radiation of the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahí Espíndola
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
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Molecular barcoding for central-eastern European Crioceris leaf-beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Open Life Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.2478/s11535-011-0099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAmong Crioceris leaf-beetles, the two most widespread species (Crioceris asparagi and C. duodecimpunctata) are serious invasive plant pests, while another two (C. quatuordecimpunctata and C. quinquepunctata) are rare species restricted to steppe-like habitats in Eurasia. The aim of the research was to check the genetic distinctiveness of these four species and develop barcodes for their molecular identification using the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and two nuclear markers: Elongation Factor 1-α (EF1-α) and Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1). The identification of each species was possible and reliable with the use of COI and ITS1 markers. EF1-α was omitted in analyses due to its high level of heterozygosity (presence of multiple PCR products). C. duodecimpunctata and C. quatuordecimpunctata were shown to be sister taxa, but the similar genetic distances between all of the species indicate that these species originated almost simultaneously from a common ancestor. Identification of two separate clades in populations of C. quatuordecimpunctata suggested that the clades are isolated and can be considered as separate conservation units.
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Borer M, van Noort T, Arrigo N, Buerki S, Alvarez N. Does a shift in host plants trigger speciation in the Alpine leaf beetle Oreina speciosissima (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)? BMC Evol Biol 2011; 11:310. [PMID: 22014288 PMCID: PMC3256130 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the Coleoptera, the largest order in the animal kingdom, the exclusively herbivorous Chrysomelidae are recognized as one of the most species rich beetle families. The evolutionary processes that have fueled radiation into the more than thirty-five thousand currently recognized leaf beetle species remain partly unresolved. The prominent role of leaf beetles in the insect world, their omnipresence across all terrestrial biomes and their economic importance as common agricultural pest organisms make this family particularly interesting for studying the mechanisms that drive diversification. Here we specifically focus on two ecotypes of the alpine leaf beetle Oreina speciosissima (Scop.), which have been shown to exhibit morphological differences in male genitalia roughly corresponding to the subspecies Oreina speciosissima sensu stricto and Oreina speciosissima troglodytes. In general the two ecotypes segregate along an elevation gradient and by host plants: Oreina speciosissima sensu stricto colonizes high forb vegetation at low altitude and Oreina speciosissima troglodytes is found in stone run vegetation at higher elevations. Both host plants and leaf beetles have a patchy geographical distribution. Through use of gene sequencing and genome fingerprinting (AFLP) we analyzed the genetic structure and habitat use of Oreina speciosissima populations from the Swiss Alps to examine whether the two ecotypes have a genetic basis. By investigating a wide range of altitudes and focusing on the structuring effect of habitat types, we aim to provide answers regarding the factors that drive adaptive radiation in this phytophagous leaf beetle. RESULTS While little phylogenetic resolution was observed based on the sequencing of four DNA regions, the topology and clustering resulting from AFLP genotyping grouped specimens according to their habitat, mostly defined by plant associations. A few specimens with intermediate morphologies clustered with one of the two ecotypes or formed separate clusters consistent with habitat differences. These results were discussed in an ecological speciation framework. CONCLUSIONS The question of whether this case of ecological differentiation occurred in sympatry or allopatry remains open. Still, the observed pattern points towards ongoing divergence between the two ecotypes which is likely driven by a recent shift in host plant use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Borer
- Museum of Natural History Neuchâtel, Rue des Terreaux 14, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Tom van Noort
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Nils Arrigo
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Sven Buerki
- Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Nadir Alvarez
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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