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Leyden MR, Michalik P, Baruffaldi L, Mahmood S, Kalani L, Hunt DF, Eirin-Lopez JM, Andrade MC, Shabanowitz J, Ausió J. The protamines of the noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis provide an example of liquid-liquid phase separation chromatin transitions during spermiogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.04.597381. [PMID: 38895387 PMCID: PMC11185589 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
While there is extensive information about sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBP) in vertebrates, there is very little information about Arthropoda by comparison. This paper aims to contribute to filling this gap by analyzing these proteins in the sperm of the noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis (Order Araneae, Family Theridiidae). To this end, we have developed a protein extraction method that allows the extraction of cysteine-containing protamines suitable for the preparation and analysis of SNBPs from samples where the amount of starting tissue material is limited. We carried out top-down mass spectrometry sequencing and molecular phylogenetic analyses to characterize the protamines of S. nobilis and other spiders. We also used electron microscopy to analyze the chromatin organization of the sperm, and we found it to exhibit liquid-liquid phase spinodal decomposition during the late stages of spermiogenesis. These studies further our knowledge of the distribution of SNBPs within the animal kingdom and provide additional support for a proposed evolutionary origin of many protamines from a histone H1 (H5) replication-independent precursor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa R. Leyden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
| | - Peter Michalik
- Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Luciana Baruffaldi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Susheen Mahmood
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Ladan Kalani
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Donald F. Hunt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
| | - Jose Maria Eirin-Lopez
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Maydianne C.B. Andrade
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Shabanowitz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
| | - Juan Ausió
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
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2
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You Y, Tang Y, Yin W, Liu X, Gao P, Zhang C, Tembrock LR, Zhao Y, Yang Z. From genome to proteome: Comprehensive identification of venom toxins from the Chinese funnel-web spider (Macrothelidae: Macrothele yani). Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131780. [PMID: 38657926 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Macrothelidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders containing the extant genera Macrothele and Vacrothele. China is an important center of diversity for Macrothele with 65 % of the known species occurring there. Previous work on Macrothele was able to uncover several important toxin compounds including Raventoxin which may have applications in biomedicine and agricultural chemistry. Despite the importance of Macrothele spiders, high-quality reference genomes are still lacking, which hinders our understanding and application of the toxin compounds. In this study, we assembled the genome of the Macrothele yani to help fill gaps in our understanding of toxin biology in this lineage of spiders to encourage the future study and applications of these compounds. The final assembled genome was 6.79 Gb in total length, had a contig N50 of 21.44 Mb, and scaffold N50 of 156.16 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding assigned 98.19 % of the genome to 46 pseudo-chromosomes with a BUSCO score of 95.7 % for the core eukaryotic gene set. The assembled genome was found to contain 75.62 % repetitive DNA and a total of 39,687 protein-coding genes were annotated making it the spider genome with highest number of genes. Through integrated analysis of venom gland transcriptomics and venom proteomics, a total of 194 venom toxins were identified, including 38 disulfide-rich peptide neurotoxins, among which 12 were ICK knottin peptides. In summary, we present the first high-quality genome assembly at the chromosomal level for any Macrothelidae spider, filling an important gap in our knowledge of these spiders. Such high-quality genomic data will be invaluable as a reference in resolving Araneae spider phylogenies and in screening different spider species for novel compounds applicable to numerous medical and agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming You
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China
| | - Yani Tang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Institute of Palaeontology, Yunnan University, South Waihuan Road, Chenggong District, Kunming 650500, China; MEC International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wenhao Yin
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China
| | - Xinxin Liu
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China
| | - Pengfei Gao
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China
| | - Chenggui Zhang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China
| | - Luke R Tembrock
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA..
| | - Yu Zhao
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China.
| | - Zizhong Yang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R & D, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Innovative Team of Dali University for Medicinal Insects & Arachnids Resources Digital Development, Dali 671000, China.
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Paiva ALB, de Souza Santos JH, Queiroz Machado VP, Santos DM, Diniz MRV, Guerra-Duarte C. Unveiling hidden toxin diversity: Discovery of novel venom components through manual curation of highly expressed sequences annotated as "no hits" in Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom gland transcriptome. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2024; 49:101155. [PMID: 37952503 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Spider venoms have evolved over thousands of years, optimizing feeding and defense mechanisms. Venom components show pharmacological and biotechnological potential, rising interest in their study. However, the isolation of spider toxins for experimental evaluation poses significant challenges. To address this, transcriptomic analysis combined with computational tools has emerged as an appealing approach to characterizing spider venoms. However, many sequences remain unidentified after automatic annotation. In this study, we manually curated a subset of previously unannotated sequences from the Phoneutria nigriventer transcriptome and identified new putative venom components. Our manual analysis revealed 29 % of the analyzed sequences were potential venom components, 29 % hypothetical/uncharacterized proteins, and 17 % cellular function proteins. Only 25 % of the originally unannotated dataset remained without any identification. Most reclassified components were cysteine-rich peptides, including 23 novel putative toxins. We also found glycine-rich peptides (GRP), corroborating the previous description of GRPs in Phoneutria pertyi venom glands. Furthermore, to emphasize the recurrence of the lack of annotation in spider venom glands transcripts, we provide a survey of the percentage of unidentified sequences in several published spider venom transcriptomics studies. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of manual curation in uncovering novel venom components and underscores the need for improved annotation strategies to fully exploit the medical and biotechnological potential of spider venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniel Moreira Santos
- Campus Centro-Oeste, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rey, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Clara Guerra-Duarte
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. https://twitter.com/@claraguerrad
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Kulkarni S, Wood HM, Hormiga G. Advances in the reconstruction of the spider tree of life: A roadmap for spider systematics and comparative studies. Cladistics 2023; 39:479-532. [PMID: 37787157 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade and a half, advances in genetic sequencing technologies have revolutionized systematics, transforming the field from studying morphological characters or a few genetic markers, to genomic datasets in the phylogenomic era. A plethora of molecular phylogenetic studies on many taxonomic groups have come about, converging on, or refuting prevailing morphology or legacy-marker-based hypotheses about evolutionary affinities. Spider systematics has been no exception to this transformation and the inter-relationships of several groups have now been studied using genomic data. About 51 500 extant spider species have been described, all with a conservative body plan, but innumerable morphological and behavioural peculiarities. Inferring the spider tree of life using morphological data has been a challenging task. Molecular data have corroborated many hypotheses of higher-level relationships, but also resulted in new groups that refute previous hypotheses. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the reconstruction of the spider tree of life and highlight areas where additional effort is needed with potential solutions. We base this review on the most comprehensive spider phylogeny to date, representing 131 of the 132 spider families. To achieve this sampling, we combined six Sanger-based markers with newly generated and publicly available genome-scale datasets. We find that some inferred relationships between major lineages of spiders (such as Austrochiloidea, Palpimanoidea and Synspermiata) are robust across different classes of data. However, several new hypotheses have emerged with different classes of molecular data. We identify and discuss the robust and controversial hypotheses and compile this blueprint to design future studies targeting systematic revisions of these problematic groups. We offer an evolutionary framework to explore comparative questions such as evolution of venoms, silk, webs, morphological traits and reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Kulkarni
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2029 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1000 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Hannah M Wood
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1000 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2029 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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Hazzi NA, Hormiga G. Molecular phylogeny of the tropical wandering spiders (Araneae, Ctenidae) and the evolution of eye conformation in the RTA clade. Cladistics 2023; 39:18-42. [PMID: 36200603 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical wandering spiders (Ctenidae) are a diverse group of cursorial predators with its greatest species richness in the tropics. Traditionally, Ctenidae are diagnosed based on the presence of eight eyes arranged in three rows (a 2-4-2 pattern). We present a molecular phylogeny of Ctenidae, including for the first time representatives of all of its subfamilies. The molecular phylogeny was inferred using five nuclear (histone H3, 28S, 18S, Actin and ITS-2) and four mitochondrial (NADH, COI, 12S and 16S) markers. The final matrix includes 259 terminals, 103 of which belong to Ctenidae and represent 28 of the current 49 described genera. We estimated divergence times by including fossils as calibration points and biogeographic events, and used the phylogenetic hypothesis obtained to reconstruct the evolution of the eye conformation in the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) clade. Ctenidae and its main lineages originated during the Paleocene-Eocene and have diversified in the tropics since then. However, in some analyses Ctenidae was recovered as polyphyletic as the genus Ancylometes Bertkau, 1880 was placed as sister to Oxyopidae. Except for Acantheinae, in which the type genus Acantheis Thorell, 1891 is placed inside Cteninae, the four recognized subfamilies of Ctenidae are monophyletic in most analyses. The ancestral reconstruction of the ocular conformation in the retrolateral tibial apophysis clade suggests that the ocular pattern of Ctenidae has evolved convergently seven times and that it has originated from ocular conformations of two rows of four eyes (4-4) and the ocular pattern of lycosids (4-2-2). We also synonymize the monotypic genus Parabatinga Polotov & Brescovit, 2009 with Centroctenus Mello-Leitão, 1929. We discuss some of the putative morphological synapomorphies of the main ctenid lineages within the phylogenetic framework offered by the molecular phylogenetic results of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas A Hazzi
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2029 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Fundación Ecotonos, Cra 72 No. 13ª-56, Cali, Colombia
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2029 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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Fei M, Gols R, Harvey JA. The Biology and Ecology of Parasitoid Wasps of Predatory Arthropods. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 68:109-128. [PMID: 36198401 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120120-111607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Parasitoid wasps are important components of insect food chains and have played a central role in biological control programs for over a century. Although the vast majority of parasitoids exploit insect herbivores as hosts, others parasitize predatory insects and arthropods, such as ladybird beetles, hoverflies, lacewings, ground beetles, and spiders, or are hyperparasitoids. Much of the research on the biology and ecology of parasitoids of predators has focused on ladybird beetles, whose parasitoids may interfere with the control of insect pests like aphids by reducing ladybird abundance. Alternatively, parasitoids of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis may reduce its harmful impact on native ladybird populations. Different life stages of predatory insects and spiders are susceptible to parasitism to different degrees. Many parasitoids of predators exhibit intricate physiological interrelationships with their hosts, adaptively manipulating host behavior, biology, and ecology in ways that increase parasitoid survival and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Fei
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China;
| | - Rieta Gols
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jeffrey A Harvey
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Animal Ecology Section, Department of Ecological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Megaly AMA, Miyashita M, Abdel-Wahab M, Nakagawa Y, Miyagawa H. Molecular Diversity of Linear Peptides Revealed by Transcriptomic Analysis of the Venom Gland of the Spider Lycosa poonaensis. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120854. [PMID: 36548751 PMCID: PMC9788040 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider venom is a complex mixture of bioactive components. Previously, we identified two linear peptides in Lycosa poonaensis venom using mass spectrometric analysis and predicted the presence of more linear peptides therein. In this study, a transcriptomic analysis of the L. poonaensis venom gland was conducted to identify other undetermined linear peptides in the venom. The results identified 87 contigs encoding peptides and proteins in the venom that were similar to those in other spider venoms. The number of contigs identified as neurotoxins was the highest, and 15 contigs encoding 17 linear peptide sequences were identified. Seven peptides that were representative of each family were chemically synthesized, and their biological activities were evaluated. All peptides showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, although their selectivity for bacterial species differed. All peptides also exhibited paralytic activity against crickets, but none showed hemolytic activity. The secondary structure analysis based on the circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that all these peptides adopt an amphiphilic α-helical structure. Their activities appear to depend on the net charge, the arrangement of basic and acidic residues, and the hydrophobicity of the peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhussin Mohamed Abdelhakeem Megaly
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt
| | - Masahiro Miyashita
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Mohammed Abdel-Wahab
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt
| | - Yoshiaki Nakagawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hisashi Miyagawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Lalagüe H, Vedel V, Pétillon J. Small scale changes in spider diversity and composition between two close elevations in a Neotropical forest. STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2022.2117530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hadrien Lalagüe
- UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Vincent Vedel
- UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Julien Pétillon
- UMR Ecobio, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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Eberhard WG. Biological challenges to conclusions from molecular phylogenies: behaviour strongly favours orb web monophyly, contradicting molecular analyses. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This first-ever extensive review of the construction behaviour of orb webs, of webs secondarily derived from orbs, and of non-orbs shows that the evidence favouring monophyly over convergent evolution of orbs is stronger than previously appreciated. The two major orb-weaving groups, Uloboridae and Araneoidea, share 31 construction behaviour traits, 20 of which are likely to be both derived and to have feasible alternatives, making convergence an unlikely explanation. Convergence in two lineages seems unlikely, and convergence in five different lineages, as proposed in some recent molecular studies of phylogeny, is even less credible. A further set of seven shared responses in orb design to experimentally constrained spaces also supports orb monophyly. Finally, a ‘control’ case of confirmed convergence on similar ‘pseudo-orbs’ in a taxonomically distant group also supports this argument, as it shows a low frequency of behavioural similarities. I argue that the omission of behavioural data from recent molecular studies of orb web evolution represents a failure of the analytic techniques, not the data, and increases the risk of making mistakes. In general, phylogenetic studies that aim to understand the evolution of particular phenotypes can benefit from including careful study of the phenotypes themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Eberhard
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute , Ancon, Ciudad de Panama , Panama
- Universidad de Costa Rica , Ciudad Universitaria , Costa Rica
- Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, LA 70808
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10
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Baumgart L, Schaa EM, Menzel F, Joel AC. Change of mechanical characteristics in spider silk capture threads after contact with prey. Acta Biomater 2022; 153:355-363. [PMID: 36167237 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Most spiders rely on specialized capture threads to subdue prey. Cribellate spiders use capture threads, whose adhesion is based on thousands of nanofibers instead of specialized glue. The nanofibers adhere due to van der Waals and hygroscopic forces, but the adhesion is strengthened by an interaction with the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) covering almost all insects. The interaction between CHCs and cribellate threads becomes visible through migration of the CHCs into the thread even far beyond the point of contact. In this study, we were able to show that the migrated CHCs not only influence adhesion but also change the mechanical characteristics of the thread. While adhesion, extensibility and total energy decreased in threads treated with CHCs from different insects, we observed an increasing force required to break threads. Such mechanical changes could be beneficial for the spider: Upon the first impact of the insect in the web, it is important to absorb all the energy without breaking. Afterwards, a reduction in extensibility could cause the insect to stay closer to the web and thus become additionally entangled in neighboring threads. An increased tensile force would additionally ensure that for insects already in the web, it is even harder to free themselves. Taken together, all these changes make it unlikely that cribellate spiders reuse their capture threads, if not reacting rapidly and removing the prey insect before the CHCs can spread across the thread. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cribellate spiders use capture threads that, unlike other spiders, consist of nanofibers and do not rely glue. Instead, prey adheres mainly because their surface compounds, so-called cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), interact with the thread, this way generating strong adhesion forces. Previous studies on biomechanics and adhesion of cribellate threads only dealt with artificial surfaces, neglecting any interaction with surface compounds. This study examines the dramatical mechanical changes of a cribellate thread after interaction with prey CHCs, showing modifications of the thread's extensibility, tensile force and total energy. Our results highlight the importance of studying mechanical properties of silk not only in an artificial context, but also in real life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Baumgart
- Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Eva-Marie Schaa
- Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anna-Christin Joel
- Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
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Convergent evolution of antlions and wormlions: similarities and differences in the behavioural ecology of unrelated trap-building predators. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03106-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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12
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OUP accepted manuscript. Syst Biol 2022; 71:1487-1503. [DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Lopardo L, Michalik P, Hormiga G. Take a deep breath… The evolution of the respiratory system of symphytognathoid spiders (Araneae, Araneoidea). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00524-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSpiders are unique in having a dual respiratory system with book lungs and tracheae, and most araneomorph spiders breathe simultaneously via book lungs and tracheae, or tracheae alone. The respiratory organs of spiders are diverse but relatively conserved within families. The small araneoid spiders of the symphytognathoid clade exhibit a remarkably high diversity of respiratory organs and arrangements, unparalleled by any other group of ecribellate orb weavers. In the present study, we explore and review the diversity of symphytognathoid respiratory organs. Using a phylogenetic comparative approach, we reconstruct the evolution of the respiratory system of symphytognathoids based on the most comprehensive phylogenetic frameworks to date. There are no less than 22 different respiratory system configurations in symphytognathoids. The phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that the anterior tracheal system evolved from fully developed book lungs and, conversely, reduced book lungs have originated independently at least twice from its homologous tracheal conformation. Our hypothesis suggests that structurally similar book lungs might have originated through different processes of tracheal transformation in different families. In symphytognathoids, the posterior tracheal system has either evolved into a highly branched and complex system or it is completely lost. No evident morphological or behavioral features satisfactorily explains the exceptional variation of the symphytognathoid respiratory organs.
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Pekár S, Wolff JO, Černecká Ľ, Birkhofer K, Mammola S, Lowe EC, Fukushima CS, Herberstein ME, Kučera A, Buzatto BA, Djoudi EA, Domenech M, Enciso AV, Piñanez Espejo YMG, Febles S, García LF, Gonçalves-Souza T, Isaia M, Lafage D, Líznarová E, Macías-Hernández N, Magalhães I, Malumbres-Olarte J, Michálek O, Michalik P, Michalko R, Milano F, Munévar A, Nentwig W, Nicolosi G, Painting CJ, Pétillon J, Piano E, Privet K, Ramírez MJ, Ramos C, Řezáč M, Ridel A, Růžička V, Santos I, Sentenská L, Walker L, Wierucka K, Zurita GA, Cardoso P. The World Spider Trait database: a centralized global open repository for curated data on spider traits. Database (Oxford) 2021; 2021:baab064. [PMID: 34651181 PMCID: PMC8517500 DOI: 10.1093/database/baab064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Spiders are a highly diversified group of arthropods and play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as ubiquitous predators, which makes them a suitable group to test a variety of eco-evolutionary hypotheses. For this purpose, knowledge of a diverse range of species traits is required. Until now, data on spider traits have been scattered across thousands of publications produced for over two centuries and written in diverse languages. To facilitate access to such data, we developed an online database for archiving and accessing spider traits at a global scale. The database has been designed to accommodate a great variety of traits (e.g. ecological, behavioural and morphological) measured at individual, species or higher taxonomic levels. Records are accompanied by extensive metadata (e.g. location and method). The database is curated by an expert team, regularly updated and open to any user. A future goal of the growing database is to include all published and unpublished data on spider traits provided by experts worldwide and to facilitate broad cross-taxon assays in functional ecology and comparative biology. Database URL:https://spidertraits.sci.muni.cz/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stano Pekár
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Jonas O Wolff
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ľudmila Černecká
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, Ľ. Štúra 2, Zvolen 960 01, Slovak Republic
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 6, Cottbus 03046, Germany
| | - Stefano Mammola
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Corso Tonolli, 50, Pallanza 28922, Italy
| | - Elizabeth C Lowe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Caroline S Fukushima
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Adam Kučera
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Bruno A Buzatto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - El Aziz Djoudi
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 6, Cottbus 03046, Germany
| | - Marc Domenech
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | | | | | - Sara Febles
- Grupo de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Tenerife (GIET), C/ San Eulogio 15, 1º, La Laguna, Canary Islands 38108, Spain
| | - Luis F García
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Ruta 8 Km 282, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
| | - Thiago Gonçalves-Souza
- Department of Biology, Ecological Synthesis and Biodiversity Conservation Lab, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos—CEP, Recife, PE 50710-270, Brazil
| | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Denis Lafage
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Eva Líznarová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Nuria Macías-Hernández
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife 38206, Spain
| | - Ivan Magalhães
- Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’—CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- CE3C—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
| | - Ondřej Michálek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Peter Michalik
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Radek Michalko
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic
| | - Filippo Milano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Ana Munévar
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNAM-CONICET), Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
| | - Wolfgang Nentwig
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Nicolosi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Christina J Painting
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Julien Pétillon
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Elena Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Kaïna Privet
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Martín J Ramírez
- Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’—CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Cândida Ramos
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Milan Řezáč
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, Prague 6 CZ-16106, Czechia
| | - Aurélien Ridel
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Vlastimil Růžička
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 370 05, Czechia
| | - Irene Santos
- Grupo de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Tenerife (GIET), C/ San Eulogio 15, 1º, La Laguna, Canary Islands 38108, Spain
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands 38206, Spain
| | - Lenka Sentenská
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czechia
| | - Leilani Walker
- Natural Sciences, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Kaja Wierucka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 6 Wally’s Walk, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Helsinki 00014, Finland
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15
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Lüddecke T, Herzig V, von Reumont BM, Vilcinskas A. The biology and evolution of spider venoms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:163-178. [PMID: 34453398 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spiders are diverse, predatory arthropods that have inhabited Earth for around 400 million years. They are well known for their complex venom systems that are used to overpower their prey. Spider venoms contain many proteins and peptides with highly specific and potent activities suitable for biomedical or agrochemical applications, but the key role of venoms as an evolutionary innovation is often overlooked, even though this has enabled spiders to emerge as one of the most successful animal lineages. In this review, we discuss these neglected biological aspects of spider venoms. We focus on the morphology of spider venom systems, their major components, biochemical and chemical plasticity, as well as ecological and evolutionary trends. We argue that the effectiveness of spider venoms is due to their unprecedented complexity, with diverse components working synergistically to increase the overall potency. The analysis of spider venoms is difficult to standardize because they are dynamic systems, fine-tuned and modified by factors such as sex, life-history stage and biological role. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms that drive spider venom evolution and highlight the need for genome-based studies to reconstruct the evolutionary history and physiological networks of spider venom compounds with more certainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Lüddecke
- Department for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, Gießen, 35392, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Volker Herzig
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia.,School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Björn M von Reumont
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany.,Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Gießen, 35392, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, Gießen, 35392, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany.,Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Gießen, 35392, Germany
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16
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Guo X, Selden PA, Ren D. New specimens from Mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber illuminate the phylogenetic placement of Lagonomegopidae (Arachnida: Araneae). Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
New lagonomegopid spiders are described from Mid-Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber. Two new genera and species based on single specimens, Scopomegops fax gen. & sp. nov. and Hiatomegops spinalis gen. & sp. nov. are described. Two specimens belonging to Lineaburmops beigeli are further described. Additionally, after re-examining the holotype of Odontomegops titan, a detailed description of its basal ventral abdomen is added here. A phylogenetic analysis was performed to investigate the phylogenetic placement of Lagonomegopidae. A matrix of 79 morphological characters, scored for six lagonomegopid taxa and 26 non-lagonomegopid taxa, was analysed through parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic inference. Our results recover extant Palpimanoidea as a monophyletic group and partly suggest that Lagonomegopidae is the sister-group to extant Palpimanoidea. The external sexual organs, retrolateral tibial apophysis on the male palp and tracheal spiracle in lagonomegopids are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangbo Guo
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University , Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing , China
| | - Paul A Selden
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University , Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing , China
- Department of Geology, University of Kansas , Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence KS , USA
- Natural History Museum , London , UK
| | - Dong Ren
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University , Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing , China
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17
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Kulkarni S, Kallal RJ, Wood H, Dimitrov D, Giribet G, Hormiga G. Interrogating Genomic-Scale Data to Resolve Recalcitrant Nodes in the Spider Tree of Life. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:891-903. [PMID: 32986823 PMCID: PMC7947752 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-scale data sets are converging on robust, stable phylogenetic hypotheses for many lineages; however, some nodes have shown disagreement across classes of data. We use spiders (Araneae) as a system to identify the causes of incongruence in phylogenetic signal between three classes of data: exons (as in phylotranscriptomics), noncoding regions (included in ultraconserved elements [UCE] analyses), and a combination of both (as in UCE analyses). Gene orthologs, coded as amino acids and nucleotides (with and without third codon positions), were generated by querying published transcriptomes for UCEs, recovering 1,931 UCE loci (codingUCEs). We expected that congeners represented in the codingUCE and UCEs data would form clades in the presence of phylogenetic signal. Noncoding regions derived from UCE sequences were recovered to test the stability of relationships. Phylogenetic relationships resulting from all analyses were largely congruent. All nucleotide data sets from transcriptomes, UCEs, or a combination of both recovered similar topologies in contrast with results from transcriptomes analyzed as amino acids. Most relationships inferred from low-occupancy data sets, containing several hundreds of loci, were congruent across Araneae, as opposed to high occupancy data matrices with fewer loci, which showed more variation. Furthermore, we found that low-occupancy data sets analyzed as nucleotides (as is typical of UCE data sets) can result in more congruent relationships than high occupancy data sets analyzed as amino acids (as in phylotranscriptomics). Thus, omitting data, through amino acid translation or via retention of only high occupancy loci, may have a deleterious effect in phylogenetic reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Kulkarni
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
| | - Robert J Kallal
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
| | - Hannah Wood
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
| | - Dimitar Dimitrov
- Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
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