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Invertebrate Systematics Invertebrate Systematics Society
Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Monophyly and phylogenetic relationships of Thereva and therevine genus-groups (Insecta : Diptera : Therevidae) based on EF-1α, 28S rDNA and mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences

Kevin C. Holston A D , Michael E. Irwin B and Brian M. Wiegmann C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Entomology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.

B Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA.

C Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: kevin.holston@nrm.se

Invertebrate Systematics 21(3) 279-296 https://doi.org/10.1071/IS06005
Submitted: 8 February 2006  Accepted: 4 May 2007   Published: 27 June 2007

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses using 28S rDNA, elongation factor (EF)-1α, and mt 16S rDNA sequences were performed to test the monophyly of Thereva Latreille. Two of the three Afrotropical Thereva species groups lack the genitalia characters that unambiguously diagnose Thereva in the Holarctic Region, but phylogenetic relationships among Thereva species groups and therevine genera are poorly understood. Using an extensive taxonomic sample (39 of the 62 therevine genera) and Thereva, sensu lato (15 spp.), simultaneous analyses of all three gene partitions recovered Nearctic and Palaearctic Thereva species in a well supported clade that includes the Afrotropical seminitida-group but excludes the Afrotropical analis- and turneri-groups. Stronger phylogenetic signal from the EF-1α partition, measured by the skewness statistic and proportion of total parsimony informative characters, dominated conflicting signal from the 16S partition and weaker, but more congruent, signal from 28S. Reducing the taxonomic sample in analyses of Therevinae reduced homoplasy, increased phylogenetic structure and partitioned Bremer support values and reduced incongruence with 28S for the 16S partition. Although molecular analyses yielded partial recovery of informal therevine genus-groups, morphological diagnoses of higher-level groups are poorly supported with the exception of Cyclotelini. The ‘Holarctic radiation’ refers to a diverse clade of genera closely related to Pandivirilia Irwin & Lyneborg and Acrosathe Irwin & Lyneborg widely distributed throughout the Holarctic Region that is the sister-group to Thereva, sensu stricto. Results from these analyses underscore the importance of male and female genitalia characters in recognising monophyletic groups and regional endemism in therevine diversification.


Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the following collectors for providing specimens for this study: Daniel Bennett, Chris Dietrich, Martin Hauser, Christian Kassebeer, Ray Miller, J. Kevin Moulton, Manfred Niehuis, Frank Parker, Evert I. Schlinger, Christian Schmid-Egger, Karel Spitzer, Shaun L. Winterton and Chen Young. We thank Kristin M. Algmin, Brian Cassel, Hilary Hill and Gail E. Kampmeier for logistical and technical support. Comments from Stewart Berlocher, Stephen D. Gaimari, Martin Hauser, Chris Lambkin, Mark Metz, Donald W. Webb, James B. Whitfield, Shaun L. Winterton and an anonymous reviewer on earlier versions of this manuscript are greatly appreciated. This paper is based on dissertational research by the first author at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, and the support and encouragement of May Berenbaum and other members of the Department of Entomology is greatly appreciated. Financial support for this research was provided by the Schlinger Foundation and the National Science Foundation (DEB-9521925 and DEB-9977958). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.


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