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ABSTRACT Aim Location Taxon Methods Results Main Conclusions We test the relationship between the voluntary thermal maximum (VTMax; the temperature at which an individual actively retreats to a colder site) and geographical/environmental features in the distribution of South American pitvipers. Additionally, we explore the evolution of environmental temperatures and VTMax in species' ranges.South America.South American pitvipers of the genera Bothrops and Bothrocophias.We experimentally measured the VTMax of 15 species of South American pitvipers. We explored the relationship between VTMax and geographical/environmental features (e.g., latitude, topographic complexity and temperature) with PGLS regressions. Additionally, we explored the evolution of maximum (TMax) and minimum (TMin) environmental temperatures, as well as the Thermal Niche Breadth (TNB) and VTMax, using ancestral state reconstruction and testing for phylogenetic signal.Mean VTMax values for South American pitvipers clustered primarily within the 34°C–36°C range, exhibiting little variation among species or clades. No significant correlations were found between VTMax and climatic or geographic variables. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that these snakes are absent from regions where maximum temperatures surpass their preferred thermal tolerances. Ancestral state reconstruction indicated divergent evolutionary pathways for thermal limits among species, independent of phylogenetic relationships.South American pitvipers unexpectedly exhibit similar voluntary thermal maximum values across a wide range of habitats and despite distinct phylogenetic relationships. Our results indicate that there is no strong climatic niche conservatism for South American pitvipers, with a likely weak selective pressure of VTMax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Molecular studies based on chloroplast markers have questioned the monophyly of the fern genus Pecluma (Polypodioideae, Polypodiaceae), which has several species of Polypodium nested within it. We explored the delimitation of Pecluma and its biogeographic pattern by evaluating the phylogenetic position of four Polypodium species not sequenced thus far and integrating the first fossil evidence of Pecluma. Methods: Using herbarium material, we applied a genome‐skimming approach to obtain a phylogenetic hypothesis of Polypodioideae; assessed the combination of character states observed in the fossil from Miocene Dominican amber using a previously published phylogeny of Polypodioideae based on four plastid markers as framework; calculated divergence times; and conducted an ancestral area estimation. Results: Within Polypodioideae, Pecluma was recovered as sister to Phlebodium. Three of the newly sequenced species—Polypodium otites, P. pinnatissimum, and P. ursipes—were recovered with maximum support within the Pecluma clade, whereas P. christensenii remained within Polypodium. The closest combination of character states of the fossil was found within Pecluma. Our biogeographic analyses suggest an Eocene origin of the genus in South America, with several subsequent Oligocene and Miocene colonization events to Mexico–Central America and to the West Indies. Conclusions: Although the circumscription of Pecluma is still challenging, our results elucidate the origin and age of the genus. The newly described fossil, Pecluma hispaniolae sp. nov., supports the hypothesis that the epiphytic communities of the Greater Antilles exhibit a constant generic composition since the Miocene. We propose new combinations (Pecluma otites, Pecluma pinnatissima, and Pecluma ursipes) to accommodate three species previously classified in Polypodium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Doradidae fishes constitute one of the most diverse groups of Neotropical freshwater environments. Acanthodoradinae is the oldest lineage and the sister group to all other thorny catfishes, and it includes only the genus Acanthodoras. The diversity of Acanthodoras remains underestimated, and the use of complementary approaches, including genetic studies, is an important step to better characterize this diversity and the relationships among the species within the genus. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using conventional cytogenetic techniques and physical mapping of three multigene families (18S and 5S ribosomal DNA [rDNA], U2 small nuclear DNA [snDNA]) and four microsatellite motifs, namely (AC)n, (AT)n, (GA)n, and (GATA)n, in two sympatric species from the Negro River: Acanthodoras cataphractus and Acanthodoras cf. polygrammus. We found significant differences in constitutive heterochromatin (CH) content, distribution of the microsatellite (AT)n, and the number of 5S rDNA and U2 snDNA sites. These differences may result from chromosome rearrangements and repetitive DNA dispersal mechanisms. Furthermore, the characterization of the diploid number (2n) of these Acanthodoras species enables us to propose 2n = 58 chromosomes as the plesiomorphic 2n state in Doradidae based on ancestral state reconstruction. Acanthodoradinae is the oldest lineage of the thorny catfishes, and knowledge about its cytogenetic patterns is crucial for disentangling the karyotype evolution of the whole group. Thus, this study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms behind chromosome diversification of Doradidae and highlights the importance of Acanthodoradinae in the evolutionary history of thorny catfishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order Mysida Boas, 1883 is a group of small, shrimp‐like peracarid crustaceans with surprisingly high morphological and ecological diversity. In this study, a new genus and species of deep‐sea mysids, Muscamysis carolinensis gen. et sp. n., is described based on a solitary specimen recently collected from the Caroline Ridge, Northwest Pacific. To determine the phylogenetic position of the new genus within Mysida, we reconstruct a comprehensive multi‐gene phylogeny of the order, incorporating 45 species from 10 sub‐families and two families. Our analysis reveals strong support for a close relationship between the new genus and Mysidellinae Czerniavsky, 1882, with both forming a clade nested within Heteromysinae Norman, 1892. Notably, our findings do not support the current delineation or monophyly of most mysid sub‐families, emphasizing the necessity for further taxonomic revisions. Specifically, Palaumysinae Wittmann, 2013 is now synonymized with Erythropinae Hansen, 1910, while Heteromysinae is synonymized with Mysidellinae. Bayesian divergence time estimation uncovers, for the first time, multiple independent coastal subterranean colonizations of mysids during the Mesozoic. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses suggest that characters, such as the cleft telson and reduced male pleopods, are the results of parallel evolution, indicating that certain diagnostic characters may not be apomorphic, thereby necessitating more substantial revisions to the current higher‐level classification of the order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent taxonomic revision of the strikingly ornamented millipedes known as 'dragon millipedes' in the family Paradoxosomatidae, has revealed generic division into six genera. The majority of species are distributed in mainland South-East Asia and each genus is restricted to a well-delimited area. However, their evolutionary history has remained poorly understood, particularly the relationships among genera and their biogeographic distribution. We present a comprehensive and well-resolved molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes. A dataset of 256 sequences representing 40 dragon millipede species was newly generated and analysed in order to reveal the relationships and to explore the origin using ancestral range reconstruction. All dragon millipedes were retrieved together as monophyletic, each genus except Hylomus forming a distinct clade with strong statistical values, supporting the previous classification using morphology. A new monotypic genus and new species, Siamaxytes bifurca Srisonchai and Panha gen. nov. et sp. nov. was revealed based on distinct morphological and DNA data. The Tenasserim mountain range was inferred to be the centre of origin of dragon millipedes with a series of subsequent diversifications across mainland South-East Asia. Our analysis provides evidence that both dispersal and vicariance presumably played a role in shaping these millipedes' distribution and diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollinarium morphologies of 85 species and four subspecies of Hoya were investigated in the present study. The longest pollinium was found in Hoya multiflora , the widest in H. archboldiana , and the smallest in H. bilobata. Pollinium shape showed the widest variation range of all palynological characters, and nine shapes were distinguished in this study. A pellucid margin was present in the pollinium of 84 taxa, and absent in five species. In total, 10 types of pollinarium were recognized based on the following characters: presence/absence of a pellucid margin and the caudicle wing, the ratio of corpusculum/pollinarium length, width/length of pollinium, and curving orientation of the caudicle wings. Types V and X were found in a greater number of taxa compared with the other eight types. Type V is a combination of obliquely elongate or oblong pollinium, presence of a pellucid margin and caudicle wing, and corpusculum length less than half of the pollinium. Type X combines pollinium with variable shapes, a pellucid margin, unwinged and twisted caudicle, and corpusculum with obvious lateral extensions. The characters of 46 taxa with a resolved position in the latest phylogeny of Hoya were mapped and ancestral reconstruction analysis was carried out, indicating that the presence of a pellucid margin in the pollinium, corpusculum length less than half of the pollinium, and rhomboid-shaped corpusculum with lower extensions represent the ancestral state of the genus. Clade II is characterized by the absence of a pellucid margin and twisted caudicles. Loss of the pellucid margin occurring in Clade II and sometimes in other clades is considered independent reversals to the plesiomorphic state. The presence of a pellucid margin and rhomboid corpusculum, and absence of caudicle wings characterizes Clade IV. Ancestral reconstruction analysis revealed that pollinarium type V was the ancestral state of the core lineage Clade V. The species in this clade share presence of both a pellucid margin and caudicle wing, straight caudicle, and pollinium width of 201–300 µm. Clade VI (the largest lineage) as well as Clades I and III have diverse palynological characters, but pollinarium type X and type V is probably the ancestral state of Clades VI and I, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Tuber comprises ectomycorrhizal fungal species producing belowground ascomata, including the gastronomically most prominent hypogeous fungi. Since the discovery and description of new species are ongoing, the proportion of undescribed species can be considerable and the taxonomy of the genus goes often through changes. The taxonomy of the genus Tuber would therefore benefit from a periodic review. Tuber species described in Europe in recent decades include Tuber regianum, T. bernardinii and T. magentipunctatum. The common characteristics of these three species are the relatively small-sized spores with alveolate-reticulate ornamentation, a high number of spores per ascus (most frequently 6–8 spores) and small-sized ascomata with a verrucose-papillate or smooth surface. The present study aimed at examining the morphology and ecology of the three species, and providing a detailed taxonomic description of the Regianum clade using a multilocus phylogenetic analysis. In addition to this, we examined whether the apparently plesiomorphic morphological character states of this phylogenetically basal clade are the result of the conservation of ancestral character states. Our results show that in the case of certain morphological traits of the Regianum clade, the apparently plesiomorphic character states are indeed retained ancestral states, while in others, they are convergently reappeared ones. Furthermore, taking an overlook at all Tuber clades, we found that some morphological characters, such as spore length, number of spores per ascus and ascus length, changed together in the same evolutionary patterns, while others transformed in different ways within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterotrophic protists are vital in Earth's ecosystems, influencing carbon and nutrient cycles and occupying key positions in food webs as microbial predators. Fossils and molecular data suggest the emergence of predatory microeukaryotes and the transition to a eukaryote-rich marine environment by 800 million years ago (Ma). Neoproterozoic vase-shaped microfossils (VSMs) linked to Arcellinida testate amoebae represent the oldest evidence of heterotrophic microeukaryotes. This study explores the phylogenetic relationship and divergence times of modern Arcellinida and related taxa using a relaxed molecular clock approach. We estimate the origin of nodes leading to extant members of the Arcellinida Order to have happened during the latest Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic (1054 to 661 Ma), while the divergence of extant infraorders postdates the Silurian. Our results demonstrate that at least one major heterotrophic eukaryote lineage originated during the Neoproterozoic. A putative radiation of eukaryotic groups (e.g., Arcellinida) during the early-Neoproterozoic sustained by favorable ecological and environmental conditions may have contributed to eukaryotic life endurance during the Cryogenian severe ice ages. Moreover, we infer that Arcellinida most likely already inhabited terrestrial habitats during the Neoproterozoic, coexisting with terrestrial Fungi and green algae, before land plant radiation. The most recent extant Arcellinida groups diverged during the Silurian Period, alongside other taxa within Fungi and flowering plants. These findings shed light on heterotrophic microeukaryotes' evolutionary history and ecological significance in Earth's ecosystems, using testate amoebae as a proxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae Latreille) comprise not only one of the largest radiations of predatory animals (22 subfamilies; >6,800 spp.) but also include the medically important kissing bugs (Triatominae Jeannel). Reduviidae are morphologically diverse, engage in an astounding array of predatory strategies and have evolved some of the most unique anti‐predator and stealth techniques in the animal kingdom. While significant progress has been made to reveal the evolutionary history of assassin bugs and revise their taxonomy, the non‐monophyly of the second largest assassin bug subfamily, Reduviinae Latreille, remains to be addressed. Leveraging phylogenomic data (2,291 loci) and 112 morphological characters, we performed the first data‐ and taxon‐rich (195 reduvioid taxa) combined phylogenetic analysis across Reduvioidea and reconstructed morphological diagnostic features for major lineages. We corroborated the rampant polyphyly of Reduviinae that demands substantial revisions to the subfamilial and tribal classification of assassin bugs. Our new classification for Reduviidae reduces the number of subfamilies to 19 and recognizes 40 tribes. We describe three new subfamilies to accommodate distantly related taxa previously classified as Reduviinae (Heteropinae subfam. nov., Nanokeralinae subfam. nov., and Pasirinae subfam. nov.). Triatominae sensu nov. are expanded to include closely related predatory reduviine genera. Cetherinae Jeannel, Chryxinae Champion, Pseudocetherinae Villiers, Salyavatinae Amyot & Serville and Sphaeridopinae Amyot & Serville are treated as junior synonyms of Reduviinae sensu nov. Epiroderinae Distant are synonymized with Phimophorinae Handlirsch sensu nov. and Bactrodini Stål stat. nov. are reclassified as a tribe of Harpactorinae Amyot & Serville. Psophidinae Distant is treated as a valid subfamily. This new classification represents a robust framework for future taxonomic and evolutionary research on assassin bugs.Zoobank Registration: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2310C9AA-0D53-4EF6-9E75-C2B3A98CE096 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stipules are generally regarded as the outgrowths of the leaf base in angiosperms. Other interpretations see stipules as independent organs comparable to leaves. Stipules have been recognized as an important trait for plant taxonomy and identification, and there has been great progress in the understanding of their morphology, development, origin, function, and gene regulation over time. Therefore, this review will briefly summarize past research and aims to clarify the occurrence, location, and morphology of stipules in the families recognized by APG IV and reconstruct their ancestral states. Additionally, the developmental morphology of different types of stipule is presented through scanning electron microcopy observations and a survey of the existing literature. The difference between stipules and ligules is discussed in relation to the occurrence of postgenitally or congenitally fused 'continuous' stipules. A distinction is made between 'true' stipules and 'pseudostipules'. The origin of stipules at the base of the leaf is explained from different perspectives. About one-third of the families are reported to have stipules, mostly concentrated in the Rosid clade with the highest level of diversity. On the basis of the ancestral state reconstructions, stipules may be absent in the ancestors of angiosperms, but are present in the ancestor of Rosids, with a pair appearing on both sides of the petiole base. The transition between paired and annular stipules is discussed, the latter arising postgenitally or congenitally. Several hypotheses are discussed to explain the abundance of stipules in the Rosid clade and their limited presence in the Asterid clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the complex evolutionary history of lichen-forming fungi has gained considerable attention, particularly regarding the long-debated role of these organisms in shaping early terrestrial ecosystems, the evolution of lichenivory and its potential impact on the diversification of lichenophages have been largely neglected. With > 800 described species worldwide and a broad geographical distribution, the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) represents a diverse, yet poorly studied, group of predominantly lichenophagous beetles. Using a dataset of 52 ingroup taxa and five gene fragments, a first phylogenetic hypothesis of the tribe was generated, which was subsequently used for reconstructing the ancestral state of the trophic and habitat associations of the beetles and for estimating a time frame of diversification. Our phylogenetic reconstruction sheds light on the higher-level systematics of the tribe, supporting the current subtribal division of the group while also providing a framework for understanding the intergeneric relationships within subtribes. The results also indicate an Early Cretaceous origin of the tribe, highlighting the close association between Helopini and lichen-forming fungi since the emergence of the group. Nevertheless, at least seven independent switches from lichenophagy to alternative feeding habits have occurred since the middle Eocene, which can be linked temporally to transitions from forests to open habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron is famous for its high ornamental value. However, the genus is taxonomically difficult and the relationships within Rhododendron remain unresolved. In addition, the origin of key morphological characters with high horticulture value need to be explored. Both problems largely hinder utilization of germplasm resources. Most studies attempted to disentangle the phylogeny of Rhododendron, but only used a few genomic markers and lacked large-scale sampling, resulting in low clade support and contradictory phylogenetic signals. Here, we used restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) data and morphological traits for 144 species of Rhododendron, representing all subgenera and most sections and subsections of this species-rich genus, to decipher its intricate evolutionary history and reconstruct ancestral state. Our results revealed high resolutions at subgenera and section levels of Rhododendron based on RAD-seq data. Both optimal phylogenetic tree and split tree recovered five lineages among Rhododendron. Subg. Therorhodion (clade I) formed the basal lineage. Subg. Tsutsusi and Azaleastrum formed clade II and had sister relationships. Clade III included all scaly rhododendron species. Subg. Pentanthera (clade IV) formed a sister group to Subg. Hymenanthes (clade V). The results of ancestral state reconstruction showed that Rhododendron ancestor was a deciduous woody plant with terminal inflorescence, ten stamens, leaf blade without scales and broadly funnelform corolla with pink or purple color. This study shows significant distinguishability to resolve the evolutionary history of Rhododendron based on high clade support of phylogenetic tree constructed by RAD-seq data. It also provides an example to resolve discordant signals in phylogenetic trees and demonstrates the application feasibility of RAD-seq with large amounts of missing data in deciphering intricate evolutionary relationships. Additionally, the reconstructed ancestral state of six important characters provides insights into the innovation of key characters in Rhododendron.

Abstract Background Throughout its nearly four-billion-year history, life has undergone evolutionary transitions in which simpler subunits have become integrated to form a more complex whole. Many of these transitions opened the door to innovations that resulted in increased biodiversity and/or organismal efficiency. The evolution of multicellularity from unicellular forms represents one such transition, one that paved the way for cellular differentiation, including differentiation of male and female gametes. A useful model for studying the evolution of multicellularity and cellular differentiation is the volvocine algae, a clade of freshwater green algae whose members range from unicellular to colonial, from undifferentiated to completely differentiated, and whose gamete types can be isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous. To better understand how multicellularity, differentiation, and gametes evolved in this group, we used comparative genomics and fossil data to establish a geologically calibrated roadmap of when these innovations occurred. Results Our ancestral-state reconstructions, show that multicellularity arose independently twice in the volvocine algae. Our chronograms indicate multicellularity evolved during the Carboniferous-Triassic periods in Goniaceae + Volvocaceae, and possibly as early as the Cretaceous in Tetrabaenaceae. Using divergence time estimates we inferred when, and in what order, specific developmental changes occurred that led to differentiated multicellularity and oogamy. We find that in the volvocine algae the temporal sequence of developmental changes leading to differentiated multicellularity is much as proposed by David Kirk, and that multicellularity is correlated with the acquisition of anisogamy and oogamy. Lastly, morphological, molecular, and divergence time data suggest the possibility of cryptic species in Tetrabaenaceae. Conclusions Large molecular datasets and robust phylogenetic methods are bringing the evolutionary history of the volvocine algae more sharply into focus. Mounting evidence suggests that extant species in this group are the result of two independent origins of multicellularity and multiple independent origins of cell differentiation. Also, the origin of the Tetrabaenaceae-Goniaceae-Volvocaceae clade may be much older than previously thought. Finally, the possibility of cryptic species in the Tetrabaenaceae provides an exciting opportunity to study the recent divergence of lineages adapted to live in very different thermal environments.

Background: Throughout its nearly four-billion-year history, life has undergone evolutionary transitions in which simpler subunits have become integrated to form a more complex whole. Many of these transitions opened the door to innovations that resulted in increased biodiversity and/or organismal efficiency. The evolution of multicellularity from unicellular forms represents one such transition, one that paved the way for cellular differentiation, including differentiation of male and female gametes. A useful model for studying the evolution of multicellularity and cellular differentiation is the volvocine algae, a clade of freshwater green algae whose members range from unicellular to colonial, from undifferentiated to completely differentiated, and whose gamete types can be isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous. To better understand how multicellularity, differentiation, and gametes evolved in this group, we used comparative genomics and fossil data to establish a geologically calibrated roadmap of when these innovations occurred. Results: Our ancestral-state reconstructions, show that multicellularity arose independently twice in the volvocine algae. Our chronograms indicate multicellularity evolved during the Carboniferous-Triassic periods in Goniaceae + Volvocaceae, and possibly as early as the Cretaceous in Tetrabaenaceae. Using divergence time estimates we inferred when, and in what order, specific developmental changes occurred that led to differentiated multicellularity and oogamy. We find that in the volvocine algae the temporal sequence of developmental changes leading to differentiated multicellularity is much as proposed by David Kirk, and that multicellularity is correlated with the acquisition of anisogamy and oogamy. Lastly, morphological, molecular, and divergence time data suggest the possibility of cryptic species in Tetrabaenaceae. Conclusions: Large molecular datasets and robust phylogenetic methods are bringing the evolutionary history of the volvocine algae more sharply into focus. Mounting evidence suggests that extant species in this group are the result of two independent origins of multicellularity and multiple independent origins of cell differentiation. Also, the origin of the Tetrabaenaceae-Goniaceae-Volvocaceae clade may be much older than previously thought. Finally, the possibility of cryptic species in the Tetrabaenaceae provides an exciting opportunity to study the recent divergence of lineages adapted to live in very different thermal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promiscuity, explosive breeding and male-biased operational sex-ratios can affect the strength of male selectivity and may play major roles in the expression of misdirected matings (with conspecific males, other species, corpses or objects) in anuran amphibians. Yet, misdirected amplexus occur in multiple species diverging from these reproductive traits, suggesting that the expression of such behaviour is widespread, and may have occurred early during anuran diversification. Using two methods of ancestral-trait reconstruction which predict unknown states, we found a very high probability that most anuran genera express misdirected amplexus, suggesting that this by-product of anuran reproductive strategies is likely to have occurred early during anuran diversification. The persistence of misdirected amplexus suggests that its infrequent occurrence may outweigh individual costs of breeding attempts with unfit mates. We found a recent exponential increase in reported observations of misdirected amplexus, which, along with increased research effort and publication rate, may reveal an effect of environmental perturbations known to promote the occurrence of these behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Speciation, extinction and historical dispersal are the ultimate factors generating and maintaining biodiversity. However, methods of macroevolution used to detect historical processes usually ignore the variation of macroevolutionary processes at scales finer than entire regions. Likewise, biogeography and community ecology often ignore deep‐time evolutionary processes. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to integrate data from ancestral state reconstructions, current species distributions and biogeographical regionalization. Herodotools is an R package designed to perform this integration. Location: Global application, with an example from Neotropics. Major taxa studied: Any taxa, with an example from small rodents (genus Akodon and subfamily Sigmodontinae). Methods: Herodotools streamline analyses of historical biogeography, including regionalization, calculation of assemblage age, lineage in situ diversification and community phylogenetic metrics, merging species occurrence with macroevolutionary methods of ancestral area and trait reconstruction. The main functions of our R package are presented with toy examples and by analysing the historical biogeography of small rodent assemblages in the Neotropics. Results: Our package can integrate methods from biogeography, macroevolution and community ecology, allowing us to downscale the effects of historical processes and calculate important historical variables (e.g., age of assemblages, in situ diversification, phylogenetic regionalization, phylogenetic transition zones, metrics of trait macroevolutionary dynamics and new metrics of phylogenetic diversity and endemism) in different scales, from entire regions to communities of co‐occurrent species. Main Conclusions: Herodotools is the first platform to streamline the analysis of historical biogeography, enabling a better understanding of historical processes at different levels of organization, from local assemblages to entire biogeographical regions and incorporating macroevolutionary models in commonly used community phylogenetic metrics. This integration bridges the gap between macroevolutionary, biogeography and community ecology methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 74 genera and subgenera and approximately 740 species, Saprininae represent one of the largest subfamilies of Histeridae (Coleoptera: Histeroidea). Here, we present a phylogenetic hypothesis for Saprininae based on comprehensive taxonomic sampling. This is the first phylogenetic study combining molecular and morphological approaches (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, 18S ribosomal RNA and 93 morphological characters). As a result, we propose a new classification; five new tribes are erected: Myrmetini Portevin stat. and sens. nov.; Euspilotini Lackner, trib. nov.; Eremosaprinini Lackner, trib. nov.; Saprinini Blanchard, sens. nov.; and Hypocaccini Lackner, trib. nov. Additional nomenclatural acts are as follows: Chelyoxenus Hubbard is downgraded to a subgenus of Geomysaprinus Ross, thus Geomysaprinus (Chelyoxenus) stat. nov., Nessus Reichardt is transferred from a subgenus of Hypocaccus C. Thomson to a subgenus of Hypocacculus Bickhardt, thus Hypocacculus (Nessus) stat. rest. The following taxa Paraphilothis Vienna, Styphrus Motschulsky, Xerosaprinus Wenzel, Lophobregmus Wenzel, Vastosaprinus Wenzel, Auchmosaprinus Wenzel, Hemisaprinus Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt, Reichardtia Wenzel and Australopachylopus Lackner & Leschen are all downgraded into subgenera of Saprinus Erichson. Thus, Saprinus (Paraphilothis) stat. nov., Saprinus (Styphrus) stat. nov., Saprinus (Xerosaprinus) stat. nov., Saprinus (Vastosaprinus) stat. nov., Saprinus (Auchmosaprinus) stat. nov., Saprinus (Lophobregmus) stat. nov., Saprinus (Hemisaprinus) stat. rest., Saprinus (Reichardtia) stat. nov., Saprinus (Australopachylopus) stat. nov. A new genus, Paraxenus Lackner gen. nov., is proposed for the former South African and Namibian members of the genus Pholioxenus Reichardt, with the following new combinations: Paraxenus diasi (Vienna) comb. nov.; Paraxenus eremicola (Thérond) comb. nov.; Paraxenus namibiensis (Vienna) comb. nov.; Paraxenus oleolus (Thérond) comb. nov.; Paraxenus therondi (Olexa) comb. nov.; and Paraxenus uhligi (Mazur) comb. nov. Additionally, based on the analysis of the dispersal patterns, Myrmetini appear to be a bipolar (amphitropical) clade, while Eremosaprinini appear to be exclusive to the Western Hemisphere. Euspilotini are strongly represented in the Western Hemisphere, with only a handful of species known from the Palaearctic/Oriental regions. Saprinini and Hypocaccini are spread worldwide but are poorly represented in South America. The Holarctic (in particular the Nearctic) Region is proposed as the centre of origin of the subfamily around 80 million years ago (Ma). Inquilinism is hypothesised to be the ancestral state for the group, with several subsequent independent shifts in life histories. Saprininae cladogenesis occurred mainly during the Palaeogene (66–23.03 Ma) and could be linked to the diversification of mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how and when key novel adaptations evolved is a central goal of evolutionary biology. Within the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation of Drosophila, many mushroom‐feeding species are tolerant of host toxins, such as cyclopeptides, that are lethal to nearly all other eukaryotes. In this study, we used phylogenetic and functional approaches to investigate the evolution of cyclopeptide tolerance in the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation of Drosophila. First, we inferred the evolutionary relationships among 48 species in this radiation using 978 single copy orthologs. Our results resolved previous incongruities within species groups across the phylogeny. Second, we expanded on previous studies of toxin tolerance by assaying 16 of these species for tolerance to α‐amanitin and found that six of them could develop on diet with toxin. Finally, we asked how α‐amanitin tolerance might have evolved across the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation, and inferred that toxin tolerance was ancestral in mushroom‐feeding Drosophila and subsequently lost multiple times. Our findings expand our understanding of toxin tolerance across the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation and emphasize the uniqueness of toxin tolerance in this adaptive radiation and the complexity of biochemical adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent phylogenetic studies have challenged the traditional classification of the subtribe Cynoglossinae, which was based on nutlet characteristics. To investigate the evolution of fruit traits related to dispersal modes in this complex group, we conducted a study using scanning electron microscopy to examine 28 taxa representing all previously recognized lineages of the subtribe. Cynoglossinae displays four main types of nutlets: marginate, emarginate, flat wing, and incurved wing. Our findings reveal the arrangement of glochids and their structure, including the number of apical hooks, and their surface ornamentation is highly variable both across and within these four main types. We reconstructed the phylogenetic tree with four main clades (i.e., Clades I–IV) using Maximum likelihood analysis. In addition, we mapped four nutlet traits (i.e., nutlet margin, nutlet glochid, glochid sculpture, and glochid hooks) associated with different dispersal modes using ancestral state reconstruction analysis. The ancestor of subtribe Cynoglossinae was inferred to have marginate and glochidiate nutlets, with glochids externally provided with complex spiny tubercles and bearing at least four hooks at the tip as well as epizoochory dispersal mode. These ancestral states have been retained in Clade II (East Asian-Australian-African Cynoglossum-Lindelofia clade) and Clade III (Mediterranean-Asian Cynoglossum-Solenanthus-Trachelanthus clade), with several independent shifts to emarginate fruits. Transitions from marginate to wide-winged nutlets have occurred at least four independent times, facilitating wind-assisted dispersal in Clade I (Microparacaryum clade), Clade IV (Paracaryum-Mattiastrum-Rindera clade), Rindera tetraspis, and Mattiastrum crista-galli (both belonging to Clade III), where a transition from tuberculate to papillate surface has also occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Triassic radiation of vertebrates saw the emergence of the modern vertebrate groups, as well as numerous extinct animals exhibiting conspicuous, unique anatomical characteristics. Among these, members of Tanystropheidae (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) displayed cervical vertebral elongation to an extent unparalleled in any other vertebrate. Tanystropheids were exceptionally ecologically diverse and had a wide spatial and temporal distribution. This may have been related to their neck anatomy, yet its evolution and functional properties remain poorly understood. We used geometric morphometrics to capture the intraspecific variation between the vertebrae comprising the cervical column among early archosauromorphs, to trace the evolutionary history of neck elongation in these animals. Our results show that the cervical series of these reptiles can be divided into modules corresponding to those of extant animals. Tanystropheids achieved neck elongation through somite elongation and a shift between cervical and thoracic regions, without presacral vertebrae count increase—contrary to crown archosaurs. This suggests a peculiar developmental constraint that strongly affected the evolution of tanystropheids. The data obtained just at the base of the archosauromorph phylogenetic tree are crucial for further studies on the modularity of vertebral columns of not only Triassic reptile groups but extant and other extinct animals as well.

Xylella fastidiosa is an insect-transmitted bacterial plant pathogen found across the Americas and, more recently, worldwide. X. fastidiosa infects plants of at least 563 species belonging to 82 botanical families. While the species X. fastidiosa infects many plants, particular strains have increased plant specificity. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of plant host specificity in X. fastidiosa is vital for predicting host shifts and epidemics. While there may exist multiple genetic determinants of host range in X. fastidiosa, the drivers of the unique relationships between X. fastidiosa and its hosts should be elucidated. Our objective with this study was to predict the ancestral plant hosts of this pathogen using phylogenetic and genomic methods based on a large data set of pathogen whole-genome data from agricultural hosts. We used genomic data to construct maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees of subsets of the core and pan-genomes. With those trees, we ran ML ancestral state reconstructions of plant host at two taxonomic scales (genus and multiorder clades). Both the core and pan-genomes were informative in terms of predicting ancestral host state, giving new insight into the history of the plant hosts of X. fastidiosa. Subsequently, gene gain and loss in the pan-genome were found to be significantly correlated with plant host through genes that had statistically significant associations with particular hosts. IMPORTANCE Xylella fastidiosa is a globally important bacterial plant pathogen with many hosts; however, the underpinnings of host specificity are not known. This paper contains important findings about the usage of phylogenetics to understand the history of host specificity in this bacterial species, as well as convergent evolution in the pan-genome. There are strong signals of historical host range that give us insights into the history of this pathogen and its various invasions. The data from this paper are relevant in making decisions for quarantine and eradication, as they show the historical trends of host switching, which can help us predict likely future host shifts. We also demonstrate that using multilocus sequence type (MLST) genes in this system, which is still a commonly used process for policymaking, does not reconstruct the same phylogenetic topology as whole-genome data.

Dinocampus coccinellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a generalist parasitoid wasp that parasitizes >50 species of predatory lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), with thelytokous parthenogeny as its primary mode of reproduction. Here, we present the first high-quality genome of D. coccinellae using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing technologies, followed by assembly and scaffolding of chromosomal segments using Chicago + HiC technologies. We also present a first-pass ab initio and a reference-based genome annotation and resolve timings of divergence and evolution of (1) solitary behavior vs eusociality, (2) arrhenotokous vs thelytokous parthenogenesis, and (3) rates of gene loss and gain among Hymenopteran lineages. Our study finds (1) at least 2 independent origins of eusociality and solitary behavior among Hymenoptera, (2) 2 independent origins of thelytokous parthenogenesis from ancestral arrhenotoky, and (3) accelerated rates of gene duplications, loss, and gain along the lineages leading to D. coccinellae. Our work both affirms the ancient divergence of Braconid wasps from ancestral Hymenopterans and accelerated rates of evolution in response to adaptations to novel hosts, including polyDNA viral coevolution.

Fungi of the Conidiobolus group belong to the family Ancylistaceae (Entomophthorales, Entomophthoromycotina, Zoopagomycota) and include over 70 predominantly saprotrophic species in four similar and closely related genera, that were separated phylogenetically recently. Entomopathogenic fungi of the genus Batkoa are very close morphologically to the Conidiobolus species. Their thalli share similar morphology, and they produce ballistic conidia like closely related entomopathogenic Entomophthoraceae. Ballistic conidia are traditionally considered as an efficient tool in the pathogenic process and an important adaptation to the parasitic lifestyle. Our study aims to reconstruct the phylogeny of this fungal group using molecular and genomic data, ancestral lifestyle and morphological features of the conidiobolus-like group and the direction of their evolution. Based on phylogenetic analysis, some species previously in the family Conidiobolaceae are placed in the new families Capillidiaceae and Neoconidiobolaceae, which each include one genus, and the Conidiobolaceae now includes three genera. Intermediate between the conidiobolus-like groups and Entomophthoraceae, species in the distinct Batkoa clade now belong in the family Batkoaceae. Parasitism evolved several times in the Conidiobolus group and Ancestral State Reconstruction suggests that the evolution of ballistic conidia preceded the evolution of the parasitic lifestyle.

Abstract Understanding how and when key novel adaptations evolved is a central goal of evolutionary biology. Within the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation of Drosophila, many mushroom‐feeding species are tolerant of host toxins, such as cyclopeptides, that are lethal to nearly all other eukaryotes. In this study, we used phylogenetic and functional approaches to investigate the evolution of cyclopeptide tolerance in the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation of Drosophila. First, we inferred the evolutionary relationships among 48 species in this radiation using 978 single copy orthologs. Our results resolved previous incongruities within species groups across the phylogeny. Second, we expanded on previous studies of toxin tolerance by assaying 16 of these species for tolerance to α‐amanitin and found that six of them could develop on diet with toxin. Finally, we asked how α‐amanitin tolerance might have evolved across the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation, and inferred that toxin tolerance was ancestral in mushroom‐feeding Drosophila and subsequently lost multiple times. Our findings expand our understanding of toxin tolerance across the immigrans‐tripunctata radiation and emphasize the uniqueness of toxin tolerance in this adaptive radiation and the complexity of biochemical adaptations.

The orbicules are tiny structures of sporopollenin that occur on the interior wall of anthers in several groups of plants, and they are associated with pollen grains and tapetal cells. Although their function remains still unresolved, they have been widely used in systematics. Rubiaceae is one of the most studied families in this aspect. However, scarce information is available about the orbicules in the tribe Spermacoceae, especially in the Spermacoce clade. The main objectives of this work were to investigate the occurrence, general morphology, evolution, and systematic utility of the orbicular characters in the Spermacoce clade. We investigated the presence/absence, size, abundance, shape, and ornamentation of orbicules in 104 specimens from 84 species in the Spermacoce clade using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the basis of these features, the ancestral state reconstruction analyses were performed on a custom-made phylogeny by stochastic character mapping. The orbicules are present in 38 (44%) of 84 analysed species, corresponding to 13 genera (56%) of the Spermacoce clade. Seven genera have orbicules in all analysed species, eight genera lack orbicules in all analysed species, and six genera show both presence and absence of orbicules. The absence of orbicules was estimated to be the ancestral state for the Spermacoce clade and the presence of orbicules evolved several times independently within Clade B. The absence of orbicules in the common ancestor of the Spermacoce clade can be seen as one of the independent losses that occurred during the evolutionary history of the Rubiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alpine butterfly genus Parnassius is a popular model group for studying biogeography, evolution, conservation biology, and ecology. Despite its scientific importance, a comprehensive and robust phylogeny of this group is still lacking. In this study, we used an amplicon capture strategy to sequence 144 nuclear protein‐coding genes and complete mitochondrial genomes for 60 Parnassius specimens covering 42 species and all eight subgenera of Parnassius. Our results strongly support the monophyly of the genus and eight subgenera. The relationships among subgenera are robustly resolved as (Sachaia, (Kreizbergia, (Driopa, (Parnassius, (Tadumia, Lingamius), (Kailasius, Koramius))))), which is different from all previous results. Biogeographic and divergence time analyses indicate that the ancestor of Parnassius originated in an area including the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (HTP) and Mongolian steppes in the middle Miocene approximately 13.19 Mya. The middle Miocene global cooling event (starting from ~13.9 Mya) probably provided climatic opportunities for the diversification of cold‐adapted Parnassius. The ancestral state reconstruction analyses suggest that the ancestor of Parnassius butterflies most likely lived in a medium elevational area (2000–4000 m) and fed on Papaveraceae plants. The host shift from Papaveraceae to Crassulaceae in the subgenus Parnassius increases the species diversity of this subgenus, concurring with the "escape and radiate" hypothesis. Overall, our work provides valuable nuclear gene and mitochondrial genome data and a robust phylogenetic framework of Parnassius for future studies of the taxonomy, evolution, and ecology of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aestivation (summer dormancy) is a long-term multiday torpor in response to hot and dry periods. It has been detected in many species of terrestrial and aquatic turtles; however, several ecological and evolutionary aspects of chelonian aestivation remain to be evaluated and understood. We conducted a comparative exploration of macroevolutionary trends in turtle aestivation and tested the potential correlation of shell morphology with the aestivation duration. We compiled a dataset of aestivation status, aestivation times, and measurements of shell morphology of 225 turtle species. We reconstructed ancestral states along a time-calibrated phylogeny and tested different evolutionary models on the presence/absence of the aestivation trait. We also performed phylogenetic comparative analysis to explore several shell morphological traits likely associated with the duration time in aestivation behavior. We found evidence of aestivation in 44% of the evaluated turtle species. Aestivation times were longer in Chelidae, Pelomedusidae, Geoemydidae, and Kinosternidae, and the shortest times in Emydidae and Testudinidae. Aestivation behavior is a derived trait evolved independently and several times in the pleurodires and cryptodires turtle groups. We found some evolutionary trends in different turtle families, Pelomedusidae and Kinosternidae showed considerable increases in the presence of the aestivation trait, while families such as Podocnemididae, Trionychidae and Chelydridae showed important deductions for the same trait. Our results for the association between shell morphology and aestivation duration in turtles were contrasting among families. Overall, it was the contribution of several and different morphological traits that allow a positive and significant association with the aestivation times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant amniotes show remarkable postural diversity. Broadly speaking, limbs with erect (strongly adducted, more vertically oriented) posture are found in mammals that are particularly heavy (graviportal) or show good running skills (cursorial), while crouched (highly flexed) limbs are found in taxa with more generalized locomotion. In Reptilia, crocodylians have a "semi‐erect" (somewhat adducted) posture, birds have more crouched limbs and lepidosaurs have sprawling (well‐abducted) limbs. Both synapsids and reptiles underwent a postural transition from sprawling to more erect limbs during the Mesozoic Era. In Reptilia, this postural change is prominent among archosauriforms in the Triassic Period. However, limb posture in many key Triassic taxa remains poorly known. In Synapsida, the chronology of this transition is less clear, and competing hypotheses exist. On land, the limb bones are subject to various stresses related to body support that partly shape their external and internal morphology. Indeed, bone trabeculae (lattice‐like bony struts that form the spongy bone tissue) tend to orient themselves along lines of force. Here, we study the link between femoral posture and the femoral trabecular architecture using phylogenetic generalized least squares. We show that microanatomical parameters measured on bone cubes extracted from the femoral head of a sample of amniote femora depend strongly on body mass, but not on femoral posture or lifestyle. We reconstruct ancestral states of femoral posture and various microanatomical parameters to study the "sprawling‐to‐erect" transition in reptiles and synapsids, and obtain conflicting results. We tentatively infer femoral posture in several hypothetical ancestors using phylogenetic flexible discriminant analysis from maximum likelihood estimates of the microanatomical parameters. In general, the trabecular network of the femoral head is not a good indicator of femoral posture. However, ancestral state reconstruction methods hold great promise for advancing our understanding of the evolution of posture in amniotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the Oriental tropical genus Belciana Walker, 1862, Belciana jeremyisp. n., is described from northern Thailand, Lampang Province. The new species is closely related to Belciana hemodi (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874). Adults, male and female genitalia as well as multi-locus molecular data of the new and related species are presented. The genus Belciana most probably originated in the Oriental region during the Miocene and radiated in the late Miocene, about 11 Mya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fern family Polypodiaceae, with over 1600 species, is not only one of the most species‐rich families of ferns, but also a major contributor to the vascular epiphytic diversity throughout the tropics. Although the vast majority of species belonging to this family prefer to grow as epiphytes, several species colonize successfully rheophytic, lithophytic, and even terrestrial habitats. Here, we explore the hypothesis that non‐epiphytic habitat preferences, including terrestrial growth, evolved secondarily with epiphytes being the plesiomorphic habitat preference. The results of phylogenetic analyses, based on dense taxon sampling and four chloroplast DNA regions, were integrated with divergence time estimates and ancestral character state reconstructions to test these predictions. Both fossils and secondary calibration data were incorporated to obtain divergence time estimations. The results support the prediction of multiple transitions from epiphytic/lithophytic to terrestrial/rheophytic habitats occurring mainly in the Microsoreae lineage. The change in niche preferences coincides with niche colonization opportunities created by climatic fluctuations and geographical changes during the Oligocene and Miocene periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing the ancestral state of a group of species helps answer many important questions in evolutionary biology. Therefore, it is crucial to understand when we can estimate the ancestral state accurately. Previous works provide a necessary and sufficient condition, called the big bang condition, for the existence of an accurate reconstruction method under discrete trait evolution models and the Brownian motion model. In this paper, we extend this result to a wide range of continuous trait evolution models. In particular, we consider a general setting where continuous traits evolve along the tree according to stochastic processes that satisfy some regularity conditions. We verify these conditions for popular continuous trait evolution models including Ornstein–Uhlenbeck, reflected Brownian Motion, bounded Brownian Motion, and Cox–Ingersoll–Ross. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All eukaryotes have linear chromosomes that are distributed to daughter nuclei during mitotic division, but the ancestral state of nuclear division in the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) is so far unresolved. To address this issue, we have employed ancestral state reconstructions for mitotic states that can be found across the eukaryotic tree concerning the intactness of the nuclear envelope during mitosis (open or closed), the position of spindles (intranuclear or extranuclear), and the symmetry of spindles being either axial (orthomitosis) or bilateral (pleuromitosis). The data indicate that the LECA possessed closed orthomitosis with intranuclear spindles. Our reconstruction is compatible with recent findings indicating a syncytial state of the LECA, because it decouples three main processes: chromosome division, chromosome partitioning, and cell division (cytokinesis). The possession of closed mitosis using intranuclear spindles adds to the number of cellular traits that can now be attributed to LECA, providing insights into the lifestyle of this otherwise elusive biological entity at the origin of eukaryotic cells. Closed mitosis in a syncytial eukaryotic common ancestor would buffer mutations arising at the origin of mitotic division by allowing nuclei with viable chromosome sets to complement defective nuclei via mRNA in the cytosol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Woody and herbaceous habits represent one of the most distinct contrasts among angiosperms, and the proportion of woody species in floras (i.e., "woodiness" hereafter) represents a fundamental structural element of plant diversity. Despite its core influence on ecosystem processes, spatio‐temporal patterns in woodiness remain poorly understood. Here, we aim to demonstrate the global spatio‐temporal patterns in angiosperm woodiness and their relationship with environmental factors. Location: Global. Time period: Cenozoic, 66 Ma to present. Major taxa studied: Angiosperms. Methods: Using newly compiled data on the growth forms and distributions of c. 300,000 angiosperm species and an angiosperm phylogeny, we mapped the current global geographical patterns in angiosperm woodiness, reconstructed ancestral states of growth forms through the angiosperm phylogeny and demonstrated the Cenozoic evolutionary dynamics of woodiness. We evaluated the relationships between woodiness and current climate and palaeoclimate. Results: We found that c. 42.7% of angiosperms are woody. Woodiness decreased spatially from the equator towards high latitudes, temporally since the early Cenozoic. Temperature was the best predictor of the spatio‐temporal decline in woodiness and was positively correlated with woodiness. Despite the temporal decline in woodiness, macroevolutionary herbaceous‐to‐woody transitions increased through time and contributed to the evolution of woody floras in temperate drylands, whereas the opposite transitions decreased through time and contributed to herbaceous floras in tropical and subtropical drylands. Main conclusions: Our study improves understanding of the spatio‐temporal dynamics of angiosperm woodiness. Our findings suggest that temperature is likely to be a determinant of spatio‐temporal variations in woodiness, highlighting the role of temperature in maintaining the growth form composition of ecosystems. Our study also calls for attention to growth form transitions (e.g., secondary woodiness) in temperate drylands that have been neglected before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligules are classified, predominantly, on their position and morphology, which are still without a consensus as to their nature and diversity in an evolutionary context in Poaceae. Based on a broad review of this structure, we have identified five hypotheses for the definition of ligules, originating between the years 1800 and 1834; some of these hypotheses are still valid today. Our results also demonstrate that 95.28% of the family representatives have homoligulate ventral ligules and 1.75% have heteroligulate ventral ligules, with Panicoideae being the subfamily with the greatest morphological diversity of ligules. Dorsal and culm leaf ligules occur mainly in Puelioideae and Bambusoideae (except in Olyreae), and may occasionally occur in Pooideae, Panicoideae and Chloridoideae. Although homoligulate and ciliate ventral ligules are ancestral states in the Poaceae, several reversals occurred within the subfamilies so that the eciliate membrane type is more common (especially in the BOP clade). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent article by Kriebel et al. (2020) examines the relationship between floral shape evolution and pollination shifts in Salvia , a plant genus almost worldwide distributed, but particularly diverse in the New World. Kriebel et al. (2020) argue that a major shift to bird pollination at the origin of the subg. Calosphace (~20 million years ago [Mya]) imposed a legacy of constraints, resulting in significant differences in flower morphology between New World and Old World Salvia. However, reanalyses of the data using hidden states to account for the heterogeneity in evolutionary rates do not support an early origin of bird pollination in this group. Instead, bird pollination may have appeared after the arrival of modern hummingbirds to North America (15.5–12 Mya), as in other North American plant clades. The use of more complex models of ancestral state reconstruction into comparative analyses provides a different perspective to explain morphological differences within Salvia. Our results indicate that bird pollination did not impose constraints on corolla shape evolution. Evolutionary constraints in anther connective and style shapes may have arisen at the origin of Calosphace but they were not associated with shifts to hummingbird pollination, being more likely the product of contingent evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that the Manilkarinae are a monophyletic subtribe if Northia is excluded. The subtribe consists of four genera: Faucherea, Labourdonnaisia, Labramia and Manilkara. However, the same phylogenetic studies also raised taxonomic issues concerning unclear generic delimitations and unresolved relationships. The current study's aims are: to resolve these taxonomic issues using a molecular phylogeny based on hundreds of nuclear markers sequenced from a representative sampling of taxa across the four genera; to find relevant morphological characters allowing the distinction of the clades retrieved with the phylogeny; and finally to understand the evolutionary history of the subtribe by conducting a divergence time estimation and ancestral state reconstructions. Our phylogeny shows a well‐resolved backbone with four main lineages: the Labramia clade, the main clade of Manilkara, a clade in which all species of Labourdonnaisia and Faucherea are mixed, and a clade of three Pacific Manilkara species. The main clade of Manilkara is retrieved as sister to Labramia, and the Labourdonnaisia‐Faucherea clade is clearly assessed as sister to the three Pacific Manilkara species. As a consequence, Faucherea is synonymized with Labourdonnaisia, and the three Pacific Manilkara are considered to be a separate genus, for which the name Abebaia is resurrected. We provide emended descriptions for Labourdonnaisia and Abebaia as well as the necessary new combinations. The ancestral state reconstruction of flower characters shows that ancestral Manilkarinae were characterized by a hexamerous corolla, well‐developed dorsal appendages and staminodes, and a pubescent ovary. These character states have been retained in the main Manilkara clade, but surprisingly also in Abebaia, which appears as a cryptic genus. The lack of dorsal appendages and the reduction of staminodes observed in Labourdonnaisia appeared after the split from Abebaia. The increase in corolla merism observed mainly in the Mascarene Labourdonnaisia, which was used to separate it from Faucherea, appears to be a derived state, which evolved separately in a few species during the radiation of Labourdonnaisia on Madagascar and the Mascarenes. The glabrous ovary state observed in Labramia also constitutes a derived synapomorphic state in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancestral state reconstruction is one of the most important tasks in evolutionary biology. Conditions under which we can reliably reconstruct the ancestral state have been studied for both discrete and continuous traits. However, the connection between these results is unclear, and it seems that each model needs different conditions. In this work, we provide a unifying theory on the consistency of ancestral state reconstruction for various types of trait evolution models. Notably, we show that for a sequence of nested trees with bounded heights, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a consistent ancestral state reconstruction method under discrete models, the Brownian motion model, and the threshold model are equivalent. When tree heights are unbounded, we provide a simple counter-example to show that this equivalence is no longer valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Sclerophylax (Atropina clade, Solanaceae) has 14 species recognized to date, all except two endemic to Argentina. To clarify its phylogenetic relationships, molecular sequence data from the trnL‐trnF and the rpl32F‐trnL intergenic spacer regions, the waxy gene and the ITS region were employed in maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. Divergence times were estimated for the combined dataset using secondary calibrations. Ancestral distribution areas were reconstructed by Bayesian binary analyses and seven morphological traits (one continuous, six discrete) were traced. Sclerophylax is monophyletic and its sister clade is Lycium + Nolana. Sclerophylax is divided into S. sect. Caducifructus (1 sp.) and the monophyletic sect. Sclerophylax (11 spp.). Sclerophylax sect. Sclerophylax includes five well‐supported clades that are also supported by morphological synapomorphies; circumscription of some species remains uncertain, probably as a result of rapid diversifications, but four lineages are recognized by a combination of morphological traits. The ancestor of Sclerophylax was an annual, procumbent/decumbent plant with rhomboidal leaves and sessile, persistent, 2–3‐seeded fruits. The most variable traits were leaf shape and life form, while flower size was shown to be highly informative in diagnosing clades within Sclerophylax. The area of origin for Sclerophylax was the Prepuna biogeographical province, from which it has spread in recent geological times. A total of 12 species are recognized in Sclerophylax, with an updated synonymy, lectotypifications, and re‐circumscriptions provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastids, similar to mitochondria, are organelles of endosymbiotic origin, which retained their vestigial genomes (ptDNA). Their unique architecture, commonly referred to as the quadripartite (four-part) structure, is considered to be strictly conserved; however, the bulk of our knowledge on their variability and evolutionary transformations comes from studies of the primary plastids of green algae and land plants. To broaden our perspective, we obtained seven new ptDNA sequences from freshwater species of photosynthetic euglenids—a group that obtained secondary plastids, known to have dynamically evolving genome structure, via endosymbiosis with a green alga. Our analyses have demonstrated that the evolutionary history of euglenid plastid genome structure is exceptionally convoluted, with a patchy distribution of inverted ribosomal operon (rDNA) repeats, as well as several independent acquisitions of tandemly repeated rDNA copies. Moreover, we have shown that inverted repeats in euglenid ptDNA do not share their genome-stabilizing property documented in chlorophytes. We hypothesize that the degeneration of the quadripartite structure of euglenid plastid genomes is connected to the group II intron expansion. These findings challenge the current global paradigms of plastid genome architecture evolution and underscore the often-underestimated divergence between the functionality of shared traits in primary and complex plastid organelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reef lobsters of the family Enoplometopidae de Saint Laurent, 1988 are attractive marine aquarium pets but the generic assignments have been controversial. Molecular phylogeny using five genetic markers (three mitochondrial and two nuclear) on 11 of the 12 species known in the family successfully reconstructed a robust phylogenetic tree for the reef lobsters with two well-supported groups. The genus Hoplometopus Holthuis, 1983 is revived but with diagnostic characters revised and H. voigtmanni (Türkay, 1989) should be treated as a synonym of H. holthuisi (Gordon, 1968). Four synapomorphies are identified in Enoplometopidae, including the number of the intermediate and postcervical teeth on the carapace, the shape of abdominal pleura and the spination of the palm of large chelipeds. Fossil calibration and ancestral range reconstruction analyses suggested that reef lobsters had a Tethyan deeper water origin and emerged during the Cretaceous period. Enoplometopus s.s. was relatively primitive, whereas Hoplometopus diverged in the Central Indo-Pacific in the Upper Cretaceous and later crossed the Mediterranean into the Atlantic. Overall the family Enoplometopidae mainly speciated in the Central Indo-Pacific, and actively re-occupied shallow-water habitats and invaded temperate regions. Multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis on almost all the species in Enoplometopidae has successfully reconstructed a robust evolutionary tree for these attractive reef lobsters. The family should be subdivided into two genera. Reef lobsters originated in the Tethy Sea during the Cretaceous, and speciation mainly occurred in the Central Indo-Pacific, with active re-occupation occurring in shallow-water habitats and invasion of temperate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first multilocus molecular phylogeny focused on mangrove pit vipers of the Trimeresurus erythrurus‐purpureomaculatus complex based on novel topotypic material and expanded geographic sampling. Previously inferred paraphyly of T. purpureomaculatus was resolved and our results demonstrate distinct phylogeographic patterns that are latitudinally stratified and consistent with isolation‐by‐distance and isolation‐by‐environment. A clear genetic break is detected at the Isthmus of Kra biogeographic divide and niche overlap among major genetic clades is limited. The association between colour polymorphisms and phylogeographic structure suggests that contemporary or historical introgression between T. erythrurus and T. purpureomaculatus could have occurred. This study provides a clear roadmap to guide future genomic research to improve our understanding of this charismatic, yet poorly studied group of snakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranunculaceae comprise ca. 2,500 species (ca. 55 genera) that display a broad range of floral diversity, particularly at the level of the perianth. Petals, when present, are often referred to as "elaborate" because they have a complex morphology. In addition, the petals usually produce and store nectar, which gives them a crucial functional role in the interaction with pollinators. Its morphological diversity and species richness make this family a particularly suitable model group for studying the evolution of complex morphologies. Our aims are (1) to reconstruct the ancestral form of the petal and evolutionary stages at the scale of Ranunculaceae, (2) to test the hypothesis that there are morphogenetic regions on the petal that are common to all species and that interspecific morphological diversity may be due to differences in the relative proportions of these regions during development. We scored and analyzed traits (descriptors) that characterize in detail the complexity of mature petal morphology in 32 genera. Furthermore, we described petal development using high resolution X-Ray computed tomography (HRXCT) in six species with contrasting petal forms (Ficaria verna, Helleborus orientalis, Staphisagria picta, Aconitum napellus, Nigella damascena, Aquilegia vulgaris). Ancestral state reconstruction was performed using a robust and dated phylogeny of the family, allowing us to produce new hypotheses for petal evolution in Ranunculaceae. Our results suggest a flat ancestral petal with a short claw for the entire family and for the ancestors of all tribes except Adonideae. The elaborate petals that are present in different lineages have evolved independently, and similar morphologies are the result of convergent evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past evolutionary adaptations to Australia's aridification can help us to understand the potential responses of species in the face of global climate change. Here, we focus on the Australian‐endemic genus Drepanotermes, also known as Australian harvester termites, which are mainly found in semiarid and arid regions of Australia. We used species delineation, phylogenetic inference, and ancestral state reconstruction to investigate the evolution of mound‐building in Drepanotermes and in relation to reconstructed past climatic conditions. Our findings suggest that mound‐building evolved several times independently in Drepanotermes, apparently facilitating expansions into tropical and mesic regions of Australia. The phylogenetic signal of bioclimatic variables, especially limiting environmental factors (e.g., precipitation of the warmest quarter), suggests that the climate exerts a strong selective pressure. Finally, we used environmental niche modeling to predict the present and future habitat suitability for eight Drepanotermes species. Abiotic factors such as annual temperature contributed disproportionately to calibrations, while the inclusion of biotic factors such as predators and vegetation cover improved ecological niche models in some species. A comparison between present and future habitat suitability under two different emission scenarios revealed continued suitability of current ranges as well as substantial habitat gains for most studied species. Human‐mediated climate change occurs more quickly than these termites can disperse into newly suitable habitat; however, their role in stabilizing arid ecosystems may allow them to mitigate effects on some other organisms at a local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: The Cactaceae of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States constitute a major component of the angiosperm biodiversity of the region. The Mammilloid clade, (Cactaceae, tribe Cacteae), composed of the genera Cochemiea, Coryphantha, Cumarinia, Mammillaria, and Pelecyphora is especially species rich. We sought to understand the timing, geographical and climate influences correlated with expansion of the Mammilloid clade, through the Sonoran Desert into Baja California. Methods: We reconstructed the historical biogeography of the Mammilloid clade, using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods, based on a strongly supported molecular phylogeny. We also estimated divergence times, the timing of emergence of key characters, and diversification rates and rate shifts of the Mammilloid clade. Results: We found that the most recent common ancestor of Cochemiea arrived in the Cape region of Baja California from the Sonoran Desert region approximately 5 million years ago, coinciding with the timing of peninsular rifting from the mainland, suggesting dispersal and vicariance as causes of species richness and endemism. The diversification rate for Cochemiea is estimated to be approximately 12 times that of the mean background diversification rate for angiosperms. Divergence time estimation shows that many of the extant taxa in Cochemiea and Baja California Mammillaria emerged from common ancestors 1 million to 200,000 years ago, having a mid‐Pleistocene origin. Conclusions: Cochemiea and Mammillaria of the Baja California region are examples of recent, rapid diversification. Geological and climatic forces at multiple spatial and temporal scales are correlated with the western distributions of the Mammilloid clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the placenta is a revolutionary event in the evolution of therian mammals, to which some LTR retroelement–derived genes, such as PEG10 , RTL1 , and syncytin, are known to contribute. However, therian genomes contain many more LTR retroelement–derived genes that may also have contributed to placental evolution. We conducted large-scale evolutionary genomic and transcriptomic analyses to comprehensively search for LTR retroelement–derived genes whose origination coincided with therian placental emergence and that became consistently expressed in therian placentae. We identified NYNRIN as another Ty3/Gypsy LTR retroelement–derived gene likely to contribute to placental emergence in the therian stem lineage. NYNRIN knockdown inhibited the invasion of HTR8/SVneo invasive-type trophoblasts, whereas the knockdown of its nonretroelement-derived homolog KHNYN did not. Functional enrichment analyses suggested that NYNRIN modulates trophoblast invasion by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix remodeling and that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible for the functional differences between NYNRIN and KHNYN. These findings extend our knowledge of the roles of LTR retroelement–derived genes in the evolution of therian mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diaporthales includes 32 families, many of which are important plant pathogens, endophytes and saprobes, e.g., members of the families Pseudoplagiostomataceae, Pyrisporaceae and Schizoparmaceae. Nucleotide sequences derived from five genetic loci including: ITS, LSU, TEF1-α, TUB2 and RPB2 were used for Bayesian evolutionary analysis to determine divergence times and evolutionary relationships within the Schizoparmaceae. Molecular clock analyses revealed that the ancestor of Schizoparmaceae split during the Upper Cretaceous period approximately 75.7 Mya (95 % highest posterior density of 60.3-91.3 Mya). Reconstructing ancestral state in phylogenies (RASP) with using the Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) Method to reconstruct the historical biogeography for the family Schizoparmaceae indicated its most likely origin in Africa. Based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, the Pseudoplagiostomataceae and Pyrisporaceae relationships were clarified and a total of four species described herein. For Pseudoplagiostomataceae, three new species and one known species that include, Pseudoplagiostoma fafuense sp. nov., Ps. ilicis sp. nov., Ps. sanmingense sp. nov. and Ps. bambusae are described and a key of Pseudoplagiostomataceae is provided. With respect to Pyrisporaceae, we considered Pseudoplagiostoma castaneae to be a synonym of Pyrispora castaneae. In addition, a new species of Schizoparmaceae, Coniella fujianensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Abstract The Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) mass extinction 66 million years ago was characterized by a worldwide ecological catastrophe and rapid species turnover. Large‐scale devastation of forested environments resulting from the Chicxulub asteroid impact likely influenced the evolutionary trajectories of multiple clades in terrestrial environments, and it has been hypothesized to have biased survivorship in favour of nonarboreal lineages across the K–Pg boundary. Here, we evaluate patterns of substrate preferences across the K–Pg boundary among crown group mammals, a group that underwent rapid diversification following the mass extinction. Using Bayesian, likelihood, and parsimony reconstructions, we identify patterns of mammalian ecological selectivity that are broadly similar to those previously hypothesized for birds. Models based on extant taxa indicate predominant K–Pg survivorship among semi‐ or nonarboreal taxa, followed by numerous independent transitions to arboreality in the early Cenozoic. However, contrary to the predominant signal, some or all members of total‐clade Euarchonta (Primates + Dermoptera + Scandentia) appear to have maintained arboreal habits across the K–Pg boundary, suggesting ecological flexibility during an interval of global habitat instability. We further observe a pronounced shift in character state transitions away from plesiomorphic arboreality associated with the K–Pg transition. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that predominantly nonarboreal taxa preferentially survived the end‐Cretaceous mass extinction, and emphasize the pivotal influence of the K‐Pg transition in shaping the early evolutionary trajectories of extant terrestrial vertebrates.

Ranunculaceae comprise ca. 2,500 species (ca. 55 genera) that display a broad range of floral diversity, particularly at the level of the perianth. Petals, when present, are often referred to as “elaborate” because they have a complex morphology. In addition, the petals usually produce and store nectar, which gives them a crucial functional role in the interaction with pollinators. Its morphological diversity and species richness make this family a particularly suitable model group for studying the evolution of complex morphologies. Our aims are (1) to reconstruct the ancestral form of the petal and evolutionary stages at the scale of Ranunculaceae, (2) to test the hypothesis that there are morphogenetic regions on the petal that are common to all species and that interspecific morphological diversity may be due to differences in the relative proportions of these regions during development. We scored and analyzed traits (descriptors) that characterize in detail the complexity of mature petal morphology in 32 genera. Furthermore, we described petal development using high resolution X-Ray computed tomography (HRX-CT) in six species with contrasting petal forms (Ficaria verna, Helleborus orientalis, Staphisagria picta, Aconitum napellus, Nigella damascena, Aquilegia vulgaris). Ancestral state reconstruction was performed using a robust and dated phylogeny of the family, allowing us to produce new hypotheses for petal evolution in Ranunculaceae. Our results suggest a flat ancestral petal with a short claw for the entire family and for the ancestors of all tribes except Adonideae. The elaborate petals that are present in different lineages have evolved independently, and similar morphologies are the result of convergent evolution.