Phylogeny and classification of diving beetles in the tribe Cybistrini (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Dytiscinae)

Phylogenetic relationships among members of the diving beetle tribe Cybistrini (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) were inferred from analysis of 47 adult and larval morphological characters and sequences from portions of the genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and II (COII), histone III (H3) and wingless. Thirty‐three species of Cybistrini were included, representing all genus‐groups except Regimbartina Chatanay and Megadytes (Bifurcitus) Brinck, and most historically recognized species groups and subgenera used in the tribe. Outgroups include six species from other tribes within Dytiscinae and Lancetinae. Analyses included parsimony analysis of the combined data, likelihood analysis of combined molecular data and partitioned Bayesian analysis of the combined data. Results indicate that Cybistrini is well supported as a monophyletic group. Within the tribe, all currently recognized genus groups were found to be monophyletic with the exception of Onychohydrus Schaum, which is paraphyletic with respect to Austrodytes Watts in the parsimony analysis, but monophyletic in the likelihood and Bayesian analyses, and Cybister sensu stricto, which is paraphyletic with respect to C. (Melanectes) Brinck and C. (Scaphinectes) Ádám in the parsimony analysis or only the latter in the likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Results also suggest that some, but not all, historically recognized species groups or subgenera in the large genus Cybister Curtis are monophyletic, and this is discussed and compared. To improve the classification, the name Sternhydrus Brinck is elevated from subgenus to genus rank ( new status ). Four subgenera in the genus Cybister are recognized: C. (Melanectes) Brinck, C. (Megadytoides) Brinck ( resurrected ), C. (Neocybister) Miller, Bergsten and Whiting ( new subgenus ) and C. (Cybister) Curtis. The following new synonyms are established: Trochalus Dejean ( new synonym ), and ScaphinectesÁdám = Cybister (Cybister) ( new synonym ). The Neotropical species Cybister parvus Trémouilles (not examined) apparently does not fit any historical or currently recognized genus‐group diagnosis in Cybistrini, so it is retained in Cybister but incertae sedis with respect to subgenus. In addition to classification, the evolution of the unique character combinations present in cybistrines are discussed. A key to the adults of genera and subgenera is presented.     

A molecular phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini (Coleoptera,Hydraenidae, Ochthebiinae)

Ochthebiinae, with c. 650 species distributed worldwide, are the second most speciose subfamily of the aquatic beetle family Hydraenidae. They are ecologically the most diverse hydraenid subfamily, with terrestrial species as well as species in almost all types of aquatic habitats, including hypersaline waters. Ochthebiinae include the tribes Ochtheosini (four species in three genera) and Ochthebiini. We provide here the first comprehensive phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini, based on 186 species and four subspecies from most genera, subgenera and species groups. We obtained sequence data for a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene fragments including the 5′ and 3′ ends of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, the 5′ end of 16S RNA plus the leucine tRNA transfer plus 5′ end of NADH dehydrogenase subunit I, and internal fragments of the large and small ribosomal units. The analyses with maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian probabilities consistently recovered a generally well supported phylogeny, with most currently accepted taxa and species groups as monophyletic. We provide a new classification of the tribe based on our phylogenetic results, with six genera: Meropathus Enderlein, Ochthebius Leach, Protochthebius Perkins, Prototympanogaster Perkins, Tympallopatrum Perkins and Tympanogaster Janssens. The genus Ochthebius is here divided into nine subgenera in addition to Ochthebius s.s.: (1) O. (Angiochthebius) Jäch & Ribera; (2) O. (Asiobates) Thomson; (3) O. (Aulacochthebius) Kuwert; (4) O. (Cobalius) Rey; (5) O. (Enicocerus) Stephens; (6) O. (Gymnanthelius) Perkins comb.n. ; (7) O. (Gymnochthebius) Orchymont; (8) O. (Hughleechia) Perkins comb.n. ; and (9) O. (Micragasma) Sahlberg. Within Ochthebius s.s., 17 species groups are proposed, five of them newly established (3, 9, 11, 13 and 16): (1) andraei; (2) atriceps; (3) corrugatus; (4) foveolatus; (5) kosiensis; (6) lobicollis; (7) marinus; (8) metallescens; (9) nitidipennis; (10) notabilis; (11) peisonis; (12) punctatus; (13) quadricollis; (14) rivalis; (15) strigosus; (16) sumatrensis; and (17) vandykei. We elevated to species rank two subspecies of Ochthebius: O. fallaciosus Ganglbauer stat.n. (former subspecies of O. viridis Peyron) and O. deletus Rey stat.rest. (former subspecies of O. subpictus Wollaston).     

Phylogenetic relationships within Plantago (Plantaginaceae): evidence from nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnL-F sequence data

A molecular phylogenetic study of Plantago L. (Plantaginaceae) analysed nucleotide variation in the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal and plastid trnL-F regions. Included are 57 Plantago species, with two Aragoa species as the ingroup and three Veronica species as the outgroup. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony identified five major clades, corresponding to the taxonomic groups Plantago subgenera Plantago, Coronopus, Psyllium, Littorella and Bougueria . Aragoa is sister to genus Plantago . Plantago subgenus Littorella is sister to the other subgenera of Plantago . The results are in general correlated with a morphological phylogenetic study and iridoid glucoside patterns, but Plantago subgenus Albicans is paraphyletic and should be included in Plantago subgenus Psyllium sensu lato to obtain a monophyletic clade with six sections. Plantago section Hymenopsyllium is more closely related to section Gnaphaloides than to section Albicans . Plantago subgenus Bougueria is sister to subgenus Psyllium s.l. section Coronopus in Plantago subgenus Coronopus is subdivided in two series. Only some of the sections can be resolved into series. DNA variation within genus Plantago is high, a result that would not have been predicted on the basis of morphology, which is relatively stereotyped. If we calibrate a molecular clock based on the divergence of P. stauntoni , endemic to New Amsterdam in the southern Indian Ocean, we calculate the time of the split between Plantago and Aragoa to be 7.1 million years ago, which is congruent with the fossil record.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 139 , 323–338.     

Molecular phylogeny of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand, using ITS2 rDNA

The sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were determined for 40 black fly species from Thailand, belonging to 4 subgenera of the genus Simulium, namely Gomphostilbia (12 species), Nevermannia (5 species), Montisimulium (1 species), Simulium sensu stricto (21 species), and an unknown subgenus with one species (Simulium baimaii). The length of the ITS2 ranged from 247 to 308 bp. All black fly species had high AT content, ranging from 71 to 83.8%. Intraindividual variation (clonal variation) occurred in 13 species, ranging from 0.3 to 1.1%. Large intrapopulation and interpopulation heterogeneities exist in S. feuerboni from the same and different locations in Doi Inthanon National Park, northern Thailand. Phylogenetic relationships among 40 black fly species were examined using PAUP (version 4.0b10) and MrBAYS (version 3.0B4). The topology of the trees revealed two major monophyletic clades. The subgenus Simulium and Simulium baimaii were placed in the first monophyletic clade, whereas the subgenera Nevermannia + Montisimulium were placed as the sister group to the subgenus Gomphostilbia in the second monophyletic clade. Our results suggest that S. baimaii belongs to the malyschevi-group or variegatum-group in the subgenus Simulium. The molecular phylogeny generally agrees with existing morphology-based phylogenies.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Crinum L. (Amaryllidaceae) inferred from nuclear and limited plastid non-coding DNA sequences

The genus Crinum L. is the only pantropical genus of the Amaryllidaceae. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of nrDNA ITS and plastid trnL-F sequences for all continental groups of the genus Crinum and related African genera are presented, with the genus Amaryllis used as outgroup. ITS indicates that C. baumii is more closely related to Ammocharis and Cybistetes than to Crinum sensu stricto . Three clades are resolved in Crinum s.s. One unites a monophyletic American group with tropical and North African species. The second includes all southern African species and the Australian endemic C. flaccidum . The third includes monophyletic Madagascar, Australasian and Sino-Himalayan clades, with southern African species. The trnL-F phylogeny resolves an American and an Asian/Madagscar clade, and confirms the relationship of C. flaccidum with species endemic to southern Africa. The salverform, actinomorphic perianths of subg. Crinum appear to have evolved several times in the genus from ancestors with zygomorphic perianths (subg. Codonocrinum ), thus neither subgenus is monophyletic. Biogeographical analyses place the origin of Crinum in southern Africa, as the region is optimized at all ancestral nodes in the tree topology, and in basal interior nodes of all but one of the major clades. The genus underwent three major waves of radiation corresponding to the three main clades resolved in our trees. Two entries into Australia for the genus are indicated, as are separate Sino-Himalayan and Australasian dispersal events.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 349–363.     

Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography reveals the existence of an Evolutionarily Significant Unit of the sand goby Pomatoschistus minutus in the Adriatic (Eastern Mediterranean)

The sand goby Pomatoschistus minutus is a major component of marine shelf and estuarine food webs and an important study organism in behavioural research. Yet, despite the sand goby’s significance, its past and present patterns of migration and gene flow are poorly understood. Here we use the mtDNA control region and parts of the flanking tRNA genes of 63 fish from six localities in the Adriatic (Eastern Mediterranean), Western Mediterranean, Atlantic, and North Sea to investigate the phylogeography of this gobiid. Phylogenetic analyses and population genetics statistics reveal the existence of an Evolutionarily Significant Unit, sensu Moritz (1994), in the Adriatic and another in the Western Mediterranean, Atlantic, and North Sea. A possible biogeographical scenario for the separation of the ancestral population is that sand gobies in the Adriatic and Western Mediterranean split between 10,000 and 5000 years ago when due to the rise in sea temperature they migrated northwards and were bisected by the Italian peninsula. A testable prediction of this scenario is that sand gobies from the Western Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean form three reciprocally monophyletic groups which are the descendants of a three-way diversification event.     

Population-genetic evidence for two species in Anopheles minimus in Thailand

ABSTRACT. Sympatric occurrence of homozygotes for two electro-morphs controlled by a locus for octanol dehydrogenase, and the absence of heterozygotes, at two localities, indicates two isomorphic species within the taxon Anopheles minimus Theobald in Thailand. This view is supported by significant, relative deficiences of heterozygotes at other electromorphic loci. Gene frequency data are reported for seven electro-morphic loci in An.minimus sensu lato from eleven localities: one of the newly recognized species predominated in all but one locality and the second was confined to two localities. This species pair of An.minimus s.l. was clearly distinguished from An.aconitus Donitz, An.pampanai Biittiker & Beales and An.varuna Iyengar, three species closely related to An.minimus s.l. in the series Myzomyia of Anopheles subgenus Cellia.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phalaenopsis Blume (Orchidaceae) based on the internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal DNA

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was sequenced from 53 species, which represent most of the living species diversity in the genus Phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae). A phylogeny was developed for the genus based on the neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony analyses of molecular data. Results of these analyses provided support for the monophyly of the genus Phalaenopsis and concurred in that the genera Doritis and Kingidium should be treated as being parts of the genus Phalaenopsis as suggested by Christenson (2001). Within the genus Phalaenopsis, neither subgenera Aphyllae nor Parishianae were monophyletic, and they were highly clustered with subgenus Proboscidioides plus sections Esmeralda and Deliciosae of subgenus Phalaenopsis based on ITS data. Those species also have the same characters of morphology of four pollinia and similar biogeographies. Furthermore, neither subgenus Phalaenopsis nor Polychilos was monophyletic. Within the subgenus Phalaenopsis, only section Phalaenopsis was highly supported as being monophyletic. As for the subgenus Polychilos, only section Polychilos was moderately supported as being monophyletic. In conclusion, the present molecular data obtained from the ITS sequence of nrDNA of the genus Phalaenopsis provide valuable information for elucidating the phylogeny of this genus.     

Phylogenetic relationships among the black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Thailand based on multiple gene sequences

Simulium is a very speciose genus of the black fly family Simuliidae that includes many important pests of humans and animals. Cytotaxonomic and morphological studies have made substantial progress in Simulium systematics. 16S rRNA and ITS-1 DNA sequence studies have assisted this progress. Intensive multi-gene molecular systematic investigations will, however, be required for a comprehensive understanding of the genus’ taxonomy and evolution. Our research was conducted to investigate the relationships of Thai Simulium at the subgeneric, species group and species levels. We also examined the possibility of using mitochondrial DNA sequences to facilitate Simulium species identification. Data were collected from three mitochondrial genes (COI, ND4 and 16S rRNA) and two segments of the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA (the D1 to D2 and the D4 expansion regions). The subgenera Simulium and Gomphostilbia were monophyletic in most analyses. Nevermannia included Montisimulium but was otherwise monophyletic in multigene analyses. In most analyses, Simulium and Nevermannia were more closely related to each other than to Gomphostilbia which was usually basal. Species groups were generally monophyletic. Within Gomphostilbia, however, the batoense species group was always paraphyletic to the other two species groups found in Thailand. Three species groups in Simulium were not monophyletic. The tendency to gill filament number reduction for some species groups in the subgenus Simulium was associated with a derived position in multigene analyses. Most species were monophyletic with two exceptions that probably represent species complexes and will present difficulties for rapid mitochondrial DNA identification.     

The position ofCastrilanthemum Vogt & Oberprieler and the phylogeny of Mediterranean Anthemideae (Compositae) as inferred from nrDNA ITS and cpDNAtrnL/trnF IGS sequence variation

Sequences of the nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the cpDNAtrnL/trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) region were analysed for 41 Mediterranean and Eurasian representatives of the Anthemideae (Compositae) to ascertain the systematic position of the unispecific genusCastrilanthemum Vogt & Oberprieler and to study the phylogeny of the Anthemideae in the Mediterranean region. Both markers consistently point to the close relationship ofCastrilanthemum with the W Mediterranean generaLeucanthemopsis (Giroux) Heywood andProlongoa Boiss., forming a strongly supported monophyletic group (theLeucanthemopsis-group which also comprises the unispecific genusHymenostemma (Kunze) Willk.). Results also demonstrate that subtribes Achilleinae, Leucantheminae, and Matricariinae sensu Bremer & Humphries are non-monophyletic. Besides results from sequence variation, a marked 5bp-deletion intrnL/trnF IGS divides all these subtribes into more basal subgroups which are related to each other and to the large Eurasian generaTanacetum L. andAnthemis L., and a monophyletic group of closely related and more advanced subgroups which also contain the monophyletic Chrysantheminae sensu Bremer & Humphries. For this second group a W Mediterranean centre of diversification is suggested, however, its sister-group relationships within the basal grade of generic groups remain unclear.     

On the Evolution of Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) and Drosophila Systematics

We have sequenced most of the coding region of the gene Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) in 24 fruitfly species. The Ddc gene is quite informative about Drosophila phylogeny. Several outstanding issues in Drosophila phylogeny are resolved by analysis of the Ddc sequences alone or in combination with three other genes, Sod, Adh, and Gpdh. The three species groups, melanogaster, obscura, and willistoni, are each monophyletic and all three combined form a monophyletic group, which corresponds to the subgenus Sophophora. The Sophophora subgenus is the sister group to all other Drosophila subgenera (including some named genera, previously considered outside the Drosophila genus, namely, Scaptomyza and Zaprionus, which are therefore downgraded to the category of subgenus). The Hawaiian Drosophila and Scaptomyza are a monophyletic group, which is the sister clade to the virilis and repleta groups of the subgenus Drosophila. The subgenus Drosophila appears to be paraphyletic, although this is not definitely resolved. The two genera Scaptodrosophila and Chymomyza are older than the genus Drosophila. The data favor the hypothesis that Chymomyza is older than Scaptodrosophila, although this issue is not definitely resolved. Molecular evolution is erratic. The rates of nucleotide substitution in 3rd codon position relative to positions 1 + 2 vary from one species lineage to another and from gene to gene. Received: 2 June 1998 / Accepted: 3 September 1998     

DNA taxonomy of the potamid freshwater crabs from Northern Africa (Decapoda,Potamidae)

The Mediterranean area, from southern Balkans to western Maghreb, is inhabited by the Potamon subgenus Euthelphusa, with three currently recognised species. The Maghrebian species P. (E.) algeriense is isolated from other Potamon species by the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert, and nearly no molecular data are currently available for this taxon. Present study investigated the mtDNA and nuDNA diversity in Potamon algeriense s.l. with the aims of exploring its molecular diversity pattern throughout its known distribution range, and testing the possible presence of cryptic taxa currently lumped under this binomen. The phylogenetic and DNA taxonomy analyses showed the presence of two well-supported clades of species rank within P. algeriense s.l, with an eastern clade including the populations from Tunisia and Numidia, and a western, highly structured clade including the populations from central Algeria and Morocco. In agreement with a typical Maghrebian biogeographic pattern, the distribution of these two species shows a clear east–west divide, with a disjunction zone located in Kabylia, and a strong link between molecular diversity and segregation within different hydrographical basins is evident. The Maghreb thus proved to host an unexpectedly high genetic diversity of, and to constitute a biodiversity hot-spot for, the Potamon subgenus Euthelphusa. In the light of the existence of two well-characterised species currently lumped under P. algeriense s.l., and of their noteworthy molecular structuring, the status of Maghrebian Potamon populations should be re-assessed for both the species present in the area, which are to be considered as independent management units.     

Thlaspi s.str. (Brassicaceae) versus Thlaspi s.l.: morphological and anatomical characters in the light of ITS nrDNA sequence data

 Nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequence data from representatives of eleven out of 12 genera previously included in Thlaspi sensu lato were analyzed to elucidate relationships within the former genus Thlaspi sensu lato. Sequences from Thlaspi segregates Noccaea, Masmenia, Callothlaspi, Kotschyella, Microthlaspi, and Noccidium were added to the existing data sets, and only some Thlaspi sensu lato segregates formed a monophyletic group. The recently renamed genus Pseudosempervivum, formerly part of the genus Cochlearia, has been shown to be closely related to this group as well. Microthlaspi consists of three independent lineages of which Microthlaspi umbellatum is closely related to Neurotropis. The Thlaspi s.str. taxa including the type species T. arvense, are closely related to Peltaria and Alliaria and they represent a monophyletic group. Kotschyella and Noccidium, which were also integrated into Thlaspi s.l. are not closely related to any Thlaspi lineage. Therefore, we suggest major taxonomical changes which are not in agreement with concepts based on morphological data. Our ITS based phylogeny demonstrates that subtribe Thlaspidinae comprises some additional genera such as Teesdalia, Peltaria, and Alliaria, the latter two even previously classified in other tribes than tribe Lepidieae. Received August 15, 2000 Accepted January 30, 2001     

Phylogeny and divergence times of some racerunner lizards (Lacertidae: Eremias) inferred from mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene segments

Eremias, or racerunners, is a widespread lacertid genus occurring in China, Mongolia, Korea, Central Asia, Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe. It has been through a series of taxonomic revisions, but the phylogenetic relationships among the species and subgenera remain unclear. In this study, a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA was used to (i) reassess the phylogenetic relationships of some Eremias species, (ii) test if the viviparous species form a monophyletic group, and (iii) estimate divergence time among lineages using a Bayesian relaxed molecular-clock approach. The resulting phylogeny supports monophyly of Eremias sensu Szczerbak and a clade comprising Eremias, Acanthodactylus and Latastia. An earlier finding demonstrating monophyly of the subgenus Pareremias is corroborated, with Eremias argus being the sister taxon to Eremias brenchleyi. We present the first evidence that viviparous species form a monophyletic group. In addition, Eremias przewalskii is nested within Eremias multiocellata, suggesting that the latter is likely a paraphyletic species or a species complex. Eremias acutirostris and Eremias persica form a clade that is closely related to the subgenus Pareremias. However, the subgenera Aspidorhinus, Scapteira, and Rhabderemias seem not to be monophyletic, respectively. The Bayesian divergence-time estimation suggests that Eremias originated at about 9.9 million years ago (with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 7.6 to 12 Ma), and diversified from Late Miocene to Pleistocene. Specifically, the divergence time of the subgenus Pareremias was dated to about 6.3 million years ago (with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 5.3 to 8.5 Ma), which suggests that the diversification of this subgenus might be correlated with the evolution of an East Asian monsoon climate triggered by the rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau approximately 8 Ma.     

Molecular Systematics of Trilliaceae I. Phylogenetic Analyses of Trillium Using matK Gene Sequences

matK was conducted using 41 Trillium taxa and two out-group taxa (Veratrum maackii and Helonias bullata). A total of 1608 base pairs were analyzed and compared., and then there were 61 variable (36 informative) sites among Trillium species. Fifteen insertion/deletion events (indels) of six or fifteen base pairs were also detected. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data revealed that the subgenus Phyllantherum (sessile-flowered species) forms a distinct monophyletic group, whereas the subgenus Trillium (pedicellate-flowered species) does not form a monophyletic group, and is composed of three distinct groups and three basally located species in the tree: (1) the Erectum group, (2) the Grandiflorum group, and (3) the Pusillum group and (4) the three species, including T. govanianum, T. undulatum, and T. rivale. T .rivale appears to be the most basally diverged and a very specialized taxon among the ingroup members. Our matK data indicated that the closest relative of the subgenus Phyllantherum is the Grandiflorum group. The results are concordant with the results of the RFLP analysis of cpDNA and also more or less with those of the cladistic analysis of morphological characters. Received 11 September 1998/ Accepted in revised form 25 December 1998     

Molecular phylogenetic study of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate genus Protoperidinium (Dinophyceae) inferred from small subunit rRNA gene sequences

In the present study, we investigated the intrageneric and intergeneric phylogenetic relationships of the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate genus Protoperidinium. Using single‐cell polymerase chain reaction methods, we determined small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences for 10 Protoperidinium species belonging to four sections and two subgenera. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using maximum parsimony, neighbor joining and maximum likelihood methods. We found intraspecific variability of small subunit rDNA sequences in Protoperidinium conicum (Gran) Balech, Protoperidinium crassipes (Kofoid) Balech and Protoperidinium denticulatum (Gran et Braarud) Balech, but not in other species. The small subunit rDNA phylogeny revealed that the genus is monophyletic, but its phylogenetic position within the Dinophyceae could not be determined because of ambiguous basal topologies. Within the genus Protoperidinium, species of the subgenus Archaeperidinium with two anterior intercalary plates (2a) were shown to be monophyletic, but species of the subgenus Protoperidinium with three anterior intercalary plates (3a) were resolved as paraphyletic. The sections Avellana, Divergentia and Protoperidinium were shown to be monophyletic, while the section Conica was paraphyletic. Based on the trees obtained in the present study, most of the traditionally defined sections are supported by molecular phylogeny. It was also indicated that the section Avellana evolved from one of the Conica‐type dinoflagellates.     

Phylogenetic relationships among bumble bees (Bombus Latr.): a reappraisal of morphological evidence

Abstract. Cladistic analyses of morphological characters of adult bumble bees show significantly higher congruence among characters of the male genitalia than among other characters of males and females. Phylogenetic interpretations of groups supported by the combined morphological evidence (even with minimal assumptions) include (1) that the earliest diverging species belong to the para-phyletic subgenus Mendacibombus , together with Bombus nevadensis and B.confusus ; (2) that, in contrast, species of the subgenus Bombus (sensu stricto) share a relatively recent common ancestor with B.pressus and B.rufipes ; and (3) that Psithyrus (the social parasites) is a monophyletic group, and the sister-group of B.persicus. For genus-group nomenclature a single genus Bombus (sensu lato) is recommended, to include Psithyrus as another subgenus. Names for sections and for groups of subgenera are synonymized with subgeneric names.     

Testing systematic concepts of Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) using portions of the rbcLS operon

The taxonomic and phylogenetic concepts within the Sargassum C. Agardh (Sargassaceae) species complex were evaluated through molecular phylogenetic analyses using portions of the chloroplast encoded rbcLS Operon. According to more conservative sequences (rbcL), Turbinaria (Turner) J. Agardh is a close and well‐supported sister lineage to the Sargassum species complex and an appropriate external outgroup for analyses of subgenera and subsections within Sargassum. Both rbcL and more rapidly evolving rbcLS spacer sequences indicated that the East Asiatic genus Myagropsis (Mertens et Turner) Fensholt, along with Sargassum sinicola Setchell et Gardner, represent the closest lineage to Sargassum and form appropriate internal outgroups. The rbcLS spacer region supported three of four subgeneric designations by J. Agardh and sectional levels within the subgenus Sargassum. However, some aspects of Agardh's system were not supported: many of the subsectional ranks or the phyletic concepts; Phyllotrichia was not monophyletic as a subgenus, and its species were also not the most ancestral of Sargassum; and subgenus Sargassum was not the most derived subgenus within the genus. This modern phylogeny suggests a deep evolutionary history for subgenus Sargassum with rapid speciation in closely related subsections and series, and a sister relationship between subgenera Arthrophycus and Bactrophycus.     

Molecular phylogeny and the historical biogeography of the warblers of the genus Sylvia (Aves)

A molecular phylogeny based on DNA/DNA hybridization revealed that the Sylvia-Parisoma complex is monophyletic and includes three main groups of species, the “mid-European” warblers, the genus Parisoma, and the “eu-Mediterranean” Sylvia species sensu stricto. The latter can be assigned to three main clusters, a “West-Mediterranean” group, a “Central-Mediterranean group”, and an “East-Mediterranean” group. The radiation of the whole complex is much more ancient than formerly believed. It started ca 12–13 Ma ago and the ancestors of the main extant groups differentiated during the Pliocene. Only speciation events within the “eu-Mediterranean” lineages occurred during the Pleistocene. The paleoclimatical and paleoecological history of the Mediterranean region is too complicated to provide any evidence for direct relationships between past events and evolutionary steps of these taxa which did not leave any reliable fossil record. However, some major speciation events may be related to well documented climatical crises as well as paleobotanical data. The largely man-induced extension of matorrals over several millenia presumably extended the range of several species that were formerly much more restricted, which complicates reconstruction of the spatio-temporal course of speciation.