Altered expression of gap junction connexin proteins may partly underlie heart rhythm disturbances in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat heart

The present work involves the assessment of level of genetic relatedness or divergence amongst the six North-Indian species of Lepidoptera belonging to family Pieridae and sub family Pierinae on the basis of sequence variation of 16S ribosomal RNA. The PCR amplified products of these species were directly sequenced using ABI Prism BigDye Terminator Sequencing Kits (Applied Biosystems). The multiple nucleotide sequence alignment analysis has revealed several differences across these species. Significantly high percentage of A + T base composition content ranging between 73.13% (Ixias pyrene ) and 79.20 % (Pieris brassica) was observed in studied species. The percentage divergence in the investigated species of Pieridae family varied from 5.5% to 21.7%. The two species of Catopsilia revealed minimum sequence divergence of only 5.5%, whereas the other two groups of Ixias and Pieris revealed 15.5% and 8.6% sequence divergence, respectively. Pieris canidia and Ixias pyrene are genetically most divergent (21.7%) amongst the studied lepidopteran species. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence revealed grouping of six species of Lepidoptera in the form of two different clusters, each cluster being represented by two species from the same genera. The separate taxonomic grouping of these Indian species has been observed when compared with several species of Piernae and Coliadinae subfamilies from other country isolates.     

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the Pieridae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea): higher classification and biogeography

The systematic relationships of the butterfly family Pieridae are poorly understood. Much of our current understanding is based primarily on detailed morphological observations made 50–70 years ago. However, the family and its putative four subfamilies and two tribes, have rarely been subjected to rigorous phylogenetic analysis. Here we present results based on an analysis of molecular characters used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the Pieridae in order to infer higher‐level classification above the generic level and patterns of historical biogeography. Our sample contained 90 taxa representing 74 genera and six subgenera, or 89% of all genera recognized in the family. Three complementary approaches were employed: (1) a combined analysis of a 30 taxon subset for sequences from four gene regions, including elongation factor‐1 alpha (EF‐1α), wingless, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), and 28S (3675 bp, 1031 parsimony‐informative characters), mainly to establish higher‐level relationships, (2) a single‐gene analysis of the 90 taxon data set for sequences from EF‐1α (1066 bp, 364 parsimony‐informative characters), mainly to establish lower‐level relationships, and (3) an all available data analysis of the entire data set for sequences from the four genes, to recover both deep and shallow nodes. Analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference provided similar results. All supported monophyly for the four subfamilies but not for the two tribes, with the Anthocharidini polyphyletic and the Pierini paraphyletic. The combined and all available data analyses support the following relationships among the subfamilies: ((Pseudopontiinae + Dismorphiinae) + (Coliadinae + Pierinae)), corroborating Ehrlich’s 1958 phenetic hypothesis. On the basis of these analyses, and additional morphological and life history evidence, we propose a reclassification of the subfamily Pierinae into two tribes (Anthocharidini s.s., Pierini s.s.) and two informal groups (Colotis group, Leptosia), with the tribe Pierini s.s. subdivided into three subtribes (Appiadina, Pierina, Aporiina) and three genera (Elodina, Dixeia, Belenois) of uncertain status (incertae sedis). The combined and all available data analyses support the following relationships among the Pierinae: (Colotis group + Anthocharidini s.s. + Leptosia + (Elodina + ((Dixeia + Belenois) + Appiadina + Pierina + Aporiina))). Application of a molecular clock calibrated using fossil evidence and semiparametric rate smoothing suggests that divergence between the Pierina and Aporiina occurred no later than the Palaeocene (> 60 Myr). The minimum estimate for the age of the crown‐group of the Pieridae was 112–82 Myr, with a mean of 95 Myr. A historical biogeographical hypothesis is proposed to explain the present‐day distribution of the clade Pseudopontiinae + Dismorphiinae, which argues for an origin of the two subfamilies in western Gondwana (Africa + South America) during the Late Cretaceous. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 147 , 239–275.     

Revised systematics and higher classification of pierid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) based on molecular data

The butterfly family Pieridae comprises approximately 1000 described species placed in 85 genera, but the higher classification has not yet been settled. We used molecular data from eight gene regions (one mitochondrial and seven nuclear protein‐coding genes) comprising a total of ~6700 bp from 96 taxa to infer a well‐supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the family. Based on this hypothesis, we revise the higher classification for all pierid genera. We resurrect the tribe Teracolini stat. rev. in the subfamily Pierinae to include the genera Teracolus, Pinacopteryx, Gideona, Ixias, Eronia, Colotis and most likely Calopieris. We transfer Hebomoia to the tribe Anthocharidini and assign the previously unplaced genera Belenois and Dixeia to the subtribe Aporiina. Three lineages near the base of Pierinae (Leptosia, Elodina and Nepheronia + Pareronia) remain unplaced. For each of these, we describe and delineate new tribes: Elodinini Braby tribus nova, Leptosiaini Braby tribus nova and Nepheroniini Braby tribus nova. The proposed higher classification is based on well‐supported monophyletic groups and is likely to remain stable even with the addition of more data.     

Phylogeny of the American silverfish Cubacubaninae (Hexapoda: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae): a combined approach using morphology and five molecular loci

Relationships within the subfamily Cubacubaninae, the dominant subfamily of Nicoletiidae in America, are appraised based on parsimony analysis of 20 morphological characters and sequence data from five loci (nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA, mitochondrial 16S rRNA, nuclear protein coding gene histone H3, and mitochondrial protein coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). The data, analyzed under direct optimization for a range of analytical parameter sets, indicated that species may show some biogeographical structure. It also indicated that the presence of articulated submedian appendages on urosternum IV is not a valid discriminating character in taxonomy. Species within the traditional genera Anelpistina, Cubacubana and Neonicoletia were found to belong to a group in which no clear morphological or molecular distinction was present. It is proposed that members of these three genera should be united within a single taxon. On the contrary, the genus Prosthecina is well supported by the data. © The Willi Hennig Society 2006.     

A molecular phylogeny of the tribe Aphidini (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) based on the mitochondrial tRNA/COII, 12S/16S and the nuclear EF1α genes

Abstract A phylogeny of the tribe Aphidini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was reconstructed from three gene fragments: two mitochondrial regions, partial tRNA‐leucine + cytochrome oxidase II (tRNA/COII), partial 12S rRNA + tRNA‐valine + 16S rRNA (12S/16S) and one nuclear gene, the elongation factor‐1 alpha (EF1α). Bayesian phylogenetic (BP) analyses were performed on each individual dataset of tRNA/COII, 12S/16S and EF1α, and maximum parsimony (MP), Bremer support test, maximum likelihood (ML) and BP analysis were performed on the combined dataset. After comparing our molecular phylogenetic results with the classic classification based on morphological and ecological data, we analysed three main issues: the monophyletic relationships among tribes and subtribes, the validities of the latest taxonomic positions of genera and species and the status of certain Aphis species groups. Our results indicate that 36 of the species analysed, with the exception of Cryptosiphum artemisiae, are clustered within the clade of Aphidini. Also, the 28 species representative of the subtribe Aphidina were separated from the eight species representative of Rhopalosiphina; each monophyletic subtribe was supported by significant P‐values in the combined analysis. According to our results, Cryptosiphum should be moved to Macrosiphini because it is more closely related to the genera Lipaphis and Brevicoryne. The genus Toxoptera was recovered as non‐monophyletic. In Rhopalosiphina, three genera, Hyalopterus, Rhopalosiphum and Schizaphis, were relatively closer to each other than to the genus Melanaphis. In the relationships between species‐groups among Aphis, most species were separated into two main lineages; the fabae group seemed to be more closely related to the spiraecola and craccivora group rather than to the gossypii group.     

Molecular and morphological data from Thoosidae in favour of the creation of a new suborder of Tetractinellida

The Thoosidae (Porifera, Demospongiae, Tetractinellida) currently includes the genera Thoosa, Alectona, and Delectona. To this date, molecular data are only available for Alectona. In this study, the phylogenetic affinities of the genera Thoosa and Alectona have been investigated with the species T. mismalolli, T. calpulli, and T. purpurea from the Mexican Pacific using morphology and three molecular loci: the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1 mtDNA), 28S rRNA (fragment D2), and 18S rRNA. Morphology and embryology showed that these genera are quite different from the rest of the tetractinellids because larvae of Alectona and Thoosa have unique features in sponges, such as the presence of monaxonic discs in Thoosa and tetraxonic discs in Alectona which disappear in the adult stages. A phylogenetic analysis using selected species from the order Tetractinellida revealed that Thoosa groups with Alectona thus confirming morphological studies. The peculiarities in spiculation and embryology of the Thoosa and Alectona larvae, which are markedly different from species belonging to the suborders Astrophorina and Spirophorina and their distant phylogenetic position (based on three molecular loci), suggest that Thoosidae could be placed in the new suborder Thoosina.     

Description of six new cyanobacterial species from soil biocrusts on San Nicolas Island,California, in three genera previously restricted to Brazil

As the taxonomic knowledge of cyanobacteria from terrestrial environments increases, it remains important to analyze biodiversity in areas that have been understudied to fully understand global and endemic diversity. This study was completed as part of a larger algal biodiversity study of the soil biocrusts of San Nicholas Island, California, USA. Among the taxa isolated were several new species in three genera (Atlanticothrix, Pycnacronema, and Konicacronema) which were described from, and previously restricted to, Brazil. New taxa are described herein using a polyphasic approach to cyanobacterial taxonomy that considers morphological, molecular, ecological, and biogeographical factors. Morphological data corroborated by molecular analysis including sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and the associated 16S–23S ITS rRNA region was used to delineate three new species of Atlanticothrix, two species of Pycnacronema, and one species of Konicacronema. The overlap of genera from San Nicolas Island and Brazil suggests that cyanobacterial genera may be widely distributed across global hemispheres, whereas the presence of distinct lineages may indicate that this is not true at the species level. Our data suggest that based upon global wind patterns, cyanobacteria in both Northern and Southern hemispheres of the Americas may have a more recent common ancestor in Northern Africa, but this common ancestry is distant enough that speciation has occurred since transatlantic dispersal.     

Phylogeny of Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) inferred from new morphological and molecular evidence

To address the phylogenetic relationships of the centipede order Geophilomorpha (more than 1000 species), we have reinterpreted and expanded the knowledge on their morphological disparity, and have doubled the amount of molecular data available. We performed maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses, using 195 phylogenetically informative morphological characters for 80 species, and DNA sequences of 28S, 18S, 16S rRNA and COI for up to 48 species. We found strong support for the monophyly of Geophilomorpha, the basal dichotomy between Adesmata and Placodesmata = Mecistocephalidae, and the basal dichotomy within Adesmata between two clades that are recognized here as superfamilies Himantarioidea and Geophiloidea. With respect to the families currently in use, Himantarioidea comprises three well supported clades corresponding to (i) Oryidae, (ii) Himantariidae, and (iii) Schendylidae s.l. including Ballophilidae; Geophiloidea comprises another three supported clades corresponding to (iv) a new family Zelanophilidae, (v) Gonibregmatidae s.l. including Eriphantidae and Neogeophilidae, and (vi) Geophilidae s.l. including Aphilodontidae, Dignathodontidae, Linotaeniidae, and Macronicophilidae.     

中国黄粉蝶亚科六属间基于COⅡ和EF-1α基因部分序列的系统发育关系（鳞翅目：粉蝶科）

为了探讨中国黄粉蝶亚科属间的系统发育关系,我们对其中6属9种的细胞色素氧化酶Ⅱ（COⅡ）的部分序列和延伸因子基因（EF-1α）部分序列进行了分析。分别采用最大简约法（maximum parsimony, MP）、最大似然法（maximum likelihood, ML）和贝叶斯推论法（bayesian inference, BI）构建黄粉蝶亚科分子系统树。结果表明：在测得的COⅡ基因的648 bp序列和EF-1α基因的504 bp序列中,有261个变异位点,151个简约信息位点,黄粉蝶亚科内各属COⅡ基因A+T含量（77.3%）均明显偏高。系统发育分析显示黄粉蝶属为亚科中较为原始的类群,分化较早,豆粉蝶属和迁粉蝶属亲缘关系较近,但钩粉蝶属与豆粉蝶属、迁粉蝶属之间的亲缘关系还不能确定。本研究结果和传统的基于形态学的黄粉蝶亚科的分类体系有所不同,最显著的分歧是本研究支持内群中分化最早的属应为黄粉蝶属,而不是豆粉蝶属和迁粉蝶属。     

Phylogenetic relationships among genera of Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) based on DNA sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene

Phylogenetic relationships among forty‐nine taxa representing twenty‐four genera of Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were investigated using DNA sequence of a portion of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and parsimony analysis. Seven species in six other subfamilies of Braconidae were used as outgroup. The results suggested that members of Aphidiinae are monophyletic. The basal lineage of Aphidiinae was Aclitus in weighted and unweighted parsimony analyses and Praini was basal relative to Ephedrini. With the exception of Pauesia and Aphidius, all genera were monophyletic. The results support generic status for Euaphidius, but not for Lysaphidus. Diaeretus leucopterus was internal to a clade composed of three Pauesia species, suggesting that the latter genus may be paraphyletic. A combined analysis that included DNA sequence of 16S rRNA, NADH1 dehydrogenase and 28S rRNA resulted in more robust cladograms with topologies similar to those inferred from the 16S rRNA gene sequence alone. The results are compared to previously proposed phylogenies of Aphidiinae based on morphological and molecular characters.     

A combined morphological and molecular phylogeny of the genus Chironius Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Chironius is one of the most speciose genera of the South American colubrid snakes. Although the genus represents a well‐known radiation of diurnal racers, its monophyly, affinities with other Neotropical colubrid genera, and intrageneric relationships are open questions. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Chironius based on a data matrix that combines one nuclear (c‐mos) and two mitochondrial (12S and 16S rRNA) genes with 37 morphological characters derived from scutellation, skull, and hemipenial features. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML). Our combined morphological and molecular analyses strongly support the monophyly of the genus Chironius and its sister‐group relationship with a clade formed by the genera Dendrophidion and Drymobius. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Chironius is still controversial, although five clades are retrieved with medium to strong support. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

A new model Gondwanan taxon: systematics and biogeography of the harvestman family Pettalidae (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi), with a taxonomic revision of genera from Australia and New Zealand

The phylogeny of the temperate Gondwanan harvestman family Pettalidae is investigated by means of a new morphological matrix of 45 characters, and DNA sequence data from five markers, including two nuclear ribosomal genes (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA), one nuclear protein coding gene (histone H3), and two mitochondrial genes–one protein coding (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) and one ribosomal (16S rRNA). Phylogenetic analyses using an array of homology schemes (dynamic and static), criteria (parsimony and maximum likelihood), and sampling strategies (optimal trees versus Bayesian phylogenetics) all agree on the monophyly of Pettalidae as well as several of its subclades, each of which is restricted to a modern landmass. While most genera as traditionally defined are monophyletic, Rakaia and Neopurcellia, distributed across Queensland (Australia) and New Zealand, are not. Instead, the species from Queensland, previously described under three genera, constitute a well‐supported clade, suggesting that in this case biogeography prevails over traditional taxonomy. A taxonomic emendation of the genera from Queensland and New Zealand is presented, and the new genus Aoraki is erected to include the species of the New Zealand denticulata group. A biogeographical hypothesis of the relationships of the former temperate Gondwana landmasses (with the exception of Madagascar) is presented, although ambiguity in the deep nodes of the pettalid tree renders such inference provisional. The data suggest that neither the South African fauna, the New Zealand fauna nor the Australian fauna is monophyletic but instead monophyly is found at smaller geographic scales (e.g., Western Australia, Queensland, NE South Africa). © The Willi Hennig Society 2007.     

A molecular phylogeny of the checkered beetles and a description of Epiclininae a new subfamily (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae)

We provide the first molecular phylogeny of the clerid lineage (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Thanerocleridae) within the superfamily Cleroidea to examine the two most recently proposed hypotheses of higher level classification. Phylogenetic relationships of checkered beetles were inferred from approximately ～5000 nt of both nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA (28S, 16S and 12S) and the mitochondrial protein‐coding gene COI. A worldwide sample of ～70 genera representing almost a quarter of generic diversity of the clerid lineage was included and phylogenies were reconstructed using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood approaches. Results support the monophyly of many proposed subfamilies but were not entirely congruent with either current classification system. The subfamilial relationships within the Cleridae are resolved with support for three main lineages. Tillinae are supported as the sister group to all other subfamilies within the Cleridae, whereas Thaneroclerinae, Korynetinae and a new subfamily formally described here, Epiclininae subf.n ., form a sister group to Clerinae + Hydnocerinae.     

Independent origins of coastal colonization in the tribe Athetini (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

Less than 1% of Staphylinidae are known to be confined to coastal habitats. To explore the origins of coastal colonization within the tribe Athetini Casey, we present a revised molecular phylogeny. The dataset comprised partial mitochondrial COI, COII, 16S rDNA, NADH1, partial nuclear 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA. We chose a total of 95 species in 51 genera, including 14 coastal species in eight genera and 21 outgroup species from other aleocharine tribes. The concatenated dataset was analysed simultaneously by both parsimony‐ and model‐based (Bayesian and maximum likelihood) methods. The tribe Athetini was not supported as a monophyletic group, but together with the tribes Tachyusini, Ecitocharini and Hygronomini did form a monophylum. The ecological association of species with a coastal habitat was mapped onto a phylogeny to assess the evolution of habitat specialization in the Athetini lineage. The results reveal that five independent origins of coastal colonization have occurred throughout the tribe Athetini: (a) Osakatheta + Adota minuta + coastal Atheta (Badura) (clade A); (b) Adota (clade B); (c) Pontomalota + Tarphiota + Thinusa (clade C); (d) Iotarphia (clade D); and (e) Psammostiba (clade E). The low species number of the coastal Athetini compared with the entire Athetini lineage indicates that coastal habitats are harsh environments and so only a few species were able to colonize this habitat. The following changes in classification are proposed: (a) Ad. minuta Lee and Ahn is removed from the genus Adota and tentatively included in Atheta (Badura); (b) The genus Saphocallus Sharp is transferred from Athetini to Geostibini.     

Phylogenetic analyses of the isonychiid mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Isonychiidae) in the northeast palearctic region

We investigated the molecular phylogeny of isonychiid mayflies inhabiting the East Palearctic region, Isonychia (Isonychia) japonica, Isonychia (Isonychia) ignota, Isonychia (Isonychia) ussurica and Isonychia (Prinoides) shima. We discuss their genetic structures, phylogeny and phylogeography. We collected a total of 100 specimens of isonychiid mayfly species from 47 localities of the Northeast Palearctic region (the Japanese archipelago, the Korean peninsula, the Russian Far East and Mongolia). We analyzed the DNA sequences at the mtDNA COI and 16S rRNA regions, and the nuDNA Histone H3 region. As a result of our genetic analyses of the four Northeast Palearctic isonychiid mayflies, their monophyly at the species level was supported by both the mtDNA (COI and 16S rRNA regions) and the nuDNA (Histone H3 region). In addition, it also became clear that significantly large genetic differentiation exists at the inter‐species level; thus, the relationship of “shima + (japonica + (ignota + ussurica))” is supported. Among the four isonychiid mayflies of the Northeast Palearctic area, I. (P.) shima was shown to be a basal‐most linage within the included species     

Molecular phylogenetic studies of Lachnum and its allies based on the Japanese material

Molecular phylogenetic studies were carried out based on ITS-5.8S rDNA, the D1–D2 region of the large subunit rRNA gene, RPB2, and combined data of D1–D2 and RPB2 as well as these three genes on 36 species among 7 genera for Lachnum and allied genera in the family Hyaloscyphaceae. In the combined data of all three regions, seven strongly supported clades were obtained. The same clades were also recognized in most of the trees based on each gene, and the combined data of D1–D2 and RPB2, although some of them were not strongly supported. Four clades represented Albotricha, Brunnipila, Incrucipulum, and Lachnellula, respectively, whereas Lachnum was distributed to the remaining three clades. The molecular phylogenies strongly supported a group of species with granulate hairs, and we suggest the concept of Lachnaceae should be restricted to these species. Based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis, three new combinations—Incrucipulum longispineum, I. radiatum, and Lachnellula pulverulentum from Lachnum—are proposed.     

Phylogeny and evolution of phytophagous ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachnini), with recognition of new genera

Phytophagous ladybird beetles of the tribe Epilachnini are a cosmopolitan, species‐rich group of significant economic importance as pests of agricultural crops. The tribe is well characterized morphologically and clearly monophyletic, but very little is known about its internal phylogenetic relationships and their genus‐level taxonomy. In order to infer the evolutionary history of Epilachnini, test its monophyly and provide a phylogeny‐based classification, we assembled a comprehensive dataset, consisting of four DNA markers (18S and 28S rRNA and 16S, COI mtDNA) and a matrix of 104 morphological characters for 153 species of Epilachnini representing all previously recognised genera, ～11% of the known species, and 14 outgroup taxa. Molecular, morphological and combined datasets were analysed using maximum likelihood, parsimony and Bayesian inference. Bayes factors and Approximately Unbiased tests (AU) were used to compare alternative phylogenetic hypotheses of unconstrained and backbone‐constrained analysis. Only 14 of the 25 included genera were recovered monophyletic, as originally defined. Afidentula Kapur, Afidenta Dieke, Afissula Kapur, Epilachna Chevrolat, Henosepilachna Li Toxotoma Weise and Mada Mulsant are shown to be poly‐ or paraphyletic; Chnootriba Chevrolat, Subafissa Bielawski, Lalokia Szawaryn & Tomaszewska and Papuaepilachna Szawaryn & Tomaszewska form monophyletic groups within larger clades of genus level. All of these genera are redefined here. The two largest genera of Epilachnini, Epilachna Chevrolat and Henosepilachna Li were represented by multiple monophyletic clades, which we described as new genera: Chazeauiana Tomaszewska & Szawaryn gen.n. ; Diekeana Tomaszewska & Szawaryn gen.n .; Fuerschia Tomaszewska & Szawaryn gen.n. and Ryszardia Tomaszewska & Szawaryn gen.n . The following new synonyms are proposed: Afissa Dieke (=Afissula Kapur); Henosepilachna Li in Li & Cook (=Subafissa Bielawski); Papuaepilachna Szawaryn & Tomaszewska (=Lalokia Szawaryn & Tomaszewska). This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:440E7FA4‐C859‐47E0‐8335‐30D478CBA8FA .     

Phylogenetic analysis of ascomycete yeasts that form coenzyme Q-9 and the proposal of the new genera Babjeviella, Meyerozyma, Millerozyma, Priceomyces, and Scheffersomyces

Species assigned to the genera Debaryomyces, Lodderomyces, Spathaspora, and Yamadazyma, as well as selected species of Pichia and Candida that also form coenzyme Q-9, were phylogenetically analyzed from the combined sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit and the nearly complete small subunit rRNA genes. Species assigned to Debaryomyces partitioned into three clades and species assigned to Pichia were distributed among six clades. These well-supported clades were interpreted as genera, and from this analysis, the following new genera are proposed: Babjeviella, Meyerozyma, Millerozyma, Priceomyces, and Scheffersomyces. The genus Schwanniomyces was reinstated and emended, and the genus Yamadazyma was phylogenetically defined. From this study, 23 new combinations and 3 new ranks are proposed. The preceding genera are members of a single, large clade, and it is proposed to delineate this clade as the new family Debaryomycetaceae.     

Molecular phylogeny of the scorpionflies Panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) and chromosomal evolution

Panorpidae is the most species-rich family in Mecoptera with ca. 470 species in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the intergeneric phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae remain unsatisfactorily resolved to date. Here, we used molecular and cytogenetic approaches to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae in the evolutionary scenario of chromosomes, and estimated their divergence times using fossil-calibrated Bayesian analysis. In total, 89 species representing all seven genera of Panorpidae were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic trees using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference based on the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cox1 and cox2 genes. The results reveal that Panorpidae is a well-supported monophyletic group that can be categorized into two major clades. Major Clade I comprises Neopanorpa and Leptopanorpa, and Major Clade II consists of all the other genera (Cerapanorpa, Dicerapanorpa, Furcatopanorpa, Panorpa and Sinopanorpa). Neopanorpa and Cerapanorpa are regarded as paraphyletic groups for the first time. BEAST analysis indicates that Panorpidae originated in the Lower Cretaceous approximately 122.5 Ma (96.8–149.3 Ma), and that most diversification occurred from the Selandian (59.8 Ma) to the Middle Pleistocene (0.6 Ma) in the Cenozoic. Cytogenetic data plotted on the cladogram show that the lineage differentiation of Panorpidae is closely related to the chromosomal evolution, especially the reduction of chromosome number. Our study suggests that a taxonomic revision of Panorpidae is urgently needed at the generic level.