The lower cretaceous ferns in the genus Anemia (Schizaeceae), Potomac group of Virginia, and relationships within the genus

Based on characters of the fertile fronds, two species of fossil ferns from the Lower Cretaceous Potomac Group of the U.S.A., originally described as species of Osmunda by Fontaine in 1889, are transferred to the genus Anemia. The two species display primitive characters for that genus. Analysis of these and other characters of Anemia and related species, using parsimony and compatibility programs, suggests possible phylogenetic arrangements and facilitates delimination of three taxonomic units within Anemia that were already distinct during Cretaceous time. The subgenera Coptophyllum and Anemia are shown to be paraphyletic in the suggested phylogenies and the schemes agree with the known stratigraphy of the fossil ferns.     

A test of the sympatric host race formation hypothesis in Neodiprion (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae)

Theory suggests that sympatric speciation is possible; however, its prevalence in nature remains unknown. Because Neodiprion sawflies are host specialists and mate on their hosts, sympatric speciation via host shifts may be common in this genus. Here, we test this hypothesis using near-complete taxonomic sampling of a species group, comprehensive geographical and ecological data, and multiple comparative methods. Host-use data suggest that host shifts contributed to the evolution of reproductive isolation in Neodiprion and previous work has shown that gene flow accompanied divergence. However, geographical data provide surprisingly little support for the hypothesis that host shifts occurred in sympatry. While these data do not rule out sympatric host race formation in Neodiprion, they suggest that this speciation mode is uncommon in the genus and possibly in nature.     

Linking patterns and processes of species diversification in the cone flies Strobilomyia (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Phytophagous insects provide useful models for the study of ecological speciation. Much attention has been paid to host shifts, whereas situations where closely related lineages of insects use the same plant during different time periods have been relatively neglected in previous studies of insect diversification. Flies of the genus Strobilomyia are major pests of conifers in Eurasia and North America. They are specialized feeders in cones and seeds of Abies (fir), Larix (larch) ,and Picea (spruce). This close association is accompanied by a large number of sympatric Strobilomyia species coexisting within each tree genus. We constructed a molecular phylogeny with a 1320 base-pair fragment of mitochondrial DNA that demonstrated contrasting patterns of speciation in larch cone flies, as opposed to spruce and fir cone flies; this despite their comparable geographic distributions and similar resource quality of the host. Species diversity is the highest on larch, and speciation is primarily driven by within-host phenological shifts, followed by allopatric speciation during geographical expansion. By contrast, fewer species exploit spruce and fir, and within-host phenological shifts did not occur. This study illustrates within-host adaptive radiation through phenological shifts, a neglected mode of sympatric speciation.     

Genetic differentiation among host-associated Alebra leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

The limited importance ascribed to sympatric speciation processes via host race formation is partially due to the few cases of host races that have been reported among host populations. This work sheds light on the taxonomy of Alebra leafhoppers and examines the possible existence of host races among host-associated populations. The species of this genus show varying degrees of host association with deciduous trees and shrubs and, frequently, host populations of uncertain taxonomic status coexist and occasionally become pests. Allozyme electrophoresis of 21 Greek populations including sympatric, local and geographically distant samples collected on 13 different plant species, show that they represent at least five species: A. albostriella Fallén, A. viridis (Rey) (sensu Gillham), A. wahlbergi Boheman and two new species. Of these, one is associated to Quercus frainetto and other is specific to Crataegus spp. Significant genetic differences among sympatric and local host populations were found only in A. albostriella, between populations on Turkey oak, beech and common alder. It is suggested that the last two of these host populations may represent different host races. The results show that both the host plant and geographical distance affect the patterns of differentiation in the genus. The formation of some species seems to have been the result of allopatric speciation events while, for others, their origin can be equally explained either by sympatric or allopatric speciation.     

Snails of the genus Pachnodus (Mollusca; Gastropoda; Enidae): their origins and evolution

Aim The phylogeny of the enid land-snail genus Pachnodus was determined in order to provide information on biogeographical patterns within the granitic Seychelles islands. Location The genus Pachnodus is endemic to the granitic islands of Seychelles (Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin, La Digue and Fregate). Methods Phylogeny was determined using a cladistic analysis of nineteen shell and soft-body anatomy characters. The outgroup used was the central-east African genus Cerastus. Results The proposed phylogeny indicates that the genus divided into two distinct subgenera early in its history. Subsequent speciation occurred in parallel in the two subgenera, resulting in several islands supporting at least two distinct species representing the two subgenera. Main conclusions The pattern of speciation is largely explicable by vicariance as a result of sea-level rises, followed by habitat specialisation and further speciation. The pattern is in contrast to previously published scenarios for other taxa in the islands and indicates significant differences between evolutionary and habitat factors in the biogeography of the Seychelles fauna     

Evidence for sympatric speciation by host shift in the sea

The genetic divergence and evolution of new species within the geographic range of a single population (sympatric speciation) contrasts with the well-established doctrine that speciation occurs when populations become geographically isolated (allopatric speciation). Although there is considerable theoretical support for sympatric speciation, this mode of diversification remains controversial, at least in part because there are few well-supported examples. We use a combination of molecular, ecological, and biogeographical data to build a case for sympatric speciation by host shift in a new species of coral-dwelling fish (genus Gobiodon). We propose that competition for preferred coral habitats drives host shifts in Gobiodon and that the high diversity of corals provides the source of novel, unoccupied habitats. Disruptive selection in conjunction with strong host fidelity could promote rapid reproductive isolation and ultimately lead to species divergence. Our hypothesis is analogous to sympatric speciation by host shift in phytophagous insects except that we propose a primary role for intraspecific competition in the process of speciation. The fundamental similarity between these fishes and insects is a specialized and intimate relationship with their hosts that makes them ideal candidates for speciation by host shift.     

Isoenzyme diversity and phylogenetic relationships among the American beans of the genus Vigna Savi (Fabaceae)

Electrophoretic variation of 13 isoenzyme systems encoded by 25 gene loci has been studied among the 12 American bean species of the genus Vigna, subgenera Sigmoidotropis and Lasiospron, in comparison with the two pantropical species Vigna luteola and V. vexillata of the subgenera Vigna and Plectrotropis, respectively. Of the 202 electromorphs (putative allozymes) discovered, 106 were phylogenetically informative, i.e. shared by at least two taxa, and 96 were taxon-specific. Parsimony, neighbour-joining and UPGMA analyses of the isozyme data as unordered presence–absence characters revealed the division of the American Vigna species into six clades which mostly correspond to the grouping of species into subgenera and sections in the traditional morphology-based systems, except in the placement of species V. gentryi and V. caracalla. The type species of the section Caracallae, V. caracalla, appears on the cladogram as basally paraphyletic in the subgenus Sigmoidotropis, but apart from the V. linearis group of the same section which forms a separate subclade. Vigna gentryi is not linked to other species of the section Sigmoidotropis, but appears in a distant subclade as a sister species to V. adenantha s. l. of the section Leptospron. The subgenus Lasiospron is sister to the pantropical V. vexillata of the African subgenus Plectrotropis.     

多基因联合分析棒束孢属Isaria（Ascomycota,Cordycipitaceae）系统发育关系

对棒束孢属Isaria及近缘属物种开展5基因（nrSSU、nrLSU、tef-1α、rpb1和 rpb2）测序并联合分析,结合GenBank相关类群序列,探讨棒束孢属系统发育关系,最终获得95个菌株、58个明确分类群的2-5基因序列。利用MEGA和MrBayes软件进行多基因聚类分析,结果表明棒束孢属多系起源于虫草菌科中,分3个不同分支。A支主要由Isaria cicadae、I. teniupes、I. coleopterorum、I. fumosorosea和I. cateniannulata等组成;B支包括I. poprawkii、I. locustica、I. javanica、I. amoenerosea和I. cateniobliqua;C支仅有I. farinosa。分支间被Cordyceps militaris、C. ninchukispora、C. pruinosa等隔开。棒束孢在形态上,主要以瓶梗基部膨大、尖端变细及孢子呈链状等特征与其他类群分开,但同时也发现有棒状分生孢子梗和单孢子类型。基于节点的分歧时间预测分析,推测棒束孢属首次分化于70Mya,但棒束孢属主要物种形成却在60-55Mya,且3个分支的棒束孢物种为快速同时形成,而后大多数类群表现遗传稳定。同时发现,与Isaria Clade A较近一支有粉被玛利亚霉Mariannaea pruinosa（C. pruinosa无性型）和蛹草蚧霉Lecanicillium militaris（C. militaris无性型）;与粉棒束孢距离最近一支有Akanthomyces aculeatus（C. tuberculata无性型）和L. attenuatum（C. confragosa无性型）,是两个不同的属征分类群,且相互间遗传距离较近。根据棒束孢属及其近缘种属形态特征的复杂性推测,棒束孢属在快速物种形成中,其近缘类群存在一定程度的丢失和选择性演化。     

Speciation in the sub-Antarctic weevil genus Dusmoecetes Jeannel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Relatively few instances of sympatric speciation have been reported in the literature, and both theoretical and empirical studies of this mode of speciation remain controversial. Recently, a model of sympatric speciation less restrictive than earlier ones has been proposed. This study presents a hypothetical speciation scenario, based on current observations, which seems to be consistent with the new model. Two morphologically similar, though ecologically separated, species are identified in the Dusmoecetes similis (C. O. Waterhouse) species complex on Marion Island (46° 54'S, 37° 45'E), based on a study of the morphology, biology and ecology of the group. Differences between the demands placed on angiosperm- and bryophyte-feeding members of the complex, and the differing demands of bryophyte and angiosperm-dominated communities, coupled with low vagility and a high degree of assortative mating, suggest that a sympatric model can be used to explain speciation in this genus, which probably occurred within the last 10,000 years. Differences between Dusmoecetes marioni Jeannel and D. Similis (Waterhouse) are discussed, and a lectotype designated for the latter species.     

Effects of habitat transition on the evolutionary patterns of the microgastropod genus Pseudamnicola (Mollusca,Hydrobiidae)

Molecular phylogenies of extant species are considered effective tools to infer mechanisms of speciation. Here, we benefit from this utility to investigate the evolutionary history of an organismal group linked to different aquatic ecosystems, the microgastropod genus Pseudamnicola (family Hydrobiidae). Previous studies have found around 45 species of the nominal subgenus P. (Pseudamnicola), most of them in coastal stream localities of several Mediterranean islands and mainland territories, whereas only 12 species of the other subgenus, P. (Corrosella), have been collected from springs and headwaters of mountainous regions of the Iberian Peninsula and south of France. As springs often act as isolated habitats affecting dispersion and constraining gene flow, we supposed that the temporal history and mode of diversification of species from both subgenera should differ and therefore be reflected in their phylogenetic patterns. To assess this hypothesis, we performed a molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences and later conducted an independent analysis to examine the potential effect of certain geographic and ecological variables in the genetic divergences of the subgenera. Additionally, we estimated the ancestral area of diversification of both groups. Published anatomical revisions and our molecular analyses suggest that the genus Pseudamnicola should be divided into three genera: the two previous subgenera plus a new one described here. As postulated, the evolution of the spring organisms was strongly related to habitat fragmentation and isolation, whereas dispersal followed by divergence seem to have been the most common speciation processes for euryhaline species inhabiting coastal streams and low river stages in which waters remain connected. On the contrary, rather than habitat fragmentation or dispersion, environmental conditions have played a larger role during the deep divergent split leading to the three genera.     

Patterns of speciation in the genus Lopidea (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae)

Abstract. Speciation in four monophyletic species groups of the mirid genus Lopidea is examined. An analysis of twelve speciation events suggests that vicariance can account for at least 50% of speciation in Lopidea , and the frequency of sympatric host plant speciation may be as high as 25%.
In examples attributable to peripheral isolate speciation, the daughter taxa typically occur in recognized areas of endemism, suggesting a common cause (vicariance) for their origins. In addition, seven zones of disjunction between subspecies and allopatric sister species were identified for Lopidea , which correspond with similar disjunctions between sister taxa in other groups of organisms.     

基于12S,16S和28S rRNA基因序列的中国小毛瓢虫属系统发育分析

【目的】小毛瓢虫属Scymnus Kugelann昆虫主要捕食蚜虫、蚧虫等害虫,是一类经济上重要的天敌昆虫。目前针对小毛瓢虫属的系统发育研究尚属空白,亚属之间的系统演化关系尚不明确,为了建立合理的分类系统,亟需对小毛瓢虫属的亲缘关系进行研究和探讨。【方法】以华南农业大学馆藏的小毛瓢虫属5亚属共44种为研究对象,采用PCR技术对12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因的部分序列进行扩增;运用MEGA 7.0分析了小毛瓢虫属内12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因的碱基组成,基于K2P模型计算了小毛瓢虫属44种的种间遗传距离;采用最大似然法(maximum-likelihood, ML)和贝叶斯推断法(Bayesian-inference, BI)构建该属的系统发育树。【结果】扩增获得小毛瓢虫属44种的12S rRNA基因序列平均长度为356 bp, 16S rRNA基因序列平均长度为351 bp, 28S rRNA基因序列平均长度为315 bp;序列分析表明,12S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为38.8%, 43.5%, 11.9%和5.8%, 16S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为37.6%, 40.3%, 14.4%和7.7%, 28S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为26.7%, 18.3%, 31.4%和23.5%;基于联合序列分析的种间遗传距离为0.004～0.276,平均遗传距离为0.115。系统发育分析结果表明,小毛瓢虫属为单系起源,而小毛瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Scymnus) Kugelann、毛瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Neopullus) Sasaji、小瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Pullus) Mulsant和拟小瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Parapullus) Yang均为并系起源。【结论】基于12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因序列的小毛瓢虫属系统发育分析显示传统的形态学分类体系与基于分子数据分析的结果部分不一致,这表明应该对该属内各亚属的鉴别特征进行全面检视,筛选并确立各亚属的形态指标,同时也表明该属内的亚属分类单元需重新厘定。     

Phylogeny, speciation and species turnover. The case of the Mediterranean gastropods of genus Cyclope Risso, 1826

The genus Cyclope Risso, 1826 (family Nassariidae) has appeared in the fossil record since the Pliocene. Although it is still found today, the teleoconch morphology has never undergone modification, despite the fact that the protoconch morphologies of fossils (multispiral) and living forms (paucispiral) are different. They vary in their embryological and larval development and, hence, are two different species: C. migliorinii (Bevilacqua, 1928), the fossil species, and C. neritea (Linnaeus, 1758), the living species. We discuss the morphologic modifications in the evolution of this genus: the speciation that leads to its appearance and the speciation driving the Pliocene species to the living one. The order and the direction of these changes are based on phylogenetic analysis. No intermediate forms have been found showing a gradual morphological change that could have been worked by natural selection. Our analysis takes as the origin of the morphological novelties the genetic modifications in the ontogenetic processes which resulted in rapid and important phenotypic changes. Both speciation processes are sympatric cladogenetic. The changes that determine the appearance of the genus affect only the teleoconch, not the larval development. The modifications that lead from one species to the other, within the genus Cycope, affect the larval development exclusively. This points to a certain disconnection between the development of the embryo-larval phase and the young-adult formation, such that evolutionary processes could have occurred independently in different ontogenetic stages. The influence of larval ecology in relation to extinction of the ancestor and persistence of the derived species is also analysed. We hypothesize that climatic fluctuations may have affected the planktonic larvae of the fossil species, driving it to extinction. The living species, developing without the planktonic phase, would have resisted these climatic changes. We consider that the mechanisms described as drivers of the evolution of this genus can be of more general validity in prosobranch gastropods.     

Phylogenomic relationships and species identification of the olive genus Olea (Oleaceae)

The olive genus Olea includes c. 30–40 taxa in three subgenera (Olea, Tetrapilus, and Paniculatae) within the family Oleaceae. Historically, the Olea genus was classified into four groups that were overall well supported by reconstructed phylogenies, despite incomplete sampling of subgenus Tetrapilus and poor resolution within clades. These analyses also showed that the genus was not monophyletic. Reliable identification of Olea species is important for both their conservation and utilization of this economically important genus. In this study, we used phylogenomic data from genome skimming to resolve relationships within Olea and to identify molecular markers for species identification. We assembled the complete plastomes, and nrDNA of 26 individuals representing 13 species using next-generation sequencing and added 18 publicly available accessions of Olea. We also developed nuclear SNPs using the genome skimming data to infer the phylogenetic relationships of Olea. Large-scale phylogenomic analyses of 138 samples of tribe Oleeae supported the polyphyly of Olea, with Olea caudatilimba and Olea subgenus Tetrapilus not sharing their most recent common ancestor with the main Olea clade (subgenus Paniculatae and subgenus Olea). The interspecific phylogenetic resolution was poor owing to a possible rapid radiation. By comparing with the plastome data, we identified the markers ycf1b and psbE-petL as the best Olea-specific chloroplast DNA barcodes. Compared with universal barcodes, specific DNA barcodes and super-barcode exhibited higher discriminatory power. Our results demonstrated the power of phylogenomics to improve phylogenetic relationships of intricate groups and provided new insights into barcodes that allow for accurate identification of Olea species.     

Speciation by host switch and adaptive radiation in a fish parasite genus Gyrodactylus (Monogenea,Gyrodactylidae)

Four hundred Gyrodactylus species have been formally described, but the estimated number of species in this fish ectoparasite genus of Monogenean Platyhelminthes is more than 20,000. The unusually high species richness has lead to the hypotheses of speciation and adaptive radiation via host switching. These hypotheses were tested by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny for the subgenus G. (Limnonephrotus) which is a group of freshwater parasites, including five species infecting wild and farmed salmonids. The highly variable ITS1 and ITS2 segments and the conservative 5.8S ribosomal gene were sequenced in 22 species plus two species representing the subgenus G. (Paranephrotus) as an outgroup. The phylogeny was compared with host systematics: the species were collected from six fish families (Cyprinidae, Salmonidae, Percidae, Esocidae, Gasterosteidae, and Gobitidae). The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that G. (Limnonephrotus) is a monophyletic group that was originally hosted by cyprinids. The speciation has occurred in two episodes, the older one manifested in genetic distances 25-33% (4-6 Myr BP). The latter speciation burst occurred in one clade only, perhaps one million years ago. This clade has been morphologically identified as a wageneri species group. It is a monophyletic group of 18 species [studied here] and contains all five salmonid parasites, but also parasites, on cyprinids, percids, esocids, and gasterosteids. In G. (Limnonephrotus), eight host switches crossing the host family barrier were observed, and at least three of them were followed by repetitive speciation. Seven host-switch events were statistically confirmed by bootstrapping. The suggested model of speciation by host switch was accepted, and interestingly the adaptive radiation seems to be a consequence of host switch to a new family (key innovation model). The molecular and ecological evolution rate of Gyrodactylus parasites is manyfold in comparison to host species, and the phylogenies are largely independent and disconnected.     

云南滇池入侵虾虎鱼类的共存策略

虾虎鱼类是入侵种的一个重要来源,常数种共同入侵同一区域,其种间如何实现共存是当前鱼类入侵生态学的一个重要科学问题。本研究通过形态分析、空间分布调查及摄食分析等方法,从形态分化和生态位分化角度揭示滇池新入侵的粘皮鯔虾虎鱼与先期入侵近缘种的共存策略。结果表明: 粘皮鯔虾虎鱼与小黄黝鱼、子陵吻虾虎鱼、波氏吻虾虎鱼等先期入侵种在形态上存在显著差异。其空间分布在研究区域上与上述物种存在显著差异,空间生态位指数显著高于其余物种。摄食分析显示,粘皮鯔虾虎鱼的食物多样性指数显著高于其余物种;其主要摄食种类为圆形盘肠溞和腺介虫等,与其他虾虎鱼类主要摄食种类也存在明显差异。在摄食生态位上,滇池入侵虾虎鱼类存在显著分化。这说明形态差异、空间生态位分化及营养生态位分化降低了种间竞争强度,促进了粘皮鯔虾虎鱼与先期入侵虾虎鱼类实现共存。粘皮鯔虾虎鱼可能凭借摄食策略上的优势在种群数量、占据栖息地范围上优于竞争对手,成为研究区域入侵虾虎鱼类中的优势种群。     

Phylogeny of the African and Asian Phortica (Drosophilidae) deduced from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences

Phylogenetic relationships of 26 Phortica species were investigated based on DNA sequence data of two mitochondrial (ND2, COI) and one nuclear (28S rRNA) genes. Five monophyletic groups were recovered in the genus Phortica, of which three were established as new subgenera, Alloparadisa, Ashima, and Shangrila. The subgenus Allophortica was suggested as the most basal lineage in Phortica, followed by the lineage of P. helva + P. sobodo + P. varipes. The remaining Phortica species, most of Oriental distribution, formed a monophyletic group, and were subdivided into three lineages (i.e., the subgenera Ashima, Phortica, and Shangrila). The subgenera Shangrila and Phortica were suggested as sister taxa, and four clades were recovered in the subgenus Ashima. The result of reconstruction of ancestral distribution and estimation of divergence times indicates that, the ancestor of the genus Phortica restricted to Africa, its initial diversification was dated back to ca. 23 Mya (coinciding with the Oligocene/Miocene boundary); sympatric speciation and an Africa-to-Asia dispersal was proposed to account for the current distribution of Allophortica and the rest Phortica; most of the rest diversification of Phortica occurred in southern China, and the divergence between the African clade and its Oriental counterpart was suggested as a result of vicariance following a dispersal of their ancestral species from southern China to Africa.     

The role of head shape and trophic variation in the diversification of the genus Herichthys in sympatry and allopatry

In the present study we evaluated the putative cases of sympatric speciation in the genus Herichthys by studying the variation in head shape using principal component analysis, phylomorphospace and reconstructions of the ancestral states of feeding preferences. Herichthys includes both allopatric and sympatric sister species, as well as sympatric unrelated species and thus offers great potential for evolutionary studies of putatively sympatric speciation. Herichthys is the northernmost group of cichlids in America and one of the most ecologically disparate genera within Middle American cichlids. Fifteen anatomical points were recorded on the heads of 293 specimens of the 11 species recognized within the genus. The results show that in spite of having wide variation in consumed diets, most species of Herichthys are close in morphospace. However, morphological variation was great among the two pairs of sympatric sister species in agreement with the suggested sympatric model of speciation.     

No evidence for parallel sympatric speciation in cichlid species of the genus Pseudotropheus from north-western Lake Malawi

To test the hypothesis of parallel speciation by sexual selection, we examined length variation at six microsatellite loci of samples from four sites of four to six putative species belonging to two subgenera of rocky shore mbuna cichlids from Lake Malawi. Almost all fixation indices were significantly different from zero, suggesting that there is presently little or no gene flow among allopatric populations or sympatric species. Analysis of variance indicated that genetic distances among allopatric populations of putative conspecifics were significantly lower than among sympatric populations of heterospecifics. The topology of trees based on distance matrices was also largely consistent with the hypothesis that the putative species are monophyletic and have thus not evolved in parallel in their present locations. If parallel speciation does occur in Malawi cichlids, it may be on a larger spatial scale than investigated in our study.     

Cytotaxonomy and geographic distribution of cytotypes of species of the South American genus Chrysolaena (Vernonieae,Asteraceae)

Understanding speciation and biodiversity patterns in plants requires knowledge of the general role of climate in allowing polyploids to escape competition and persist with their diploid progenitors. This is a particularly interesting issue in widespread species that present multiple ploidy levels and occur across a heterogeneous environment. Chrysolaena (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) is a cytogenetically very diverse genus, with significant interspecific and intraspecific ploidy level variation and with continuous distribution across South America. No previous studies have summarized chromosome count data of Chrysolaena or addressed the cytogeography of the genus. Ploidy level of Chrysolaena species was determined by chromosome counting during mitosis and/or meiosis; the geographic distribution of cytotypes was examined and the correlations between the distribution of particular cytotypes and current ecological conditions were evaluated. A total of 43 new chromosome counts and five ploidy levels (2x, 4x, 6x, 7x, 8x) were reported. The chromosome number of C. cordifolia (2n = 7x = 70) and a new cytotype for C. propinqua var. canescens (2n = 4x = 40) are reported for the first time. Three geographic areas with high diversity of cytotypes and species were detected. The results obtained do not suggest a clear distribution pattern that depends on climatic factors for Chrysolaena populations. However, a geographic pattern was identified in the distribution of ploidy levels, with diploid species presenting a more restricted distribution than polyploid species.