Phylogenetic analysis of the Amphitritinae (Polycnaeta: Terebellidae)

The phylogenetic relationships of the Amphitritinae (Polychaeta: Terebellidae) were studied using parsimony analysis of 22 external morphological characters. To choose outgroups to polarize the characters, I carried out a preliminary analysis of the relationships of the four terebellid subfamilies and the Trichobranchidae. The single most parsimonious tree from the analysis supports monophyly of the Terebellidae by the presence of ventral glandular shields. However, this character is homoplasious within the Terebellomorpha, and further evaluation of the Terebellidae is recommended. Artacama and Thelepus were chosen as outgroups for the analysis of amphitritine genera. The generic level analysis yielded seven equally parsimonious trees, which are consistent in their topologies except for the relationships among seven genera in one large clade. In all trees, Artacama is the sister taxon to a large clade within the Amphitritinae; the Artacaminae is therefore synonymized with the Amphitritinae, which is diagnosed by the presence of double rows of uncini. Within the Amphitritinae, the status of several monotypic genera is questioned; plesiomorphic character states indicated by the analysis are discussed. The results presented are offered as working hypotheses of the relationships among amphitritine genera. The large number of homoplasies indicated by the analysis emphasizes the need to further evaluate these hypotheses using additional characters. With a robust phylogenetic hypothesis of amphitritine relationships, a re-classification of the group based on apomorphic character states can be undertaken, and questions regarding the evolution of morphological characters, reproductive modes, or biogeographical patterns can be properly addressed.     

Deciphering Metazoan Phylogeny: The Need for Additional Molecular Data

SYNOPSIS. Our interpretation of the evolution of development,morphology, and diversity of multicellular animals hinges ona clear understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of metazoans.Currently, the field of metazoan phylogeny is in a state offlux, with new hypotheses of metazoan relationships emergingfrom analyses of 18S rDNA sequence data. Some of these analyseshave been limited in the numbers of taxa analyzed, others, withnumerous taxa analyzed, have not resolved deep level branchingpatterns, and all are hampered by properties of the 18S geneitself. Corroboration of the results from 18S rDNA analysescan come from additional molecular data sets, such as highlyconserved nuclear coding genes, mitochondria gene order, orgene duplication events. The enormous task of data accumulationfor additional molecular data from many representative taxacan most efficiently be undertaken in a coordinated, collaborativeeffort among different lab groups. Ultimately, a combined analysisof several independent data sets will be possible and may providea more stable, robust phylogeny for the Metazoa.