Cryptic Lineages in the Cardiocondyla sl. kagutsuchi Terayama (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Discovered by Phylogenetic and Morphological Approaches

Ichiro Okita,Koji Tsuchida,Mamoru Terayama

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v62i3.805

Ichiro Okita, Koji Tsuchida + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v62i3.805

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Journal: Sociobiology	Publication Date: Sep 30, 2015
Citations: 27	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Gifu University, The University of Tokyo

Abstract

The taxonomy of ant species in the genus Cardiocondyla is very confused due to the extreme difficulty in separating many species based on morphology alone. In Japan, one group of the species complex Cardiocondyla sl. kagutsuchi has both winged and wingless worker-like (ergatoid) males (dimorphic) whereas others have only ergatoid males (monomorphic). The presence of both groups prompted us to hypothesize that C. sl. kagutsuchi presumably includes several independent species with differences in their male wing morphologies. However, whether any species boundary actually exists between the male groups has remained unsolved over the 10+ years since the previous revision of this genus. In this study, using discriminant and phylogenetic analyses, we compared the worker caste morphology of this species complex among lineages detected by phylogenetic analyses. In addition, we examined the number of sexuals present in field colonies. Our results revealed the existence of at least three morphological and phylogenetic groups within this species complex.

Highlights

Most classic taxonomic techniques based on external morphology require a great deal of skill and are laborious, molecular markers based on DNA sequences have become a convenient and powerful genetic tool (Bickford et al, 2007) to unveil novel interspecific relationships, intraspecific variations, gene flow and adaptive mutations (Besansky et al, 2003; Molbo et al, 2003; Hebert et al, 2004; Murray et al, 2008; Cheng et al, 2011)
This study showed that C. sl. kagutsuchi in Japan consisted of three groups that differed in both mtDNA sequences and worker morphology: lineages A+B, C and D
C. kagutsuchi Terayama, 1999 was the species name given to the endemic ant collected from Ishigaki Island known to have both winged and ergatoid males (Terayama, 1999)

Summary

Introduction

Most classic taxonomic techniques based on external morphology require a great deal of skill and are laborious, molecular markers based on DNA sequences have become a convenient and powerful genetic tool (Bickford et al, 2007) to unveil novel interspecific relationships, intraspecific variations, gene flow and adaptive mutations (Besansky et al, 2003; Molbo et al, 2003; Hebert et al, 2004; Murray et al, 2008; Cheng et al, 2011) Among such genetic concerns, detection of cryptic species can help us togain a deeper understanding of species interactions.

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