Abstract
This study reports the results of a molecular phylogenetic analysis of thirty three species of Ennominae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). The aim of this analysis was to determine the phylogenetic affinities of 13 European species not previously studied using these methods. Fragments of seven nuclear genes, elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1D ), wingless (wgl), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), ribosomal protein S5 (RpS5) and expansion segments D1 and D2 of the 28S rRNA gene and fragment of one mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), were used. In the analysis using Bayesian phylogenetic inference, original gene sequences of the target species were combined with a larger data matrix of 20 species of Ennominae, used in a previous study (Wahlberg et al., 2010, Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 55: 929-938). Most notably, the results indi- cate that the representatives of the genera Cepphis, Plagodis, Pseudopanthera and Selenia form a well-supported monophyletic group which appeared as the sister clade to the rest of the ennomine group of tribes. On the other hand, Crocallis and Opistho- graptis group together with Ennomos. These results conflict with previous tribal subdivisions of the subfamily pointing to the need to reconsider the concepts of Ennomini and Ourapterygini. Within the tribe Macariini, the genus Macaria appears to be more closely related to Itame (= Speranza) than to Chiasmia clathrata. The emerging phylogenetic tree of Ennominae suggests only a limited phy- logenetic inertia in body size making this group a promising target for comparative studies on this central life history trait and its correlates.
Highlights
The largest subfamily of Geometridae, the Ennominae, is a well defined and uncontroversial group
Within Ennominae, the genera can be divided into the “ennomine” and “boarmiine” groups based on the structure of the cremaster in the pupal stage (Forbes, 1948; Holloway, 1993; Patoþka & Turþani, 2005; Viidalepp et al, 2007; Wahlberg et al, 2010)
33 Ennomine species were included in the present analysis (Table 1), 20 of which were used earlier to construct a preliminary phylogenetic tree for the Ennominae (Wahlberg et al, 2010) and provide the necessary reference framework
Summary
The largest subfamily of Geometridae, the Ennominae (about 45% of all Geometridae: Minet & Scoble, 1999), is a well defined and uncontroversial group. Within Ennominae, the genera can be divided into the “ennomine” and “boarmiine” groups based on the structure of the cremaster in the pupal stage (Forbes, 1948; Holloway, 1993; Patoþka & Turþani, 2005; Viidalepp et al, 2007; Wahlberg et al, 2010). Beyond this major subdivision, the relationships among the numerous traditionally recognised tribes of Ennominae have remained largely uncertain (see Holloway, 1993 for a recent morphology-based hypothesis) and await a reassessment using contemporary methods of phylogenetic analysis. There are, an increasing number of more focused taxon-specific molecular studies on geometrids (e.g. Snäll et al, 2007; Viidalepp et al, 2007; Õunap et al, 2008, 2009)
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