First Phylogenomic Assessment of the Amphitropical New World Ant Genus Dorymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a Longstanding Taxonomic Puzzle
First Phylogenomic Assessment of the Amphitropical New World Ant Genus Dorymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a Longstanding Taxonomic Puzzle
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DOI：
10.1093/isd/ixab022
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发表时间：
2022-01-01
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Oberski, Jill T.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Oberski, Jill T.
“金字塔蚁”或“锥蚁”是美洲干旱地区引人注目的居民。从大平原到巴塔哥尼亚，它们集中在热带的北部和南部，与纬度多样性梯度标准相反。尽管被频繁采集并具有重要的生态意义，但在分类上却被忽视了。该属从未受益于全球修订，甚至主要谱系仍然不确定。这项工作描述了手头的问题，并将22个Dorymyrmex物种引入了现代系统基因组学的世界：通过针对基因组中的超保守元件（UCEs），我构建了1,891个位点的比对，在最大似然和贝叶斯方法下推断系统发生，并估计分化日期。在最大支持下，出现了三个主要分支，分别对应于前属：敏感的Dorymyrmex Gallardo， Araucomyrmex Gallardo和Conomyrma Forel 1913。金字塔群（Conomyrma）表现出最近的快速辐射，形态分化最小，重申了在这个广泛的进化枝中进行物种划分的困难。最后，我观察到一种普遍的从南到北的扩散模式，可能是通过热带稀树草原的“垫脚石”，在更凉爽、更干燥的时期穿过热带。洲际传播发生在中新世假定的加勒比海大陆扩张之后，但在更新世或巴拿马地峡完工之前，这表明是通过飞行传播的。这证实了在其他适应干旱的两栖新大陆分类群中观察到的模式。确定主要的桃金娘物种群是迈向稳定的分类定义的重要的第一步，这是行为、化学生态学和生理学研究的基础。
Dorymyrmex Mayr 1866, the 'pyramid ants' or 'cone ants', are conspicuous inhabitants of arid landscapes across the Americas. Ranging from the Great Plains to Patagonia, they are concentrated north and south of the tropics in contrast to the latitudinal diversity gradient canon. Despite being frequently collected and ecologically important, Dorymyrmex ants exemplify the taxonomic neglect typical in the subfamily Dolichoderinae. The genus has never had the benefit of a global revision, and even the major lineages are still uncertain. This work characterizes the issues at hand and ushers 22 Dorymyrmex species into the world of modern-day phylogenomics: By targeting ultraconserved elements (UCEs) across the genome, I construct an alignment of 1,891 loci, infer phylogenies under maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches, and estimate divergence dates. Three major clades of Dorymyrmex emerge with maximal support, corresponding to former genera: Dorymyrmex sensu stricto, Araucomyrmex Gallardo 1919, and Conomyrma Forel 1913. The pyramicus group ('Conomyrma') shows a recent, rapid radiation with minimal morphological differentiation, reaffirming the difficulty of species delimitation in this widespread clade. Finally, I observe a general south-to-north pattern of dispersal, likely by way of savanna 'stepping stones' across the tropics during cooler, drier periods. Intercontinental dispersal occurred after the hypothetical Caribbean landspan in the Miocene, but before the Pleistocene or the completion of the Panamanian isthmus, suggesting dispersal by flight. This corroborates patterns observed in other arid-adapted amphitropical New World taxa. Characterizing the major Dorymyrmex species groups is an important first step towards stable taxonomic definitions-which underpin active studies in behavior, chemical ecology, and physiology.