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Towards a mitogenomic phylogeny of Lepidoptera
Martijn J T N Timmermans1, David C Lees2, Thomas J Simonsen3
1Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
|June 10, 2014
Summary
This study resolves deeper butterfly and moth (Lepidoptera) phylogeny using new mitochondrial genome data. Findings support an expanded Obtectomera group and clarify relationships among higher butterfly and moth taxa.
Area of Science:
- * Evolutionary biology
- * Genomics
- * Systematics
Background:
- * The evolutionary history of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is not fully resolved.
- * Previous phylogenetic studies were limited by the number of superfamilies analyzed and gene data used.
- * Advances in sequencing technology enable the use of complete mitochondrial genomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To resolve deeper phylogenetic relationships within Lepidoptera.
- * To assess the utility of mitochondrial genomes for lepidopteran phylogeny.
- * To investigate the evolutionary placement of various lepidopteran superfamilies and families.
Main Methods:
- * Sequencing and analysis of 23 full and six partial mitochondrial genomes.
- * Incorporation of new data with existing public mitochondrial genome data.
- * Phylogenetic analyses using recoded datasets covering 24 lepidopteran superfamilies.
Main Results:
- * Phylogenetic topologies congruent with previous nuclear and morphological studies were obtained.
- * Support for an expanded Obtectomera, including Gelechioidea, Thyridoidea, plume moths, Papilionoidea, Pyraloidea, Mimallonoidea, and Macroheterocera.
- * Clarification of relationships for Doidae within Drepanoidea, Mimallonidae within Macroheterocera, and Danainae as sister to the rest of Nymphalidae.
Conclusions:
- * Mitochondrial genome data effectively resolves deeper lepidopteran phylogeny.
- * The expanded Obtectomera concept is supported by this comprehensive dataset.
- * A tRNA rearrangement event is suggested at a deep phylogenetic node within Lepidoptera.
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