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A Phylogenomic Backbone for Acoelomorpha Inferred From Transcriptomic Data.

Samuel Abalde1, Ulf Jondelius1

  • 1Department of Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.

Systematic Biology
|October 25, 2024
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Summary

This study reconstructs the evolutionary tree of Acoelomorpha (simple marine worms) using genomic data. It reveals Paratomella as an early diverging lineage within Acoela, impacting ancestral reconstructions and diversification timing.

Keywords:
Acoelomorphaancestral character state reconstructiondivergence timesincomplete lineage sortingintrogressionmorphological phylogeneticstranscriptomics

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Area of Science:

  • Metazoan Phylogenomics
  • Marine Invertebrate Evolution
  • Acoelomorph Systematics

Background:

  • Xenacoelomorpha, including Acoela, Nemertodermatida, and Xenoturbella, are morphologically simple worms with debated phylogenetic positions.
  • Previous studies have proposed conflicting placements for Xenacoelomorpha within the Bilateria.
  • Understanding internal relationships within Acoelomorpha is crucial for reconstructing their ancestral state and evolutionary history.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To infer a robust phylogenetic backbone for Acoelomorpha using extensive genomic data.
  • To investigate the impact of new phylogenetic findings on the reconstruction of the ancestral acoel.
  • To estimate diversification times within Acoelomorpha and correlate them with major evolutionary events.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing of 29 transcriptomes, doubling the number of available genomic data for Acoelomorpha.
  • Phylogenomic analyses to reconstruct the species tree and gene trees.
  • Detection and analysis of gene tree-species tree incongruence, including incomplete lineage sorting and introgression.
  • Dating diversification events using the generated phylogenetic framework.

Main Results:

  • A predominantly congruent topology with previous studies, but with the novel placement of Paratomella as the earliest diverging lineage within Acoela.
  • Evidence of incomplete lineage sorting and potential introgression between acoel families (Dakuidae and Mecynostomidae), complicating precise familial and generic placements (e.g., Notocelis).
  • Diversification times for Acoelomorpha align with known major bilaterian diversification and extinction events.

Conclusions:

  • The revised phylogeny, particularly the placement of Paratomella, necessitates a re-evaluation of ancestral acoel morphology and evolution.
  • Genomic data provide a powerful tool for resolving acoelomorph relationships, overcoming limitations of morphological data.
  • The inferred diversification patterns highlight the dynamic nature of metazoan evolution, influenced by broader geological and ecological events.