Biogeography and diversification of colletid bees (Hymenoptera: Colletidae): emerging patterns from the southern end of the world

Abstract

Aim The evolutionary history of bees is presumed to extend back in time to the Early Cretaceous. Among all major clades of bees, Colletidae has been a prime example of an ancient group whose Gondwanan origin probably precedes the complete break-up of Africa, Antarctica, Australia and South America, because modern lineages of this family occur primarily in southern continents. In this paper, we aim to study the temporal and spatial diversification of colletid bees to better understand the processes that have resulted in the present southern disjunctions. Location Southern continents.Methods We assembled a dataset comprising four nuclear genes of a broad sample of Colletidae. We used Bayesian inference analyses to estimate the phylogenetic tree topology and divergence times. Biogeographical relationships were investigated using event-based analytical methods: a Bayesian approach to dispersal-vicariance analysis, a likelihood-based dispersal-extinctioncladogenesis model and a Bayesian model. We also used lineage through time analyses to explore the tempo of radiations of Colletidae and their context in the biogeographical history of these bees.

Say goodbye to tribes in the new house fly classification: A new molecular phylogenetic analysis and an updated biogeographical narrative for the Muscidae (Diptera)

“…This narrative, mixing vicariance and dispersal, has recently been suggested for other, strictly southern organisms. For example, in flies, the Pagoniinae (subfamily of Tabanidae, Lessard et al 2013), and bees, the family Colletidae (Almeida et al 2012). …”

The Meloidae (Coleoptera) of Australasia: a generic review, descriptions of new taxa, and a challenge to the current definition of subfamilies posed by exceptional variation in male genitalia

“…Thus far the only Australian bees associated with Meloidae are several species of the genus Ctenocolletes (Stenotritidae) (Di Giulio et al 2010b). The Stenotritidae, sister to the Colletidae, are believed to be an endemic Australian element of Gondwanan origin (Almeida et al 2012). This should not appear to conflict with the assumed recent arrival of meloids to Australia.…”

Are Historical Biogeographical Events Able to Promote Biological Diversification?

“…[35]). After the historical inference is conducted, it is crucial to identify whether these same nodes where a dispersal or vicariance event was inferred exhibit a notable shift in diversification dynamics [2,3,66].…”