Phylogenetics of New Zealand's tree, giant and tusked weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae): evidence from mitochondrial DNA

Trewick, Steven A.; Morgan‐Richards, Mary

doi:10.1665/1082-6467(2004)013[0185:ponztg]2.0.co;2

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…However, the small number of Hemideina species precluded the use of formal phylogenetically independent contrasts in this study. Several New Zealand invertebrate groups, including giant weta (Deinacrida) (Trewick and Morgan-Richards, 2004), grasshoppers (Trewick, 2008), cicadas (Buckley and Simon, 2007), stick insects (Buckley et al, 2010) and cockroaches (Chinn and Gemmell, 2004), include lowland and montane species, representing multiple, independent colonisations of New Zealand's montane zone. Further analyses of physiological differences, including resistance to desiccation, using lowland and montane species pairs as the unit of replication, would offer further insight into the evolution of montane physiology and would allow physiological differences to be somewhat decoupled from phylogeny.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water loss in tree weta (Hemideina): adaptation to the montane environment and a test of the melanisation–desiccation resistance hypothesis

King

Sinclair

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Montane insects are at a higher risk of desiccation than their lowland counterparts and are expected to have evolved reduced water loss. Hemideina spp. (tree weta; Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) have both lowland (Hemideina femorata, Hemideina crassidens and Hemideina thoracica) and montane (Hemideina maori and Hemideina ricta) species. H. maori has both melanic and yellow morphs. We use these weta to test two hypotheses: that montane insects lose water more slowly than lowland species, and that cuticular water loss rates are lower in darker insects than lighter morphs, because of incorporation of melanin in the cuticle. We used flow-through respirometry to compare water loss rates among Hemideina species and found that montane weta have reduced cuticular water loss by 45%, reduced respiratory water loss by 55% and reduced the molar ratio of V H2O : V CO2 by 64% compared with lowland species. Within H. maori, cuticular water loss was reduced by 46% when compared with yellow morphs. Removal of cuticular hydrocarbons significantly increased total water loss in both melanic and yellow morphs, highlighting the role that cuticular hydrocarbons play in limiting water loss; however, the dark morph still lost water more slowly after removal of cuticular hydrocarbons (57% less), supporting the melanisation-desiccation resistance hypothesis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water loss in tree weta (Hemideina): adaptation to the montane environment and a test of the melanisation–desiccation resistance hypothesis

King

Sinclair

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…New Zealanders take warped pride in the voraciousness of their South Island coastal namu or sandflies (Austrosimulium spp., Simuliidae) and justifiable pride in the endemic radiations of their wetas (Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae). These latter -outsized, flightless orthopterans -include the Little Barrier Island giant weta (Deinacrida heteracantha) or wetapunga (Maori for 'god of ugly things'), one of the heaviest insects, weighing up to 70 g (Trewick and Morgan-Richards 2004). About 1 million tourists each year visit Waitomo Caves (Doorne 1999) to share an extravagant and potentially educational entomological experience -the bioluminescence displayed by glowworms, larvae of the dipteran Arachnocampa luminosa (Keroplatidae).…”

Section: Some Highlights Of Australasian Insect Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity of Australasian Insects

Cranston¹

2009

Insect Biodiversity

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“…Together with lack of monophyly of the genera, this is consistent with a rapid radiation of the core Deinacridine lineages. A discussion of the systematic implications of these analyses is presented elsewhere (Trewick & Morgan‐Richards, in press).…”

Section: Phylogeneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

After the deluge: mitochondrial DNA indicates Miocene radiation and Pliocene adaptation of tree and giant weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae)

Trewick

Morgan‐Richards

2005

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim New Zealand broke away from the margins of Gondwana c. 75 Ma. Since then, New Zealand taxa derived from the Gondwanan biota are thought to have been exposed first to a subtropical climate on a low lying terrain, then severe land reduction during the Oligocene marine transgression, followed by much cooler climates of the Pliocene and Pleistocene, at which time mountain ranges emerged. The biological consequence of New Zealand's geological and climatic history is not well understood, in particular the extent to which the Oligocene acted as a biological bottleneck remains unresolved. Methods We used mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and 12S DNA sequences to examine the extent of diversity and inferred timing of speciation of New Zealand weta (Anostostomatidae), a group of Orthoptera with a Gondwanan distribution generally thought to be ancient inhabitants of New Zealand. Main conclusions We hypothesize that at least three distinct groups of weta survived the Oligocene marine transgression and radiated subsequently. Speciation followed during the Miocene and radiation into new habitats occurred during the Pliocene when mountain building created novel environments. Patterns of genetic diversity within species reflect, in some instances, geographical subdivision in the Pliocene, and in other cases, Pleistocene range changes resulting from climate change.

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Phylogenetics of New Zealand's tree, giant and tusked weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae): evidence from mitochondrial DNA

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 27 publications

References 35 publications

Water loss in tree weta (Hemideina): adaptation to the montane environment and a test of the melanisation–desiccation resistance hypothesis

Water loss in tree weta (Hemideina): adaptation to the montane environment and a test of the melanisation–desiccation resistance hypothesis

Biodiversity of Australasian Insects

After the deluge: mitochondrial DNA indicates Miocene radiation and Pliocene adaptation of tree and giant weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae)

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