When molecules and morphology concur: the ‘Gondwanan’ midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Abstract

A phylogeny of the Chironomidae subfamily Podonominae, significant in the history of phylogenetic biogeography, is estimated from an analysis of four genes. Fragments of two ribosomal genes (18S and 28S), one nuclear protein‐coding gene (CAD), and one mitochondrial protein‐coding gene (COI) were sequenced from specimens representing 13 of 15 genera, and analysed using mixed model Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference methods. Podonominae is monophyletic and sister to Tanypodinae – the shared development of the larval ligula is synapomorphic and diagnostic. Tribe Podonomini is monophyletic with the inclusion of Trichotanypus; tribe Boreochlini is a grade. Monophyly is confirmed for the genera Podonomus Philippi, Podonomopsis Brundin, Podochlus Brundin, Archaeochlus Brundin and Austrochlus Cranston, Edward & Cook: Parochlus Enderlein becomes monophyletic through the inclusion of Zelandochlus Brundin (n.syn.) with its type species, P. latipalpis (Brundin) n.comb. The ‘mandibulate’Archaeochlus plus Austrochlus is monophyletic with nonmandibulate Afrochlus weakly supported as a member of, or sister to, the African Archaeochlus. Subtending this group is Lasiodiamesa, although it associates in some analyses with the sister group Tanypodinae. Generic relationships coincide with those proposed based on morphology, particularly as understood via all life history stages of some problematic (autapomorphic, adult‐based) taxa. Divergence time analysis (beast) allows inference of Mesozoic diversification of higher taxa in Podonominae, of appropriate timing for fragmentation of Gondwana, post‐African divergence, to have caused vicariance. Shallower nodes (within genera) imply both younger vicariance involving Antarctica and some recent dispersal, including southern to northern hemisphere movement in the New World. New Zealand taxa test controversial biogeographical relationships and show proximity to southern South America without direct Australian sister taxon pairs: dating implies persistence of midges through the ‘Oligocene’ bottleneck.

Review of the species of Pelodiaetodes Moore (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini: Anillina) of New Zealand

“…For the complex of Anillina with grooved elytra, as for taxa of Gondwanan origin, it is unusual that none of the genera have been recorded from Africa, India, or South America. In general features, the modern distribution of group resembles the classic cladogram of the southern Gondwanan distribution pattern: ((Africa) (Madagascar (New Zealand (South America, Australia)))), first discussed by Brundin for Chironomidae (1966) and later documented for many other groups of animals and plants (e.g., Hoare & Dugdale 2003;Leschen & Michaux 2005;Cranston et al 2010;Krosch et al 2011;Liebherr et al 2011;Seago & Leschen 2011). At the same time, the absence this group of Anillina from Africa and South America is unexpected and could be explained either by subsequent extinction or, perhaps more likely, because of inadequate sampling.…”

DNA barcoding ofPodonomus(Chironomidae, Podonominae) enables stage association of a named species and reveals hidden diversity in Brazilian inselbergs

“…Recently, Cranston et al (2010), studying relationships among Gondwanian chironomids based on molecular and morphological approaches, including specimens of albinervis and decarthrus groups from South America, find support for the monophyly of albinervis group and suggest that decarthrus may be weakly paraphyletic.…”

“…According to Cranston et al (2010), Podonomus (Chironomidae: Podonominae) is a monophyletic genus and is sister to Parochlus Enderlein. Among the 40 valid species in this genus and nine morphotypes not formally described (Ashe & O'Connor, 2009), pupae are known for 25 species (Brundin, 1966), whereas the larval stage is only known for two species: Podonomus albinervis Edwards and Podonomus fastigans Brundin, the first with occurrence in Argentina and Chile and the second in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.…”

A new genus of Podonominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Late Eocene Rovno amber from Ukraine

“…Two tribes, Boreochlini and Podonomini, are traditionally recognized. However, recent molecular studies (Cranston et al 2010(Cranston et al , 2012 show that while the tribe Podonomini is monophyletic the tribe "Boreochlini" is a non-monophyletic aggregate. Podonominae is a basal subfamily of Chironomidae and is playing an important role in the understanding of the evolution of the family (Cranston et al 2010).…”

“…However, recent molecular studies (Cranston et al 2010(Cranston et al , 2012 show that while the tribe Podonomini is monophyletic the tribe "Boreochlini" is a non-monophyletic aggregate. Podonominae is a basal subfamily of Chironomidae and is playing an important role in the understanding of the evolution of the family (Cranston et al 2010). Moreover, after Brundin (1966) published his monograph on transantarctic relationships of austral genera, Podonominae also play an important role in biogeographical studies (Cranston et al 2012).…”