title: Phylogenetic relationships of Iberian Aphodiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) based on morphological and molecular data.
abstract: A phylogeny of Iberian Aphodiini dung beetles was reconstructed based on morphological and molecular data. The data set included a total of 84 variable characters from wing venation, mouthparts, genitalia, and external morphology, as well as mitochondrial partial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), complete tRNA-Leu (UUR), and partial cytochrome c oxidase II (COII) gene nucleotide sequences (1210 positions). Phylogenetic trees based on molecular data were relatively more resolved than those based on morphological characters. The Bayesian analysis of combined molecular and morphological data provided resolution not achieved by each data set separately. Ammoecius and Aphodius are the first lineages that branch off from the tree, followed by Acrossus, Nimbus, and Heptaulacus. The remaining studied taxa are recovered in a more derived clade that lacks internal resolution. Reconstructed trees based on molecular data showed relatively short internal nodes that were weakly supported. Such pattern may reflect a rapid radiation at the origin of the tribe Aphodiini, but also saturation of mutational changes. Several tests were conducted to discern between both competing hypotheses, as well as to assess the effect of incomplete taxon sampling.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco-José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Cabrero-Sañudo
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zardoya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002965:Classification; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D007930:Leucine / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D007930:Leucine