Tag Archive for: phylogeny

Major study on species delimitation in Lepidoptera via DNA barcodes

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A fascinating recent publication deals with the potential of species delimitation in Lepidoptera via CO1. An international cooperation, with the participation of experts from the Tyrolean State Museums, could show that DNA barcoding is an efficient approach to determine the vast majority of European Lepidoptera.

Every determination is eased by reciprocal monophyly between species. In the absence of the latter experts are in demand to find possible explanations. The publication gives a nice overview on possible reasons for observed para- and polyphyly between species.

Reference:

Mutanen, M. et al. (2016). Species-Level Para- and Polyphyly in DNA Barcode Gene Trees: Strong Operational Bias in European Lepidoptera. Systematic Biology, 65(6), 1024–1040.

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New associated project – DNA-Barcoding of palaeoarctic Apioninae (Curculionoidea, Coleoptera)

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The project operated by Harald Letsch and Sven Winter aims at unravelling phylogenetic relationships within this morphologically difficult group in addition to DNA-Barcodes. Despite a recent restructuring of the genus Apion based on feeding plants and morphology still some taxonomic uncertainties remain. Preliminary Barcoding data suggest the existence of cryptic species in some groups.

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