Phylogeny of Curculionoidea: from larvae to nucleotides

MARVALDI, A. E.

San Diego, California (EE. UU)

Simposio; 55th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America; 2007

Entomological Society of America

Phylogeny of Curculionoidea (presentation ID: 27919) NOTE: Symposium presentations at ESA Annual Meeting are recorded as a streaming video file that is accessible for viewing on the web by the ESA members and meeting registrants (http://esa.confex.com/esa/2007/techprogram/session_4987.htm) Abstract. “The higher phylogeny of weevils: from larvae to nucleotides”. Exploration of meaningful markers of genealogical descent is fundamental for making progress in the phylogenetic systematics of weevils, and this approach is essential towards having a better understanding of their evolution. Results of three recent phylogenetic studies involving the weevils are presented. They are at different taxonomic levels and based on evidence from three main data sets: larval morphology, adult morphology, and rDNA sequences. An updated phylogenetic hypothesis for Curculionoiodea, at family and subfamily levels, based on morphology is presented. A total of 130 phylogenetically informative characters (45 and 85 from larval and adult) are so far described and coded for over 100 weevil species. The cladogram recovers seven major lineages or families and the relationships among them, with the nodes defined by both larval and adult synapomorphies. This study sets the stage for ongoing exploration of subfamily relationships. Then, an analysis at genus level for the belid subfamily Oxycoryninae is presented, and again, both larvae and adults contribute synapomorphies. Finally, results from a recent molecular study at higher level is presented. It involves the weevils and chrysomeloids (Phytophaga) and other beetles in the Series Cucujiformia plus outgroups (104 terminal taxa). It is based on the structural alignment of rDNA segments of 18S (sectors V4-5, V7-9) and 28S (sector D2). The cladogram indicates that “Phytophaga” is a monophyletic group, being Curculionoidea and Chrysomeloidea sister groups. Interestingly, the curculionoid phylogeny recovered from the aligned 18S and 28S segments, which is independent of morphological data, is in agreement with recent hypotheses based on morphological evidence, particularly with respect to families. The value of incorporating structure information in the process of alignment is highlighted. Results from these three studies vindicate two data sets as good phylogenetic markers: larval morphology and nuclear rDNA sequences.