Abstract
The evolution of fungus-growing termites is supposed to have started in the African rain forests with multiple invasions of semi-arid habitats as well as multiple invasions of the Oriental region. We used sequences of the mitochondrial COII gene and Bayesian dating to investigate the time frame of the evolution of Macrotermes, an important genus of fungus-growing termites. We found that the genus Macrotermes consists of at least 6 distantly related clades. Furthermore, the COII sequences suggested some cryptic diversity within the analysed African Macrotermes species. The dates calculated with the COII data using a fossilized termite mound to calibrate the clock were in good agreement with dates calculated with COI sequences using the split between Locusta and Chortippus as calibration point which supports the consistency of the calibration points. The clades from the Oriental region dated back to the early Tertiary. These estimates of divergence times suggested that Macrotermes invaded Asia during periods with humid climates. For Africa, many speciation events predated the Pleistocene and fall in range of 6-23 million years ago. These estimates suggest that savannah-adapted African clades radiated with the spread of the semi-arid ecosystems during the Miocene. Apparently, events during the Pleistocene were of little importance for speciation within the genus Macrotermes. However, further investigations are necessary to increase the number of taxa for phylogenetic analysis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 239-250 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cryptic species
- Cytochrome oxidase II
- Fungus-growing termites
- Molecular clock
- MULTIDIVTIME
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Cite this
Divergence times in the termite genus Macrotermes (Isoptera : Termitidae). / Brandl, R.; Hyodo, Fujio; Korff-Schmising, M. von; Maekawa, K.; Miura, T.; Takematsu, Y.; Matsumoto, T.; Abe, T.; Bagine, R.; Kaib, M.
In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Vol. 45, No. 1, 10.2007, p. 239-250.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Divergence times in the termite genus Macrotermes (Isoptera
T2 - Termitidae)
AU - Brandl, R.
AU - Hyodo, Fujio
AU - Korff-Schmising, M. von
AU - Maekawa, K.
AU - Miura, T.
AU - Takematsu, Y.
AU - Matsumoto, T.
AU - Abe, T.
AU - Bagine, R.
AU - Kaib, M.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - The evolution of fungus-growing termites is supposed to have started in the African rain forests with multiple invasions of semi-arid habitats as well as multiple invasions of the Oriental region. We used sequences of the mitochondrial COII gene and Bayesian dating to investigate the time frame of the evolution of Macrotermes, an important genus of fungus-growing termites. We found that the genus Macrotermes consists of at least 6 distantly related clades. Furthermore, the COII sequences suggested some cryptic diversity within the analysed African Macrotermes species. The dates calculated with the COII data using a fossilized termite mound to calibrate the clock were in good agreement with dates calculated with COI sequences using the split between Locusta and Chortippus as calibration point which supports the consistency of the calibration points. The clades from the Oriental region dated back to the early Tertiary. These estimates of divergence times suggested that Macrotermes invaded Asia during periods with humid climates. For Africa, many speciation events predated the Pleistocene and fall in range of 6-23 million years ago. These estimates suggest that savannah-adapted African clades radiated with the spread of the semi-arid ecosystems during the Miocene. Apparently, events during the Pleistocene were of little importance for speciation within the genus Macrotermes. However, further investigations are necessary to increase the number of taxa for phylogenetic analysis.
AB - The evolution of fungus-growing termites is supposed to have started in the African rain forests with multiple invasions of semi-arid habitats as well as multiple invasions of the Oriental region. We used sequences of the mitochondrial COII gene and Bayesian dating to investigate the time frame of the evolution of Macrotermes, an important genus of fungus-growing termites. We found that the genus Macrotermes consists of at least 6 distantly related clades. Furthermore, the COII sequences suggested some cryptic diversity within the analysed African Macrotermes species. The dates calculated with the COII data using a fossilized termite mound to calibrate the clock were in good agreement with dates calculated with COI sequences using the split between Locusta and Chortippus as calibration point which supports the consistency of the calibration points. The clades from the Oriental region dated back to the early Tertiary. These estimates of divergence times suggested that Macrotermes invaded Asia during periods with humid climates. For Africa, many speciation events predated the Pleistocene and fall in range of 6-23 million years ago. These estimates suggest that savannah-adapted African clades radiated with the spread of the semi-arid ecosystems during the Miocene. Apparently, events during the Pleistocene were of little importance for speciation within the genus Macrotermes. However, further investigations are necessary to increase the number of taxa for phylogenetic analysis.
KW - Cryptic species
KW - Cytochrome oxidase II
KW - Fungus-growing termites
KW - Molecular clock
KW - MULTIDIVTIME
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548510128&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34548510128&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ympev.2007.07.007
DO - 10.1016/j.ympev.2007.07.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 17714956
AN - SCOPUS:34548510128
VL - 45
SP - 239
EP - 250
JO - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
JF - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
SN - 1055-7903
IS - 1
ER -