Author
Brian M. Wiegmann
Other affiliations: National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
Bio: Brian M. Wiegmann is an academic researcher from North Carolina State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Monophyly & Phylogenetic tree. The author has an hindex of 37, co-authored 90 publications receiving 7172 citations. Previous affiliations of Brian M. Wiegmann include National Evolutionary Synthesis Center.
Topics: Monophyly, Phylogenetic tree, Phylogenetics, Paraphyly, Calyptratae
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation1, Rutgers University2, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies3, University of Jena4, University of Bonn5, University of Vienna6, Naturhistorisches Museum7, University of Tsukuba8, Landcare Research9, Johns Hopkins University10, University of Hamburg11, Ehime University12, Florida Museum of Natural History13, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart14, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center15, Macquarie University16, Australian National University17, American Museum of Natural History18, University of Memphis19, University of Guadalajara20, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities21, Natural History Museum22, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology23, California Academy of Sciences24, South China Agricultural University25, North Carolina State University26, Hokkaido University27
TL;DR: The phylogeny of all major insect lineages reveals how and when insects diversified and provides a comprehensive reliable scaffold for future comparative analyses of evolutionary innovations among insects.
Abstract: Insects are the most speciose group of animals, but the phylogenetic relationships of many major lineages remain unresolved. We inferred the phylogeny of insects from 1478 protein-coding genes. Phylogenomic analyses of nucleotide and amino acid sequences, with site-specific nucleotide or domain-specific amino acid substitution models, produced statistically robust and congruent results resolving previously controversial phylogenetic relations hips. We dated the origin of insects to the Early Ordovician [~479 million years ago (Ma)], of insect flight to the Early Devonian (~406 Ma), of major extant lineages to the Mississippian (~345 Ma), and the major diversification of holometabolous insects to the Early Cretaceous. Our phylogenomic study provides a comprehensive reliable scaffold for future comparative analyses of evolutionary innovations among insects.
1,998 citations
North Carolina State University1, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation2, Dartmouth College3, University of Copenhagen4, Canadian Food Inspection Agency5, Natural History Museum6, Wayne State University7, National University of Singapore8, University of Chicago9, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign10, Smithsonian Institution11, American Museum of Natural History12, Simon Fraser University13, Iowa State University14
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that flies experienced three episodes of rapid radiation—lower Diptera (220 Ma), lower Brachycera (180 Ma), and Schizophora (65 Ma)—and a number of life history transitions to hematophagy, phytophagy and parasitism in the history of fly evolution over 260 million y.
Abstract: Flies are one of four superradiations of insects (along with beetles, wasps, and moths) that account for the majority of animal life on Earth. Diptera includes species known for their ubiquity (Musca domestica house fly), their role as pests (Anopheles gambiae malaria mosquito), and their value as model organisms across the biological sciences (Drosophila melanogaster). A resolved phylogeny for flies provides a framework for genomic, developmental, and evolutionary studies by facilitating comparisons across model organisms, yet recent research has suggested that fly relationships have been obscured by multiple episodes of rapid diversification. We provide a phylogenomic estimate of fly relationships based on molecules and morphology from 149 of 157 families, including 30 kb from 14 nuclear loci and complete mitochondrial genomes combined with 371 morphological characters. Multiple analyses show support for traditional groups (Brachycera, Cyclorrhapha, and Schizophora) and corroborate contentious findings, such as the anomalous Deuterophlebiidae as the sister group to all remaining Diptera. Our findings reveal that the closest relatives of the Drosophilidae are highly modified parasites (including the wingless Braulidae) of bees and other insects. Furthermore, we use micro-RNAs to resolve a node with implications for the evolution of embryonic development in Diptera. We demonstrate that flies experienced three episodes of rapid radiation—lower Diptera (220 Ma), lower Brachycera (180 Ma), and Schizophora (65 Ma)—and a number of life history transitions to hematophagy, phytophagy, and parasitism in the history of fly evolution over 260 million y.
755 citations
TL;DR: The adaptive-zone hypothesis predicts that if multiple lineages have invaded a new adaptive zone, they should be consistently more diverse than their (equally old) sister groups, when the latter retain the more primitive way of life.
Abstract: Simpson's postulate that rapid diversification follows entrance into a new "adaptive zone" is frequently invoked a posteriori for groups of unusual diversity. The postulate can be tested more rigorously by defining an adaptive zone according to ecological criteria, independent of particular groups of organisms. The adaptive-zone hypothesis predicts that if multiple lineages have invaded a new adaptive zone, they should be consistently more diverse than their (equally old) sister groups, when the latter retain the more primitive way of life. Higher-plant feeding among insects is an independently defined, repeatedly invaded adaptive zone, to which a profound acceleration of diversification rate has been attributed. We have quantified the evidence for this hypothesis by comparing sister groups and species diversity of as many phytophagous insect groups as current taxonomic evidence allows. A sign test showed significant association of diversification rate with the adoption of phytophagy. The possible artifac...
636 citations
TL;DR: Evidence from nucleotide sequences of six single-copy nuclear protein coding genes used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and estimate evolutionary divergence times is presented, finding strong support for a close relationship between Coleoptera (beetles) and Strepsiptera, a previously proposed, but analytically controversial relationship.
Abstract: Evolutionary relationships among the 11 extant orders of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, called Holometabola, remain either unresolved or contentious, but are extremely important as a context for accurate comparative biology of insect model organisms. The most phylogenetically enigmatic holometabolan insects are Strepsiptera or twisted wing parasites, whose evolutionary relationship to any other insect order is unconfirmed. They have been controversially proposed as the closest relatives of the flies, based on rDNA, and a possible homeotic transformation in the common ancestor of both groups that would make the reduced forewings of Strepsiptera homologous to the reduced hindwings of Diptera. Here we present evidence from nucleotide sequences of six single-copy nuclear protein coding genes used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and estimate evolutionary divergence times for all holometabolan orders. Our results strongly support Hymenoptera as the earliest branching holometabolan lineage, the monophyly of the extant orders, including the fleas, and traditionally recognized groupings of Neuropteroidea and Mecopterida. Most significantly, we find strong support for a close relationship between Coleoptera (beetles) and Strepsiptera, a previously proposed, but analytically controversial relationship. Exploratory analyses reveal that this relationship cannot be explained by long-branch attraction or other systematic biases. Bayesian divergence times analysis, with reference to specific fossil constraints, places the origin of Holometabola in the Carboniferous (355 Ma), a date significantly older than previous paleontological and morphological phylogenetic reconstructions. The origin and diversification of most extant insect orders began in the Triassic, but flourished in the Jurassic, with multiple adaptive radiations producing the astounding diversity of insect species for which these groups are so well known. These findings provide the most complete evolutionary framework for future comparative studies on holometabolous model organisms and contribute strong evidence for the resolution of the 'Strepsiptera problem', a long-standing and hotly debated issue in insect phylogenetics.
282 citations
TL;DR: Significant areas critical to future advances in understanding dipteran phylogeny include the relationships among the basal infraorders of Diptera and Brachycera and the relationships between the superfamilies of acalyptrates.
Abstract: The order Diptera (true flies) is one of the most species-rich and ecologically diverse clades of insects. The order probably arose in the Permian, and the main lineages of flies were present in the Triassic. A novel recent proposal suggests that Strepsiptera are the sister-order to Diptera. Within Diptera, evidence is convincing for the monophyly of Culicomorpha, Blephariceromorpha, and Tipulomorpha but weak for the monophyly of the other basal infraorders and for the relationships among them. The lower Diptera (Nematocera) is paraphyletic with respect to Brachycera, and morphological evidence suggests the sister-group of Brachycera lies in the Psychodomorpha. Recent analyses suggest Tipulomorpha are closer to the base of Brachycera than to the base of Diptera. Brachycera are undoubtedly monophyletic, but relationships between the basal lineages of this group are poorly understood. The monophyly of Stratiomyomorpha, Xylophagomorpha, Tabanomorpha, and Muscomorpha is well supported. Eremoneura, and its constituent clades Empidoidea and Cyclorrhapha, are monophyletic. The sister-group of Eremoneura is likely to be part or all of Asiloidea. Several viewpoints on the homology of the male genitalia of eremoneuran flies are discussed. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that lower Cyclorrhapha (Aschiza) are paraphyletic; however, schizophoran monophyly is well supported. The monophyly of Acalyptratae is not well-founded and the relationships between acalyptrate superfamilies remain obscure. Recent advances document the monophyly of the families of Calyptratae and the relationships among them. Areas critical to future advances in understanding dipteran phylogeny include the relationships among the basal infraorders of Diptera and Brachycera and the relationships between the superfamilies of acalyptrates. Progress in dipteran phylogenetics will accelerate with the exploration of novel data sources and the formulation of hypotheses in an explicitly quantitative framework.
263 citations
Cited by
More filters
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is suggested that the natural selection against large insertion/deletion is so weak that a large amount of variation is maintained in a population.
11,521 citations
TL;DR: PartitionFinder 2 is a program for automatically selecting best-fit partitioning schemes and models of evolution for phylogenetic analyses that includes the ability to analyze morphological datasets, new methods to analyze genome-scale datasets, and new output formats to facilitate interoperability with downstream software.
Abstract: PartitionFinder 2 is a program for automatically selecting best-fit partitioning schemes and models of evolution for phylogenetic analyses. PartitionFinder 2 is substantially faster and more efficient than version 1, and incorporates many new methods and features. These include the ability to analyze morphological datasets, new methods to analyze genome-scale datasets, new output formats to facilitate interoperability with downstream software, and many new models of molecular evolution. PartitionFinder 2 is freely available under an open source license and works on Windows, OSX, and Linux operating systems. It can be downloaded from www.robertlanfear.com/partitionfinder. The source code is available at https://github.com/brettc/partitionfinder.
3,445 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2005TL;DR: Insects, mass extinctions, and the K/T boundary The tertiary Mammalian radiations Pleistocene dispersal and species lifespans Island faunas and the future Glossary References Index.
Abstract: Section 1. Diversity and Evolution: Introduction Species: their nature and number How many species of insects? Reconstructing evolutionary history Section 2. Fossil Insects: Insect fossilization Dating and ages Major fossil Insect deposits Section 3. Arthropods and the Origin of Insects: Onychophora: the velvet-worms Tardigrada: the water-bears Arthropoda: the jointed animals Hexapoda: the six-legged arthropods Section 4. The insects: Morphology of insects Relationships among the insect orders Section 5. Earliest insects: Archaeognatha: the bristletails Zygentoma: the silverfish +Rhyniognatha Section 6. Insects Take to the Skies: Pterygota, Wings, and flight Ephemeroptera: the mayflies +Palaeodictyopterida: extinct beaked insects Odonatoptera: dragonflies and early relatives Neoptera Section 7. The Polyneopterous Orders: Plecopterida Orthopterida Plecoptera: the stoneflies Embiodea: the webspinners Zoraptera: the Zorapterans Orthoptera: the grasshoppers, crickets, and kin Phasmatodea: the stick- and leaf insects +Titanoptera: the titanic crawlers +Caloneurodea: the Caloneurodeans Dermaptera: the earwigs Grylloblattodea: the ice crawlers Mantophasmatodea: the African rock crawlers Dictyoptera Blattodea: the roaches Citizen roach: the termites Mantodea: the mantises Section 8. The Paraneopteran Orders: Psocoptera: the 'bark'lice Phthiraptera: the true lice Fringe wings: Thysanoptera (thrips) The sucking bugs: Hemiptera Section 9. The Holometabola: problematic fossil orders The origins of complete metamorphosis On wings of lace: Neuropterida Section 10. Coleoptera: early fossils and overview of past diversity Archostemata Adephaga Myxophaga Polyphaga Strepsiptera: the enigmatic order Section 11. Hymenoptera: Ants, Bees, and Other Wasps: The Euhymenoptera and parasitism Aculeata Evolution of insect sociality Section 12. Antliophora: Scorpionflies, Flies, and Fleas: Mecopterida: mecopterans and relatives Siphonaptera: the fleas Evolution of ectoparasites and blood-feeders Diptera: the true flies Section 13. Amphiesmenoptera: The Caddisflies and Lepidoptera: Trichoptera: the caddisflies Lepidoptera: the moths and butterflies Section 14. Insects Become Modern: Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods: The Cretaceous flowering of the world: the Angiosperm Radiations Plant sex and insects: insect pollination Radiations of Phytophagous insects Austral arthropods: remnants of Gondwana? Insects, mass extinctions, and the K/T boundary The tertiary Mammalian radiations Pleistocene dispersal and species lifespans Island faunas Section 15. Epilogue: Why so many insect species? The future Glossary References Index.
2,505 citations
Celera Corporation1, Centre national de la recherche scientifique2, Cornell University3, National Institutes of Health4, Bar-Ilan University5, TigerLogic6, University of California, Riverside7, Virginia Tech8, University of Notre Dame9, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute10, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute11, University of Crete12, European Bioinformatics Institute13, Sapienza University of Rome14, Pasteur Institute15
TL;DR: Analysis of the PEST strain of A. gambiae revealed strong evidence for about 14,000 protein-encoding transcripts, and prominent expansions in specific families of proteins likely involved in cell adhesion and immunity were noted.
Abstract: Anopheles gambiae is the principal vector of malaria, a disease that afflicts more than 500 million people and causes more than 1 million deaths each year. Tenfold shotgun sequence coverage was obtained from the PEST strain of A. gambiae and assembled into scaffolds that span 278 million base pairs. A total of 91% of the genome was organized in 303 scaffolds; the largest scaffold was 23.1 million base pairs. There was substantial genetic variation within this strain, and the apparent existence of two haplotypes of approximately equal frequency ("dual haplotypes") in a substantial fraction of the genome likely reflects the outbred nature of the PEST strain. The sequence produced a conservative inference of more than 400,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms that showed a markedly bimodal density distribution. Analysis of the genome sequence revealed strong evidence for about 14,000 protein-encoding transcripts. Prominent expansions in specific families of proteins likely involved in cell adhesion and immunity were noted. An expressed sequence tag analysis of genes regulated by blood feeding provided insights into the physiological adaptations of a hematophagous insect.
2,033 citations
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation1, Rutgers University2, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies3, University of Jena4, University of Bonn5, Naturhistorisches Museum6, University of Vienna7, University of Tsukuba8, Landcare Research9, Johns Hopkins University10, University of Hamburg11, Ehime University12, Florida Museum of Natural History13, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart14, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center15, Australian National University16, Macquarie University17, American Museum of Natural History18, University of Memphis19, University of Guadalajara20, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities21, Natural History Museum22, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology23, California Academy of Sciences24, South China Agricultural University25, North Carolina State University26, Hokkaido University27
TL;DR: The phylogeny of all major insect lineages reveals how and when insects diversified and provides a comprehensive reliable scaffold for future comparative analyses of evolutionary innovations among insects.
Abstract: Insects are the most speciose group of animals, but the phylogenetic relationships of many major lineages remain unresolved. We inferred the phylogeny of insects from 1478 protein-coding genes. Phylogenomic analyses of nucleotide and amino acid sequences, with site-specific nucleotide or domain-specific amino acid substitution models, produced statistically robust and congruent results resolving previously controversial phylogenetic relations hips. We dated the origin of insects to the Early Ordovician [~479 million years ago (Ma)], of insect flight to the Early Devonian (~406 Ma), of major extant lineages to the Mississippian (~345 Ma), and the major diversification of holometabolous insects to the Early Cretaceous. Our phylogenomic study provides a comprehensive reliable scaffold for future comparative analyses of evolutionary innovations among insects.
1,998 citations