Systematics and Biodiversity 

About: Systematics and Biodiversity is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Genus & Biology. It has an ISSN identifier of 1477-2000. Over the lifetime, 785 publications have been published receiving 14702 citations.

The phylogenetic distribution of resupinate forms across the major clades of mushroom-forming fungi (Homobasidiomycetes)

Abstract: Phylogenetic relationships of resupinate Homobasidiomycetes (Corticiaceae s. lat. and others) were studied using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences from a broad sample of resupinate and nonresupinate taxa. Two datasets were analysed using parsimony, a 'core' dataset of 142 species, each of which is represented by four rDNA regions (mitochondrial and nuclear large and small subunits), and a 'full' dataset of 656 species, most of which were represented only by nuclear large subunit rDNA sequences. Both datasets were analysed using traditional heuristic methods with bootstrapping, and the full dataset was also analysed with the Parsimony Ratchet, using equal character weights and six-parameter weighted parsimony. Analyses of both datasets supported monophyly of the eight major clades of Homobasidiomycetes recognised by Hibbett and Thorn, as well as independent lineages corresponding to the Gloeophyllum clade, corticioid clade and Jaapia argillacea. Analyses of the full dataset resolved two additional groups, the athelioid clade and trechisporoid clade (the latter may be nested in the polyporoid clade). Thus, there are at least 12 independent clades of Homobasidiomycetes. Higher- level relationships among the major clades are not resolved with confidence. Nevertheless, the euagarics clade, bolete clade, athelioid clade and Jaapia argillacea are consistently resolved as a monophyletic group, whereas the cantharelloid clade, gomphoid-phalloid clade and hymenochaetoid clade are placed at the base of the Homobasidiomycetes, which is consistent with the preponderance of imperforate parenthesomes in those groups. Resupinate forms occur in each of the

Problems with DNA barcodes for species delimitation: ‘Ten species’ of Astraptes fulgerator reassessed (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Abstract: Hebert and colleagues (2004) used a short region of the mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene as a delimiter for ten putative species from among 466 individuals of the skipper butterfly currently known as Astraptes fulgerator from Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Their data are reanalysed to assess cluster stability and clade support using Neighbor‐Joining bootstrap, population aggregation analysis and cladistic haplotype analysis. At least three, but not more than seven mtDNA clades that may correspond to cryptic species are supported by the evidence. Additional difficulties with Hebert et al.’s interpretation of the data are discussed.

Mapping the biosphere: exploring species to understand the origin, organization and sustainability of biodiversity

Abstract: The time is ripe for a comprehensive mission to explore and document Earth's species. This calls for a campaign to educate and inspire the next generation of professional and citizen species explorers, investments in cyber-infrastructure and collections to meet the unique needs of the producers and consumers of taxonomic information, and the formation and coordination of a multi-institutional, international, transdisciplinary community of researchers, scholars and engineers with the shared objective of creating a comprehensive inventory of species and detailed map of the biosphere. We conclude that an ambitious goal to describe 10 million species in less than 50 years is attainable based on the strength of 250 years of progress, worldwide collections, existing experts, technological innovation and collaborative teamwork. Existing digitization projects are overcoming obstacles of the past, facilitating collaboration and mobilizing literature, data, images and specimens through cyber technologies. Charting ...

Unveiling cryptic species of the bumblebee subgenus Bombus s. str. worldwide with COI barcodes (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract: Bumblebees of the subgenus Bombus s. str. dominate (or used to dominate) many north temperate pollinator assemblages and include most of the commercial bumblebee pollinator species. Several species are now in serious decline, so conservationists need to know precisely which ones are involved. The problem is that many Bombus s. str. species are cryptic, so that species identification from morphology may be impossible for some individuals and is frequently misleading according to recent molecular studies. This is the first review of the entire subgenus to: (1) avoid fixed a priori assumptions concerning the limits of the problematic species; and (2) sample multiple sites from across the entire geographic ranges of all of the principal named taxa worldwide; and (3) fit an explicit model for how characters change within an evolutionary framework; and (4) apply explicit and consistent criteria within this evolutionary framework for recognising species. We analyse easily-obtained DNA (COI-barcode) data for 559 ...

Third generation sequencing: technology and its potential impact on evolutionary biodiversity research

Abstract: Next generation sequencing transformed the field of evolutionary biology and high throughput sequencing platforms are routinely used in phylogenomic, population genomic or metagenomic studies. Here I review the recent technical advancements of third generation sequencing instruments, thereby covering nanopore sequencing and single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. The output and error rates are compared with sequencing platforms of the second generation (454 pyrosequencing, Illumina and Ion Torrent). Third generation sequencers produce sequence reads in hitherto unprecedented lengths and will help to strongly increase the quality of genome assemblies. Moreover, the speed of sequencing and ease of sample preparation enables sequencing in the field. Even though the output and error rate of the new generation of sequencer remains to be improved, new possibilities for evolutionary research will open up in the near future by these new techniques.