Open AccessPhylogenetics of gall‐inducing thrips on Australian Acacia
Author(s) -
MORRIS DAVID C.,
SCHWARZ MICHAEL P.,
CRESPI BERNARD J.,
COOPER STEVEN J. B.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2001.tb01378.x
Subject(s) - biology , phylogenetics , gall , arthropod mouthparts , molecular phylogenetics , thrips , zoology , monophyly , taxonomy (biology) , botany , clade , genetics , gene
Analysis of DNA sequence data from four genes ( Elongation Factor‐1 α, wingless , 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase I ) yielded a well‐resolved, well‐supported phylogeny for all 21 species of gall‐inducing thrips found on Australian Acacia. This phylogeny was then used to investigate the evolution of various behavioural and life history traits, and to examine the level of agreement with the taxonomy of the group. Our results suggest that there may have been a single origin of soldier castes in gall‐inducing thrips. Examination of the distribution of the three primary life history strategies employed by these thrips (pupating in the gall, pupating in soil with soldier castes and pupating in soil without soldier castes) indicates that two of the strategies may have evolved as a result of factors associated with host plant affiliations or through parasite pressure. Our phylogeny does not support the existing generic classification of the group in that the genera are not monophyletic, nor does it lend itself to a clear solution to improve the classification in accordance with the phylogeny.