Open AccessLe profonde divergenze geniche nel tenebrionide Pimelia rugulosa (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) riflettono la storia paleogeografica Plio‐Pleistocenica della Sicilia
Author(s) -
Stroscio Stefania,
Baviera Cosimo,
Frati Francesco,
Lo Paro Giuseppe,
Nardi Francesco
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.769
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1439-0469
pISSN - 0947-5745
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2011.00617.x
Subject(s) - monophyly , biology , subspecies , genetic divergence , lineage (genetic) , massif , phylogenetic tree , taxonomy (biology) , phylogeography , western palaearctic , zoology , evolutionary biology , clade , paleontology , genetic diversity , population , gene , demography , genetics , sociology
The genus Pimelia is represented in Sicily by the two species P. grossa and P. rugulosa , the latter with the two subspecies P. r. rugulosa and P. r. sublaevigata . A third subspecies, P. r. apula, is present only in Puglia. The phylogeographic history of this genus in Sicily was reconstructed using sequences of the complete cox2 gene, applying phylogenetic and molecular dating methods. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of the two species, as well as the subdivision of P. rugulosa in the three morphological subspecies. One previously undetected and deeply divergent lineage was described that is geographically related to the Hyblean massif. It is therefore suggested that the deep divergence of the two major P. rugulosa clades in Sicily reflects an ancient separation between the Hyblean massif and the other land masses of Sicily. Dating analysis confirmed that the timing of P. rugulosa genetic divergence is compatible with the formation of the Hyblean massif. Furthermore, P. rugulosa populations of the Hyblean massif, whose taxonomy has been historically problematic, display levels of genetic divergence comparable to those observed at the species level. The possibility that this new lineage might deserve species rank is presented.