Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia

Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) are very interesting insects, because of their striking allometry (mandibles can be longer that the whole body in large males of some species) and sexual dimorphism. They mainly inhabit tropical and subtropical forests in Asia. To date, there has been...

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Main Authors: Xue Li Zhu, Jiao Jiao Yuan, Li Yang Zhou, Luca Bartolozzi, Xia Wan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.974315/full
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author Xue Li Zhu
Jiao Jiao Yuan
Li Yang Zhou
Luca Bartolozzi
Xia Wan
author_facet Xue Li Zhu
Jiao Jiao Yuan
Li Yang Zhou
Luca Bartolozzi
Xia Wan
author_sort Xue Li Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) are very interesting insects, because of their striking allometry (mandibles can be longer that the whole body in large males of some species) and sexual dimorphism. They mainly inhabit tropical and subtropical forests in Asia. To date, there has been no molecular phylogenetic research on how these stag beetles evolved and diversified. In this study, we constructed the first phylogenetic relationship for Cyclommatus using multi-locus datasets. Analyses showed that Cyclommatus is monophyletic, being subdivided into two well-supported clades (A and B). The clade A includes the island species from Southeast Asia, and the clade B is formed by the continental species. The divergent time estimates showed these beetles split from the outgroup around 43.10 million years ago (Mya) in the late Eocene, divided during the late Oligocene (around 24.90 Mya) and diversified further during the early and middle Miocene (around 18.19 Mya, around 15.17 Mya). RASP analysis suggested that these beetles likely originated in the Philippine archipelago, then dispersed to the other Southeast Asian archipelagoes, Indochina Peninsula, Southeast Himalayas, and Southern China. Moreover, relatively large genetic distance and stable morphological variations signified that the two clades reach the level of inter-generic differences, i.e., the current Cyclommatus should be separated in two genera: Cyclommatus Parry, 1863 including the clade A species, and Cyclommatinus Didier, 1927 covering the clade B species. In addition, the evidence we generated indicated these beetles’ diversification was promoted probably by both long-distance dispersal and colonization, supporting an “Upstream” colonization hypothesis. Our study provides insights into the classification, genetics and evolution of stag beetles in the Oriental region.
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spelling doaj.art-03557205e73d44cc992ecb820304bec72023-02-09T09:27:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2023-02-011110.3389/fevo.2023.974315974315Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical AsiaXue Li Zhu0Jiao Jiao Yuan1Li Yang Zhou2Luca Bartolozzi3Xia Wan4Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, ChinaAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, ChinaAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, ChinaDepartment of Entomology, Natural History Museum of the University of Florence, Zoological Section “La Specola”, Museum of Natural History, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, ChinaCyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) are very interesting insects, because of their striking allometry (mandibles can be longer that the whole body in large males of some species) and sexual dimorphism. They mainly inhabit tropical and subtropical forests in Asia. To date, there has been no molecular phylogenetic research on how these stag beetles evolved and diversified. In this study, we constructed the first phylogenetic relationship for Cyclommatus using multi-locus datasets. Analyses showed that Cyclommatus is monophyletic, being subdivided into two well-supported clades (A and B). The clade A includes the island species from Southeast Asia, and the clade B is formed by the continental species. The divergent time estimates showed these beetles split from the outgroup around 43.10 million years ago (Mya) in the late Eocene, divided during the late Oligocene (around 24.90 Mya) and diversified further during the early and middle Miocene (around 18.19 Mya, around 15.17 Mya). RASP analysis suggested that these beetles likely originated in the Philippine archipelago, then dispersed to the other Southeast Asian archipelagoes, Indochina Peninsula, Southeast Himalayas, and Southern China. Moreover, relatively large genetic distance and stable morphological variations signified that the two clades reach the level of inter-generic differences, i.e., the current Cyclommatus should be separated in two genera: Cyclommatus Parry, 1863 including the clade A species, and Cyclommatinus Didier, 1927 covering the clade B species. In addition, the evidence we generated indicated these beetles’ diversification was promoted probably by both long-distance dispersal and colonization, supporting an “Upstream” colonization hypothesis. Our study provides insights into the classification, genetics and evolution of stag beetles in the Oriental region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.974315/fullLucanidaeCyclommatusmolecular phylogenydivergence time“upstream” colonization hypothesis
spellingShingle Xue Li Zhu
Jiao Jiao Yuan
Li Yang Zhou
Luca Bartolozzi
Xia Wan
Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Lucanidae
Cyclommatus
molecular phylogeny
divergence time
“upstream” colonization hypothesis
title Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia
title_full Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia
title_fullStr Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia
title_full_unstemmed Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia
title_short Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): Insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical Asia
title_sort molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of cyclommatus stag beetles coleoptera lucanidae insights into their evolution and diversification in tropical and subtropical asia
topic Lucanidae
Cyclommatus
molecular phylogeny
divergence time
“upstream” colonization hypothesis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.974315/full
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