Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species
Several recent studies have detected and described complexes of cryptic and sibling species in the genus Merodon (Diptera, Syrphidae). One representative of these complexes is the Merodon avidus complex that contains four sibling species, which have proven difficult to distinguish using traditional...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Consortium of European Natural History Museums
2016-10-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Taxonomy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/361 |
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| author | Jelena Ačanski Ante Vujić Mihajla Djan Dragana Obreht Vidaković Gunilla Ståhls Snežana Radenković |
| author_facet | Jelena Ačanski Ante Vujić Mihajla Djan Dragana Obreht Vidaković Gunilla Ståhls Snežana Radenković |
| author_sort | Jelena Ačanski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several recent studies have detected and described complexes of cryptic and sibling species in the genus Merodon (Diptera, Syrphidae). One representative of these complexes is the Merodon avidus complex that contains four sibling species, which have proven difficult to distinguish using traditional morphological characters. In the present study, we use two geometric morphometric approaches, as well as molecular characters of the 5’-end of the mtDNA COI gene, to delimit sibling taxa. Analyses based on these data were used to strengthen species boundaries within the complex, and to validate the status of a previously-recognized cryptic taxon from Lesvos Island (Greece), here described as Merodon megavidus Vujić & Radenković sp. nov. Geometric morphometric results of both wing and surstylus shape confirm the present classification for three sibling species－M. avidus (Rossi, 1790), M. moenium Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822 and M. ibericus Vujić, 2015－and, importantly, clearly discriminate the newly-described taxon Merodon megavidus sp. nov. In addition to our geometric morphometric results, supporting characters were obtained from molecular analyses of mtDNA COI sequences, which clearly differentiated M. megavidus sp. nov. from the other members of the M. avidus complex. Molecular analyses revealed that the earliest divergence of M. ibericus occurred around 800 ky BP, while the most recent separation happened between M. avidus and M. moenium around 87 ky BP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T09:59:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c668a3cb3254dcaa6bc39d64bb7172b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2118-9773 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T09:59:54Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | Consortium of European Natural History Museums |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Taxonomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c668a3cb3254dcaa6bc39d64bb7172b2022-12-21T21:11:41ZengConsortium of European Natural History MuseumsEuropean Journal of Taxonomy2118-97732016-10-01023710.5852/ejt.2016.237243Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new speciesJelena Ačanski0Ante Vujić1Mihajla Djan2Dragana Obreht Vidaković3Gunilla Ståhls4Snežana Radenković5University of Novi Sad, BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, Trg Dr Zorana Đinđića 1, 21000 Novi SadDepartment of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi SadDepartment of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi SadDepartment of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi SadZoology Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 17, 00014 University of HelsinkiDepartment of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi SadSeveral recent studies have detected and described complexes of cryptic and sibling species in the genus Merodon (Diptera, Syrphidae). One representative of these complexes is the Merodon avidus complex that contains four sibling species, which have proven difficult to distinguish using traditional morphological characters. In the present study, we use two geometric morphometric approaches, as well as molecular characters of the 5’-end of the mtDNA COI gene, to delimit sibling taxa. Analyses based on these data were used to strengthen species boundaries within the complex, and to validate the status of a previously-recognized cryptic taxon from Lesvos Island (Greece), here described as Merodon megavidus Vujić & Radenković sp. nov. Geometric morphometric results of both wing and surstylus shape confirm the present classification for three sibling species－M. avidus (Rossi, 1790), M. moenium Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822 and M. ibericus Vujić, 2015－and, importantly, clearly discriminate the newly-described taxon Merodon megavidus sp. nov. In addition to our geometric morphometric results, supporting characters were obtained from molecular analyses of mtDNA COI sequences, which clearly differentiated M. megavidus sp. nov. from the other members of the M. avidus complex. Molecular analyses revealed that the earliest divergence of M. ibericus occurred around 800 ky BP, while the most recent separation happened between M. avidus and M. moenium around 87 ky BP.http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/361Merodon avidus complexCOIgeometric morphometrywingsurstylus |
| spellingShingle | Jelena Ačanski Ante Vujić Mihajla Djan Dragana Obreht Vidaković Gunilla Ståhls Snežana Radenković Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species European Journal of Taxonomy Merodon avidus complex COI geometric morphometry wing surstylus |
| title | Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species |
| title_full | Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species |
| title_fullStr | Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species |
| title_short | Defining species boundaries in the Merodon avidus complex (Diptera, Syrphidae) using integrative taxonomy, with the description of a new species |
| title_sort | defining species boundaries in the merodon avidus complex diptera syrphidae using integrative taxonomy with the description of a new species |
| topic | Merodon avidus complex COI geometric morphometry wing surstylus |
| url | http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/361 |
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