ABSTRACT
Cryptic biological diversity has generated ambiguity in taxonomic and evolutionary studies. Single-locus methods and other approaches for species delimitation are useful for addressing this challenge, enabling the practical processing of large numbers of samples for identification and inventory purposes. This study analyzed an assemblage of high Andean butterflies using DNA barcoding and compared the identifications based on the current morphological taxonomy with three methods of species delimitation (automatic barcode gap discovery, generalized mixed Yule coalescent model, and Poisson tree processes). Sixteen potential cryptic species were recognized using these three methods, representing a net richness increase of 11.3% in the assemblage. A well-studied taxon of the genus Vanessa, which has a wide geographical distribution, appeared with the potential cryptic species that had a higher genetic differentiation at the local level than at the continental level. The analyses were useful for identifying the potential cryptic species in Pedaliodes and Forsterinaria complexes, which also show differentiation along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients. This genetic assessment of an entire assemblage of high Andean butterflies (Papilionoidea) provides baseline information for future research in a region characterized by high rates of endemism and population isolation.
Subject(s)
Butterflies , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , Genetic Speciation , Phylogeny , Animals , Biodiversity , Butterflies/classification , ColombiaABSTRACT
Los insectos relacionados con la transmisión de los patógenos causantes de las leishmaniasis han sido poco estudiados en la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, incluido el departamento de Magdalena, donde a la fecha están registradas trece especies del género Lutzomyia. En la presente nota se informa el hallazgo de tres especies y un subgénero adicionales en la región. Se recolectaron 885 flebotomíneos en Seywiaka y las veredas Las Tinajas y Calabazo, estribaciones de la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (117-130 m s.n.m.). El 84 % de los ejemplares se obtuvieron con trampa CDC, el 11 % con trampa Shannon y el 5 % fueron capturados, en reposo, con un dispositivo eléctrico de succión. Se identificaron nueve especies, Lu. gomezi, Lu. panamensis, Lu. trinidadensis, Lu. carpenteri, Lu. evansi, Lu. dysponeta, Lu. dubitans, Lu. shannoni, y Lu. micropyga, la más abundante fue Lu. gomezi (69 %), seguida por Lu. panamensis (14 %). También se recolectaron ejemplares de la serie Lu. osornoi del subgénero Helcocyrtomyia. Entre el material hallado sobresalen Lu. carpenteri, Lu. dubitans y Lu. dysponeta como primeros registros para el departamento del Magdalena, además de Lu. (Helcocyrtomyia) sp., que representa el primer informe del subgénero en el Caribe colombiano.
Phlebotomine sand flies, vectors of leishmaniasis, have not been well studied in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and likewise, are not well known in other regions of the Department of Magdalena, Colombia. To date only thirteen species of Lutzomyia have been recorded as occurring in the Department. The present note adds three species and includes an additional subgenus. Collections were made in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta at elevations ranging from 117-130 m in the communities of Seywiaka, Las Tinajas and Calabazo. Eighty-four percent of the 885 phlebotomines sand flies collected were obtained from CDC light traps, 11 % from Shannon trap and 5 % from typical resting sites using an electric aspirator. The following nine species were identified from the collections: Lutzomyia gomezi, Lu. panamensis, Lu. trinidadensis, Lu. carpenteri, Lu. evansi, Lu. dysponeta, Lu. dubitans, Lu. shannoni, and Lu. micropyga. The most abundant species were Lu. gomezi and Lu. panamensis, which, respectively, accounted for 69 % and 14 % of the specimens. Of the nine species, Lu. carpenteri, Lu. dubitans and Lu. dysponeta represent new records for the Department of Magdalena. Also, a few female specimens were encountered of a species belonging to the Lu. osornoi series of the subgenus Helcocyrtomyia, which represents the first record of this subgenus in the Caribbean region of Colombia.
ABSTRACT
An updated list of phlebotomine sand flies species in coffee growing areas in the Colombian Andean region is presented. Fifty three species were reported from 12 departments. In addition, species distribution in the region was derived from specimens obtained during intensive field work in five departments, from previously published studies and from the taxonomic revision of specimens in the entomological collection of the Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET). The list includes the genera Brumptomyia (2 species), Lutzomyia (50 species) and Warileya (1 species). The updated list contains eleven new records in the region under study, including Lutzomyia panamensis , a species of medical importance not recorded previously in this zone. Eighteen of the species are considered to be anthropophilic, and many of them have been implicated in the transmission of leishmaniasis.
Subject(s)
Psychodidae/classification , Agricultural Workers' Diseases , Agriculture , Animals , Checklist , Coffee , Colombia , Ecosystem , Humans , Insect Vectors/classification , Leishmania , Leishmaniasis/transmission , Occupational Exposure , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Se presenta una lista actualizada de especies de flebotomíneos en zonas cafeteras de la región andina colombiana. Con base en la revisión y verificación taxonómica, se registraron 53 especies presentes en 12 departamentos. Además de los registros obtenidos con base en un muestreo intensivo en cinco departamentos, se recopilaron los datos existentes en trabajos publicados y en la revision taxonómica de los especímenes de la zona pertenecientes a la colección entomológica del Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET). El listado comprende los géneros Brumptomyia (2 especies), Lutzomyia (50 especies) y Warileya (1 especie). Con base en este trabajo se confirmaron 11 nuevos registros de especies en la región cafetera colombiana, entre los cuales es relevante Lutzomyia panamensis , especie de importancia médica no registrada previamente en esta zona. En total, 18 especies de las registradas poseen hábitos antropofílicos o están relacionadas con la transmisión de Leishmania spp.
An updated list of phlebotomine sand flies species in coffee growing areas in the Colombian Andean region is presented. Fifty three species were reported from 12 departments. In addition, species distribution in the region was derived from specimens obtained during intensive field work in five departments, from previously published studies and from the taxonomic revision of specimens in the entomological collection of the Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET). The list includes the genera Brumptomyia (2 species), Lutzomyia (50 species) and Warileya (1 species). The updated list contains eleven new records in the region under study, including Lutzomyia panamensis , a species of medical importance not recorded previously in this zone. Eighteen of the species are considered to be anthropophilic, and many of them have been implicated in the transmission of leishmaniasis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Psychodidae/classification , Agricultural Workers' Diseases , Agriculture , Checklist , Coffee , Colombia , Ecosystem , Insect Vectors/classification , Leishmania , Leishmaniasis/transmission , Occupational Exposure , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
The nucleotide variation and structural patterns of mitochondrial RNA molecule have been proposed as useful tools in molecular systematics; however, their usefulness is always subject to a proper assessment of homology in the sequence alignment. The present study describes the secondary structure of mitochondrial tRNA for the amino acid serine (UCN) on 13 Euptychiina species and the evaluation of its potential use for evolutionary studies in this group of butterflies. The secondary structure of tRNAs showed variation among the included species except between Hermeuptychia sp1 and sp2. Variation was concentrated in the ribotimidina-pseudouridine-cystosine (TψC), dihydrouridine (DHU) and variable loops and in the DHU and TψC arms. These results suggest this region as a potential marker useful for taxonomic differentiation of species in this group and also confirm the importance of including information from the secondary structure of tRNA to optimize the alignments.
