Coenura Bigot as a valid genus: A molecular and morphological phylogenetic analysis of Pelecorhynchus Macquart sensu lato (Diptera: Pelecorhynchidae).

The phylogeny of the genus Pelecorhynchus Macquart (Diptera: Pelecorhynchidae) was analyzed using three genes, cytochrome oxidase I, 28S ribosomal DNA, and CAD5, with 112 morphological characteristics. A total of 59 specimens (13 outgroups and 46 ingroups) were included in the analysis. The monophyly of Pelecorhynchidae was recovered under all analyses, with Glutops Burgess as the sister group of Pelecorhynchus s.l., while Pseudoerinna jonesi (Cresson) was the sister group. Within Pelecorhynchus there are three main clades with unresolved affinities. Clade I was formed by P. personatus (Walker), P. vulpes (Macquart), P. penai Pechuman and P. kroeberi (Lindner), a well-supported clade. Clade II corresponds to the set of species of Chilean Pelecorhynchus, conformed to P. biguttatus (Philippi), P. toltensis Llanos & Gonzlez, P. elegans (Philippi), P. xanthopleura (Philippi), P. hualqui Llanos & Gonzlez, and P. longicauda (Bigot), a well-supported clade. Clade III is represented exclusively by P. fulvus Ricardo, which has an exclusively Australian distribution. The monophyly of P. fulvus and its nomenclature remain an open question, as only a single species of this taxon was included. Our study demonstrated that the concept of Pelecorhynchus should be revisited. Therefore, we restore Coenura Bigot, 1857 to generic status for part of the southern South American species of Pelecorhynchus conformed by the species C. biguttata, C. elegans, C. hualqui, C. longicauda, C. toltensis, and C. xanthopleura which are monophyletic, supported by molecular and morphological data, and consistent with a Chilean distribution.

Páramos Neotropicales como unidades biogeográficas

Introducción: El Páramo se ha definido desde diversos acercamientos, teniendo en cuenta factores de fácil reconocimiento o medición. A nivel biogeográfico se ha evaluado con métodos ampliamente criticados para la identificación de áreas de endemismo. El análisis de endemicidad, pese a su importancia y amplio reconocimiento, no se ha utilizado como herramienta para evaluar el Páramo. Objetivo: Determinar si los páramos neotropicales es una o varias unidades biogeográficas. Métodos: Incluimos registros de Aves, Amphibia, Mammalia, Reptilia, Marchantiophyta y Spermatophyta, para los que encontramos 7 025 especies con 193 250 presencias viables obtenidas desde GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) [a septiembre de 2018]. Usamos cada grupo taxonómico como una partición independiente, y generamos particiones adicionales como plantas totales (Plantas-T: Marchantiophyta + Spermatophyta), animales totales (Animales-T: Aves + Amphibia + Mammalia + Reptilia) y evidencia total (Plantas-T + Animales-T). Utilizamos el criterio de optimalidad para identificar áreas de endemismo. Realizamos el análisis usando dos tamaños de cuadrícula 0.5 y 0.25°. Con las áreas obtenidas, calculamos la intersección con los polígonos que representan las definiciones de páramo generadas por otros autores. Resultados: Con los dos tamaños de cuadrícula identificamos áreas de endemismo en diferentes sectores; sin embargo, el tamaño de 0.25° nos permitió mayor resolución al identificar los sectores en alta montaña. Estos sectores corresponden a ocho zonas que denominamos subprovincias: Santa Marta-Perijá, Mérida, Santanderes-Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Cordillera Central-Occidental, Norte de Ecuador, Centro-Sur de Ecuador y Talamanca, las cuales fueron congruentes entre un 4 y un 66 % con las definiciones previas. Conclusiones: Páramo se ha planteado como una sola unidad biogeográfica; sin embargo, dado nuestros análisis, lo identificamos como ocho subprovincias biogeográficas, congruentes con estudios previamente publicados.

Neotropical páramos as biogeographic units. Introduction: Páramo has been defined from various points of view, which take into account different factors that are easy to recognize or measure, nevertheless at the biogeographic level it has been evaluated with criticized methods used to identify historical units. The analysis of endemicity, despite its importance and wide recognition, has not been used as a tool to evaluate Páramo. Objective: Determine whether the neotropical Páramo is one or several biogeographic units. Methods: We included distributional records from Aves, Amphibia, Mammalia, Reptilia, Marchantiophyta, and Spermatophyta. We found 7 025 species with 193 250 suitable occurrences obtained from the GBIF. We used each taxonomic group as an independent partition or as a component of a larger partition, such as total plants (Plants-T: Marchantiophyta + Spermatophyta), or total animals (Animals-T: Aves + Amphibia + Mammalia + Reptilia), or total evidence (Plants-T + Animals-T). In order to identify areas of endemism, we used the optimality criterion (NDM/VNDM) with grids of 0.5° or 0.25°. We calculated the intersection among polygons of previous definitions and the areas recovered in our analyses. Results: Both grid sizes, 0.25° and 0.5°, identified areas of endemism in different sectors along the Andean and Central American cordilleras, but only the 0.25° size allowed us to recognize areas/sectors with a higher resolution. We recovered eight areas, which were considered as subprovinces (Santa Marta-Perijá, Mérida, Santanderes-Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Central-Western Cordillera, Northern Ecuador, Central-South Ecuador, and Talamanca). These areas were between 4 and 66 % consistent with previous definitions. Conclusions: Páramo has been considered a single biogeographic unit, however, given our analyses we identified it as a unit composed of eight biogeographic subprovinces, which is consistent with some published studies.

Aplicación de índices filogenéticos para la definición de prioridades de conservación en los páramos del noroeste de los Andes / Application of phylogenetic indices in the definition of conservation priorities in the northwest Andes paramos

Resumen Los páramos son ecosistemas andinos de alta montaña, que albergan una biota diversa y de alta endemicidad, producto de las condiciones ambientales extremas. Se utilizaron diferentes índices para definir prioridades de conservación en las áreas de páramo del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia; con base en medidas de la individualidad evolutiva y complementariedad de biotas. Para realizar los análisis se generó una base de datos que incluyó 416 táxones de angiospermas y 1 951 localidades, para un total de 12 897 registros de distribución, compilados a partir de los muestreos y revisiones realizados en este proyecto; adicionalmente se incluyó la información disponible en Global Biodiversity Information Facility y en el Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia. A partir de estos datos se identificaron áreas de prioridad para la conservación de los páramos de Antioquia, de acuerdo con medidas de la individualidad evolutiva basadas en nodos y complementariedad de biotas. Teniendo en cuenta solamente los índices de individualidad evolutiva, el páramo prioritario para la conservación fue Frontino-Urrao, seguido de Farallones de Citará; pero si se considera la complementariedad de biotas, la segunda área prioritaria para la conservación es Sonsón. Las clasificaciones de prioridad de áreas basadas en individualidad son congruentes con las áreas de mayor riqueza de especies. Es necesario y urgente preservar el ecosistema páramo dado su vulnerabilidad y la subsecuente perdida de los servicios ecosistémicos que brindan, si se ven expuestos a la degradación o desaparición.(AU)

Abstract Páramos are High Andean ecosystems that harbor a diverse biota and have high endemicity, because of their extreme environmental conditions. We used different phylogenetic indices to define conservation priorities in the paramos of the department of Antioquia, Colombia, based on measures of their evolutionary individuality and richness complimentary. To perform the analyses, we generated a database including 416 angiosperm taxa and 1 951 localities for a total of 12 897 distributional records compiled from surveys and reviews. Additionally, the available information in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Colombian Biodiversity Information System were included. From these data, priority areas for the conservation of the paramos located in the state of Antioquia were identified, using measures of evolutionary individuality based on nodes and biotic complementarity. Taking into account only the individual phylogenetic indices, the most important paramo for conservation was Frontino-Urrao, followed by Farallones de Citará. If biotic complementarity is considered, the second most important paramo is Sonsón. Priority classifications of areas based on individuality are congruent with areas of greatest species richness. We conclude that it is necessary and urgent to preserve the paramos given their vulnerability and the subsequent loss of the ecosystem services that they provide, if they are exposed to degradation or disappearance.(AU)

FAMILY SIMULIIDAE.

This catalogue presents 70 species distributed in two genera for Colombia: Gigantodax with 5 groups, and Simulium with 6 subgenera and 17 groups. Three species are recorded for the first time: Gigantodax vulcanius, G. gracilis, and Simulium pautense, and the distributional range is expanded to S.ochraceum, S. paynei, S. metallicum, and S. callidum.

FAMILY TABANIDAE.

This catalogue presents 256 species distributed in 32 genera, six tribes and three subfamilies recorded to Colombia. For each species we present the available geographical information and most important references.

MartiTracks: a geometrical approach for identifying geographical patterns of distribution.

Panbiogeography represents an evolutionary approach to biogeography, using rational cost-efficient methods to reduce initial complexity to locality data, and depict general distribution patterns. However, few quantitative, and automated panbiogeographic methods exist. In this study, we propose a new algorithm, within a quantitative, geometrical framework, to perform panbiogeographical analyses as an alternative to more traditional methods. The algorithm first calculates a minimum spanning tree, an individual track for each species in a panbiogeographic context. Then the spatial congruence among segments of the minimum spanning trees is calculated using five congruence parameters, producing a general distribution pattern. In addition, the algorithm removes the ambiguity, and subjectivity often present in a manual panbiogeographic analysis. Results from two empirical examples using 61 species of the genus Bomarea (2340 records), and 1031 genera of both plants and animals (100118 records) distributed across the Northern Andes, demonstrated that a geometrical approach to panbiogeography is a feasible quantitative method to determine general distribution patterns for taxa, reducing complexity, and the time needed for managing large data sets.

A phylogenetic approach to conserving Amazonian biodiversity.

Amazonia is a highly threatened rainforest that encompasses a major proportion of Earth's biological diversity. Our main goal was to establish conservation priorities for Amazonia's areas of endemism on the basis of measures of evolutionary distinctiveness. We considered two previously identified sets of areas of endemism. The first set consisted of eight large areas used traditionally in biogeographical studies: Belém, Tapajós, Xingu, Guiana, Rondônia, Imeri, Inambari, and Napo. The second set consisted of 16 smaller areas that were subdivisions of the larger areas. We assembled a data set of 50 phylogenies that represented 16 orders and 1715 distributional records. We identified priority conservation areas for the areas of endemism according to node-based metrics of evolutionary distinctiveness. We contrasted these results with priority areas identified on the basis of raw species richness and species endemicity. For the larger areas, we identified Guiana and Inambari as the first- and second-most important areas for conservation. The remaining areas in this first group scored half (e.g., Napo) or less than Guiana and Inambari on all indices. For the smaller areas, a subdivision of Guiana (i.e., Guyana and the Brazilian states of Roraima and Amazonas) was at the top of the ranking and was followed by a subdivision of Inambari (i.e., northwestern portion of Amazonas) and then another subdivision of Guiana (i.e., Suriname, French Guiana, and the Brazilian state of Amapá). The distinctiveness-based rankings of the priority of areas correlated directly with those derived from species richness and species endemicity. Current conservation strategies in Amazonia, although they rely on many other criteria apart from phylogeny, are focusing on the most important areas for conservation we identified here.

Phylogeny of dengue virus type 3 circulating in Colombia between 2001 and 2007.

Dengue virus type 3 (DENV-3) re-appeared in Colombia in 2001 after 23 years of apparent absence, in the state of Santander in the North-eastern region near to Venezuelan border. In 2002, the virus was isolated in the state of Valle del Cauca in the South-east region near to Ecuadorian/Peruvian border, and in the state of Antioquia in the North-east region near to Panama border. To gain insight into the molecular epidemiology of DENV-3 in Colombia, we sequenced the complete E gene of 21 isolates sampled in the period 2001-2007. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Colombian strains seem to have been introduced from Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru, but not from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay or Central America countries. This study also confirms previous report showing that Colombian isolates is closely related to DENV-3 genotype III.

Profile Parsimony (PP): an analysis under Implied Weights (IW).

Faith and Trueman [Syst. Biol. (2001) 331] recently proposed "Profile Parsimony" (PP) as a new form of phylogenetic analysis, but it is equivalent to the Implied Weights (IW) method when certain functions are used. The PP method cannot accommodate missing/inapplicable cells and/or multistate characters. Finally we demonstrate that, as defined, PP scores are not random, and there is no need to generate random trees as proposed by Faith and Trueman.