Bernasconi
Fakultäten » Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät » Evolutionsbiologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Institut für » Evolutionary Biology » Prof. Dr. Paul Ward (verstorben) » Bernasconi
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Phylogeny of European Dolichopus in relation to their ecology and distribution | ||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Dolichopus is by far the most species-rich genus of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) both in the Palaearctic and the Nearctic and even seems to be predominantly Holarctic in distribution. In the past, several subgenera have been erected to separate the numerous species in species groups but this approach has largely been left by most dolichopodid workers nowadays. Nevertheless, it is no coincidence that each current key uses (the same) features like the (combination of the) colour of the (lower) postoculars, antenna and femur in their first couplets. Other very useful diagnostic features on species group level are the number of dorsal bristles on tarsus II and III, and of preapical bristles on femur III. On the species level, on the other hand, Male Secondary Sexual Characters (MSSC) are common and sometimes even conspicuous, and encompass modifications in antenna, wings and especially legs. Despite this multitude of useful characters, thus far no phylogenetic analysis has been carried out on this genus which seems at least very interesting from several points of view: (i) a molecular phylogenetic analysis will provide us with information on the phylogenetic relevance of the above mentioned characters, which could lead to the re-instatement, if necessary, of the subgenera; (ii) constrasting a phylogeny based on solely morphological features with one on molecular basis might further elucidate the importance of these features; (iii) linking the phylogenetic relationships of the different species to their ecological requirements and distribution in Europe might enable us to gather more insight about (allopatric vs sympatric) speciation processes and, when appropriate material is available, even the impact of the ice ages on their distribution. | ||
| Publications / Publikationen | Bernasconi, M. V., Valsangiacomo, C., Piffaretti, J.-C., and Ward, P. I. (2000). Phylogenetic relationships among Muscoidea (Diptera, Calyptratae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Insect Mol. Biol. 9: 67-74Bernasconi, M. V., Pawlowski, J., Valsangiacomo, C., Piffaretti, J.-C., and Ward, P. I. (2000). Phylogeny of the Scathophagidae (Diptera, Calyptratae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mol. Phyl. Evol., 16: 308-315Bernasconi, M. V., Pawlowski, J., Valsangiacomo, C., Piffaretti, J.-C., and Ward, P. I. (2001). Phylogeny of the genus Scathophaga (Diptera: Scathophagidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Can. J. Zool., 79: 517-524 | ||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Molecular phylogeny, mitochondrial DNA, Diptera | ||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Other links to external web pages | http://www.uzh.ch/zoolmus/zmneu/forschung/bernasconi_marco.html | ||
| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Forschungskredit der Universität Zürich |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Sep 2003 to Jul 2006 |