ISSN:
1573-1561
Keywords:
Arctiidae
;
Nymphalidae
;
pyrrolizidine alkaloids
;
cardiac glycosides
;
16S rDNA
;
molecular phylogeny
;
sequestration
;
convergence
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract The mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene of several arctiids (nine species of the Arctiinae, three Callimorphinae, one Nyctemerinae, and five Lithosiinae), three taxa of the Ctenuchidae, and three of the Danainae (family Nymphalidae) was amplified by PCR and sequenced directly (537 bp). DNA sequences were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships between and within Arctiidae, Ctenuchidae, and Nymphalidae. The Ctenuchidae share a close ancestry with Arctiidae and, like the Lithosiinae, should be treated as subfamilies of the Arctiidae. Most species studied are able to sequester dietary pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and/or cardiac glycosides (CGs) for chemical defenses or (PAs only) as pheromones. The molecular data imply that CG sequestration evolved independently in a few genera of the Nymphalidae (Danaus) and Arctiidae (Syntomeida): CG sequestration can be regarded as a convergent trait and is not based on common descent. PA sequestration also appears to have evolved independently and convergently in the Nymphalidae and Arctiidae. Within the Arctiidae, PA sequestration occurs in the subfamilies Arctiinae, Callimorphinae, and Nyctemerinae, but not in the Ctenuchinae or Lithosiinae. Whether PA storage evolved independently in each of the subfamilies Arctiinae, Callimorphinae, and Nyctemerinae or in a common ancestor of all Arctiidae could not be resolved with certainty. If the latter case is true, than the Lithosiinae and Ctenuchinae must have lost the capacity of PA sequestration but acquired the sequestration of lichen compounds (Lithosiinae) or cardiac glycosides (Syntomeidae) instead.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006421.49263.ae
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