Advancing the systematics of Araneae: ultraconserved elements phylogenomics demonstrates the non-monophyly of Miturgidae Simon, 1886 and supports the Familial Rank of Systariidae Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001

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  Advancing the systematics of Araneae: ultraconserved elements phylogenomics demonstrates the non-monophyly of Miturgidae Simon, 1886 and supports the Familial Rank of Systariidae Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 Abstract The systematic status of the family Miturgidae Simon, 1886 and related subfamilies has long been problematic, primarily due to challenges in interpreting morphological characters and limited molecular sampling. In this study, we reconstruct the phylogeny of Miturgidae using ultraconserved elements and estimate its divergence time. Our results suggest that Systariinae does not belong to Miturgidae, but rather is sister to all other families of the Dionycha B clade. Consequently, we elevate it to family rank as Systariidae Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and discuss its morphological synapomorphies. Furthermore, our analyses place Miturgidae as the sister clade to Viridasiidae + Selenopidae under multiple phylogenetic methods. Divergence time estimates indicate an ancient origin of...

Testing cohesive selective paths and evaluating loss of evolutionary information while delimiting species of Brazilian wandering spiders

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Testing cohesive selective paths and evaluating loss of evolutionary information while delimiting species of Brazilian wandering spiders

Abstract

Biodiversity is structured in nested Retrospective Reproductive Communities (RRCs) reflecting different levels of information about evolutionary processes. Ranking species involves deciding which level to emphasize, based on a trade-off in information gain and loss. Modeling the selective processes that maintain RRCs along distinct evolutionary paths can inform these trade-offs in species delimitation. We illustrate this approach using the Brazilian wandering spiders (Phoneutria). Integrating genetic markers, geometric morphometrics, color patterns, and environmental data, we applied both established and novel approaches to test divergence through historical natural and sexual selection. We found evidence that selection on ecological niche and ventral abdominal coloration contributed to the formation of four distinct RRCs. Two of these RRCs also showed evidence of a Lock-and-Key mechanism influencing genital morphology evolution. Despite the distinct cohesive forces, gene flow modeling revealed incomplete reproductive isolation, with potential hybrid individuals. We evaluate the implications of lumping versus splitting these lineages and argue that recognizing all four RRCs as distinct species would better preserve evolutionary information and minimize downstream impacts on other research fields such as pharmacology, public health and conservation. Our approach provides a quantitative basis to ponder the implications of choosing between different species hypotheses.

Azevedo, G. H., De Oliveira, U., Santos, F. R., Brescovit, A. D., & Santos, A. J. Testing cohesive selective paths and evaluating loss of evolutionary information while delimiting species of Brazilian wandering spiders. Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpag049