Stylianos Chatzimanolis

Toward a better understanding of the "Transverse Range break": lineage diversification in southern California

Abstract The Transverse Ranges in southern California have been identified as having a prominent phylogeographic role. Numerous studies have identified distinct north-south and/or east-west lineage breaks involving the Transverse Ranges. However, in evaluating their findings, most authors have regarded this complex system somewhat simplistically. In this study we more deeply investigate these breaks using two approaches: first we examine the phylogeographic history of Sepedophilus castaneus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and then implement a comparative phylogeography approach applying Brooks parsimony analysis to the topologies of nine additional taxa. Phylogenetic analysis, nested clade analysis, and AMOVAs for S. castaneus agree that there is a major lineage break between the eastern and western Transverse Ranges, localized between the Sierra Pelona and the San Gabriel Mountains. The comparative phylogeographic analysis supports a generally strong concordance of area relationships with geographic proximity. It is notable, however, that the Transverse Ranges as a group do not show phylogenetic cohesion, but rather they are split into three main regions: an eastern region (San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains), a central region (central Transverse Ranges and Sierra Pelona) that is often grouped with the Tehachapi and Sierra Nevada populations, and a western region (northwestern Transverse Ranges and Santa Ynez Mountains) that is consistently grouped with coast range areas to the north. The lineage break between east and west Transverse Ranges is attributable to the presence of a marine embayment in what is now the Santa Clara River valley 5–2.5 million years ago.

Molecular phylogeny of the mega-diverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Insecta, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Chatzimanolis, S., Cohen, I. M., Schomann, A. & Solodovnikov, A. (2010). Molecular phylogeny of the mega‐diverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Insecta, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 436–449.

Phylogenetic analysis and biogeography of Aegean taxa of the genus Dendarus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The genus Dendarus Latr. is distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin with numerous species in the Aegean islands. This paper presents a phylogenetic analysis and the biogeography of most taxa present in the area. Phylogenetic analysis of two outgroup and 25 ingroup taxa based on adult morphology, including 50 characters and 119 character states, produced two equally parsimonious trees (tree length = 148, C.I. = 0.42, R.I. = 0.70, R.C. = 0.294). These trees provide strong support for the monophyly of Dendarus and also define four species groups: the foraminosus group, present mainly on the island of Crete; the rhodius group, present in Dodecanese islands, the sinuatus group present in the central Aegean islands, and another group consisting of taxa from mainland Greece (D. messenius, D. caelatus, D. tenellus, and D. plicatulus paganettii). All area cladograms produced by Compatibility Component Analysis, Brooks Parsimony Analysis, and especially by Component Analysis, correspond quite closely to the hypothesized palaeogeographic history of the studied area and therefore partly support the idea of a vicariant evolution of Dendarus taxa in this region. We distinguished certain monophyletic groups distributed (with some exceptions) within well-defined geographical and palaeogeographical regions of the Aegean. However, we found certain inconsistencies (with Reconciled Tree Analysis) that are probably the result of dispersal, extinction, or duplication events that are independent of the sequence of vicariance events.

Leehermania prorova, the earliest staphyliniform beetle, from the late Triassic of Virginia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).

ABSTRACT The Staphylinidae contain over 57,000 described species, thus comprising one of the largest families in all Insecta. Leehermania prorova Chatzimanolis, Grimaldi, and Engel, new genus and species, is described, which is the earliest staphylinid and the oldest definitive polyphagan beetle. The new species is based on a series of well-preserved specimens from the early Norian to late Carnian-aged (Late Triassic) Cow Branch Formation of southern Virginia. It is considered to be subfamily incertae sedis within Staphylinidae, but its possible affinity with the tachyporine group of staphylinids is noted. A summary of all Mesozoic Staphylinidae is provided and the evolutionary history of the lineage briefly discussed.

Remarkable Stasis in a Phloeocharine Rove Beetle from the Late Cretaceous of New Jersey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

The first definitive fossil species of the rove beetle (Staphylinidae) subfamily Phloeocharinae is described and figured from a single individual preserved in Late Cretaceous (Turonian) amber from New Jersey. The species is representative of the extant genus Phloeocharis Mannerheim and is described as Phloeocharis agerata Chatzimanolis, Newton, and Engel, new species. The specimen was imaged using traditional light microscopy as well as synchrotron propagation phase contrast microtomography, permitting a detailed examination of otherwise difficult to observe features. Examination revealed remarkable homogeneity across many characters with those of extant relatives, highlighting considerable morphological stasis in the genus over the last 90 million years.

Early evolution of the hyperdiverse rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) and a revision of its higher classification

The rove beetle tribe Staphylinini (Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) is a monophyletic lineage of over 5500 relatively large and charismatic species, yet its higher classification remains deeply rooted in historical concepts. Despite recent progress toward inferring phylogenetic relationships within this group using morphological and molecular datasets, relationships among taxa that were united under a polyphyletic “Quediina” remain largely unknown. To infer these relationships, we analysed a six‐gene dataset (4370 bp) using parsimony and model‐based analyses and the results were placed in the context of morphology. While all genes contributed synapomorphies for major lineages or relationships between them, carbamoyl synthetase (CAD), topoisomerase I (TP) and wingless (Wg) were the most informative. TP was generally most informative at the level of subtribe, Wg above this level and CAD throughout the tree. The monophyly of Staphylinini was strongly supported and analyses support seven clades that correspond to higher taxonomic levels, four of which are formally described as subtribes here: Acylophorina stat. rev., Cyrtoquediina new subtribe, Erichsoniina new subtribe and Indoquediina new subtribe. The majority of Staphylinini taxa were recovered within a well‐supported “northern hemisphere clade” that is weakly represented in the southern hemisphere. The composition and morphological diagnosis of the “Staphylinini propria” clade are revised, and the pronotum shape historically associated with this group is shown to have evolved multiple times elsewhere in Staphylinini. The genus Stevensia is moved from Staphylinina to Acylophorina based on morphological evidence. Cyrtoquedius stat. nov., previously a subgenus of Quedius, is raised to the genus level. The following 32 new combinations (from Quedius) are proposed: Cyrtoquedius anthracinus (Solsky); C. arrogans (Sharp); C. basiventris (Sharp); C. bolivianus (Sharp); C. bruchi (Bernhauer); C. clypealis (Sharp); C. concolor (Sharp); C. flavicaudus (Sharp); C. flavinasis (Bernhauer); C. frenatus (Erichson); C. graciliventris (Sharp); C. jacobi (Scheerpeltz); C. jocosus (Sharp); C. labiatus (Erichson); C. laeviventris (Bernhauer); C. mexicanus (Sharp); C. ochropygus (Bernhauer); C. ogloblini (Bernhauer); C. ornatocollis (Bierig); C. protensus (Sharp); C. rufinasus (Sharp); C. verecundus (Sharp); C. verres (Smetana); Indoquedius borneensis (Cameron); I. dispersepunctatus (Scheerpeltz); I. javanus (Cameron); I. malaisei (Scheerpeltz); I. micantiventris (Scheerpeltz); I. parallelicollis (Scheerpeltz); I. philippinus (Cameron); I. recticollis (Scheerpeltz); and I. sanguinipennis (Scheerpeltz). Cyrtoquedius verres is recorded from the state of Georgia (USA) for the first time, which, together with its transfer from Quedius, extends the distribution of the Cyrtoquediina significantly northward into the Nearctic.

Conservation genetics of three flightless beetle species in southern California

Regional scale conservation decisions can be aided by information on the distribution of intraspecific diversity, especially the extent to which patterns are common to multiple species. We compare patterns of intraspecific mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) variation among three flightless beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Nyctoporis carinata LeConte; Staphylinidae: Sepedophilus castaneus (Horn); Carabidae: Calathus ruficollis Dejean) in the southern part of the California Floristic Province biodiversity hotspot. All species exhibit moderate to high levels of total variation, ranging from 2% to 10% (maximum uncorrected distance). Most populations of all species exhibit unique haplotypes, but few populations’ haplotypes constitute exclusive clades. Many adjacent pairs of populations show indications of some, though limited, genetic connectedness, due either to gene flow or ancestral polymorphism. However, in most cases this diminishes sharply over greater distances. By both statistical and phylogenetic measures, Sierra Nevadan populations are highly distinct from those in the coast and transverse ranges. Among the latter, the eastern transverse ranges are generally most unique and isolated, with diversity in the western parts of these ranges showing fewer barriers. Otherwise, few measures agree on areas of highest conservation value, and overall patterns tend to be species-specific.

Phylogeny of xanthopygine rove beetles (Coleoptera) based on six molecular loci

The rove beetle subtribe Xanthopygina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini) is a species‐rich group of 27 neotropical genera that contains some of the largest and most brightly coloured of all staphylinid beetles. The monophyly of the subtribe has never been tested before, using a large dataset of taxa and genes. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses are used on individual genes (COI, 28S rDNA, wingless, arginine kinase, CAD and topoisomerase I) and the partitioned concatenated dataset to test for monophyly and examine the relationships among Xanthopygina genera. Xanthopygina (excluding Philothalpus) are shown to be a monophyletic group with strong support values. The genus Philothalpus is removed from Xanthopygina and placed in the tribe Staphylinini as incertae sedis. Four distinct clades of Xanthopygina genera are recognized. The origin of Xanthopygina is hypothesized to be in the Late Cretaceous or later and the origin of myrmecophilous adaptations is discussed.

Natural History and Behavior of Nordus fungicola (Sharp) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Abstract Details on the natural history and behavior of Nordus fungicola (Sharp) in Barro Colorado Island, Panama are presented. These beetles have bright coloration and wave their abdomen conspicuously. They feed on small drosophilid flies or fly larvae, and the typical grooming behavior after feeding is described. Beetles interacted aggressively with ants of the genus Ectatomma, and a preliminary experiment shows that beetles may use chemical secretions for defense. Male–male and male–female interactions, and copulatory courtship are described. Males were not observed guarding females after mating. Females are not receptive after copulation.

Zackfalinus, A New Genus of Xanthopygina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) with Description of 20 New Species

ABSTRACT A new genus of Xanthopygina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) is described here as Zackfalinus, new genus and includes 20 new species: Z. abothros, Z. agrammos, Z. alturas, Z. andersoni, Z. antennatus, Z. bierigi, Z. brzoskai, Z. carinatus, Z. erythrocephalos, Z. hardestae, Z. kitrinos, Z. kokkinos, Z. lamperos, Z. leptophallos, Z. limonus, Z. napus, Z. stenocephalos, Z. surinamus, Z. tricolor, and Z. ziegleri. The antennae in Zackfalinus are sexually dimorphic, with males having an elongate antennomere 11. An identification key, distribution maps, and illustrations of structural features are provided for the identification of species. Parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of two outgroup taxa and 19 ingroup taxa were conducted based on 24 morphological characters. The consensus trees were only partly resolved but the results supported the monophyly of Zackfalinus with high bootstrap values and posterior probabilities.