Multiple ancient origins of neoteny in Lycidae(Coleoptera): consequences for ecology and macroevolution.

摘要: Neoteny, the maintenance of larval features in sexually mature adults, is a radical way generating evolutionary novelty through shifts relative timing developmental programmes. While controlled by environment facultative neotenics, retention obligatory many species Lycidae (net-winged beetles). They are studied here as an example how and ecology interact to produce macroevolutionary impacts. We conducted phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences from nuclear (18S 28S rRNA) mitochondrial (rrnL, cox1, cob nad5) genes representative set lineages (73 species), including 17 neotenic taxa. Major changes basal relationships compared with those implied current classification generally supported three independent origins neotenics Lycidae. The southeast Asian Lyropaeinae Ateliinae were positions indicating antiquity, also confirmed molecular clock estimates, unlike neotropical leptolycines nested within Calopterini presumably much younger. exhibit typical K-selected traits slow development, large body size, high investment offspring low dispersal. This correlated richness restricted ranges their sisters. Yet, these factors did not impede persistence affected lineages, even without reversals fully metamorphosed forms, contradicting earlier suggestions recent evolution dispersive non-neotenics.