Drosophilidae

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Vera L. S. Valente - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Evolutionary history and classification of Micropia retroelements in Drosophilidae species.
    PLOS ONE, 2019
    Co-Authors: Juliana Cordeiro, Vera L. S. Valente, Tuane Letícia Carvalho, Lizandra Jaqueline Robe
    Abstract:

    Transposable elements (TEs) have the main role in shaping the evolution of genomes and host species, contributing to the creation of new genes and promoting rearrangements frequently associated with new regulatory networks. Support for these hypotheses frequently results from studies with model species, and Drosophila provides a great model organism to the study of TEs. Micropia belongs to the Ty3/Gypsy group of long terminal repeats (LTR) retroelements and comprises one of the least studied Drosophila transposable elements. In this study, we assessed the evolutionary history of Micropia within Drosophilidae, while trying to assist in the classification of this TE. At first, we performed searches of Micropia presence in the genome of natural populations from several species. Then, based on searches within online genomic databases, we retrieved Micropia-like sequences from the genomes of distinct Drosophilidae species. We expanded the knowledge of Micropia distribution within Drosophila species. The Micropia retroelements we detected consist of an array of divergent sequences, which we subdivided into 20 subfamilies. Even so, a patchy distribution of Micropia sequences within the Drosophilidae phylogeny could be identified, with incongruences between the species phylogeny and the Micropia phylogeny. Comparing the pairwise synonymous distance (dS) values between Micropia and three host nuclear sequences, we found several cases of unexpectedly high levels of similarity between Micropia sequences in divergent species. All these findings provide a hypothesis to the evolution of Micropia within Drosophilidae, which include several events of vertical and horizontal transposon transmission, associated with ancestral polymorphisms and recurrent Micropia sequences diversification.

  • Evolutionary history and classification of Micropia retroelements in Drosophilidae species
    2019
    Co-Authors: Juliana Cordeiro, Vera L. S. Valente, Tuane Letícia Carvalho, Lizandra Jaqueline Robe
    Abstract:

    Current knowledge indicates TEs have been shaping the evolution of genomes and host species, contributing to the creation of new genes and promoting rearrangements frequently associated with new regulatory networks. Support for these hypothesis frequently result from studies with model species, and Drosophila detaches as a great model organism to the study of TEs. Micropia belongs to the Ty3/Gypsy group of LTR retroelements, and comprises one of the least studied Drosophila transposable elements. In this study, we assessed the evolutionary history of Micropia within Drosophilidae, while trying to assist in the classification of this TE. At first, we analyzed its presence in the genome of several species from natural populations and then, based on searches within genomic databases, we retrieved Micropia-like sequences from distinct Drosophilidae species genomes. We expanded the knowledge of Micropia distribution within Drosophila, and detected an array of divergent sequences, which allowed subdividing this retroelement in 20 subfamilies. Even so, a patchy distribution of Micropia sequences within the Drosophilidae phylogeny could be identified combined with incongruences of the species and the Micropia phylogenies. Comparing dS values between Micropia and host nuclear sequences, we found several cases of unexpected high levels of similarity between Micropia sequences found in divergent species. All these findings propose a hypothesis to the evolution of Micropia within Drosophilidae, including several VTTs and HTTs events, associated to ancestral polymorphisms and recurrent Micropia sequences diversification.

  • Redescription of Sibling Species of Rhinoleucophenga (Diptera: Drosophilidae): R. brasiliensis and R. fluminensis.
    Neotropical Entomology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Jean Lucas Poppe, Vera L. S. Valente, Marco Silva Gottschalk
    Abstract:

    Rhinoleucophenga Hendel comprises an unusual Drosophilidae (Diptera) genus with predaceous larvae, currently compounded by 29 nominal species with New World distribution. In the present study, Rhinoleucophenga brasiliensis (Costa Lima) and R. fluminensis (Costa Lima) are redescribed. These two species are commonly misidentified in Drosophilidae species inventories, mainly by the few morphological character details presented in the original taxonomic description. Thus, by the morphological review performed here, lectotype and paralectotypes designed to R. brasiliensis and R. fluminensis, as well as new morphological characters, drawings and photos (for the first time) are presented in order to avoid further taxonomic mistakes with those referred sibling species of Rhinoleucophenga.

  • Changes in the Structure of Drosophilidae (Diptera) Assemblages Associated With Contrasting Environments in the Pampas Biome Across Temporal and Spatial Scales
    Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2016
    Co-Authors: Jean Lucas Poppe, Hermes José Schmitz, Vera L. S. Valente
    Abstract:

    The Pampas biome is a subtropical–temperate grassland region that presents striking climatic characteristics, such as temperatures below zero in the winters and up to 40°C in the summers. Hence, long sampling periods are necessary to better understand the structure of Drosophilidae assemblages through current climatic conditions in the heterogeneous landscape of the Pampas. Samples of drosophilids were taken in natural and urban areas during 12 climatic periods. The environmental influence on the structure of assemblages was temporally and spatially analyzed through nonmetric multidimensional scaling, indicator value, and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) the structure of drosophilids assemblages vary through different habitats from the same area, and 2) the presence and abundance of Drosophilidae species in a particular environment is regulated by the interaction between the phytophysionomy and climatic traits of each locality. The Pampas assemblages were dominated by a few species, although it is a highly diverse biome with regards to Drosophilidae. The environmental heterogeneity was confirmed as a determinant factor of the structure of assemblages, and it explained 8.86% of the assemblage composition. Nonetheless, the interaction between temperature and humidity was revealed as the most influential environmental component of the Drosophilidae assemblages, and it explained 37.28% of all the recorded variation. Together, environment type and the climatic elements were able to explain 56.45% of the assemblages’ variation. Open and close environments, such as grassland and forest patches, respectively, presented a peculiar composition of Drosophilidae assemblages and should be equally considered in the Pampas preservation strategies. Resumo  O bioma Pampa e uma regiao campestre subtropical–temperada que apresenta caracteristicas climaticas marcantes, invernos com temperaturas negativas e veroes com registros de mais de 40°C. Longos periodos de amostragem sao necessarios para o melhor entendimento da estrutura das assembleias de Drosophilidae na paisagem heterogenea do Pampa. Coletas de drosofilideos foram realizadas em areas naturais e urbanas do Pampa durante 12 periodos climaticos. A influencia ambiental sobre a estrutura das assembleias foi temporal e espacialmente analisada por meio de nMDS, IndVal e PERMANOVA. As seguintes hipoteses foram testadas: 1) a estrutura das assembleias de drosofilideos variam atraves de diferentes habitats de uma mesma area e, 2) a presenca e a abundância das especies de Drosophilidae em um ambiente sao reguladas pela interacao da fitofisionomia e caracteristicas climaticas de cada local. As assembleias do Pampa foram dominadas por poucas especies, embora este seja um bioma muito diverso com relacao a fauna de Drosophilidae. A heterogeneidade ambiental foi um fator determinante na estrutura das assembleias, explicando 8,86% da composicao das mesmas. No entanto, a interacao entre temperatura e os niveis de umidade foi indicada como o componente ambiental mais influente sobre as assembleias de Drosophilidae, explicando 37,28% de toda a variacao percebida. O tipo de ambiente amostrado e os componentes climaticos juntos explicaram 56,45% da variacao nas assembleias. Ambientes abertos e fechados, campos e matas, respectivamente, apresentaram uma composicao propria para as assembleias de Drosophilidae e, devem ser igualmente considerados em estrategias de preservacao do Pampa.

  • The first records of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii in the South American continent
    Journal of Pest Science, 2014
    Co-Authors: Maríndia Deprá, Jean Lucas Poppe, Hermes José Schmitz, Daniela Cristina Toni, Vera L. S. Valente
    Abstract:

    This paper presents the first report of the occurrence of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in South America. Several samples were collected during various seasons in 2012 and 2013, and a significant number of individuals were obtained and identified. Based on the data recorded during each sampling campaign, including the locality, temperature, time of year, and number of individuals collected, several conclusions were drawn about the development of this invasion in southern Brazil.

Gerhard Bächli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Carlos R. Vilela - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Carlos Ribeiro Vilela - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Patrick M. O’grady - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Microbial interactions and the ecology and evolution of Hawaiian Drosophilidae
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Timothy K. O’connor, Parris T. Humphrey, Richard T. Lapoint, Noah K. Whiteman, Patrick M. O’grady
    Abstract:

    Adaptive radiations are characterized by an increased rate of speciation and expanded range of habitats and ecological niches exploited by those species. The Hawaiian Drosophilidae is a classic adaptive radiation; a single ancestral species colonized Hawaii approximately 25 million years ago and gave rise to two monophyletic lineages, the Hawaiian Drosophila and the genus Scaptomyza. The Hawaiian Drosophila are largely saprophagous and rely on approximately 40 endemic plant families and their associated microbes to complete development. Scaptomyza are even more diverse in host breadth. While many species of Scaptomyza utilize decomposing plant substrates, some species have evolved to become herbivores, parasites on spider egg masses, and exploit microbes on living plant tissue. Understanding the origin of the ecological diversity encompassed by these nearly 700 described species has been a challenge. The central role of microbes in drosophilid ecology suggests bacterial and fungal associates may have played a role in the diversification of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae. Here we synthesize recent ecological and microbial community data from the Hawaiian Drosophilidae to examine the forces that may have led to this adaptive radiation. We propose that the evolutionary success of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae is due to a combination of factors, including adaptation to novel ecological niches facilitated by microbes.

  • A review of the endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae and their host plants
    Zootaxa, 2008
    Co-Authors: Karl N. Magnacca, David Foote, Patrick M. O’grady
    Abstract:

    The Hawaiian Drosophilidae is one of the best examples of rapid speciation in nature. Nearly 1,000 species of endemic drosophilids have evolved in situ in Hawaii since a single colonist arrived over 25 million years ago. A number of mechanisms, including ecological adaptation, sexual selection, and geographic isolation, have been proposed to explain the evolution of this hyperdiverse group of species. Here, we examine the known ecological associations of 326 species of endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae in light of the phylogenetic relationships of these species. Our analysis suggests that the long-accepted belief of strict ecological specialization in this group does not hold for all taxa. While many species have a primary host plant family, females will also oviposit on non-preferred host plant taxa. Host shifting is fairly common in some groups, especially the grimshawi and modified mouthparts species groups of Drosophila, and the Scaptomyza subgenus Elmomyza. Associations with types of substrates (bark, leaves, flowers) are more evolutionarily conserved than associations with host plant families. These data not only give us insight into the role ecology has played in the evolution of this large group, but can help in making decisions about the management of rare and endangered host plants and the insects that rely upon them for survival.

  • Phylogenetic relationships of Drosophilidae
    Drosophila, 2006
    Co-Authors: Therese A. Markow, Patrick M. O’grady
    Abstract:

    The understanding of phylogenetic relationships within the family Drosophilidae has increased greatly in the 30 years since Throckmorton's review. A number of phylogenetic studies have used both morphology and molecules to infer relationships among the many genera in this family. Although no firm consensus exists—and several key relationships are openly contentious—a picture of the evolutionary history of this group is emerging. The largest impediment is that the molecular studies are still woefully inadequate with respect to their taxon sampling. Much phylogenetic work in the Drosophilidae today is comparative. Phylogenetic trees of drosophilid species are employed as necessary tools to understand the evolution of transposable elements, development, and a number of other phenomena. In many cases, these phylogenies are in agreement with previous work and are serving to refine the notions of evolution at the species level. Further, basic systematic work is needed not only to fill in the gaps in the knowledge but also to build upon the comparative framework that is already in place in this family.

  • Phylogeny of Drosophilinae (Diptera: Drosophilidae), with comments on combined analysis and character support
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2002
    Co-Authors: James Remsen, Patrick M. O’grady
    Abstract:

    Drosophilidae (Diptera) is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies. Here, we present a combined analysis phylogeny of Drosophilinae, one of the two subfamilies of Drosophilidae, based on data from six different data partitions, including both molecular and morphological characters. Although our data show support for the monophyly of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae, and the subgenus Sophophora, neither the genus Drosophila nor the subgenus Drosophila is monophyletic. Partitioned Bremer support (PBS) indicates that morphological data taken from Grimaldi's monograph (Grimaldi, 1990a), as well as sequences from the mitochondrial (mt) 16S rDNA and the nuclear Adh gene, lend much support to our tree's topology. This is particularly interesting in the case of Grimaldi's data, since his published hypothesis conflicts with ours in significant ways. Our combined analysis cladogram phylogeny reflects the catchall designation that the name Drosophila has become, in that the cladogram does not support the monophyly of either the genus or subgenus Drosophila.

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