The Experts below are selected from a list of 321 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Mark Dowton - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
A key to the Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) with special emphasis on Sarcophaga ( sensu lato )
Zootaxa, 2013Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Thomas Pape, Mark Dowton, James F. WallmanAbstract:The Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) currently comprise 84 species, classified into ten genera from the subfamilies Miltogramminae and Sarcophaginae. A key is provided to the Australian sarcophagids, allowing for separation into sub-families and genera, along with the identification of all species of Sarcophaga ( sensu lato ). A comprehensive database of illustrations and photographs of male terminalia, as well as updated biological information, is given for each species of Sarcophaga s.l.
-
comprehensive evaluation of dna barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
Invertebrate Systematics, 2012Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Stephen L Cameron, Mark DowtonAbstract:Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunitI gene, was evaluated in a pilot study for discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated barcoding for a larger taxon set of 588 Australian sarcophagids. In total, 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be identified, but were included nonetheless as six unidentifiable taxa. A neighbour-joining tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 1.12% and 2.81–11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for molecular identification of Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
-
comprehensive evaluation of dna barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
Science & Engineering Faculty, 2012Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Stephen L Cameron, Mark DowtonAbstract:Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness of these flies. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene, was previously evaluated in a pilot study for the discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated DNA barcoding on a larger taxon set of 588 adult Australian sarcophagids. A total of 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be reliably identified, but included as six unidentifable taxa. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the Kimura-two-parameter distance model. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as reciprocally monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with most having bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 0.00-1.12% and 2.81-11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for the molecular identification of the Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
-
dna based identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Mark DowtonAbstract:The utility of the forensically important Sarcophagidae (Diptera) for time since death estimates has been severely limited, as morphological identification is difficult and thermobiological histories are inadequately documented. A molecular identification method involving the sequencing of a 658-bp ‘barcode’ fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 85 specimens, representing 16 Australian species from varying populations, was evaluated. Nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the Kimura-two-parameter distance model and a neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree generated. All species were resolved as reciprocally monophyletic, except Sarcophaga dux. Intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 0.000% to 1.499% (SE = 0.044%) and 6.658% to 8.983% (SE = 0.653%), respectively. The COI ‘barcode’ sequence was found to be suitable for the molecular identification of the studied Australian Sarcophagidae: 96.5% of the examined specimens were assigned to the correct species. Given that the sarcophagid fauna is poorly described, it is feasible that the few incorrectly assigned specimens represent cryptic species. The results of this research will be instrumental for implementation of the Australian Sarcophagidae in forensic entomology.
Thomas Pape - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
First mitogenome for the subfamily Miltogramminae (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and its phylogenetic implications
European Journal of Entomology, 2017Co-Authors: Ming Zhang, Thomas Pape, Dong ZhangAbstract:The mitochondrial genome of Mesomelena mesomelaena (Loew, 1848) is the first to be sequenced in the flesh fly subfamily Miltogramminae (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). The 14,559 bp mitogenome contains 37 typical metazoan mitochondrial genes: 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes, with the same locations as in the insect ground plan. All the protein-coding genes have the start codon ATN, except for cox1 (TCG). Eight protein-coding genes have the stop codon TAA, while the remaining five have the stop codon T (cox1, cox2, nad5, and nad4) or TAG (cytb). Synonymous and non-synonymous substitution rates (Ks and Ka) for each protein-coding gene indicate that these genes evolved primarily under negative (or purifying) selection (Ka < Ks). Phylogeny of Sarcophagidae is proposed based on all the sarcophagid mitogenomes in GenBank, and the subfamily topology is reconstructed as (Sarcophaginae (Paramacronychiinae, Miltogramminae)).
-
molecular phylogeny of the hyperdiverse genus sarcophaga diptera Sarcophagidae and comparison between algorithms for identification of rogue taxa
Cladistics, 2017Co-Authors: Eliana Buenaventura, Daniel Whitmore, Thomas PapeAbstract:The hyperdiverse genus Sarcophaga Meigen, with about 890 valid species arranged within 169 subgenera, accounts for almost half of the diversity of the subfamily Sarcophaginae. Current phylogenetic hypotheses for this genus are poorly supported or based on small taxon sets, or both. Here, we use molecular data from the genes COI and 28S to reconstruct the phylogeny of Sarcophaga based on the most comprehensive sampling for the group to date: 144 species from 47 subgenera, including representatives from all regional faunas for the first time. Of the total sequences of Sarcophaga used in the present study, 94.7% were newly generated. The secondary structure of the D1–D3 expansion segments of 28S is presented for the first time for the family Sarcophagidae, and is used in a multiple sequence alignment. Branch support and tree resolution increased remarkably through rogue taxa identification and exclusion. Rogue behaviour was explained mostly as a missing data problem. The RogueNaRok web service and the algorithms chkmoves, IterPCR and prunmajor implemented in the computer program TNT were equally good at identifying critical rogue species, but chkmoves and IterPCR also identified rogue clades. Pruning rogues increased the number of monophyletic subgenera in consensus trees from one to six out of 19 subgenera with more than one representative species. Bayesian inference, maximum-likelihood and parsimony analyses recovered more monophyletic subgenera after the removal of rogue taxa, with parsimony showing the largest improvements in branch support and resolution. Although with low support, Nearctic taxa were found to be the earliest diverging lineages, followed by a subsequent diversification of Old World faunas, which is in agreement with currently available evidence of a New World origin and early diversification of Sarcophaga.
-
structural and genetic investigation of the egg and first instar larva of an egg laying population of blaesoxipha plinthopyga diptera Sarcophagidae a species of forensic importance
Journal of Medical Entomology, 2014Co-Authors: Meaghan L Pimsler, Thomas Pape, Spencer J Johnston, Robert A Wharton, Jonathan J Parrott, Danielle Restuccia, Michelle R Sanford, Jeffery K Tomberlin, Aaron M TaroneAbstract:Flies in the family Sarcophagidae incubate their eggs and are known to be ovoviviparous (i.e., ovolarviparous), but a laboratory-maintained colony of Blaesoxipha plinthopyga (Wiedemann) deposited clutches of viable eggs over 10 generations. A description of the egg and first-instar larva of this species is provided along with genetic data (genome size and cytochrome oxidase I sequences). The egg is similar to previously described eggs of other Sarcophagidae but differs in the configuration of the micropyle. In the first-instar larva, the oral ridges are much more developed than has been described for other species. B. plinthopyga has forensic importance, and the present descriptive information is critical for proper case management.
-
a large scale molecular phylogeny of flesh flies diptera Sarcophagidae
Systematic Entomology, 2014Co-Authors: Marcin Piwczyński, Krzysztof Szpila, Andrzej Grzywacz, Thomas PapeAbstract:The available data for Sarcophagidae in GenBank were analysed in order to reconstruct the most comprehensive phylogeny to date. GenBank was explored for nine markers that are commonly used in various molecular and phylogenetic studies of flesh flies. We obtained data for 187 species and constructed an aligned dataset with 9241 characters. However, the matrix suffered from 74% missing data due to a low number of sequences for some markers and in most of the cases only short fragments of the analysed genes were available. The reconstructed tree was taxonomically biased towards the subfamilies Paramacronychiinae (12% of the described species) and Sarcophaginae (8.6% of the described species) and specifically the genusSarcophaga. The third subfamily Miltogramminae was represented by only 0.7% of described species. Moreover, about half of the included species were of forensic importance, while the percentage of such species in the entire family was estimated at 7%. Many nodes had very low support, so in order to increase the support and thereby identify a 'core topology', we pruned 'rogue' taxa and applied different substitution models. Both strategies improved support considerably, although some nodes still were left unresolved. An analysis of the distribution of bootstrap values across chronograms showed that the weakest phylogenetic signal is restricted to that part of the tree which coincides with the onset of rapid radiations mainly within the genusSarcophaga. Our study is concordant with phylogenies obtained by other authors, with the most noteworthy exception being the subfamily Paramacronychiinae emerging as paraphyletic with regard to the Miltogramminae, which is in strong conflict with morphological evidence. We discuss the new findings in the light of traditional taxonomical classifications of Sarcophagidae and recent molecular studies.
-
A key to the Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) with special emphasis on Sarcophaga ( sensu lato )
Zootaxa, 2013Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Thomas Pape, Mark Dowton, James F. WallmanAbstract:The Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) currently comprise 84 species, classified into ten genera from the subfamilies Miltogramminae and Sarcophaginae. A key is provided to the Australian sarcophagids, allowing for separation into sub-families and genera, along with the identification of all species of Sarcophaga ( sensu lato ). A comprehensive database of illustrations and photographs of male terminalia, as well as updated biological information, is given for each species of Sarcophaga s.l.
Kelly A. Meiklejohn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
A key to the Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) with special emphasis on Sarcophaga ( sensu lato )
Zootaxa, 2013Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Thomas Pape, Mark Dowton, James F. WallmanAbstract:The Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) currently comprise 84 species, classified into ten genera from the subfamilies Miltogramminae and Sarcophaginae. A key is provided to the Australian sarcophagids, allowing for separation into sub-families and genera, along with the identification of all species of Sarcophaga ( sensu lato ). A comprehensive database of illustrations and photographs of male terminalia, as well as updated biological information, is given for each species of Sarcophaga s.l.
-
comprehensive evaluation of dna barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
Invertebrate Systematics, 2012Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Stephen L Cameron, Mark DowtonAbstract:Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunitI gene, was evaluated in a pilot study for discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated barcoding for a larger taxon set of 588 Australian sarcophagids. In total, 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be identified, but were included nonetheless as six unidentifiable taxa. A neighbour-joining tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 1.12% and 2.81–11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for molecular identification of Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
-
comprehensive evaluation of dna barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
Science & Engineering Faculty, 2012Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Stephen L Cameron, Mark DowtonAbstract:Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness of these flies. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene, was previously evaluated in a pilot study for the discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated DNA barcoding on a larger taxon set of 588 adult Australian sarcophagids. A total of 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be reliably identified, but included as six unidentifable taxa. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the Kimura-two-parameter distance model. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as reciprocally monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with most having bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 0.00-1.12% and 2.81-11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for the molecular identification of the Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
-
dna based identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Mark DowtonAbstract:The utility of the forensically important Sarcophagidae (Diptera) for time since death estimates has been severely limited, as morphological identification is difficult and thermobiological histories are inadequately documented. A molecular identification method involving the sequencing of a 658-bp ‘barcode’ fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 85 specimens, representing 16 Australian species from varying populations, was evaluated. Nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the Kimura-two-parameter distance model and a neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree generated. All species were resolved as reciprocally monophyletic, except Sarcophaga dux. Intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 0.000% to 1.499% (SE = 0.044%) and 6.658% to 8.983% (SE = 0.653%), respectively. The COI ‘barcode’ sequence was found to be suitable for the molecular identification of the studied Australian Sarcophagidae: 96.5% of the examined specimens were assigned to the correct species. Given that the sarcophagid fauna is poorly described, it is feasible that the few incorrectly assigned specimens represent cryptic species. The results of this research will be instrumental for implementation of the Australian Sarcophagidae in forensic entomology.
Jens Amendt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
species composition of forensically important blow flies diptera calliphoridae and flesh flies diptera Sarcophagidae through space and time
Forensic Science International, 2014Co-Authors: Heike Fremdt, Jens AmendtAbstract:Abstract Weekly monitoring of forensically important flight-active blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was performed using small baited traps. Sampling took place in two rural, one suburban and two urban habitats in and around Frankfurt (Main), Germany, lasting two years and eight months. Highest values for species richness and Chao–Shen entropy estimator for Shannon's index in both families were found at the urban sites, peaking during summer. Space–time interaction was tested and found to be significant, demonstrating the value of a statistical approach recently developed for community surveys in ecology. K -means partitioning and analysis of indicator species gave significant temporal and habitat associations of particular taxa. Calliphora vicina was an indicator species for lower temperatures without being associated with a particular habitat. Lucilia sericata was an indicator for urban sites, whereas Lucilia ampullacea and Lucilia caesar were indicators for rural sites, supplemented by the less frequent species Calliphora vomitoria . Sarcophagidae were observed during a clearly shorter period of year. Sarcophaga subvicina + Sarcophaga variegata was found to be an indicator for urban habitats during summer as well as Sarcophaga albiceps for rural habitats. A significant association of Sarcophaga caerulescens to rural habitats as well as one of Sarcophaga similis to urban habitats was observed.
-
genetic identification of forensically important flesh flies diptera Sarcophagidae
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2004Co-Authors: Richard Zehner, Jens Amendt, Svenja Schutt, Jan Sauer, R Krettek, Dalibor PovolnýAbstract:Unequivocal identification of fly specimens is an essential requirement in forensic entomology. However, not all species can be determined at every developmental stage, which is illustrated by the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), important members of the necrophagous insect fauna. Up to now no suitable key for the identification of the immature stages of this family of flies exists. DNA analysis of selected mitochondrial genes was applied to solve this problem. Sequence data of selected regions of the CO I and ND 5 genes of the most important European flesh fly taxa associated with cadavers are presented, which can act as reference standards for species determination.
James F. Wallman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
A key to the Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) with special emphasis on Sarcophaga ( sensu lato )
Zootaxa, 2013Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Thomas Pape, Mark Dowton, James F. WallmanAbstract:The Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) currently comprise 84 species, classified into ten genera from the subfamilies Miltogramminae and Sarcophaginae. A key is provided to the Australian sarcophagids, allowing for separation into sub-families and genera, along with the identification of all species of Sarcophaga ( sensu lato ). A comprehensive database of illustrations and photographs of male terminalia, as well as updated biological information, is given for each species of Sarcophaga s.l.
-
comprehensive evaluation of dna barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
Invertebrate Systematics, 2012Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Stephen L Cameron, Mark DowtonAbstract:Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunitI gene, was evaluated in a pilot study for discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated barcoding for a larger taxon set of 588 Australian sarcophagids. In total, 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be identified, but were included nonetheless as six unidentifiable taxa. A neighbour-joining tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 1.12% and 2.81–11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for molecular identification of Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
-
comprehensive evaluation of dna barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
Science & Engineering Faculty, 2012Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Stephen L Cameron, Mark DowtonAbstract:Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness of these flies. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene, was previously evaluated in a pilot study for the discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated DNA barcoding on a larger taxon set of 588 adult Australian sarcophagids. A total of 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be reliably identified, but included as six unidentifable taxa. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the Kimura-two-parameter distance model. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as reciprocally monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with most having bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 0.00-1.12% and 2.81-11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for the molecular identification of the Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
-
dna based identification of forensically important australian Sarcophagidae diptera
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Kelly A. Meiklejohn, James F. Wallman, Mark DowtonAbstract:The utility of the forensically important Sarcophagidae (Diptera) for time since death estimates has been severely limited, as morphological identification is difficult and thermobiological histories are inadequately documented. A molecular identification method involving the sequencing of a 658-bp ‘barcode’ fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 85 specimens, representing 16 Australian species from varying populations, was evaluated. Nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the Kimura-two-parameter distance model and a neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree generated. All species were resolved as reciprocally monophyletic, except Sarcophaga dux. Intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 0.000% to 1.499% (SE = 0.044%) and 6.658% to 8.983% (SE = 0.653%), respectively. The COI ‘barcode’ sequence was found to be suitable for the molecular identification of the studied Australian Sarcophagidae: 96.5% of the examined specimens were assigned to the correct species. Given that the sarcophagid fauna is poorly described, it is feasible that the few incorrectly assigned specimens represent cryptic species. The results of this research will be instrumental for implementation of the Australian Sarcophagidae in forensic entomology.
