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Mitochondrial DNA Clocks and the Phylogeny of Danaus Butterflies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Gugs Lushai ,
David A. S. Smith ,
Dave Goulson ,
John A. Allen  and
Norman Maclean
Gugs Lushai
Affiliation:
Ecology and Biodiversity Division, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton S016 7PX, UK
David A. S. Smith
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, Eton College, Windsor SL4 6EW, UK
Dave Goulson
Affiliation:
Ecology and Biodiversity Division, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton S016 7PX, UK
John A. Allen
Affiliation:
Ecology and Biodiversity Division, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton S016 7PX, UK
Norman Maclean
Affiliation:
Ecology and Biodiversity Division, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton S016 7PX, UK
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Abstract

Molecular clocks based on sequence change in mitochondrial (mt) DNA have been useful for placing molecular phytogenies in their historical context, thereby enhancing evolutionary insight. Nonetheless, despite their importance to phylogeographers, the methodology is controversial. Here we report on two mitochondrial clocks for the butterfly genus Danaus based on sequences from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and small subunit 12S rRNA (12S) genes. Both clocks are, within the context of Danaus, reliable time-keepers, mutually consistent and, respectively, in agreement with a crustacean COI clock and a molluscan 12S clock. Though we have no fossils with which directly to calibrate sequence divergence rates for Danaus, the 12S molluscan and COI crustacean clocks chosen for comparison were calibrated to radiometrically dated geomorphological events. Our results indicate that the Danaus COI clock evolves approximately four times faster than the 12S clock. Differences between rates of sequence change in terminal sister-taxa are small and likelihood ratio tests do not reject a hypothesis that evolution has been clock-like. The species Danaus chrysippus is paraphyletic and, therefore, invalid. Danaus probably split from its sister-genus Tirumala around 4.9 ± 0.3 million years ago in the early Pliocene.

Résumé

Les horloges moléculaires basées sur le changement de séquence de l'ADN mitochondrial (mt) ont été utiles pour replacer les phylogénies moléculaires dans leur contexte historique, et ainsi améliorer nos connaissances sur l'évolution. Cependant, malgré leur importance pour les phylogéographes, la méthodologie est contestée. Nous présentons ici deux horloges moléculaíres pour le papillon du genre Danaus établies sur les séquences des gènes du cytochrome c oxidase sous unité I (COI) et la petite sous unité 12S rRNA (12S). Les deux horloges sont, dans le contexte du genre Danaus, des chronomètres fiables, mutuellement compatibles et, respectivement, en accord avec 1'horloge de crustacé COI et l'horloge de mollusque 12S. Bien que nous n'ayons pas de fossile avec lequel calibrer les taux de divergence des séquences pour Danaus, les horloges de mollusque 12S et de crustacé COI choisis pour comparaison ont été calibrées avec des événements géomorphologiques datés par radiométrie. Nos résultats indiquent que chez Danaus l'horloge COI évolue approximativement 4 fois plus vite que l'horloge 12S. Les différences entre les taux de changement de séquence de taxons frères terminaux sont faibles et les tests du taux de vraisemblance ne rejettent pas l'hypothèse selon laquelle l'évolution a été régulière. L'espèce Danaus chrysippus est paraphylétique et, par conséquent non valide. Le genre Danaus s'est probablement séparé de son genre frère il y a environ 4,9 ± 0,3 millions d'années au debut du Pliocène.

Keywords

COIDanausmolecular clocksmolecular phylogeneticsmitochondrial DNA12S rRNACOIhorloges moléculairesphylogénie moléculaireADN mitochondrialARNr 12S
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , December 2003 , pp. 309 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2003

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