Bat Systematics in the Light of Unconstrained Analyses of a Comprehensive Molecular Supermatrix

Bats (Chiroptera) represent the largest diversification of extant mammals after rodents. Here we report the results of a large-scale phylogeny of bats based on unconstrained searches for a data matrix of 804 non-chimeric, taxonomically updated bat terminals (796 species represented by a single terminal plus three species represented by ≥2 genetically distinct subspecies), able to preliminary test the systematics of most groups simultaneously. We used nine nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence markers fragmentary represented for ingroups (c. 90% and 64% of extant diversity at genus and species level, respectively) and 20 diverse placental outgroups. Maximum Likelihood and Parsimony analyses applied to the concatenated dataset yielded a highly resolved, variously supported phylogeny that recovered the majority of currently recognized clades at all levels of the chiropteran tree. Calibration points based on 44 key fossils allowed the Bayesian dating of bat origins at c. 4 my after the K-Pg boundary, and the determination of stem and crown ages of intraordinal clades. As expected, bats appeared nested in Laurasiatheria and split into Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera. More remarkable, all polytypic, currently recognized families were monophyletic, including Miniopteridae, Cistugidae, and Rhinonycteridae, as well as most polytypic genera with few expected exceptions (e.g., Hipposideros). The controversial Myzopodidae appeared in a novel position as sister of Emballonuroidea―a result with interesting biogeographic implications. Most recently recognized subfamilies, genera, and species groups were supported or only minor adjustments to the current taxonomy would be required, except Molossidae, which should be revised thoroughly. In light of our analysis, current bat systematics is strongly supported at all levels; the emergent perception of a strong biogeographic imprint on many recovered bat clades is emphasized.Fil: Amador, Lucila Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Moyers Arévalo, Reyna Leticia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Cunha Almeida, Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Catalano, Santiago Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. American Museum of Natural History ; Estados Unido

SDSS-III: Massive Spectroscopic Surveys of the Distant Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, and Extra-Solar Planetary Systems

Building on the legacy of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-I and II), SDSS-III is a program of four spectroscopic surveys on three scientific themes: dark energy and cosmological parameters, the history and structure of the Milky Way, and the population of giant planets around other stars. In keeping with SDSS tradition, SDSS-III will provide regular public releases of all its data, beginning with SDSS DR8 (which occurred in Jan 2011). This paper presents an overview of the four SDSS-III surveys. BOSS will measure redshifts of 1.5 million massive galaxies and Lya forest spectra of 150,000 quasars, using the BAO feature of large scale structure to obtain percent-level determinations of the distance scale and Hubble expansion rate at z100 per resolution element), H-band (1.51-1.70 micron) spectra of 10^5 evolved, late-type stars, measuring separate abundances for ~15 elements per star and creating the first high-precision spectroscopic survey of all Galactic stellar populations (bulge, bar, disks, halo) with a uniform set of stellar tracers and spectral diagnostics. MARVELS will monitor radial velocities of more than 8000 FGK stars with the sensitivity and cadence (10-40 m/s, ~24 visits per star) needed to detect giant planets with periods up to two years, providing an unprecedented data set for understanding the formation and dynamical evolution of giant planet systems. (Abridged