A six-parameter space to describe galaxy diversification

Galaxy diversification proceeds by transforming events like accretion, interaction or mergers. These explain the formation and evolution of galaxies that can now be described with many observables. Multivariate analyses are the obvious tools to tackle the datasets and understand the differences between different kinds of objects. However, depending on the method used, redundancies, incompatibilities or subjective choices of the parameters can void the usefulness of such analyses. The behaviour of the available parameters should be analysed before an objective reduction of dimensionality and subsequent clustering analyses can be undertaken, especially in an evolutionary context. We study a sample of 424 early-type galaxies described by 25 parameters, ten of which are Lick indices, to identify the most structuring parameters and determine an evolutionary classification of these objects. Four independent statistical methods are used to investigate the discriminant properties of the observables and the partitioning of the 424 galaxies: Principal Component Analysis, K-means cluster analysis, Minimum Contradiction Analysis and Cladistics. (abridged)Comment: Accepted for publicationin A\&

PHYLOGENY OF SOME MIDDLE AMERICAN PITVIPERS BASED ON A CLADISTIC ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL 12S AND 16S DNA SEQUENCE INFORMATION

The cladistic relationships of several Middle American pitvipers representing the genera Bothrops (sensu stricto), Bothriechis, Cerrophidion, Lachesis and Porthidium were determined using mitochondrial 12S and 16S DNA sequence information. Maximum parsimony analyses were performed using PAUP on aligned sequences that included published information for related taxa. Two sets of analyses were conducted: one disregarding gaps in the aligned matrix, and another with gaps treated as a fifth base. When gaps were excluded resolution declined, although the general arrangement of the taxa changed little. A consistent relationship was the grouping of ((Porthidium, Bothriechis) Lachesis). The placement of Lachesis, as nested within other bothropoid genera, is only partially supported by results of other authors. The arrangement of Crotalus, Bothrops and Cerrophidion was ambiguous when gaps were discounted. In both trees, Agkistrodon was basal to the New World forms. The remaining genera, Trimeresurus (Protobothrops), Vipera, Azemiops, and Coluber, were uniformly distant to the former taxa. Also of interest is the lack of close relationship, based on the DNA data here and elsewhere, between Bothrops and Porthidium. This is in striking contrast to results based on morphologic and allozymic analyses of previous studies. It is concluded that additional DNA sequence information from a larger sample of taxa will be necessary to better assess the phylogenetic relationships among Middle American and related pitvipers

Relationships of the Genera \u3ci\u3eAcanthametropus, Analetris,\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eSiphluriscus\u3c/i\u3e, and Re-Evaluation of Their Higher Classification (Ephemeroptera: Pisciforma)

The historical higher classification of the genera Acanthametropus Tshernova, Analetris Edmunds, and Siphluriscus Ulmer is reviewed. The first comprehensive generic description of Siphluriscus is given, and first figures of wings are provided. A cladistic analysis of adult and larval characters of Acanthametropus and Analetris. and adult characters of Siphluriscus reveal a close relationship between the former two genera, which represent a well-defined clade based on five identified synapomorphies; however, Siphluriscus, which has been classified with them in the past, does not share any apomorphies with them but instead shares apomorphies with the genera of Siphlonuridae sensu stricto. Acanthametropus and Analetris are recombined in the family Acanthametropodidae, suppressing Analetrididae; and Siphluriscus is reassigned to the family Siphlonuridae sensu stricto, although taxon rank for both of these clades is still tentative and awaits comparative cladistic analysis of the entire suborder Pisciforma. The relationship to each other of these clades also remains in doubt. Stackelbergisca Tshernova, a fossil genus formerly classified with the three extant genera apparently does not share any of the 11 apomorphies used in this study, and is placed as family incertae within the Pisciforma

Multidirectional chromosome painting substantiates the occurrence of extensive genomic reshuffling within Accipitriformes.

BACKGROUND: Previous cross-species painting studies with probes from chicken (Gallus gallus) chromosomes 1-10 and a paint pool of nineteen microchromosomes have revealed that the drastic karyotypic reorganization in Accipitridae is due to extensive synteny disruptions and associations. However, the number of synteny association events and identities of microchromosomes involved in such synteny associations remain undefined, due to the lack of paint probes derived from individual chicken microchromosomes. Moreover, no genome-wide homology map between Accipitridae species and other avian species with atypical karyotype organization has been reported till now, and the karyotype evolution within Accipitriformes remains unclear. RESULTS: To delineate the synteny-conserved segments in Accipitridae, a set of painting probes for the griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus (2n = 66) was generated from flow-sorted chromosomes. Together with previous generated probes from the stone curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus (2n = 42), a Charadriiformes species with atypical karyotype organization, we conducted multidirectional chromosome painting, including reciprocal chromosome painting between B. oedicnemus and G. fulvus and cross-species chromosome painting between B. oedicnemus and two accipitrid species (the Himalayan griffon, G. himalayensis 2n = 66, and the common buzzard, Buteo buteo, 2n = 68). In doing so, genome-wide homology maps between B. oedicnemus and three Accipitridae species were established. From there, a cladistic analysis using chromosomal characters and mapping of chromosomal changes on a consensus molecular phylogeny were conducted in order to search for cytogenetic signatures for different lineages within Accipitriformes. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that the genomes of the diurnal birds of prey, especially the genomes of species in Accipitriformes excluding Cathartidae, have been extensively reshuffled when compared to other bird lineages. The chromosomal rearrangements involved include both fusions and fissions. Our chromosome painting data indicated that the Palearctic common buzzard (BBU) shared several common chromosomal rearrangements with some Old World vultures, and was found to be more closely related to other Accipitridae than to Neotropical buteonine raptors from the karyotypic perspective. Using both a chromosome-based cladistic analysis as well as by mapping of chromosomal differences onto a molecular-based phylogenetic tree, we revealed a number of potential cytogenetic signatures that support the clade of Pandionidae (PHA) + Accipitridae. In addition, our cladistic analysis using chromosomal characters appears to support the placement of osprey (PHA) in Accipitridae

Do cladistic and morphometric data capture common patterns of morphological disparity?

The distinctly non-random diversity of organismal form manifests itself in discrete clusters of taxa that share a common body plan. As a result, analyses of disparity require a scalable comparative framework. The difficulties of applying geometric morphometrics to disparity analyses of groups with vastly divergent body plans are overcome partly by the use of cladistic characters. Character-based disparity analyses have become increasingly popular, but it is not clear how they are affected by character coding strategies or revisions of primary homology statements. Indeed, whether cladistic and morphometric data capture similar patterns of morphological variation remains a moot point. To address this issue, we employ both cladistic and geometric morphometric data in an exploratory study of disparity focussing on caecilian amphibians. Our results show no impact on relative intertaxon distances when different coding strategies for cladistic characters were used or when revised concepts of homology were considered. In all instances, we found no statistically significant difference between pairwise Euclidean and Procrustes distances, although the strength of the correlation among distance matrices varied. This suggests that cladistic and geometric morphometric data appear to summarize morphological variation in comparable ways. Our results support the use of cladistic data for characterizing organismal disparity

Jumping plant-lice of the Paurocephalinae (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea): systematics and phylogeny

Much confusion exists with respect to the content and definition of the psyUid subfamily Paurocephalinae. Based on a cladistic analysis of 22 morphological characters (16 adult and 6 larval), the subfamily is redefined to comprise the following five valid genera: Aphorma (3 species), Camarotoscena (12 valid species, with 1 new synonymy), DiC/idophlebia (= Aconopsylla, Haplaphalara, Paraphalaroida, Sinuonemopsylla and Woldaia; 24 species), Paurocephala (52 species) and Syntomoza (= Anomoterga and Homalocephata; 7 species). The tribe Diclidophlebiini is synonymised with the subfamily Paurocephalinae. The seven new generic synonymies produce 25 new species combinations. A key to genera for adults and fifth instar larvae is presented. In their revised definitions the genera exhibit relatively restricted distributions and host ranges: Aphorma: Palaearctic, Oriental - Ranunculaceae; Camarotoscena: Palaearctic - Salicaceae; Diclidophtebia: pantropical - Tiliaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, Melastomataceae, Rhamnaceae, Ulmaceae and Euphorbiaceae; Paurocephala: Old World tropics - Moraceae, Urticaceae. Ulmaceae (all Urticales), Malvaceae. Sterculiaceae (all Malvales) and Clusiaceae (rheales); Syntomoza: Oriental, Afrotropical, Palaearctic - Flacourtiaceae, Salicaceae. The following taxa which have been referred to the Paurocephalinae are transferred to other taxa: Atmetocranium to the Calophyidae and Primascena to the Aphalaroidinae; Pseudaphorma is symonymised with Aphatara, and P. astigma with A. polygoni; the position of Strophingia is confirmed in the Strophingiinae.peer-reviewe

Astrocladistics: Multivariate Evolutionary Analysis in Astrophysics

The Hubble tuning fork diagram, based on morphology and established in the 1930s, has always been the preferred scheme for classification of galaxies. However, the current large amount of data up to higher and higher redshifts asks for more sophisticated statistical approaches like multivariate analyses. Clustering analyses are still very confidential, and do not take into account the unavoidable characteristics in our Universe: evolution. Assuming branching evolution of galaxies as a 'transmission with modification', we have shown that the concepts and tools of phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) can be heuristically transposed to the case of galaxies. This approach that we call "astrocladistics", has now successfully been applied on several samples of galaxies and globular clusters. Maximum parsimony and distance-based approaches are the most popular methods to produce phylogenetic trees and, like most other studies, we had to discretize our variables. However, since astrophysical data are intrinsically continuous, we are contributing to the growing need for applying phylogenetic methods to continuous characters.Comment: Invited talk at the session: Astrostatistics (Statistical analysis of data related to Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Andes mountain range uplift as a vicariant event in the Pimeliinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in southern South America

The Andes mountain range extends over 8500 km along the Pacific coast of South America. Its medium altitude is 3500 m, reaching more than 6000 m at different latitudes. The uplift of the Andes  split arid habitats creating very diverse ecosystems on both sides. The distribution of the Pimeliinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) south of parallel 15º South is analysed, where the Andean mountain range separates xeric habitats both eastward and westward. The genera of Pimeliinae show four distribution patterns: endemic taxa east of the Andes, endemic taxa west of the Andes, taxa widely distributed on both sides of the Andes, and taxa inhabiting high altitudes in the Andes. Known phylogenies of genera and species of Pimeliinae are examined in terms of the Andean mountain uplift creating a vicariant event. A biogeographical track exhibited by certain genera of Pimeliinae connecting central Chile and southern Argentina is examined.La vaste étendue des Andes couvre plus que 8500 km le long de la côte pacifique de l’Amérique du sud. L’altitude moyenne est de 3500 m mais elle dépasse plus que 6000 m avec des écosystemes très variés des deux côtés. La distribution des Pimeliinae (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) est examinée au sud du 15eme parallèlle où la formation des Andes a séparé des habitats désertiques à la fois vers l’est et vers l’ouest. Les genres de Pimeliinae montrent quatre modèles de distribution : espèces endémiques à l’ouest des Andes ; espèces endémiques à l’est des Andes ; espèces largement répandues les deux côtés des Andes et espèces habitant les hautes altitudes des Andes. La phylogénie connue de certaines espèces et genres est examinée pour événement vicariant à la suite de la formation des montagnes andines. Un chemin biogeographique démontré par quelques genres de Pimeliinae liant le Chile central et l’Argentine du sud est analysé.Fil: Flores, Gustavo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Pizarro Araya, Jaime. Universidad de La Serena; Chil