Abstracts Biological Sciences

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Argynnis Fabricius (1807) including North American Speyeria Scudder (1872)

by Moya Robert de

North American <i>Speyeria</i>butterflies are a group whose species hypotheses are confounded by shared wing color patterns between sympatric populations of closely related recognized species due to a putatively recent origin in evolutionary time. Previous studies of this group and the closely related Palearctic genus <i>Argynnis</i>, suggest that <i> Speyeria</i>is monophyletic but derived from within <i>Argynnis </i>. Sampling in these studies has either involved few basal <i> Speyeria</i> species, or too few <i>Argynnis</i> species (Simonsen 2006, Simonsen <i>et al.</i> 2006). Thus, no comprehensive phylogenetic analysis exists for all members that answers the question of monophyly of <i> Speyeria</i>, or other subgeneric taxa,and their relationship to <i> Argynnis</i>species. A phylogenetic analysis was completed of all North American <i>Speyeria</i>species and nearly all species within <i> Argynnis</i>, using one mitochondrial (CO1) and four nuclear genes (EF1?, WG, GAPDH, and RPS5). The results indicate that North American <i>Speyeria </i> is a monophyletic group, but that Palearctic <i>Argynnis</i> is paraphyletic. Three major lineages are identified within <i>Argynnis sensu lato</i>: two Palearctic and one containing both Palearctic and Nearctic species. <i>Argynnis</i> species representing the subgenera <i> Argyreus</i>, <i>Argyronome</i>, <i>Childrena</i>, <i> Damora</i>,<i>Pandoriana</i>, and <i>Nephargynnis</i>, belong to a well-supported lineage that split early in the evolution of the group and is comprised of species with long branches. <i>Fabriciana</i>and <i> Mesoacidalia </i>were both recovered as strongly supported lineages, except for <i>A. clara</i> which was recovered as sister to <i> Speyeria</i>. In summary, the phylogenetic analyses suggest the need for reorganization into three genera: <i>Argynnis</i>, <i> Fabriciana</i>, and <i>Speyeria</i>. The results have implications for the conservation of these butterflies across the temperate zone by providing a framework for understanding potential gene flow between sympatric species complexes, proper taxonomic validity, and the natural history of threatened populations of <i>Speyeria</i>and <i>Argynnis</i>butterflies.