Deceiving colors: recognition of color morphs as separate species in orchid bees is not supported by molecular evidence
Résumé
The orchid bees includes many species whose integument color is predominantly metallic, in particular those from the genus Euglossa. In the Atlantic Forest, some species exhibit color variation that seems to be linked with their distribution, with warmer colors (green, with coppery and reddish tones) in lower latitudes and cooler colors (blue, with purple shades) in higher latitudes. Contrasting taxonomic interpretations of this color variation lead to the recognition of distinct species for the different color morphs. In all three case studies investigated in this work (Euglossa iopoecila, Euglossa stellfeldi, and Euglossa townsendi), the different forms were sampled throughout their distribution. Thirty samples from 16 different localities were used, which had their DNA extracted, amplified, and sequenced for fragments of the genes cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (CO1). A concatenated data matrix, totaling 1,089 bp, was submitted for Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses. The resulting phylogenetic trees, together with the estimated genetic distances between samples, led to the conclusion that the different color morphs in all the three case studies do not represent separate species, but only integumental color variations of their respective species.
Origine : Publication financée par une institution
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