Document Detail


Photic niche invasions: phylogenetic history of the dim-light foraging augochlorine bees (Halictidae).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21795273     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Most bees rely on flowering plants and hence are diurnal foragers. From this ancestral state, dim-light foraging in bees requires significant adaptations to a new photic environment. We used DNA sequences to evaluate the phylogenetic history of the most diverse clade of Apoidea that is adapted to dim-light environments (Augochlorini: Megalopta, Megaloptidia and Megommation). The most speciose lineage, Megalopta, is distal to the remaining dim-light genera, and its closest diurnal relative (Xenochlora) is recovered as a lineage that has secondarily reverted to diurnal foraging. Tests for adaptive protein evolution indicate that long-wavelength opsin shows strong evidence of stabilizing selection, with no more than five codons (2%) under positive selection, depending on analytical procedure. In the branch leading to Megalopta, the amino acid of the single positively selected codon is conserved among ancestral Halictidae examined, and is homologous to codons known to influence molecular structure at the chromophore-binding pocket. Theoretically, such mutations can shift photopigment λ(max) sensitivity and enable visual transduction in alternate photic environments. Results are discussed in light of the available evidence on photopigment structure, morphological specialization and biogeographic distributions over geological time.
Authors:
Simon M Tierney; Oris Sanjur; Grethel G Grajales; Leandro M Santos; Eldredge Bermingham; William T Wcislo
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-7-27
Journal Detail:
Title:  Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1471-2954     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-7-28     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101245157     Medline TA:  Proc Biol Sci     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, , Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, República de Panamá
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