engleski

Comparison of molecular and morphological systematics of Carabus species (Coleoptera: Carabidae) with special emphasis on species from Dinaric karst

Background and Purpose: Despite morphological and molecular data analysed so far, phylogenetic relationships of many lineages of genus Carabus Linnaeus 1758 (Carabini, Carabinae, Carabidae) present in Europe, have not been yet fully understood and molecular data have not been fully integrated with the morphological classifications. The aim of this research was to: (i) complement the phylogenetic relationships in the systematics of carabids within the genus Carabus with endemic species from Dinaric karst not included so far in molecular systematics research, and to (ii) examine the degree of matching of the molecular data with the existing morphological classifications based on the structure of frontal shields of larvae and the structure of the endophallus in adult specimens. Materials and Methods: In this research, phylogenetic relationships between 31 species from genus Carabus were analysed. Analyses were based on the DNA sequences of mitochondrial gene for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. For phylogenetic inference maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis methods were used. Results: The obtained results showed a greater concordance of molecular data with the classifications based on the structure of endophallus than with the classification based on structure of frontal shields of larvae. The results mainly corresponded to the phylograms in the previous studies confirming the taxonomic status of some species. For three species, Carabus creutzeri and C. parreyssi alpine-dinaric endemic species and C. ulrichi, all included for the first time in molecular analysis, results indicated taxonomic congruence of molecular data with the classification based on the structure of endophallus. Conclusions: Systematic categories within the genus Carabus cannot be based only on the structure of the endophallus, but the results of molecular analysis should also be included. As the topology of several groups still remains uncertain, molecular phylogeny requires further investigations with a larger data set and additional molecular markers. Carabus species from the western part of Balkan Peninsula, mainly endemics, have been under- represented in hitherto molecular systematic analyses. Further studies, including their distribution and ecology as well as studies including other Balkan’s endemic species are required to explain speciation events. This study contributes to the Barcode of Life Initiative.

DNA barcoding; molecular systematic; endophallus; larval morphology; endemic species; Dinaric karst; Croatia

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