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Title: PHYLOGENY AMONG ORDERS OF THE EUCESTODA (CERCOMEROMORPHAE): INTEGRATING MORPHOLOGY, MOLECULES AND TOTAL EVIDENCE

Author
item Hoberg, Eric
item MARIAUX, JEAN - MUSEUM NAT HIST, GENEVA
item BROOKS, DANIEL - UNIV TORONTO, CANADA

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Genealogical relationships among the tapeworm parasites in vertebrates have been unresolved. Lack of consensus about the evolution of these parasites impedes progress in diagnostics, studies of geographic distribution, epidemiology, and host associations for economically important groups. Through phylogenetic analysis of combined information from structure and molecules, we now provide a well corroborated hypothesis for the genealogy of the major orders of the tapeworms. Such evolutionary studies are the context for developing more refined abilities in diagnostics. This is significant in establishing a broader context for understanding the host and geographic histories for economically important tapeworms that infect domestic stock and humans.

Technical Abstract: Parsimony analyses of molecular or morphological databases has yielded concordant trees supporting monophyly for the Eucestoda. A "total evidence" approach combined currently available morphological and molecular characters to further examine putative relationships among the Eucestoda. Complementary strategies for analysis used (1.) A top-down approach using a consensus matrix for molecular and morphological characters for 13 orders; and (2.) A bottom-up approach using a comprehensive matrix for 47 ingroup taxa. Parsimony analysis of the consensus data resulted in a single phylogenetic tree (CI= 0.72) largely similar to those produced in studies by Mariax and Hoberg, respectively. Comparative data from morphology, ontogeny and ultrastructure are validated, and a complementary nature for morphological and molecular characters is emphasized. Phylogenetic resolution among the orders of the Eucestoda will lead to development of model systems for evolutionary biology, cospeciation analyses, and studies of historical biogeography.