Data from: Genetic and morphological variation in sexual and asexual parasitoids of the genus Lysiphlebus - an apparent link between wing shape and reproductive mode

Background Endoparasitoids of aphids belonging to the genus Lysiphlebus Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) comprise over 20 species that exploit over a hundred species of aphid hosts including many important pest aphid species. Within the genus Lysiphlebus two genetically and morphologically well defined species groups are recognized: the "fabarum" and the "testaceipes" group both including taxa with sexual (arrhenotoky) and asexual (thelytoky) reproduction modes. However the diverse patterns of morphological variation which include clearly distinguishable morphotypes and genetic variation within species groups are not yet resolved. To address the relationship between morphological evolution and genetic divergence in Lysiphlebus wasps we explored both genetic differentiation (mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences) and morphological variation (wing size and shape) and the changes in wing size and shape in the phylogenetic context. Results and Discussion Analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences determine the separation of the genus into two species groups ("testaceipes" and "fabarum" groups) revealed three well defined phylogenetic lineages within "fabarum" species group including yet undefined species. Mapping wing shape data onto molecular phylogenetic indicated that the concordance between genetic diversification and divergence in the wing shape results from the deep split between two main species group. No association between pattern of genetic diversification morphotypes and wing shape variation within species groups was observed. The clear association between wing shape and reproductive mode was the most surprising result of our study. We propose two possible mutually non-exclusive mechanisms which may explain the link between reproductive mode and the shape of the wing Conclusions Combining molecular analysis with analysis of wing shape allows us determining existence of one cryptic yet undescribed species. At the same time we determine that Lysiphlebus fabarum group need detailed taxonomic revision because species boundaries as defined cannot be upheld. Mapping wing shape onto independently derived molecular phylogeny revealed that deep genetic divergence is associated with evolutionary changes in wing shape of Lysiphlebus wasps. Among most recently diverged taxa the morphological variation in the wing shape can be explained by the reproduction mode.背景 属于蚜茧蜂属（Lysiphlebus Foerster，膜翅目:茧蜂科:蚜茧蜂亚科）的蚜虫内寄生蜂，现有记录超过20种，可寄生百余类蚜虫宿主，其中包含诸多重要的蚜虫害虫类群。该属目前可分为两个在遗传学与形态学上均界定清晰的物种群："fabarum"群与"testaceipes"群，两类群均涵盖兼具有性生殖（产雄孤雌生殖，arrhenotoky）与无性生殖（产雌孤雌生殖，thelytoky）两种繁殖模式的类群。然而，物种群内部存在的多样形态变异模式（包含特征显著可辨的形态型）以及遗传分化，目前尚未得到厘清。为探究蚜茧蜂属蜂类的形态演化与遗传分化之间的关联，本研究同时开展了遗传分化（线粒体与核基因序列分析）与形态变异（翅大小与翅型）的研究，并在系统发育框架下分析了翅大小与翅型的演化变化。 结果与讨论 对线粒体与核基因序列的分析证实，该属可划分为"testaceipes"与"fabarum"两个物种群；同时在"fabarum"物种群内发现三个界定清晰的系统发育支系，其中包含尚未定名的物种。将翅型数据映射至分子系统发育树的结果显示，遗传分化与翅型分化之间的一致性，源于两大主要物种群之间的深层分化。在各物种群内部，未观察到遗传分化模式、形态型与翅型变异之间存在关联。而翅型与繁殖方式之间的显著关联，是本研究最出人意料的发现。本研究提出两种互不排斥的潜在机制，用以阐释繁殖方式与翅型之间的关联。 结论 结合分子分析与翅型分析，本研究证实了一种隐存且尚未被描述的物种的存在。同时，本研究明确，蚜茧蜂"fabarum"群需要开展详尽的分类学修订，因为当前界定的物种边界无法成立。将翅型数据映射至独立构建的分子系统发育树的结果表明，蚜茧蜂属蜂类的深层遗传分化与翅型的演化改变存在关联。在最近分化的类群中，翅型的形态变异可通过繁殖方式得到解释。