UCE Phylogenomics resolves major relationships among Ectaheteromorph ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae): A new classification for the subfamilies and the description of a new genus

Uncovering the evolutionary history of the subfamilies Ectatomminae and Heteroponerinae, or ectaheteromorphs, is key to understanding a major branch of the ant tree of life. Despite their diversity and ecological importance, phylogenetic relationships in the group have not been well explored. One particularly suitable tool for resolving phylogeny is the use of ultraconserved elements (UCEs), which have been shown to be ideal markers at a variety of evolutionary time scales. In the present study, we enriched and sequenced 2,127 UCEs from 135 specimens of ectaheteromorph ants and investigated phylogeny using a variety of model-based phylogenomic methods. Trees recovered from partitioned maximum-likelihood and species-tree analyses were well resolved and largely congruent. The results are consistent with an expanded concept of Ectatomminae that now includes the subfamily Heteroponerinae new synonym and its single tribe Heteroponerini new combination. Eleven monophyletic groups are recogniz...

阐明钝针蚁亚科（Ectatomminae）与异针蚁亚科（Heteroponerinae，合称ectaheteromorph类群）的演化历史，是理解蚂蚁生命之树主要分支的关键所在。尽管该类群具有丰富的物种多样性与重要的生态意义，但其内部的系统发育关系尚未得到充分探索。超保守元件（ultraconserved elements, UCEs）是解析系统发育问题的理想工具之一，已被证实在多种演化时间尺度下均可作为高效的分子标记。本研究从135份ectaheteromorph类群蚂蚁标本中富集并测序了2127个UCE位点，采用多种基于模型的系统基因组学方法开展系统发育分析。经分区最大似然法与物种树分析得到的系统发育树分辨率良好且整体高度一致。研究结果支持对钝针蚁亚科的扩展定义：将异针蚁亚科（Heteroponerinae）作为其新异名，其下唯一的族异针蚁族（Heteroponerini）为新组合。本研究可识别出11个单系群……