Zaldívar-Riverón Lab
Systematics and biogeography of the Neotropical doryctine genus
Notiospathius
In this study, we investigate the diversity, evolution and historical
biogeography of a parasitic wasp genus that is widely distributed along
the American continent, the doryctine genus Notiospathius
(Braconidae: Doryctinae). This highly speciose taxon occurs from
Argentina to Central Mexico. However, to date only around 20 species
have been formally described. We will make use of traditional (i.e.
morphology) as well as DNA barcoding taxonomy to assess the actual
number of species within the genus. Moreover, we will reconstruct the
phylogenetic relationships among the species belonging to the genus
based on different mitochondrial and nuclear markers. The estimate(s)
of phylogeny obtained will be employed to revise the taxonomic
classification of the species involved, to infer the main biogeographic
events that caused the origin and subsequent radiation in
Notiospathius in the american continent, as well as to investigate the
evolution of a morphological feature that is thought to have originated
in multiple occasions within the Doryctinae as a result of the
adaptation to parasitize concealed bark-boring beetle larvae, the
enlargement of the first metasomal tergite.
This study is being carried out in collaboration with the following
people from different Latin American countries:
Rosa Briceño. Universidad Centrooccidental “Lisandro Alvarado”,
Cabudare, Venezuela.
Paul Hanson. Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.
Enrique Medianero, Universidad de Panamá, Ciudad de Panamá,
Panamá.
Juan José Martínez, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales
"Bernardino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina.