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Genomic data provide insights into the classification of extant termites

Author

Listed:
  • Simon Hellemans

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University
    Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Mauricio M. Rocha

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Menglin Wang

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University)

  • Johanna Romero Arias

    (Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Duur K. Aanen

    (Wageningen University)

  • Anne-Geneviève Bagnères

    (CNRS/University of Montpellier/EPHE/IRD)

  • Aleš Buček

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University
    Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Tiago F. Carrijo

    (Universidade Federal do ABC)

  • Thomas Chouvenc

    (3205 College Avenue)

  • Carolina Cuezzo

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Joice P. Constantini

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Reginaldo Constantino

    (Universidade de Brasília)

  • Franck Dedeine

    (Parc Grandmont)

  • Jean Deligne

    (Entomology
    Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Paul Eggleton

    (Natural History Museum)

  • Theodore A. Evans

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Robert Hanus

    (Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Mark C. Harrison

    (University of Münster. Hüfferstrasße 1)

  • Myriam Harry

    (12 route 128)

  • Guy Josens

    (Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Corentin Jouault

    (CP50
    CNRS
    CNRS)

  • Chicknayakanahalli M. Kalleshwaraswamy

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University
    Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences)

  • Esra Kaymak

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University)

  • Judith Korb

    (Germany & Charles Darwin University)

  • Chow-Yang Lee

    (University of California)

  • Frédéric Legendre

    (CP50)

  • Hou-Feng Li

    (National Chung Hsing University)

  • Nathan Lo

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Tomer Lu

    (Total Hadbara)

  • Kenji Matsuura

    (Sakyo-ku)

  • Kiyoto Maekawa

    (University of Toyama)

  • Dino P. McMahon

    (Freie Universität Berlin
    BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing)

  • Nobuaki Mizumoto

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University
    Auburn University)

  • Danilo E. Oliveira

    (Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará)

  • Michael Poulsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • David Sillam-Dussès

    (UR 4443)

  • Nan-Yao Su

    (3205 College Avenue)

  • Gaku Tokuda

    (1 Senbaru)

  • Edward L. Vargo

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Jessica L. Ware

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Jan Šobotník

    (Czech Academy of Sciences
    Czech University of Life Sciences)

  • Rudolf H. Scheffrahn

    (3205 College Avenue)

  • Eliana Cancello

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Yves Roisin

    (Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Michael S. Engel

    (American Museum of Natural History
    Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
    Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)

  • Thomas Bourguignon

    (Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University
    Czech University of Life Sciences)

Abstract

The higher classification of termites requires substantial revision as the Neoisoptera, the most diverse termite lineage, comprise many paraphyletic and polyphyletic higher taxa. Here, we produce an updated termite classification using genomic-scale analyses. We reconstruct phylogenies under diverse substitution models with ultraconserved elements analyzed as concatenated matrices or within the multi-species coalescence framework. Our classification is further supported by analyses controlling for rogue loci and taxa, and topological tests. We show that the Neoisoptera are composed of seven family-level monophyletic lineages, including the Heterotermitidae Froggatt, Psammotermitidae Holmgren, and Termitogetonidae Holmgren, raised from subfamilial rank. The species-rich Termitidae are composed of 18 subfamily-level monophyletic lineages, including the new subfamilies Crepititermitinae, Cylindrotermitinae, Forficulitermitinae, Neocapritermitinae, Protohamitermitinae, and Promirotermitinae; and the revived Amitermitinae Kemner, Microcerotermitinae Holmgren, and Mirocapritermitinae Kemner. Building an updated taxonomic classification on the foundation of unambiguously supported monophyletic lineages makes it highly resilient to potential destabilization caused by the future availability of novel phylogenetic markers and methods. The taxonomic stability is further guaranteed by the modularity of the new termite classification, designed to accommodate as-yet undescribed species with uncertain affinities to the herein delimited monophyletic lineages in the form of new families or subfamilies.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Hellemans & Mauricio M. Rocha & Menglin Wang & Johanna Romero Arias & Duur K. Aanen & Anne-Geneviève Bagnères & Aleš Buček & Tiago F. Carrijo & Thomas Chouvenc & Carolina Cuezzo & Joice P. Const, 2024. "Genomic data provide insights into the classification of extant termites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51028-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51028-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicolas Terrapon & Cai Li & Hugh M. Robertson & Lu Ji & Xuehong Meng & Warren Booth & Zhensheng Chen & Christopher P. Childers & Karl M. Glastad & Kaustubh Gokhale & Johannes Gowin & Wulfila Gronenber, 2014. "Molecular traces of alternative social organization in a termite genome," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Mauricio M Rocha & Adriana C Morales-Corrêa e Castro & Carolina Cuezzo & Eliana M Cancello, 2017. "Phylogenetic reconstruction of Syntermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae) based on morphological and molecular data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-29, March.
    3. Theodore A. Evans & Tracy Z. Dawes & Philip R. Ward & Nathan Lo, 2011. "Ants and termites increase crop yield in a dry climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-7, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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