Niche modelling and comparative morphology untangle taxonomy of the Dysschema eurocilia Glade (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and reveal a relictual Pleistocene Arc distribution

Author(s)

MORAES, S. I. M. E. A. O. D. E. S. O. U. Z. A. ; GUERATTO, P. A. T. R. I. C. I. A. E. Y. N. G. ; DOS SANTOS, J. E. S. S. I. E. P. E. R. E. I. R. A. ; SANTOS, M. A. T. E. U. S. H. E. N. R. I. Q. U. E. ; FREITAS, A. N. D. R. E. V. I. C. T. O. R. L. U. C. C. I. ; DUARTE, M. A. R. C. E. L. O.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SYSTEMATICS AND BIODIVERSITY; v. 20, n. 1, p. 39-pg., 2022-12-31.

Abstract

Dysschema is the largest genus in Pericopina, with 69 species. The highly polymorphic species D. eurocilia (Cramer, 1777) was recently united in a Glade with three other species: D. aorsa (Boisduval, 1870) stat. rev., D. bivittata (Walker, 1854) stat. rev. and D. molesta (Hering, 1925) stat. rev. Typological taxonomic treatment and lack of understanding of geographic distributions contributed to a proliferation of publications and disputed validity of names. We analysed the genital morphology and wing patterns for the four putative species in the 'D. eurocilia Glade' and estimated the ecological niche using Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) to clarify taxonomic scenarios, delimit species and infer speciation mechanisms. We also used ENM to understand the distributions of phenotypes of D. eurocilia. The morphological data and ENM suggested an alternative hypothesis to previous taxonomic works on species within the `D. eurocilia Glade'. The ENM also revealed distribution patterns supporting the northern Andes as a geographic barrier between Central and South America, while the interconnected Andean valleys might represent areas of sympatry. Additionally, the predicted distribution showed that certain phenotypes in D. eurocilia have distribution through the South American diagonal of open formations, which might represent a relictual distribution known as the Pleistocene Arc. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/18311-0 - Cladistic analysis and taxonomy of the genus Dysschema Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Pericopina)
• Grantee: Simeão de Souza Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/19171-3 - Butterflies of the Atlantic Forest: a historical perspective on biogeographic patterns
• Grantee: Patrícia Eyng Gueratto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/03868-8 - Evolutionary mechanisms that shape diversity and distribution in a tropical biodiversity hotspot
• Grantee: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/20196-5 - Morphological, molecular diversity and tribal assignment of the genus Eois Hübner 1818 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Larentiinae)
• Grantee: Simeão de Souza Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 09/11161-0 - Cladistic analysis and taxonomic delimitation of the genus Dysschema Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Pericopina)
• Grantee: Simeão de Souza Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/17047-5 - Inventory of herbivores in Piperaceae species
• Grantee: Simeão de Souza Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/50225-3 - Natural history, phylogeny and conservation of Neotropical Lepidoptera
• Grantee: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants