Comparisons of evolutionary history among termitophilous insects associated with the same termite species

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16220
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 45030:Biodiversity and systematics-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University (2020-2022); Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Kanao Taisuke 山形大学, 理学部, 助教 (40758421)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 好白蟻性 / 種分化 / 寄主特異性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I performed phylogenetic analyses and taxonomic review for termitophilous insects (rove beetles, silverfishes, and black fungus gnats) associated with Longipeditermers termites distributed in Southeast Asia. Because termitophilous insects generally have strong host specificity, the insects associated with the same termite species should experience the same historical events. As the results of the analysis, I found that the degrees of genetic variation and morphological diversification were different among the insect groups. The results also detected several undescribed species in all insect groups.

Free Research Field

系統学・分類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生物多様性は、複雑な地形への適応や生物間の共生・競争関係、同所的な生息空間のシフトなど様々な要因によって創出されてきたと考えられている。しかし、それぞれの要因が生物の多様化に与えた影響を、生物間で単純に比較することは難しい。本研究は、強い寄主特異性を持ち、同種のシロアリを寄主とする複数の好白蟻性昆虫に着目することで、系統的に離れた分類群間の進化史を比較し、上述の諸要因や系統的な要因が形態の多様化に与える影響を明らかにした。