@article{283797e167fa41b5a13c100006d849af,
title = "Tip-dated phylogeny of whirligig beetles reveals ancient lineage surviving on Madagascar",
abstract = "The temporal origin of Madagascar's extraordinary endemic diversity is debated. A preference for Cenozoic dispersal origins has replaced the classical view of Mesozoic vicariance in the wake of molecular dating. However, evidence of ancient origins is mounting from arthropod groups. Using phylogenetic 'tip-dating' analysis with fossils, we show that a whirligig beetle species, Heterogyrus milloti, inhabiting forest streams in southeastern Madagascar is the last survivor of a once dominant and widespread Mesozoic group. With a Late Triassic to Early Jurassic origin (226-187 Ma) it is the hitherto oldest dated endemic lineage of animal or plant on Madagascar. Island biotas' sensitivity to extinction is well known, but islands can also provide refuge from continental extinction. Heterogyrus milloti is an irreplaceable link to the freshwater biota of the Mesozoic and serves as a reminder of what may be lost without critical conservation efforts on Madagascar.",
author = "Gustafson, {Grey T.} and Prokin, {Alexander A.} and Rasa Bukontaite and Johannes Bergsten and Miller, {Kelly B.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank R. Johnson, S. Atlas, and UNM CARC for assistance, extended job times, and access to the super computer cluster Ulam. A. Short, H. Shinogle, and KU Microscopy and Analytical Imaging Laboratory are thanked for SEM images of H. milloti. S. Greiman is thanked for SEM images of S. albiventris. C. Witt and J. Casas are thanked for helpful discussions and suggestions for the writing. K. Wright, S. Brantley, R. Alfaro are similarly thanked for early suggestions. G.T.G. was funded by National Science Foundation grant #DEB-1402446 and is supported by National Institute of Health for an IRACDA postdoctoral fellowship (5K12GM063651). A.A.P. was supported by Russian Science Foundation project no. 15-14-10020. J.B. was funded by the Swedish Research Council (grants #2009-3744, #2013-5170). The data reported here are tabulated in the Supplementary Materials and at the following databases: GenBank and Dryad. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 The Author(s).",
year = "2017",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1038/s41598-017-08403-1",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "7",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",
}