Genetic Variation and Molecular Phylogeny Based on the Mitochondrial Genes of the Damp Wood Termite Hodotermopsis japonica (Isoptera : Termopsidae)

概要

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Hodotermopsis (Isoptera : Termopsidae) is one of the most primitive genera of termites. The species belonging to this genus have been thought to be relicts, and to have entered Japan before the formation of the Tokara Tectonic Strait in the Pliocene, and left as relict species in Japan and the southern part of China. We sequenced 928bp of mitochondrial genes (COI, COII and tRNA of leusine) of Hodetermopsis populations of Japan, Taiwan Island (Is.) and China. The inferred molecular phylogeny showed that each of populations in Japan and Taiwan Is. formed a monophyletic group. The topology among Japanese clades did not clarify the phylogenetic relationships among different islands because of the shortage of phylogenetically informative sites, suggesting the rapid and recent extension of Japanese populations. In light of these findings, the estimated timing of divergence events together with the current paleogeographical scenario indicate that Japanese Hodotermopsis extended its distribution through landbridges connecting China through Taiwan Is. to Kyushu Is. of Japan 0.4-0.2 million years ago in the Pleistocene.
日本昆虫学会の論文
1998-12-25