MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF DARKLING BEETLES FROM THE CANARY-ISLANDS - COMPARISON OF INTER ISLAND COLONIZATION PATTERNS IN 2 GENERA

Darkling beetles endemic to the Canary archipelago of the genera Pimel ia and Hegeter have been sequenced for a portion of the Cytochrome Oxi dase I gene. Analysis of the data sets separately yielded phylogenies that were used to deduce sequential inter-island colonizations in both genera. Comparison of the colonization patterns in the two groups sho ws similarities which reflect the geological history of the Canary Isl ands. The possible effect of factors such as volcanic cycles, recoloni zations and colonization ability on the inferred phylogenies is discus sed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.