Phylogenetic analysis of the repleta species group of the genus Drosophilausing multiple sources of characters

The species in the repleta group of the genus Drosophila have been placed i nto five subgroups-the mulleri, hydei, mercatorum, repleta, and fasciola su bgroups. Each subgroup has been further subdivided into complexes and clust ers. Extensive morphological and cytological analyses of the members of thi s species group have formed the foundation for the proposed relationships a mong the members of the repleta species group. Fifty-four taxa, including 4 6 taxa belonging to the repleta species group, were sequenced for fragments of four genes-16S ribosomal DNA (16S), cytochrome oxidase II (COII), and n itrogen dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) of the mitochondrial genome and a region of t he hunchback (hb) nuclear gene. We also generated a partial data set of elo ngation factor 1-alpha (Ef1 alpha) sequences for a subset of taxa, Our anal ysis used both DNA characters and chromosomal inversion data. The phylogene tic hypothesis we obtained supports many of the traditionally accepted clad es within the mulleri subgroup, but the monophyly of taxonomic groups outsi de of this subgroup appears not to be supported. Phylogenetic analysis reve aled one well-supported, highly resolved clade that consists of closely rel ated members of the mulleri and buzzatii complexes. The remaining taxa, a w ide assortment of taxonomic groups, ranging from members of other species g roups to members of several subgroups and members of three species complexe s from the mulleri subgroup are found in poorly supported arrangements at t he base of the tree, (C) 2000 Academic Press.