Partial combination applied to phylogeny of European cyprinids using the mitochondrial control region

Previous molecular phylogenies of European cyprinids led to some solid fact s and some uncertainties. This study is based on a stretch of more than 1 k b in the mitochondrial control region newly sequenced for 35 European cypri nids and on previous cytochrome b and 16S rDNA data. The trees based on the control region are more accurate and robust than those obtained from the t wo other genes. Character incongruence among the three genes was tested usi ng the incongruence length difference (ILD) test. Iterative removals of ind ividual sequences followed by new ILD tests identified two sequences respon sible for statistically significant incongruence. A partial combination was conducted, that is, a combination of the three data sets, removing the two sequences previously identified. The phylogenetic analysis of this partial combination gives a more robust and resolved picture of subfamilial interr elationships, The Rasborinae are the sister group of all other cyprinids. T he monophyletic Cyprininae emerges next. Tinca tinca first and then Rhodeus are the sister groups of all the remaining nonrasborine and noncyprinine s pecies. Gobio is the sister group of the Leuciscinae, in which the Phoxinin i are the sister group of the Leuciscini. Within the Leuciscini, the genus Leuciscus and the subfamily Alburninae are both paraphyletic. The Rasborina e are the most basal cyprinid subfamily and the Tincinae are not the sister group of the Cyprininae. These two results challenge only two anatomical c haracters, which need to be reinterpreted or considered as homoplastic in c yprinid evolution: the modification of the first pleural rib and its parapo physis and the bony composition of the interorbital septum. (C) 2001 Academ ic Press.