Phylogenetic relationships in the spoon tarsus subgroup of Hawaiian drosophila: Conflict and concordance between gene trees

The Hawaiian Drosophilidae contains approximately 1000 species, placed in species groups and subgroups based largely on secondary sexual modifications to wings, forelegs and mouthparts. Members of the spoon tarsus subgroup possess a cup-shaped structure on the foretarsi of males. Eight of the twelve species in this subgroup are found only on the Big Island of Hawaii, suggesting that they have diverged within the past 600,000 years. This rapid diversification has made determining the relationships within this group difficult to infer. We use 13 genes, including nine rapidly evolving nuclear loci, to estimate relationships within the spoon tarsus species, as well as to test the monophyly of this subgroup. A variety of analytical approaches are used, including individual and concatenated analyses, Bayesian estimation of species trees and Bayesian untangling of concordance knots. We find widespread agreement between phylogenetic estimates derived from different methods, although some incongruence is present. Notably, our analyses suggest that the spoon tarsus subgroup, as currently defined, is not monophyletic.

Research highlights► Despite gene conflict a topology is inferred for the spoon tarsus subgroup. ► Spoon tarsus subgroup as currently described may not be monophyletic. ► Clade follows progression rule, but some back colonization of older islands.