Research
Clitarchus hookeri mating pair from Great Barrier Island. Image - B. Rhode
- Biogeography and phylogeny of the New Zealand species
- Genomics of cold tolerance in alpine stick insects
- Population genetics and comparative phylogeography
- Patterns and processes of speciation in New Zealand stick insects
- Taxonomic revision of the New Zealand stick insects
- Evolution of Parthenogenesis in New Zealand stick insects
Biogeography and phylogeny of the New Zealand species
Project description: We are using molecular phylogenetics to determine the biogeographic origins of the New Zealand stick insect fauna. This project involves sequencing multiple nuclear and mitochondrial genes from a large number of stick insect taxa. With the assistance of a many collaborators we have sampled taxa widely from major landmasses in the Pacific region including New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia in addition to various Pacific Islands such as Vanuatu and Fiji. The sampling also includes outgroups from all continental regions and exemplars from other major phasmid clades. These data will be used to construct a phylogeny for all New Zealand taxa and determine their age and biogeographic origin.
Funding: Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology, Royal Society – Marsden Fund.
Key personal: Thomas Buckley, Sven Bradler
Publications:
Buckley, T.R., D. Attanayake, J.A.A. Nylander, and S. Bradler. 2010. The phylogenetic placement and biogeographical origins of the New Zealand stick insects (Phasmatodea). Systematic Entomology. 35:207–225.
Buckley, T.R., D. Attanayake, and S. Bradler. 2009. Extreme convergence in stick insect evolution: phylogenetic placement of the Lord Howe Island tree lobster, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, 276:1055-1062.
Genomics of cold tolerance in alpine stick insects
Project description:We are using 454 pyrosequencing to identify candidate genes involved in cold tolerance in alpine species of Micrarchus and Niveaphasma. Candidate genes are being verified using qRT-PCR and further Next Generation DNA sequencing. Molecular evolutionary methods are being applied to these genes to reveal their role in adaptation and speciation. This research also involves characterizing the physiological and biochemical adaptations to cold stress in the above taxa. Field work involves mapping the distributions of the alpine species, establishing cultures for cold tolerance experiments, determining the ecological limits of species and collecting for phylogeographic studies.
Funding: Royal Society – Marsden Fund
Key personal: Thomas Buckley, Luke Dunning, Alice Dennis, Brent Sinclair, Melody Clark, Richard Newcomb
Publications:
O’Neill, S.B., T.R. Buckley, T.R. Jewell, and P.A. Ritchie. 2009. Phylogeographic history of the New Zealand stick insect Niveaphasma annulata (Phasmatodea) estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear loci. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 53: 523–536.
Population genetics and comparative phylogeography
Project description: Many species of New Zealand stick insect are widely distributed. We have begun to survey genetic variation in all species using mitochondrial and nuclear genes and are experimenting with Next Generation DNA sequencing methods. We are using coalescent models and other population genetic methods to reveal the demographic history of these species. The aim of this project is to define species boundaries and assess the effects of recent environmental change on population dynamics.
Funding: Royal Society – Marsden Fund, Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology, Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution.
Key personal: Thomas Buckley, Alice Dennis, Luke Dunning, Shelley Myers
Publications:
Buckley, T.R., K. Marske, and D. Attanayake. 2009. Identifying glacial refugia in a geographic parthenogen using palaeoclimate modeling and phylogeography: the New Zealand stick insect Argosarchus horridus (White). Molecular Ecology, 18: 4650-4663.
Buckley, T.R., K. Marske, and D. Attanayake. 2010. Phylogeography and ecological niche modelling of the New Zealand stick insect Clitarchus hookeri (White) support survival in multiple coastal refugia. Journal of Biogeography, in press.
O’Neill, S.B., T.R. Buckley, T.R. Jewell, and P.A. Ritchie. 2009. Phylogeographic history of the New Zealand stick insect Niveaphasma annulata (Phasmatodea) estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear loci. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 53: 523–536.
Patterns and processes of speciation in New Zealand stick insects
Project description: The taxonomy of stick insects is notoriously difficult due to extreme variation in some morphological characters and the ease at which hybridization occurs. We are studying the processes involved in mate recognition at the biochemical and behavioural levels. These data are being coupled with that from genetics and morphology to understand the isolating mechanisms between sister species.
Funding: Royal Society – Marsden Fund, Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology, Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution
Key personal: Thomas Buckley, Shelley Myers, Greg Howell
Publications: forthcoming
Taxonomic revision of the New Zealand stick insects
Project description: The New Zealand stick insects were last revised by John Salmon in 1991. However, a number of question remain regarding the status of several described taxa and the monophyly of the genera. We have initiated a revision of the entire New Zealand stick insect fauna using morphology and genetic characters. This project involves extensive field work throughout New Zealand including offshore islands. Preliminary analyses are showing higher levels of morphological diversity than previously appreciated. We have identified a number of populations that are distinctive in morphology and genetics and the taxonomic status of these populations are currently being examined. Our genetic studies are showing extensive hybridisation between currently recognized species, which is complicating the identification of species boundaries.
Funding: Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology, Royal Society – Marsden Fund.
Key personal: Thomas Buckley, Sven Bradler, Tony Jewell
Publications:
Buckley, T.R., and S. Bradler. 2010. Tepakiphasma ngatikuri, a new genus and species of stick insect (Phasmatodea) from the Far North of New Zealand. New Zealand Entomologist, 33: 118-126.
Evolution of Parthenogenesis in New Zealand stick insects
Project description: Parthenogenesis is very common in stick insects. The species of Acanthoxyla are highly unusual among animals in that the entire genus lacks males and is parthenogenetic. We have published data from cloning and sequencing single copy nuclear loci and mitochondrial genes from this genus and the related genera Clitarchus and Pseudoclitarchus to determine the origins and age of parthenogenesis in Acanthoxyla. We have also published data on Argosarchus horridus and Clitarchus hookeri to examine the effects of environmental change on the distribution of geographic parthenogenesis.
Funding: Royal Society – Marsden Fund
Key personal: Thomas Buckley, Benjamin Normark
Publications:
Buckley, T.R., K. Marske, and D. Attanayake. 2009. Identifying glacial refugia in a geographic parthenogen using palaeoclimate modeling and phylogeography: the New Zealand stick insect Argosarchus horridus (White). Molecular Ecology, 18: 4650-4663.
Buckley, T.R., K. Marske, and D. Attanayake. 2010. Phylogeography and ecological niche modelling of the New Zealand stick insect Clitarchus hookeri (White) support survival in multiple coastal refugia. Journal of Biogeography, in press.
Buckley, T.R., D. Attanayake, D.-C. Park, S. Ravindran, T.R. Jewell, and B.B. Normark. 2008. Investigating hybridization in the parthenogenetic New Zealand stick insect Acanthoxyla (Phasmatodea) using single-copy nuclear loci. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 48:335-349.
Research opportunities
There are a large number of research opportunities on the New Zealand stick insect fauna for graduate students and PostDocs.