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Research

Taxonomic revision, phylogenetic analysis, and biogeography of diving beetles of the genus Exocelina Broun, 1886 in New Guinea - an example for the evolution of a hyperdiverse tropical island insect group

Project leader:

Dr. Helena Shaverdo
 

Prolongation and Fond support:

2005 – dato
01.02.2012 –  31.01.2017: FWF, Einzelprojekt Nr. P 24312-B17

Abstract:

The main project goal is to investigate the evolution of Exocelina in the complex geological and ecological environment of New Guinea. To fulfill this goal we 1) carry out a taxonomic revision of the genus, with descriptions of the new species; 2) test species limits based on morphological characters and molecular data; 3) analyze relationships within the genus based on morphological characters and on molecular data separately; 5) carry out combined phylogenetic analysis, based on morphological characters and molecular data, including biogeographical and ecological aspects.
The project is carried out at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien and is planned as an international cooperation with Dr M. Balke, Zoologische Staatssammlung München.
We believe that our project is of great importance since it brings new data in two aspects. First, its results test/support several general theoretical and methodological hypotheses in biogeography, e.g. a long-distance dispersal might play a prominent role in the formation of the Southern hemisphere distributional patterns, and in systematics, e.g. a) success of an integrate approach for species delimitation; b) more than 100 species new to science are described. Here, the most innovative aspect is the creation of a cybertaxonomy infrastructure for scientific publications: descriptions, keys, and digital imaging linked to Wiki-online resources. The second aspect is important for the group: a) for the first time, phylogenetic analyses of Exocelina is performed based on morphological and molecular data, combined to the largest dataset for this region and invertebrates available to date, to reconstruct the biogeographical evolution of this group; b) a new supraspecific classification of Exocelina is proposed; c) first keys, illustrated with drawings and digital images, are created. Results of our project will have an implication not only for other biological disciplines (e.g. ecology, and nature inventory and conservation) but also for popularization of nature study and conservation and training of local people as parataxonomists.

Progress of the taxonomic work:

New Exocelina species are published in project: 116 spp.
Exocelina species described from New Guinea: 152 spp.
Exocelina species described worldwide: 209 spp.
 

N Species group
Number of spp. / subspp.
 Species distribution
IN (Indonesia): Province: Regency
PNG (Papua New Guinea): Region: Province
 
 Reference
with species group diagnosis, key, species descriptions
1 aipo
4
 IN: Papua: Pegunungan Bintang, Yahukimo Balke (1998); Balke et al. 2007 (as me-group); Shaverdo et al. (2017b); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
2
aipomek              
1
 IN: Papua: Pegunungan Bintang; PNG: Sandaun Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
3 
  ascendens  
2
 
 IN: Papua: Puncak Jaya, Puncak, Pegunungan Bintang Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
4 bacchusi
5/1
IN: Papua: Pegunungan Bintang
PNG: Highlands: Eastern Highlands, Simbu; Momase: Madang, Morobe; Papua: Central, Gulf
 
 Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2019, 2021); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
5 bagus 1 IN: Papua: Nabire Balke (1998, 2001); Shaverdo et al. (2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
6 
broschii 
 5 PNG: Highlands: Enga, Eastern and Western Highlands, Hela, Simbu;  Momase: Madang, Sandaun;  Papua: Gulf  Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2005, 2016b); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
7 casuarina 24
IN: West Papua: Nabire; Papua: Puncak, Jayapura, Pegunungan Bintang
PNG: Highlands: Eastern, Southern and Western Highlands, Enga, Simbu; Momase: East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Sandaun
 
 Balke (1998, 1999); Shaverdo et al. (2018); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
 
8 danae 15
IN: West Papua: Teluk Wondama; Papua: Paniai, Intan Jaya, Puncak Jaya, Puncak, Pegunungan Bintang
PNG: Highlands: Eastern and Western Highlands, Enga, Simbu;
Momase: Madang, Morobe, Sandaun, Papua: Central, Gulf, National Capital District, Oro (Northern), Fly (Western)
 
 Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al.  (2016d); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
9 ekari 63/3
IN: West Papua: Fak-Fak, Manokwari, Raja Ampat, Sorong, Teluk Wondama; Papua: Jayapura, Mamberamo Raya, Mimika, Nabire, Paniai, Pegunungan Bintang, Sarmi, Yahukimo, Yapen Islands
PNG: Highlands: Eastern, Southern and Western Highlands, Enga, Hela, Simbu; Momase: East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Sandaun; Papua: Gulf, Fly (Western)
 
 Balke (1998); Shaverdo & Balke (2019, 2022); Shaverdo et al. (2005, 2012, 2014, 2016a, 2020a, 2020b, 2021)
10
ferruginea
(E. baliem)
 
 1 IN: Papua: Jayawijaya Shaverdo et al. (2013); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
11 iratoi 1 IN: Papua: Puncak Shaverdo et al. (2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
12 jaseminae 4 PNG: Highlands: Eastern Highlands; Momase: Morobe; Papua: Central Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
13 koroba 1 PNG: Highlands: Hela Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
14 larsoni 3 PNG: Highlands: Eastern Highlands, Simbu; Momase: Madang; Papua: Central, National Capital Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
15 likui 1 IN: Papua: Puncak Jaya Shaverdo et al. (2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
16 mekilensis 1 PNG: Momase: Sandaun Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
17 monae 1 PNG: Momase: Morobe Balke (1998); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
18 morobensis 1 PNG: Momase: Morobe Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
19 okbapensis 4/1
IN: Papua: Jayawijaya, Pegunungan Bintang, Yahukimo
PNG: Momase: Sandaun
 
 Shaverdo et al. (2017b); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
20 pui 1 IN: Papua: Puncak Shaverdo et al. (2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
21 skalei 2 IN: West Papua: Kaimana; Papua: Mimika Shaverdo et al. (2020b); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
22 takime  2
IN: Papua: Pegunungan Bintang
PNG: Momase: Sandaun
 
 Balke (1998); Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
23 ransikiensis 1 IN: West Papua: Manokwari; Papua: Nabire Shaverdo et al. (2016c; 2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
24 ullrichi 3 PNG: Highlands: Eastern Highlands; Momase:  Morobe Balke (1998); Shaverdo & Balke (2014)
25 warasera 4 PNG: Highlands: Eastern Highlands, Simbu; Momase: Morobe; Papua: Central Shaverdo et al. (2019); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)
26 wigodukensis 2 IN: Papua: Puncak Jaya Shaverdo et al. (2017a); Shaverdo & Balke (2022)

Publications:

  1. Shaverdo, H.V., Sagata, K. & Balke, M. 2005. Five new species of the genus Papuadytes Balke, 1998 from New Guinea (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). – Aquatic Insects 27 (4): 269-280.
  2. Shaverdo, H.V., Surbakti, S., Hendrich, L. & Balke, M. 2012. Introduction of the Exocelina ekari-group with descriptions of 22 new species from New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). – ZooKeys 250: 1–76. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.250.3715. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.250.3715
  3. Shaverdo, H.V., Hendrich, L. & Balke, M. 2013. Exocelina baliem sp. n., the only known pond species of New Guinea Exocelina Broun, 1886 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). – ZooKeys 304: 83–99. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.304.4852. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.304.4852
  4. Shaverdo, H.V., Balke, M. & Toussaint, E. 2013. Speciation of hyperdiverse taxa across the highly complex New Guinean terrane system: diving beetle genus Exocelina Broun [Talk], pp. 198. – In: Kroh et al. (eds.) Abstract volume. BioSyst.EU 2013. Global systematics! 18-22 February 2013. NOBIS Austria, Vienna, 276 p.
  5. Shaverdo, H.V. & Balke, M. 2014. Exocelina kinibeli sp.n. from Papua New Guinea, a new species of the E. ullrichi-group (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) – Koleopterologische Rundschau 84: 31–40. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267147792_Exocelina_kinibeli_spn_from_Papua_New_Guinea_a_new_species_of_the_E_ullrichi-group_Coleoptera_Dytiscidae
  6. Shaverdo, H., Sagata, K., Panjaitan, R., Menufandu, H. & Balke, M. 2014. Description of 23 new species of the Exocelina ekari-group from New Guinea, with a key to all representatives of the group (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). – ZooKeys 468: 1–83. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.468.8506. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.468.8506
  7. Toussaint, E.F.A., Hall, R., Monaghan, M.T., Sagata, K., Ibalim, S., Shaverdo, H.V., Vogler, A.P., Pons, J. & Balke, M. 2014. The towering orogeny of New Guinea as a trigger for arthropod megadiversity. – Nature Communications 1: 1–10 + 10 supplements, 5:4001. Doi:10.1038/ncomms5001. URL: http://www.nature.com/search?q=10.1038%2Fncomms5001
  8. Shaverdo, H., Balke, M. & Toussaint, E.F.A. 2014. Exocelina diving beetles: large scale environmental change as a diver for lineage diversification across Melanesia [Talk], pp. 77. – In: Abstract volume. 8th Annual Meeting of NOBIS Austria, “Crossing Borders”, 28-29 November 2014, München. NOBIS Austria, Vienna, 40 p.
  9. Toussaint, E.F.A., Hendrich, L., Shaverdo, H. & Balke, M. 2015. Mosaic patterns of diversification dynamics following the colonization of Melanesian islands. – Scientific Reports 5: 16016. Doi: 10.1038/srep16016 (2015). URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep16016
  10. Shaverdo, H., Panjaitan, R. & Balke, M. 2016a. A new, widely distributed species of the Exocelina ekari-group from West Papua (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). – ZooKeys 554: 69–85. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.554.6065. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.554.6065
  11. Shaverdo, H., Sagata, K. & Balke, M. 2016b. Description of two new species of the Exocelina broschii-group from Papua New Guinea, with revision and key to all representatives of this species group (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). – ZooKeys 577: 125–148. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.577.7254. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.577.7254
  12. Shaverdo, H., Panjaitan, R. & Balke, M. 2016c. Exocelina ransikiensis sp. nov. from the Bird’s Head of New Guinea (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (1): 103–108. URL: http://aemnp.eu/PDF/56_1/56_1_103.pdf
  13. Shaverdo, H., Sagata, K. & Balke, M. 2016d. Taxonomic revision of New Guinea diving beetles of the Exocelina danae group, with the description of ten new species (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 619:  45–102. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.619.9951. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.619.9951
  14. Shaverdo, H. & Balke, M., 2016e. 1949 Infrageneric structure of New Guinea Exocelina predaceous diving beetles. – In: Online abstracts of the XXV International Congress of Entomology (ICE), September 25–October 4, 2016, Orlando, Florida, USA. Doi: 10.1603/ICE.2016.94135. URL: file:///F:/ICE2016/Paper94135.html
  15. Shaverdo, H., Wild, M., Sumoked, B. & Balke, M. 2017a. Six new species of the genus Exocelina Broun, 1886 from Wano Land, New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 665: 93–120. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.665.11792. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.665.11792
  16. Shaverdo, H., Sumoked, B. & Balke, M. 2017b. Description of two new species and one new subspecies from the Exocelina okbapensis-group, and notes on the E. aipo-group (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 715: 17–37. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.715.15913. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.715.15913
  17. Shaverdo, H., Sagata, K. & Balke, M. 2018.  Introduction of the Exocelina casuarina-group, with a key to its representatives and descriptions of 19 new species from New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 803: 7–70. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.803.28903. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.803.28903
  18. Athena Lam, Morgan Gueuning, Carolin Kindler, Matthew Van Dam, Nadir Alvarez, Rawati Panjaitan, Helena Shaverdo, Lloyd T. White, George K. Roderick & Michael Balke 2018. Phylogeography and population genomics of a lotic water beetle across a complex tropical landscape. Molecular ecology, 1-11. Doi: 10.1111/mec.14796
  19. Shaverdo, H., Surbakti, S., Warikar, E.L., Sagata, K. & Balke, M. 2019. Nine new species groups, 15 new species, and one new subspecies of New Guinea diving beetles of the genus Exocelina Broun, 1886 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 878: 73–143. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.878.37403. URL: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.878.37403
  20. Shaverdo, H. & Balke, M. 2019. A new species of the Exocelina ekari group and new faunistic data on 12 species of Exocelina BROUN, 1886 from New Guinea (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Koleopterologische Rundschau, 89, 1-10.
  21. Shaverdo, H., Surbakti, S., Sumoked, B. & Balke, M. (2020a). Two new species of the Exocelina ekari group from New Guinea with strongly modified male antennae (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 960: 63–78. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.960.55007
  22. Shaverdo, H., Surbakti, S., Sumoked, B. & Balke, M. (2020b). Three new species of Exocelina Broun, 1886 from the southern slopes of the New Guinea central range, with introduction of the Exocelina skalei group (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 1007: 129–143 (2020). Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1007.59351
  23. Shaverdo, H., Surbakti, S., Sumoked, B. & Balke, M. (2021). Seven new species of the Exocelina ekari group from New Guinea central and coastal mountains (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 1026: 45-67. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1026.61554
  24. Toussaint, E.F.A., White, L.T., Shaverdo, H., Lam, A., Surbakti, S., Panjaitan, R., Sumoked, B., Rintelen, T. von, Sagata, K. & Balke, M. (2021). New Guinean orogenic dynamics and biota evolution revealed using a custom geospatial analysis pipeline. – BMC Ecology and Evolution 21: 51. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01764-2
  25. Helena Shaverdo & Michael Balke (2022). A species-group key and notes on phylogeny and character evolution in New Guinean Exocelina Broun, 1886 diving beetles (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae). ZooKeys 1131: 31–58. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1131.94205
  26. Michael Balke, Rawati Panjaitan, Suriani Surbakti, Helena Shaverdo, Lars Hendrich, Matthew H. Van Dam, Athena Lam (2022). NextRAD phylogenomics, sanger sequencing and morphological data to establish three new species of New Guinea stream beetles. Alpine Entomology 6: 51–64. https://doi.org/10.3897/alpento.6.86665
 

Conferences:

  1. June 7-11, 2012: Balfour-Brown Club’s meeting, Hermani, Gipuzkoa, Spain. Presentation: “Systematics, phylogeny, and biogeography of New Guinean Exocelina Broun, 1886”.
  2. February 18-22, 2013: the international conference „BioSyst.EU 2013. Global systematics!”, NOBIS Austria, Vienna, Austria. Presentation: “Speciation of hyperdiverse taxa across the highly complex New Guinean terrane system: diving beetle genus Exocelina Broun, 1886”.
  3. November 28-29, 2014: the 8th Annual Meeting of NOBIS Austria „Crossing boarders”, NOBIS Austria and Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany. Presentation: “Exocelina diving beetles: large scale environmental change as a driver for lineage diversification across Melanesia”.
  4. April 23 – May 12, 2015: Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesien. A field trip and workshop at the University of Manokwari. Lecture: “From vial to publication: how do we describe new species?” Presentation at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Entomological Department: “Results of my trip to the West Papua, 2015”.
  5. September 25 – October 4, 2016: the XXV International Congress of Entomology (ICE), Orlando, Florida, USA. Presentation: “Infrageneric structure of New Guinea Exocelina predaceous diving beetles”.

  
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