Evidence for a higher number of species of Odontotermes (Isoptera) than currently known from Peninsular Malaysia from mitochondrial DNA phylogenies.

ABSTRACT: Termites of the genus Odontotermes are important decomposers in the Old World tropics and are sometimes important pests of crops, timber and trees. The species within the genus often have overlapping size ranges and are difficult to differentiate based on morphology. As a result, the taxonomy of Odontotermes in Peninsular Malaysia has not been adequately worked out. In this study, we examined the phylogeny of 40 samples of Odontotermes from Peninsular Malaysia using two mitochondrial DNA regions, that is, the 16S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I genes, to aid in elucidating the number of species in the peninsula. Phylogenies were reconstructed from the individual gene and combined gene data sets using parsimony and likelihood criteria. The phylogenies supported the presence o

SUBMITTER: Cheng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3110805 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature