[Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles

Wed Dec 21 03:46:26 CST 2011

Curiously both T. sulcatus and P. graniceps only records from Tasmania are from Hobart. This could suggest more collecting effort in this area or, since the main port was there, anthropogenic introduction. Another possibility is mislabeling, and it wouldn?t be the first time this has happened. Until recent records and/or new locations are found outside these areas I lean towards the latter two possibilities. 

Best

Jason
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:33:24 -0800
From: stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles
To: jfmate at hotmail.com

both are theories which fit the evidence more or less equally

if P. graniceps can only survive at latitudes close to Antarctica, then there aren't many places where it could turn up, and Patagonian beaches may not have been searched very throughly

the related Tesarius sulcipennis is known only from Tasmania and the Chatham Islands (off the East coast of N.Z.) ... not much trade between those places (except maybe for past whaling ships?), but it could equally be explained by chance natural transoceanic dispersal  ...

Stephen

From: Jason Mate <jfmate at hotmail.com>
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu 
Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2011 3:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles

No records outside NZ and Australia. Ballast sand is the most likely based on other similar distributions of psammophilous aphodines, particularly in the N Atlantic. I don't know what the shipping routes would have been like down under
 during the late 19th or early 20th century but I would venture that there was brisk trade between both colonies. And considering the distance to other areas with similar climates, the chances of survival of any would be colonists would have been very slim. On the other hand coprophagous or saproxylic aphodines have been able to move much 
more widely (Aphodius pseudolividus or 
Saprosites mendax for example)

Best

Jason

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:38:25 -0800
From: stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles
To: jfmate at hotmail.com; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu

it wouldn't surprise me if it really
 has a circum-antarctic distribution, distributed by passive floating in the sea (if ballast sand was responsible, I would expect it to turn up preferentially in places other than Tasmania)

From: Jason Mate <jfmate at hotmail.com>
To: Taxacom <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu> 
Sent: Tuesday, 20 December 2011 4:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles

True, my apologies.  It is also found in Tasmania, although it is quite likely introduced, probably in ballast sand like other psammophiles. Nevertheless, if one appears I will gladly clean it
up.
Best
Jason

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:37:15 -0800
From: stephen_thorpe at yahoo.co.nz
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles
To: jfmate at hotmail.com; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu

not a very common species ... I have only collected one to date, and just a very few others have come my way via other people, like this one: http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phycocus_graniceps.jpg
the correct original spelling might be Phycocus, by the way
I'm sure they get passively distributed around the coast by floating in the sea like little bubbles
...

From: Jason Mate <jfmate at hotmail.com>
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu 
Sent: Monday, 19 December 2011 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles

I will crash this party and humbly request a specimen/s of Phycochus graniceps in EtOH for sequencing.

Best regards

Jason

> From: BuckleyT at landcareresearch.co.nz
> To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:59:41 +1300
> Subject: [Taxacom] PhD project: Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles
> 
>
Origin and Evolution of New Zealand Beetles
> 
> 
>

> We are seeking potential Ph.D. students interested in a three-year programme to study the evolution and systematics of New Zealand beetles.  The student would be part of a team of that will be DNA sequencing representative beetles from all major groups occurring in New Zealand and will also lead an independent study of a monophyletic group their choice to address questions about New Zealand biogeography, beetle systematics, and natural history.  The research will involve field work throughout New Zealand,
specimen sorting, management, imaging and identification, DNA sequencing and downstream phylogenetic analyses.
> 
> 
> 
> The project is based in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, Auckland. The DNA sequencing will be performed in the Ecological Genetics laboratory, also at Landcare Research. Enrolment will be
through the University of Auckland. There will also be opportunities to
 interact with researchers at the University of Auckland and the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution.
> 
> 
> 
> Experience in molecular techniques, specimen management/identification, and fieldwork is required.
> 
> 
> 
> For further details, please contact
> 
> 
> 
> Richard Leschen, leschenr at landcareresearch.co.nz<mailto:leschenr at landcareresearch.co.nz> or Thomas Buckley, buckleyt at landcareresearch.co.nz<mailto:buckleyt at landcareresearch.co.nz>
> 
> 
> Thomas Buckley
> Research Group Leader, Landcare Research
> Associate Professor, University of Auckland
> Principal Investigator, Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology & Evolution
> 
> Tel: (+64 9) 574 4116 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (+64 9) 574 4116      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  |  Fax: (+64 9) 574 4101  |  Email: buckleyt at landcareresearch.co.nz<mailto:buckleyt at landcareresearch.co.nz>
> Post: Private Bag 92170, Auckland, New Zealand  |  Web: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/staff_page.asp?staff_num10
> 
> 
> ________________________________
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