Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the genus Isophya (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae) based on molecular data

Abstract

A preliminary phylogenetic analysis involving 22 taxa of the genus Isophya was conducted using four molecular markers (sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b), fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) and the internal transcribed spacers I and II (ITS1 and ITS2)). Our results indicate that Isophya is a monophyletic group with the exception of one species, I. bivittata. The analysis revealed a high level of polymorphism in the mitochondrial and nuclear genes of all species. MtDNA performs better in the phylogenetic reconstruction of Isophya than the ITS markers. Although the results show some conflict with the systematics of the group known from morphological and bioacoustic data, the study can be the basis for future reconstructions of the phylogeny of Isophya.