Abstract Nialoe Tanaka sensu lato (s. lat.), an East Asian endemic subgenus complex of the ground beetle genus Pterostichus, faces unresolved taxonomic and evolutionary questions. This study aimed to address these issues through the synthesis of phylogenetic and time-calibration analyses with morphological and distributional data. We performed phylogenetic analyses using 4 genetic markers from 41 species of the group and conducted ancestral state reconstruction analyses on the inferred tree. Based on the time-calibrated tree, we additionally performed ancestral area reconstruction analyses. For biogeographical analysis and identification of regional species diversity patterns, we synthesized distribution data of Nialoe s. lat. from 128 published papers. Our phylogenetic analyses consistently revealed 5 major clades and determined the taxonomic position of 2 unclassified species. Based on the results, we comprehensively revised the previous checklist. Ancestral state reconstruction indicated possible convergent evolution of character states, such as elongate mandibles and matte elytra. The regional species diversity map highlighted hotspots in high-altitude regions and in sites with subterranean taxa. Divergence dating and ancestral area reconstruction suggest that Nialoe s. lat. originated near the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, with major divergence events around 15 million years ago, potentially linked to tectonic events associated with the opening of the East Sea. We propose that morphological differentiation, ecological specialization, and geographical history might have promoted diversification, along with dispersal events. These findings provide new insights into the evolution of Nialoe s. lat. and the biogeographical history of East Asia.
Kim et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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