True phylogeny based on a single marker is indeed to ideal. So much so that the likelihood of a manuscript being accepted for publication in anything with an impact factor that could be considered good, is slim. However, based on previous studies, mtDNA has proven useful for identifying species, and subspecies (of course this is dependent on what we consider a species, subspecies, etc, and this is something that is ever likely to be agreed upon).

Ideally, we need multiple mitochondrial and several nuclear. Whether this is a combination of mtDNA and microsatellites (which I have developed for Boa constrictor), or some additional nuclear genes, that is yet to be agreed upon, however the markers are there and the cost is no longer prohibitive.

What is interesting about the Hynková et al 2009, is that Panamanian and sabogae are position on different clades with good support. This, therefore provides valuable information as to the separation of these two locaclities, and/or subspecies, and it is therefore worthwhile to consider the regions utilized in this study for future studies of differentiation between sabogae and Panamanians. From this, the addition of further nuclear and mtDNA markers will help ellucidate the phylgeny, and potentially phylogeography of this group in greater detail. Of course, everything is going to be a phylogenetic inference, but that addition of markers will help strengthen this inference.

How significant do you believe hybridization is between these two localities. Nuclear markers will benefit this question here, however mtDNA will provide valuable information. Look at the current work on the hybridization between africanized bees and honey bees, for example.

Its an interesting study that utilization of the markers employed by Hynková et al 2009 would from. The big issue with that paper was that Hynková et al 2009 also used captive animals to base their definition of locality on. What is need here is true local animals.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

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