Genes, genomes, and the evolution of beetle megadiversity

While molecular phylogenetic data and analyses have helped resolve some beetle relationships, others, particularly the interrelationships of the four beetle suborders (Adephaga, Archostemata, Myxophaga, and Polyphaga), remain uncertain. In this talk I will discuss how data obtained from the sequencing, de novo assembly, and study of beetle genomes (the "Exemplar beetle genomes project") and emerging phylogenomic approaches to data capture (e.g., "anchored phylogenomics") are yielding new insights into the higher-level relationships of beetles, the phylogenetic placement of beetles relative to Strepsiptera and other close relatives, and timing and patterns of beetle diversification. Additionally, I will present a brief overview of beetle family-level relationships and macroevolution based on analyses of nuclear DNA sequence data as part of the Beetle Tree of Life Project. I will close by briefly discussing relationships and evolution within the extraordinarily diverse beetle suborder Polyphaga, highlighting some success stories while also noting groups whose interrelationships require further study.