Phylogenomics and evolution of mayflies (Ephemeroptera)

Higher-level and familial-level relationships among major mayfly lineages remains controversial and previous molecular and morphological data do not robustly support many of the proposed branching orders (Ogden et al., 2009, Ogden et al 2019). This project represents the largest phylogenetic analysis for mayflies to date. Over 400 targeted genomic protein coding regions (exons) were generated using a novel hybrid enrichment probes set. These data, combined with sequence data from sanger sequencing efforts for multiple genes, were analyzed to reconstruct a robust and well supported topology across the order. This analysis allowed us to test the monophyly and relationships of many of the proposed higher level groupings. Furthermore, the phylogeny permits the investigation of many interesting evolutionary and biological questions that remain unanswered for mayflies, such as, trends in abdominal gills, coxal accessory gills, mandibular tusk evolution, carnivory, hindwing reduction, and loss of flight.