The uses of molecular techniques in studying Australian subterranean termites Genus Coptotermes

This study focuses on applying molecular tools in studying the phylogeny of the Coptotermes, especially from the Australian region, by using a combined data set of three mitochondrial genes, viz. 16S, COII, COI, comprising a total of about 2000 base pairs. This study will address these following specific questions: i. Does molecular phylogenetics reveal any new species and show any previously unknown inter-country introductions of Coptotermes? ii. Do the Australian Coptotermes from a monophyletic group? iii. How did Coptotermes radiate in Australia (geographically and ecologically)? In order to achieve these objectives, phylogenetic studies will be developed using phylogenetic models implemented in different analyses, employ sequences of several genes to be analysed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis. The study provided a well resolved toplogy of Australian species and the relation of Australian Coptotermes within the global Coptotermes view, moreover the study reveals interesting aspects of the geographic distribution of this genus in Australia, especially the species C. acinaciformi