@article{PAR00015683,
  title = {{M}itochondrial phylogenomics resolves the global spread of higher termites, ecosystem engineers of the tropics},
  author = {{B}ourguignon, {T}. and {L}o, {N}. and {S}obotnik, {J}. and {H}o, {S}. {Y}. {W}. and {I}qbal, {N}. and {C}oissac, {E}. and {L}ee, {M}. and {J}endryka, {M}. {M}. and {S}illam-{D}uss{\`e}s, {D}avid and {K}rizkova, {B}. and {R}oisin, {Y}. and {E}vans, {T}. {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he higher termites ({T}ermitidae) are keystone species and ecosystem engineers. {T}hey have exceptional biomass and play important roles in decomposition of dead plant matter, in soil manipulation, and as the primary food for many animals, especially in the tropics. {H}igher termites are most diverse in rainforests, with estimated origins in the late {E}ocene (similar to 54 {M}a), postdating the breakup of {P}angaea and {G}ondwana when most continents became separated. {S}ince termites are poor fliers, their origin and spread across the globe requires alternative explanation. {H}ere, we show that higher termites originated 42-54{M}a in {A}frica and subsequently underwent at least 24 dispersal events between the continents in two main periods. {U}sing phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial genomes from 415 species, including all higher termite taxonomic and feeding groups, we inferred 10 dispersal events to {S}outh {A}merica and {A}sia 35-23{M}a, coinciding with the sharp decrease in global temperature, sea level, and rainforest cover in the {O}ligocene. {A}fter global temperatures increased, 23-5{M}a, there was only one more dispersal to {S}outh {A}merica but 11 to {A}sia and {A}ustralia, and one dispersal back to {A}frica. {M}ost of these dispersal events were transoceanic and might have occurred via floating logs. {T}he spread of higher termites across oceans was helped by the novel ecological opportunities brought about by environmental and ecosystem change, and led termites to become one of the few insect groups with specialized mammal predators. {T}his has parallels with modern invasive species that have been able to thrive in human-impacted ecosystems.},
  keywords = {historical biogeography ; insects ; {I}soptera},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}olecular {B}iology and {E}volution},
  volume = {34},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {589--597},
  ISSN = {0737-4038},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1093/molbev/msw253},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00015683},
}