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Distribution and population genetic variation of cryptic species of the Alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in the Central Alps.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Many species contain evolutionarily distinct groups that are genetically highly differentiated but morphologically difficult to distinguish (i.e., cryptic species). The presence of cryptic species poses significant challenges for the accurate assessment of biodiversity and, if unrecognized, may lead to erroneous inferences in many fields of biological research and conservation. RESULTS:We tested for cryptic genetic variation within the broadly distributed alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus across several major European drainages in the central Alps. Bayesian clustering and multivariate analyses of nuclear microsatellite loci, combined with phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA, were used to assess population genetic structure and diversity. We identified two genetically highly differentiated lineages (A and B) that had no obvious differences in regional distribution patterns, and occurred in local sympatry. Furthermore, the two lineages differed in relative abundance, overall levels of genetic diversity as well as patterns of population structure: lineage A was abundant, widely distributed and had a higher level of genetic variation, whereas lineage B was less abundant, more prevalent in spring-fed tributaries than glacier-fed streams and restricted to high elevations. Subsequent morphological analyses revealed that traits previously acknowledged as intraspecific variation of B. alpinus in fact segregated these two lineages. CONCLUSIONS:Taken together, our findings indicate that even common and apparently ecologically well-studied species may consist of reproductively isolated units, with distinct evolutionary histories and likely different ecology and evolutionary potential. These findings emphasize the need to investigate hidden diversity even in well-known species to allow for appropriate assessment of biological diversity and conservation measures.

SUBMITTER: Leys M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4828801 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Distribution and population genetic variation of cryptic species of the Alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in the Central Alps.

Leys Marie M Keller Irene I Räsänen Katja K Gattolliat Jean-Luc JL Robinson Christopher T CT

BMC evolutionary biology 20160412

<h4>Background</h4>Many species contain evolutionarily distinct groups that are genetically highly differentiated but morphologically difficult to distinguish (i.e., cryptic species). The presence of cryptic species poses significant challenges for the accurate assessment of biodiversity and, if unrecognized, may lead to erroneous inferences in many fields of biological research and conservation.<h4>Results</h4>We tested for cryptic genetic variation within the broadly distributed alpine mayfly ...[more]

PMID: 27068234

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9-10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa. RESULTS:Four gene regions were examined, two mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI] and small subunit ribosomal 16S rDNA [16S]) and two nuclear (elongation factor 1 alpha [EF1?] and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [PEPCK]). Bayesian and parsimony approaches to phylogeny reconstruction resulted in five well-supported major lineages, which were confirmed using a general mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) model. Results from the EF1? gene were significantly incongruent with both mitochondrial and nuclear (PEPCK) results, possibly due to incomplete lineage sorting of the EF1? gene. Mean between-clade distance estimated using the COI and PEPCK data was found to be an order of magnitude greater than the within-clade distance and comparable to that previously reported for other recognised Baetis species. Analysis of the Isolation by Distance (IBD) between all samples showed a small but significant effect of IBD. Within each lineage the contribution of IBD was minimal. Tentative dating analyses using an uncorrelated log-normal relaxed clock and two published estimates of COI mutation rates suggest that diversification within the group occurred throughout the Pliocene and mid-Miocene (~2.4-11.5 mya). CONCLUSIONS:The distinct lineages of B. harrisoni correspond to categorical environmental variation, with two lineages comprising samples from streams that flow through acidic Table Mountain Sandstone and three lineages with samples from neutral-to-alkaline streams found within eastern South Africa, Malawi and Zambia. The results of this study suggest that B. harrisoni as it is currently recognised is not a single species with a wide geographic range and pH-tolerance, but may comprise up to five species under the phylogenetic species concept, each with limited pH-tolerances, and that the B. harrisoni species group is thus in need of taxonomic review.

Project description:The genus Centroptella Braasch & Soldán, 1980 is accepted here in a wide sense, i.e., including Chopralla Waltz & McCafferty, 1987. This genus concept is similar to the concept of the genus Bungona Harker, 1957 proposed by Salles et al. (2016), but with the generic name Centroptella instead of Bungona. The type species of Bungona, B. narilla Harker, 1957, has an unknown systematic position; the neotype designation proposed by Suter and Pearson (2001) is invalid, being inconsistent with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature; the species name B. narilla and the generic name Bungona are nomina dubia, so the name Centroptella is the senior name for the genus under consideration. The generic names Chopralla and Crassolus Salles, Gattolliat & Sartori, 2016 both are junior synonyms of Centroptella (syn. nov.). The subgenera Bungona, Centroptella and Chopralla proposed by Salles et al. (2016) are unnatural. The following new combinations are proposed: Centroptella bintang (Marle, Salles & Gattolliat, 2016) comb. nov., Centroptella bifida (Shi & Tong, 2019) comb. nov., Centroptella fusina (Tong & Dudgeon, 2003) comb. nov., Centroptella fustipalpus (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998) comb. nov., Centroptella illiesi (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998) comb. nov., Centroptella inzingae (Crass, 1947) comb. nov., Centroptella papilionodes (Marle, Salles & Gattolliat, 2016) comb. nov., Centroptella pontica (Sroka, Godunko & Gattolliat, in Sroka et al. 2019) comb. nov., Centroptella ovata (Shi & Tong, 2019) comb. nov., Centroptella quadrata (Shi & Tong, 2019) comb. nov. and Centroptella saxophila (Agnew, 1961) comb. nov. The two Australian species, C. fustipalpus and C. illiesi, differ from each other in the shape of tergalii; corrections to the original description of C. fustipalpus are given based on re-examination of the holotype and paratypes; details of larval structures of C. illiesi are figured. Corrections to the former descriptions of the South African species C. inzingae and C. saxophila are given. Examination of type material led to the discovery that the original description of the Oriental species Centroptella liebenauae Soldán, Braasch & Muu, 1987 was based on two different species: the descriptions of imago and subimago belong to Centroptella longisetosa Braasch & Soldán, 1980 (the type species of Centroptella), and the description of larva belongs to a different species, which we describe here as Centroptella ingridae sp. nov. The holotype of C. liebenauae, a larva, should be considered lost; based on the date of collection, it belonged to C. longisetosa; a set of larval exuviae with the same collecting data as the holotype, is designated as the neotype of C. liebenauae, and a new synonymy is established: C. longisetosa = C. liebenauae syn. nov. The larvae originally assigned to C. liebenauae are placed to a new species Centroptella ingridae sp. nov. belonging to the inzingae-ingridae species group; all stages of development of this species are described based on male and female imagines reared from larvae in Thailand and on the misidentified paratypes of C. liebenauae from Vietnam. Centroptella longisetosa is redescribed based on the single paratype from China, the neotype and paratypes of C. liebenauae from Vietnam, and additional material from India. Additional data on the holotype of Centroptella colorata Soldán, Braasch & Muu, 1987 are given.

Dataset Information

Distribution and population genetic variation of cryptic species of the Alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in the Central Alps.

Publications

Distribution and population genetic variation of cryptic species of the Alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in the Central Alps.

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