Molecular phylogeny of the W estern P alaearctic C ordulegaster taxa ( O donata: A nisoptera: C ordulegastridae)

Although O donata are a key component of many freshwater ecosystems, their taxonomy and evolutionary history is still far from being well resolved. In the present study, we report the first molecular phylogeny for the W estern P alaearctic C ordulegaster genus ( O donata: A nisoptera: C ordulegastridae). We sequenced fragments of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes [cytochrome c oxidase I ( COI) and I nternal T ranscribed S pacer‐1 ( ITS ‐1)] from eight species and 13 subspecies, from western, southern and central E urope, T urkey, and M orocco. Our data support the existence of two major groups corresponding to the traditional boltonii‐ and bidentata‐ groups. Both groups are monophyletic based on COI sequences and the distinctiveness of C ordulegaster princeps , C ordulegaster trinacriae , C ordulegaster picta and C ordulegaster heros relative to C ordulegaster boltonii , and C ordulegaster helladica and C ordulegaster insignis relative to C ordulegaster bidentata , is confirmed. All species are also monophyletic for ITS ‐1, with the exception of C ordulegaster helladica buchholzi , which shares the haplotype with C . insignis . Although moderate levels of genetic diversity were found within C . boltonii , there was no clear separation among the four subspecies, with the exception of the populations of C ordulegaster boltonii algirica from N orth A frica. Similarly, no genetic differentiation was found between the two subspecies of C . bidentata , C ordulegaster bidentata bidentata and C ordulegaster bidenta sicilica . © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2014, 111, 49–57.