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Mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal extensive cryptic diversity within a western American springsnail
Author(s) -
Liu HsiuPing,
Hershler Robert,
Clift Kayla
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2003.01949.x
Subject(s) - biology , polyphyly , species complex , cytochrome c oxidase subunit i , clade , biological dispersal , mitochondrial dna , evolutionary biology , phylogenetics , zoology , ecology , genetics , phylogenetic tree , gene , population , demography , sociology
Abstract We analysed cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I sequence variation among 29 populations of a widely ranging southwestern springsnail ( Pyrgulopsis micrococcus ) and 18 regional congeners. Cladistic analyses of these sequences depict P. micrococcus as a polyphyletic composite of five well‐supported clades. Sequence divergences among these clades and subclades imply the possible occurrence of as many as seven or eight cryptic species in addition to P. micrococcus . Our finding that P. micrococcus contains multiple, genetically distinct and geographically restricted lineages suggests that diversification within this highly speciose aquatic genus has been structured in large part by the operation of terrestrial barriers to gene flow. However, these sequence data also indicate that recent dispersal among hydrographically separated areas has occurred within one of these lineages, which we attribute to passive transport on migratory waterbirds.