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Genetic structure and phylogeography of platypuses revealed by mitochondrial DNA
Author(s) -
Gongora Jaime,
Swan Amelia B.,
Chong Amanda Y.,
Ho Simon Y. W.,
Damayanti Chandramaya S.,
Kolomyjec Stephen,
Grant Tom,
Miller Emily,
Blair David,
Furlan Elise,
Gust Nick
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00854.x
Subject(s) - platypus , biology , mitochondrial dna , monotreme , phylogeography , lineage (genetic) , mtdna control region , cytochrome b , phylogenetic tree , clade , evolutionary biology , haplotype , zoology , ecology , genetics , gene , systematics , taxonomy (biology) , genotype
The platypus O rnithorhynchus anatinus is an endemic monotreme species with a wide latitudinal distribution in eastern A ustralia, including T asmania. Understanding of the phylogeography within this species is very limited at present and represents a gap in the documentation of A ustralia's unique biodiversity. We analysed mitochondrial DNA sequences (partial control region and complete cytochrome b , including portions of flanking tRNAs ) of 74 individuals from across the distribution of the species. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences corroborated the primary split within the platypus, showing two major clades: one from mainland A ustralia and the other from T asmania/ K ing I sland. Estimates of divergence times suggest that these clades last shared a common mitochondrial ancestor ∼0.7–0.94 Ma . Using an extended dataset of partial control region sequences from 284 individuals, we found evidence of genetic structure between river basins, primarily within mainland A ustralia, as well as an additional divergent lineage in North‐eastern A ustralia. Overall, few haplotypes were shared between river basins. Analyses of molecular variance of the control region sequences indicated low rates of gene flow and significant divergence, particularly at the river basin and geographical area scales.