Open AccessSibling species in the oligochaete worm Lumbricillus rivalis (Enchytraeidae) revealed by enzyme polymorphisms and breeding experiments
Author(s) -
CHRISTENSEN BENT,
JELNES JENS
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1976.tb01588.x
Subject(s) - biology , phosphoglucomutase , glucose 6 phosphate isomerase , enchytraeidae , genetic algorithm , sibling species , reproductive isolation , zoology , genetics , evolutionary biology , ecology , enzyme , biochemistry , population , sociology , demography
At least two sibling species were discovered in the oligochaete worm Lumbricillus rivalis L ev . by electrophoretic studies on the phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) and phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) loci and by breeding experiments. Based on the genetic differentiation, 22 populations studied were divided into three groups. This subdivision was correlated with differences in habitats. One of the groups is reproductively isolated from the other two, whereas the relationship between the latter remains unknown. The speciation is in some way associated with shift in the electrophoretic mobility of Pgi resulting in two assemblages, each containing a number of equidistant alleles. It is proposed that the speciation is associated with ecological adaptation to less saline environments.