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Molecular Characterization of Parabasalian Symbionts C oronympha clevelandii and T richonympha subquasilla from the H awaiian Lowland Tree Termite I ncisitermes immigrans
Author(s) -
James Erick R.,
Burki Fabien,
Todd Harper J.,
Scheffrahn Rudolf H.,
Keeling Patrick J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/jeu.12027
Subject(s) - biology , dna barcoding , phylogenetic tree , host (biology) , zoology , genus , evolutionary biology , ecology , gene , genetics
An important and undervalued challenge in characterizing symbiotic protists is the accurate identification of their host species. Here, we use DNA barcoding to resolve one confusing case involving parabasalian symbionts in the hindgut of the Hawaiian lowland tree termite, I ncisitermes immigrans , which is host to several parabasalians, including the type species for the genus C oronympha, C . clevelandii . We collected I . immigrans from its type locality ( H awaii), confirmed its identity by DNA barcoding, and characterized the phylogenetic position of two symbionts, C . clevelandii and T richonympha subquasilla . These data show that previous molecular surveys of “ I . immigrans ” are, in fact, mainly derived from the C aribbean termite I . schwarzi , and perhaps also another related species. These results emphasize the need for host barcoding, clarify the relationship between morphologically distinct C oronympha species, and also suggest some interesting distribution patterns of nonendemic termite species and their symbionts.