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Species delimitation and DNA barcoding of Atlantic E nsis ( B ivalvia, P haridae)
Author(s) -
Vierna Joaquín,
Cuperus Joël,
MartínezLage Andrés,
Jansen Jeroen M.,
Perina Alejandra,
Van Pelt Hilde,
GonzálezTizón Ana M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/zsc.12038
Subject(s) - biology , phylogenetic tree , sympatric speciation , monophyly , dna barcoding , evolutionary biology , zoology , gene , clade , genetics
Ensis Schumacher, 1817 razor shells occur at both sides of the A tlantic and along the P acific coasts of tropical west A merica, Peru, and C hile. Many of them are marketed in various regions. However, the absence of clear autapomorphies in the shell and the sympatric distributions of some species often prevent a correct identification of specimens. As a consequence, populations cannot be properly managed, and edible species are almost always mislabelled along the production chain. In this work, we studied whether the currently accepted A tlantic E nsis morphospecies are different evolutionary lineages, to clarify their taxonomic status and enable molecular identifications through DNA barcoding. For this, we studied 109 specimens sampled at 27 sites, which were identified as belonging to nine of those morphospecies. We analysed nucleotide variation at four nuclear (18S, 5.8 S , ITS 1, and ITS 2) and two mitochondrial ( COI and 16 S ) regions, although the 18 S and 5.8 S regions were not informative at the species level and were not further considered. The phylogenetic trees and networks obtained supported all morphospecies as separately evolving lineages. Phylogenetic trees recovered E nsis at each side of the A tlantic as reciprocally monophyletic. Remarkably, we confirm the co‐occurrence of the morphologically similar E . minor ( C henu, 1843) and E . siliqua ( L inné, 1758) along the NW I berian coast, a fact that has been often overlooked. In S outh A merica, a relevant divergence between E . macha ( M olina, 1792) individuals from C hile and A rgentina was unveiled and suggests incipient speciation. We also confirm the occurrence of the N orth A merican species E . directus ( C onrad, 1843) as far south as north‐eastern F lorida. Among the genomic regions analysed, we suggest COI as the most suitable DNA barcode for A tlantic E nsis . Our results will contribute to the conservation and management of E nsis populations and will enable reliable identifications of the edible species, even in the absence of the valves. The name Ensis coseli Vierna nom. nov. is proposed to replace E. minor Dall, 1899 non (Chenu, 1843).