Testing paleolimnological predictions with molecular data: the origins of Holarctic Eubosmina

Mitochondrial Lineage Diversity and Phylogeography of Daphnia (Daphnia) (Crustacea: Cladocera) in North-East Russia

The variability of the 12S gene fragment of the mtDNA for taxa belonging to subgenus Daphnia (Daphnia) O.F. Müller, 1776 (Crustacea: Cladocera) in NE Russia is studied, and their phylogenetic analysis performed. We identified (based both on morphological and molecular data) nine species belonging to four species complexes, namely: (A) D. longispina s.l.: (1) D. longispina O.F. Müller, 1776; (2) D. dentifera Forbes, 1893; (3) D. galeata Sars, 1864; (4) D. umbra Taylor, Hebert et Colbourne, 1996; (B) D. cristata s.l.: (5) D. cristata Sars, 1862; (6) D. longiremis Sars, 1862; (C) D. curvirostris s.l.: (7) D. curvirostris Eylmann, 1887; (D) D. pulex s.l.: (8) D. pulex Leydig, 1860; (9) D. middendorffiana Fischer, 1851. Rare arcto-mountainous taxon D. umbra was found in the mountains of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic for the first time. Species diversity in NE Asia is relatively low, and the most revealed taxa are trans-Beringian. We also performed a phylogeographic analysis of D. dentifera and D. pulex s.l., the two most common species in NE Russia. Our new data allow us to assume that the daphniids of NE Asia have undergone various evolutionary scenarios during the Pleistocene period: survival is within some local refugia, and re-colonization from these areas and from North America through the Beringian land bridge, etc. We agree with previous authors who revealed that the patterns in the studied species groups are relatively recent (of Late Pleistocene or even Holocene age), although the main phylogenetic daphniid lineages (mainly congruent with the biological species) are very old. Our results provide convincing evidence for the hypothesis that NE Russia is a very important source of modern haplotypic diversity for the cladocerans.

Multiple Recent Colonizations of the Australian Region by the Chydorus sphaericus Group (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Biotic introductions are an ongoing disruption for many ecosystems. For passively dispersed freshwater zooplankton, transcontinental introductions have been common but are poorly studied in the southern hemisphere. Here we assess the hypothesis of recent introduction for populations of the Chydorus sphaericus group (Crustacea: Cladocera) in Australia. We analyzed 254 sequences (63 original sequences) from the cytochrome oxidase I region of mitochondrial DNA of Chydorus sp., which included global representation. Three Australian populations were connected with separate clades in the northern hemisphere, suggesting multiple colonization events for Australia. The timescale of the divergences was consistent with recent (Quaternary) dispersal. As Australian populations are exposed to migrating birds from the northern hemisphere, both avian and anthropogenic sources are candidates for dispersal vectors. We concluded that recent cross-hemisphere dispersal in the Chydorus sphaericus group is more common than previously believed.

Diversity of the Bosmina (Cladocera: Bosminidae) in China, revealed by analysis of two genetic markers (mtDNA 16S and a nuclear ITS)

BACKGROUND

China is an important biogeographical zone in which the genetic legacies of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods are abundant, and the contemporary geography environment plays an important role in species distribution. Therefore, many biogeographical studies have focused on the organisms of the region, especially zooplankton, which is essential in the formation of biogeographical principles. Moreover, the generality of endemism also reinforces the need for detailed regional studies of zooplankton. Bosmina, a group of cosmopolitan zooplankton, is difficult to identify by morphology, and no genetic data are available to date to assess this species complex in China. In this study, 48 waterbodies were sampled covering a large geographical and ecological range in China, the goal of this research is to explore the species distribution of Bosmina across China and to reveal the genetic information of this species complex, based on two genetic markers (a mtDNA 16S and a nuclear ITS). The diversity of taxa in the Bosmina across China was investigated using molecular tools for the first time.

RESULTS

Two main species were detected in 35 waterbodies: an endemic east Asia B. fatalis, and the B. longirostris that has a Holarctic distribution. B. fatalis had lower genetic polymorphism and population differentiation than B. longirostris. B. fatalis was preponderant in central and eastern China, whereas B. longirostris was dominated in western China. The third lineage (B. hagmanni) was only detected in a reservoir (CJR) of eastern China (Guangdong province). Bosmina had limited distribution on the Tibetan plateau.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the biogeography of Bosmina appear to be affected by historical events (Pleistocene glaciations) and contemporary environment (such as altitude, eutrophication and isolated habitat).

Contrasting endemism in pond-dwelling cyclic parthenogens: the Daphnia curvirostris species group (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Pond-dwelling cyclic parthenogens are often proposed to be highly vagile. However, the Holarctic biogeography of parthenogens has been hampered by very limited sampling in the eastern Palearctic. Here we examine the geographic boundaries, diversity, and connectivity across the Palearctic for the Daphnia curvirostris complex (Cladocera: Daphniidae). Nuclear (HSP90) and mitochondrial (ND2) sequence data supported the existence of five main clades (most of which corresponded to presumptive species) with one eastern Palearctic clade being novel to this study (the average mitochondrial genetic divergence from known species was 19.2%). D. curvirostris s.s. was geographically widespread in the Palearctic, with a population genetic signature consistent with postglacial expansion. The Eastern Palearctic had local nine endemic species and/or subclades (other Holarctic regions lacked more than one endemic subclade). Even though several endemic species appeared to have survived Pleistocene glaciation in the eastern Palearctic, much of the Palearctic has been recolonized by D. curvirostris s.str. from a Western Palearctic refugium. A disjunct population in Mexico also shared its haplotypes with D. curvirostris s.str., consistent with a recent introduction. The only apparently endemic North American lineage was detected in a thermally disturbed pond system in northwestern Alaska. Our results for pond-dwelling cyclic parthenogens further support the hypothesis that the Eastern Palearctic is a diversity hotspot for freshwater invertebrates.

DNA Barcoding Reveals High Cryptic Diversity in the North Eurasian Moina Species (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Species of the genus Moina Baird (Cladocera: Moinidae) often dominate freshwater crustacean communities in temporary water bodies. Several species of Moina are used as food for fish larvae in aquaculture, as bioindicators in toxicological studies, and as common subjects for physiological studies. The aim of this paper is to estimate biodiversity of Moina in northern Eurasia using the standard DNA barcoding approach based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. We analysed 160 newly obtained and 157 existing COI sequences, and found evidence for 21 phylogroups of Moina, some of which were detected here for the first time. Our study confirmed the opinion that the actual species diversity of cladocerans is several times higher than is presently accepted. Our results also indicated that Moina has the second richest species diversity among the cladoceran genera (with only Daphnia O. F. Mueller having a greater diversity of species). Our study strongly supports division of Moina into two faunistic groups: European-Western Siberian and Eastern Siberian-Far Eastern, with a transitional zone at the Yenisey River basin (Eastern Siberia). Here, we refrain from taxonomic descriptions of new species, as this requires a thorough morphological and taxonomic study for each putative taxon.

Coexisting cyclic parthenogens comprise a holocene species flock in Eubosmina

BACKGROUND

Mixed breeding systems with extended clonal phases and weak sexual recruitment are widespread in nature but often thought to impede the formation of discrete evolutionary clusters. Thus, cyclic parthenogens, such as cladocerans and rotifers, could be predisposed to "species problems" and a lack of discrete species. However, species flocks have been proposed for one cladoceran group, Eubosmina, where putative species are sympatric, and there is a detailed paleolimnological record indicating a Holocene age. These factors make the Eubosmina system suitable for testing the hypotheses that extended clonal phases and weak sexual recruitment inhibit speciation. Although common garden experiments have revealed a genetic component to the morphotypic variation, the evolutionary significance of the morphotypes remains controversial.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis of a single polymorphic species (i.e., mixing occurs but selection maintains genes for morphology) in four northern European lakes where the morphotypes coexist. Our evidence is based on nuclear DNA sequence, mitochondrial DNA sequence, and morphometric analysis of coexisting morphotypes. We found significant genetic differentiation, genealogical exclusivity, and morphometric differentiation for coexisting morphotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the studied morphotypes represent a group of young species undergoing speciation with apparent reproductive barriers despite coexistence in the freshwater pelagic zone.

Quaternary diversification in a sexual Holarctic zooplankter, Daphnia galeata

The effects of Quaternary glacial range partitioning on the diversification of Holarctic biota remain unclear. Glacial refugial lineages may form vicariant species, hybrid products, or merge after secondary contact. Here, we assess the effects of Quaternary glaciation on a Holarctic sexual zooplankter, Daphnia galeata, with apparently marked dispersal capacity and a widespread hybrid lineage in the New World. We collected samples of this species from 148 Holarctic lakes, analysed the nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences, and tested predictions for hypotheses that account for the origin and spread of the New World D. galeata. We detected five nuclear phylogroups and four mitochondrial phylogroups, most of which were restricted to either the New World or the Old World. The oldest mitochondrial phylogroup was restricted to Japan. One major mitochondrial clade was distributed throughout the Holarctic, but only four haplotypes were shared among continents, and analysis of molecular variance indicated significant structure at the continental level. Haplotype sharing among continents could largely be attributed to anthropogenic introductions. Mismatch distributions, haplotype networks, phylogenetic trees, longitudinal haplotype diversity erosion and coalescence analyses are consistent with colonization from an Old World and a New World refugium. Our nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence evidence supports the hypothesis that the New World D. galeata underwent introgression with Daphnia dentifera, with dispersal being enhanced by glaciation. We conclude that Quaternary glaciation had a pronounced effect on the diversification of a Holarctic sexual zooplankter.

Geographic and phylogenetic evidence for dispersed nuclear introgression in a daphniid with sexual propagules

The role of among-species gene flow in eukaryotic evolution remains controversial. Putative hybrid lineages are common in water fleas, but their ecological success is often associated with polyploidy and the production of asexual propagules. Advanced hybrid lineages with sexual propagules are expected to be geographically restricted because their successful dispersal is contingent on overcoming fertility complications, assimilation by parent taxa, and competition with parent taxa. Here we provide evidence that a diploid lineage of Daphnia has been formed by introgression between distantly related species and attained a broad distribution (Nearctic) despite its requirement for sexual propagules. The evidence is based on geographical discordance, phylogenetic discordance, recombinant genotypes and additive genotypes of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and mitochondrial DNA. Additive genotypes also provided evidence of hybridization between introduced European Daphnia and North American Daphnia. We argue that the unique biology of Holarctic lacustrine water fleas and the spatial separation of lineages during Pleistocene glaciation have promoted hybridization and its evolutionary consequences.