Cryptic diversity, intraspecific phenetic plasticity and recent geographical translocations in Branchiomma (Sabellidae, Annelida). (4th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capa, Maria; Pons, Joan; Hutchings, Pat
• Is Part Of: Zoologica scripta. Volume 42:Number 6(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 655
• Publication Date: 2013-08-04
• Subjects: Zoology -- Periodicals; 590.5
• DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-3256

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="zsc12028-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The importance of identifying biological diversity accurately and efficiently is becoming more evident. It is therefore critical to determine the species boundaries between closely related taxa and to establish diagnostic characters that allow us to define species. This is not an easy task when species exhibit high intraspecific phenotypic plasticity or when distinct evolutionary lineages with an unusually large amount of genetic distinctiveness show no apparent morphological diversity (cryptic species). These phenomena appear to be common in the genus of fan worms <italic>Branchiomma</italic> (Sabellidae, Annelida), and consequently, taxonomic errors are widespread in the group. Moreover, some <italic>Branchiomma</italic> species have been unintentionally translocated outside the area where natural range extension is expected, increasing the taxonomic problems. We have performed a range of analytical methods including genetic distances, Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, statistical parsimony analyses and general mixed Yule coalescent model to clarify the taxonomic status and assess the species boundaries of <italic>Branchiomma</italic> in Australia. This study shows that the traditional diagnostic morphological features are greatly homoplastic. Results also indicate that the diversity of <italic>Branchiomma</italic> in Australia is higher than previously reported and evidence some cases of high phenetic plasticity (in features previously considered as stable within species), high intraspecific genetic variability, cryptic species and several unexpected cases of translocations.</p> </abstract>