Distribution and population genetic variation of cryptic species of the Alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in the Central Alps

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Research Article

Marie Leys¹  Christopher T. Robinson¹  Katja Räsänen¹  Irene Keller²  Jean-Luc Gattolliat³ 

[1] Department of Aquatic Ecology, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland;Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH-Zürich, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland;Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland;Musée cantonal de Zoologie, Palais de Rumine, Place de la Riponne 6, CH-1014, Lausanne, Switzerland;Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH -1015, Lausanne, Switzerland;

关键词: Alpine biodiversity;    Cryptic species;    Nuclear microsatellites;    Mitochondrial DNA;    Sympatry;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12862-016-0643-y

 received in 2016-03-03, accepted in 2016-03-23,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMany species contain evolutionarily distinct groups that are genetically highly differentiated but morphologically difficult to distinguish (i.e., cryptic species). The presence of cryptic species poses significant challenges for the accurate assessment of biodiversity and, if unrecognized, may lead to erroneous inferences in many fields of biological research and conservation.ResultsWe tested for cryptic genetic variation within the broadly distributed alpine mayfly Baetis alpinus across several major European drainages in the central Alps. Bayesian clustering and multivariate analyses of nuclear microsatellite loci, combined with phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA, were used to assess population genetic structure and diversity. We identified two genetically highly differentiated lineages (A and B) that had no obvious differences in regional distribution patterns, and occurred in local sympatry. Furthermore, the two lineages differed in relative abundance, overall levels of genetic diversity as well as patterns of population structure: lineage A was abundant, widely distributed and had a higher level of genetic variation, whereas lineage B was less abundant, more prevalent in spring-fed tributaries than glacier-fed streams and restricted to high elevations. Subsequent morphological analyses revealed that traits previously acknowledged as intraspecific variation of B. alpinus in fact segregated these two lineages.ConclusionsTaken together, our findings indicate that even common and apparently ecologically well-studied species may consist of reproductively isolated units, with distinct evolutionary histories and likely different ecology and evolutionary potential. These findings emphasize the need to investigate hidden diversity even in well-known species to allow for appropriate assessment of biological diversity and conservation measures.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Leys et al. 2016