Microtaxonomy of fragmenting Enchytraeus species using molecular markers, with a comment on species complexes in enchytraeids

Rut COLLADO; Eva HASS-CORDES; Rüdiger M. SCHMELZ

Article Details

Microtaxonomy of fragmenting Enchytraeus species using molecular markers, with a comment on species complexes in enchytraeids

Authors:

Rut COLLADO | Eva HASS-CORDES | Rüdiger M. SCHMELZ

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Zoology 2012 Vol.36 Issue 1, pp.85-94

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2011

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000776495

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6114

pISSN:

1300-0179

Keywords:

Abstract:

 

Populations of Enchytraeus that reproduce by fragmentation are distributed worldwide, but their species-level taxonomy is unresolved because morphological differences are inconclusive. Therefore, we compared the isozyme and RAPD-PCR patterns of 5 populations of fragmenting enchytraeids from widely distant localities (Japan, Iran, Greece, and Brazil). Among these populations, 3 were identified (E. japonensis, E. bigeminus, and E. dudichi) and 2 were unidentified. Multiple isozyme bands suggested polyploidy in all investigated populations. In all RAPD-PCR algorithms except 1, the fragmenting group formed a cluster separate from 2 nonfragmenting Enchytraeus species. All 5 populations were clearly separable on the levels of protein and DNA, but the unidentified Greek populations clustered more closely with E. japonensis. It remains unknown whether the fragmenting group in Enchytraeus is monophyletic or polyphyletic. Although every investigated population may deserve species rank, a consistent classification is impossible at present.

 

Populations of Enchytraeus that reproduce by fragmentation are distributed worldwide, but their species-level taxonomy is unresolved because morphological differences are inconclusive. Therefore, we compared the isozyme and RAPD-PCR patterns of 5 populations of fragmenting enchytraeids from widely distant localities (Japan, Iran, Greece, and Brazil). Among these populations, 3 were identified (E. japonensis, E. bigeminus, and E. dudichi) and 2 were unidentified. Multiple isozyme bands suggested polyploidy in all investigated populations. In all RAPD-PCR algorithms except 1, the fragmenting group formed a cluster separate from 2 nonfragmenting Enchytraeus species. All 5 populations were clearly separable on the levels of protein and DNA, but the unidentified Greek populations clustered more closely with E. japonensis. It remains unknown whether the fragmenting group in Enchytraeus is monophyletic or polyphyletic. Although every investigated population may deserve species rank, a consistent classification is impossible at present.

Article Details

Microtaxonomy of fragmenting Enchytraeus species using molecular markers, with a comment on species complexes in enchytraeids

Authors:

Rut COLLADO | Eva HASS-CORDES | Rüdiger M. SCHMELZ

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Zoology 2012 Vol.36 Issue 1, pp.85-94

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2011

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000776495

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6114

pISSN:

1300-0179

Key words: Cryptic species

molecular diversity

Enchytraeidae

Oligochaeta

Clitellata

Annelida

Enchytraeus bigeminus group

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Rut COLLADO | Eva HASS-CORDES | Rüdiger M. SCHMELZ

Publisher: TUBITAK

Journal: Turkish Journal of Zoology 2012 Vol.36 Issue 1, pp.85-94

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2011

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2000776495

Frequency: Bimonthly

eISSN: 1303-6114

pISSN: 1300-0179

Issues

Authors:

Rut COLLADO | Eva HASS-CORDES | Rüdiger M. SCHMELZ

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Zoology 2012 Vol.36 Issue 1, pp.85-94

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2011

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000776495

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6114

pISSN:

1300-0179