Document of bibliographic reference 312890

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

The identification of sympatric cryptic free-living nematode species in the Antarctic intertidal

Abstract

The diversity of free-living nematodes in the beaches of two Antarctic islands, King George and Deception islands was investigated. We used morphological and molecular (LSU, and two fragments of SSU sequences) approaches to evaluate 236 nematodes. Specimens were assigned to at least genera using morphology and were assessed for the presence of cryptic speciation. The following genera were identified: Halomonhystera, Litoditis, Enoploides, Chromadorita, Theristus, Oncholaimus, Viscosia, Gammanema, Bathylaimus, Choanolaimus, and Paracanthonchus; along with specimens from the families Anticomidae and Linhomoeidae. Cryptic speciation was identified within the genera Halomonhystera and Litoditis. All of the cryptic species identified live sympatrically. The two cryptic species of Halomonhystera exhibited no significant morphological differences. However, Litoditis species 2 was significantly larger than Litoditis species 1. The utility of molecular data in confirming the identifications of some of the morphologically more challenging families of nematodes was demonstrated. In terms of which molecular sequences to use for the identification of free-living nematodes, the SSU sequences were more variable than the LSU sequences, and thus provided more resolution in the identification of cryptic speciation. Finally, despite the considerable amount of time and effort required to put together genetic and morphological data, the resulting advance in our understanding of diversity and ecology of free-living marine nematodes, makes that effort worthwhile.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000412360300128

Bibliographic citation

Lee, M.R.; Canales-Aguirre, C.B.; Nuñez, D.; Pérez, K.; Hernández, C.E.; Brante, A. (2017). The identification of sympatric cryptic free-living nematode species in the Antarctic intertidal. PLoS One 12(10): e0186140. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186140

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true