Potential speciation of morphotypes in the photosymbiotic ascidian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didemnum molle</Emphasis> in the Ryukyu Archipelago,Japan |
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| Authors: | M Hirose S Yokobori E Hirose |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan;(2) Laboratory for Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Four morphotypes are recognized in the photosymbiotic ascidian Didemnum molle in the Ryukyu Archipelago: three color morphs (white, dark gray, and brown) of small-type colonies and one large-type colony
(white with gray patches). The genetic variation among these four morphotypes was investigated by constructing phylogenetic
trees based on a 401-bp fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of 29 specimens collected from five islands
(Okinawajima, Sesokojima, Ikeijima, Kumejima, and Ishigakijima). The results support the monophyly of the genus Didemnum and that of the four morphotypes of D. molle. Moreover, the phylogenetic trees discriminated four clades corresponding to each morphotype. The geographic differences
of the sequences were much smaller than the differences among the morphotypes, suggesting that the four morphotypes in D. molle are discrete sibling species.
Communicated by Biology Editor Dr Ruth Gates |
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| Keywords: | Sibling species Color morphs COI Algal symbiosis Didemnidae |
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