Revisiting the North American freshwater mussel genus Quadrula sensu lato (Bivalvia Unionidae): Phylogeny,taxonomy and species delineation |
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Authors: | Manuel Lopes‐Lima Lyubov Burlakova Alexander Karatayev André Gomes‐dos‐Santos Alexandra Zieritz Elsa Froufe Arthur E Bogan |
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Institution: | 1. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2761-7962;2. CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vair?o, Portugal;3. Manuel Lopes‐Lima, CIBIO/InBIO ‐ Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vair?o, Portugal.;4. Great Lakes Center, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York;5. CIIMAR/CIMAR ‐ Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leix?es, Matosinhos, Portugal;6. School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Malaysia;7. Research Laboratory, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina |
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Abstract: | Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionidae) have suffered strong declines over the last century. High morphological plasticity of Unionidae causes disturbances in their systematics and taxonomy, hampering conservation efforts. Species that have historically been placed under the North American genus Quadrula have suffered from numerous taxonomic and species delineation problems since its inception. Four genera are presently recognized within Quadrula sensu lato, that is, Cyclonaias, Quadrula, Theliderma and Tritogonia, but their phylogenetic basis remains incompletely tested. In the present study, we reconstructed several two‐marker (mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I—COI and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1—ND1) phylogenies with newly collected specimens and all previously available sequences covering most species within this group. We then delineated the species within the group using an integrative approach with the application of molecular statistical methods, morphometric (Fourier Shape) analyses and geographic distribution data. Four clades corresponding to these genera were consistently recovered in all phylogenies. To validate the generic status of these clades, molecular analyses were complemented with morphological, anatomical and ecological data compiled from the literature. Several revisions are here proposed to the current systematics and taxonomy of these genera, including the synonymization of Cyclonaias asperata under Cyclonaias kieneriana; the inclusion of Quadrula apiculata and Quadrula rumphiana under Quadrula quadrula; the placement of Quadrula nobilis under Tritogonia; and finally the separation of the Mobile River basin populations of Theliderma metanevra as a new species, that is, Theliderma johnsoni n. sp. The conservation implications of the proposed changes are then discussed. |
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