Population genetics of the freshwater mussel, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amblema plicata</Emphasis> (Say 1817) (Bivalvia: Unionidae): Evidence of high dispersal and post-glacial colonization

Over 70% of North American freshwater mussel species (families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae) are listed as threatened or endangered. Knowledge of the genetic structure of target species is essential for the development of effective conservation plans. Because Ambelma plicata is a common species, its population genetic structure is likely to be relatively intact, making it a logical model species for investigations of freshwater mussel population genetics. Using mtDNA and allozymes, we determined the genotypes of 170+ individuals in each of three distinct drainages: Lake Erie, Ohio River, and the Lower Mississippi River. Overall, within-population variation increased significantly from north to south, with unique haplotypes and allele frequencies in the Kiamichi River (Lower Mississippi River drainage). Genetic diversity was relatively low in the Strawberry River (Lower Mississippi River drainage), and in the Lake Erie drainage. We calculated significant among-population structure using both molecular markers (A.p. Φ_st = 0.15, θ_st = 0.12). Using a hierarchical approach, we found low genetic structure among rivers and drainages separated by large geographic distances, indicating high effective population size and/or highly vagile fish hosts for this species. Genetic structure in the Lake Erie drainage was similar to that in the Ohio River, and indicates that northern populations were founded from at least two glacial refugia following the Pleistocene. Conservation of genetic diversity in Amblema plicata and other mussel species with similar genetic structure should focus on protection of a number of individual populations, especially those in southern rivers.     

PROVINCIALISM IN PLANKTON: ENDEMISM AND ALLOPATRIC SPECIATION IN AUSTRALIAN DAPHNIA

Zooplankton species are generally considered poor candidates for allopatric speciation because of their broad distributions and capabilities for long-distance dispersal. We examined the validity of this conclusion by determining both species distributions and the extent of gene frequency divergence in the Daphnia fauna of southeastern Australia, a mature landscape dominated by members of the carinata complex. Although delimitation of species boundaries was complicated by the prevalence of interspecific hybrids and variation in breeding systems, allozyme analysis of 187 populations indicated the presence of at least seven species. All of these species had restricted distributions, and several were narrowly endemic. Gene frequency divergence was often apparent between populations separated by only a few kilometers but was least prominent in species from inland areas. The extent of regional gene frequency shifts varied among species—two narrowly distributed (projecta, thomsoni) and one broadly distributed (carinata) species showed little divergence between sites, but two other common species (cephalata, longicephala) showed marked gene frequency shifts coincident with physiographic barriers. Together, the limited species distributions and regional gene-pool fragmentation suggest that allopatric speciation has played an important role in the origin of taxon diversity in the Daphnia carinata complex.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation in North American populations of Daphnia obtusa: continentalism or cryptic endemism?

The morphological stasis of many freshwater crustaceans has resulted in the prior delineation of cosmopolitan species and has been explained by their capacity for long-distance dispersal. This study examines the phylogeography of Daphnia obtusa, a cladoceran thought to be widespread in North America. However, sequence variation of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene indicates that this taxon is composed of two morphologically cryptic species, designated D. obtusa NA1 and NA2. NA2 is restricted to the east, whereas NA1 is broadly distributed across the United States, and is subdivided into four phylogroups that show weak genetic differentiation over broad geographical areas, which likely reflects recent long-distance dispersal. The current distributions of the four phylogroups in NA1 can be explained by recent range expansion from different refugia following the last Pleistocene glacial advance. Interestingly, the mitochondrial phylogroups identified in this study do not correspond to lineages detected in a previous allozyme analysis. However, the latter groups are associated with a habitat shift suggesting that natural selection may have played a role in their divergence. The results of this and previous studies illustrate the complicated biogeographical history of freshwater cladocerans.     

Biogeography of a southern hemisphere freshwater fish: how important is marine dispersal?

Galaxias maculatus is one of the world's most widely distributed freshwater fish. This species has a marine-tolerant juvenile phase, and a geographical range extending through much of the southern hemisphere. We conducted phylogeographic analyses of 163 control region haplotypes of G. maculatus, including samples from New Zealand (five locations), Tasmania (one location) and Chile (one location). A lack of genetic structure among New Zealand samples suggests that marine dispersal facilitates considerable gene flow on an intra-continental scale. The discovery of a Tasmanian-like haplotype in one of 144 New Zealand samples indicates that inter-continental marine dispersal occurs but is insufficient to prevent mitochondrial DNA differentiation among continents. The sister relationship of Tasmanian and New Zealand clades implies that marine dispersal is an important biogeographical mechanism for this species. However, a vicariant role in the divergence of eastern and western Pacific G. maculatus cannot be rejected.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Cycads in the insular South‐west Pacific: dispersal or vicariance?

Aim Cycads constitute an ancient plant group that is generally believed to disperse poorly. However, one group of cycads (subsection Rumphiae) is thought to have dispersed relatively recently from a Malesian source area westwards to East Africa and eastwards into the Pacific, using a floatation‐facilitating layer in their seeds. We use morphological and allozyme characters to investigate the relationships among the species within this group and to deduce whether the wide distribution was achieved by recent dispersal (as evidenced by high genetic similarity) or more distant vicariance events (high genetic differentiation). Location We examined specimens collected throughout the range of subsection Rumphiae, from East Africa through Southeast Asia to Tonga in the South‐west Pacific. Methods We investigated relationships within subsection Rumphiae of the genus Cycas by analysing 18 variable (11 informative) morphological characters and 22 allozyme loci for seven of the 10 species currently assigned to this taxon. Results Distinctive morphological characters are few and fail to resolve relationships within the group. Allozyme data show that species within this subsection are closely related and suggest that there are two groups within the subsection, one comprising Cycas thouarsii (East Africa) and C. edentata (the Philippines), and the other the remaining species (from Malesia and the Pacific). The Australian species C. silvestris is sister to subsection Rumphiae in the morphological analysis but is closely allied to C. rumphii (nested within the subsection) in the allozyme analysis, suggesting that Rumphiae may be paraphyletic and that characters thought to be taxonomically important may need to be re‐evaluated. Main conclusions Cycads within subsection Rumphiae are closely related, and the wide distribution of this group was probably achieved through relatively recent oceanic dispersal events. Separate events probably account for the dispersal of these cycads into the Pacific and to Africa. The origin and distribution of C. silvestris (Australia) could be explained by a dispersal event from New Guinea or may have resulted from a former land connection between Australia and New Guinea.     

Distribution patterns of some subterranean Crustacea in the territory of the former Yugoslavia

A selection of the most representative distribution patterns of stygobiont animals is presented. The range of a genus may extend beyond the Dinaride karst, while some species exhibit a holo-Dinaric distribution. The mero-Dinaric distribution is organised in two vicarious centres (in the NW and SE) as well as an epilittoral and a paralittoral belt. The paralittoral distribution is a result of paleogeographic rather than present-day ecological conditions. Important differences between the interstitial faunas of Slovenia (and NE Italy) and Macedonia are probably the result of their different sources. Some other distribution patterns are discussed or summarized from the existing literature. The distribution patterns of this stygobiont fauna are extremely diverse, and are influenced by the geological complexity of the territory as well as by the richness of the fauna concerned. New distribution data for some Copepoda, Thermosbaenacea, and Amphipoda are appended.     

Patterns of colonization, evolution and gene flow in species of the genus Patella in the Macaronesian Islands

The study of phylogeographical patterns may contribute to a better understanding of factors affecting the dispersal of organisms in ecological and historical times. For intertidal organisms, islands are particularly suitable models allowing the test of predictions related to the efficacy of pelagic larvae dispersal. Here, we study the phylogeographical patterns and gene flow within three groups of species of the genus Patella present in the Macaronesian Islands that have been previously shown to be monophyletic. The genetic variability of around 600 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I was studied by single strand conformation polymorphism and/or sequencing for seven species of limpets. A total of 420 samples were analysed from the Macaronesian archipelagos, North Africa, and Atlantic and Mediterranean shores of the Iberian Peninsula. No clear geographical pattern or temporal congruence was found between the three groups of species, pointing to independent histories and colonization events. However, for the three groups, the split between the Macaronesian and the mainland forms most probably occurred before 3.9 million years ago, predating the establishment of the current circulation patterns. The presence of pelagic larvae in these species is shown to be insufficient to ensure gene flow between continental and Macaronesian populations and between the Macaronesian archipelagos. In the endangered Azorean populations of Patella candei, there is restricted gene flow to Flores and Graciosa.     

The genusDaphnia in Cameroon,West Africa

Three species of the genusDaphnia are recorded from Cameroon.Daphnia obtusa was found in a single lake out of 37 sampled.Daphnia laevis was found in the same lake asD. obtusa and in two other lakes, whileD. rosea was found in three other lakes. All the lakes were at altitudes over 1 000 m. The records can be interpreted either as altitudinal survivals of continually dispersing species, or as relicts in an area whereDaphnia is usually very rare or absent.