Ribosomal ITS Sequences Allow Resolution of Freshwater Sponge Phylogeny with Alignments Guided by Secondary Structure Prediction

Freshwater sponges include six extant families which belong to the suborder Spongillina (Porifera). The taxonomy of freshwater sponges is problematic and their phylogeny and evolution are not well understood. Sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of 11 species from the family Lubomirskiidae, 13 species from the family Spongillidae, and 1 species from the family Potamolepidae were obtained to study the phylogenetic relationships between endemic and cosmopolitan freshwater sponges and the evolution of sponges in Lake Baikal. The present study is the first one where ITS1 sequences were successfully aligned using verified secondary structure models and, in combination with ITS2, used to infer relationships between the freshwater sponges. Phylogenetic trees inferred using maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining, and parsimony methods and Bayesian inference revealed that the endemic family Lubomirskiidae was monophyletic. Our results do not support the monophyly of Spongillidae because Lubomirskiidae formed a robust clade with E. muelleri, and Trochospongilla latouchiana formed a robust clade with the outgroup Echinospongilla brichardi (Potamolepidae). Within the cosmopolitan family Spongillidae the genera Radiospongilla and Eunapius were found to be monophyletic, while Ephydatia muelleri was basal to the family Lubomirskiidae. The genetic distances between Lubomirskiidae species being much lower than those between Spongillidae species are indicative of their relatively recent radiation from a common ancestor. These results indicated that rDNA spacers sequences can be useful in the study of phylogenetic relationships of and the identification of species of freshwater sponges.     

Microbial community of freshwater sponges in Lake Baikal

The microbial community of Baikal sponges has been studied in five species belonging to the genera Swartschewskia, Baicalospongia, and Lubomirskia of the endemic family Lubomirskiidae. The results show that the total numbers of bacteria and bacterioplankton production have an effect on the growth of L. baicalensis body. Bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Sarcina, Flavobacterium, Arthrobacter, and Acinetobacter living in the sponges are representatives of the Baikal bacterioplankton. Actinomycetes of the genera Streptomyces and Micromonospora are a permanent component of the cultivable sponge microbial community. The numbers and enzyme activities of heterotrophic, oligotrophic, and psychrophilic bacteria isolated from different sponge species and from the ambient water in autumn and in winter have been estimated.     

Transformation of Baikal sponges (family Lubomirskiidae) after penetration into the Angara River

Genetic and morphological analysis of endemic sponges of the Lubomirskiidae family from Lake Baikal and the upper reaches of the Angara River was performed. Various sponge species acquired a number of similar morphological traits after the transition from the lake into the river. These traits enabled an increase of sponge skeleton strength under the conditions of elevated hydrodynamic activity. The changes significantly impeded morphology-based species identification of Angara sponges. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS regions and noncoding mitochondrial DNA fragments confirmed that the Angara sponges belonged to the Baikalian Lubomirskiidae family and demonstrated the polyphyletic origin of the sponges. The use of combined molecular and morphological data allowed for the clustering of some sponge samples into groups that corresponded to individual species. The absence of genetic isolation between the Baikalospongia intermedia and Lubomirskia baicalensis species was demonstrated, whereas the B. intermedia profundalis subspecies was well separated from B. intermedia. This finding pointed to the necessity of further studies for the clarification of the taxonomic status of this subspecies.     

Molecular phylogeny of the freshwater sponges in Lake Baikal

The phylogenetic relationship of the freshwater sponges (Porifera) in Lake Baikal is not well understood. A polyphyletic and/or monophyletic origin have been proposed. The (endemic) Baikalian sponges have been subdivided into two families: endemic Lubomirskiidae and cosmopolitan Spongillidae. In the present study, two new approaches have been made to resolve the phylogenetic relationship of Baikalian sponges; analysis of (1) nucleotide sequences from one mitochondrial gene, the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and of (2) one selected intron from the tubulin gene. Specimens from the following endemic Baikalian sponge species have been studied; Lubomirskia baicalensis , Baikalospongia intermedia, Baikalospongia recta , Baikalospongia bacillifera and Swartschewskia papyracea . They are all grouped to the family of Lubomirskiidae. Sequence comparisons were performed with the ubiquitously distributed freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris (family Spongillidae) as well as with one marine sponge, Suberites domuncula . A sequence comparison * * The sequences reported here are being deposited in the EMBL data base. of the mitochondrial COI gene revealed a monophyletic grouping of the endemic Baikalian sponges with S. lacustris as the most related species to the common ancestor. The sequences of the COI gene from B. recta , B. intermedia , B. bacillifera and L. baicalensis were found to be identical and separated from those of S. lacustris and S. papyracea . In a second approach, the exon/intron sequences framing the intron‐2 of the sponge tubulin gene were chosen for the phylogenetic analysis. The intron sequences were aligned and used for construction of a phylogenetic tree. This analysis revealed again a monophyletic grouping with S. lacustris as the closest related species to the common ancestor. It is concluded that the Baikalian sponges, which have been studied here, are of monophyletic origin. Furthermore, the data suggest that the endemic species S. papyracea is the phylogenetically oldest, extant, endemic Baikalian sponge species.     

Two hypotheses of the evolution of endemic sponges in Lake Baikal (Lubomirskiidae)

Complete and nearly complete mtDNA genome sequences were used to resolve differences between two palaeontology‐based hypotheses on timing of the origin of the Baikal endemic sponge family Lubomirskiidae (Haplosclerida, Demospongiae). Bayesian ratio test, when coupled with estimates of substitution rates based on known palaeontological findings, provided strong evidence for the Miocene origin over the Late Oligocene one. The common ancestor of the present day sponges in Lake Baikal diverged about 2,3 million years ago (Ma), while Lubomirskia baicalensis, Rezinkovia echinata, Baikalospongia intermedia profundalis and B. bacillifera split in the Pleistocene about 0,7 Ma. A phylogenetic analysis within the family suggested that speciation may have coincided with the occurrence of cold climatic conditions. We argue that the cause of speciation may be niche splitting due to temperature, depth and possibly feeding preferences.     

Speciation of sponges in Baikal-Tuva region: an outline

Lake Baikal is known for its high percentage of endemic fauna and flora. The most abundant sessile animal taxa in the littoral zone of Baikal are the photosymbiotic sponges. These endemic sponges are grouped to the family Lubomirskiidae and are separated, based on molecular data, from the cosmopolitan family Spongillidae Gray 1867. In the present review, recent data on the potential driving forces of the rapid speciation in Lake Baikal have been unified. Current data suggest that the genetic repertoire of the sponges was sufficiently large to cope with the major cold events, occurring 2.8–2.5 and 1.8–1.5 Ma. It is proposed that during those periods of climatic incisions founder populations were separated from the parental cosmopolitan sponge population and developed subsequently to the array of endemic species. To clarify whether the endemic sponge fauna is indeed restricted to Lake Baikal only or whether there exist related taxa in other lakes, a collection of sponges in the 750 km distant Lake Chagytai was performed. This lake harbours unexpectedly large populations of the endemic species Baikalospongia dzhegatajensis . As the habitat of the Lake Chagytai (algal habitat) differs strongly from that of Lake Baikal (rocky habitat), it is proposed that after the formation of the initial founder population in response to the climatic shift, subsequent speciation was driven by habitat differences.     

Phylogenetic analysis of freshwater sponges provide evidence for endemism and radiation in ancient lakes

Morphologic and phylogenetic analysis of freshwater sponges endemic to lakes in Central Sulawesi, Siberia and South-East Europe is presented. We also analyzed several cosmopolitan sponge species from Eurasia and North America and included sponge sequences from public databases. In agreement with previous reports [Addis, J.S., Peterson, K.J., 2005. Phylogenetic relationships of freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillina) inferred from analyses of 18S rDNA, COI mtDNA, and ITS2 rDNA sequences. Zool. Scr. 34, 549-557], the metaniid sponge Corvomeyenia sp. was the most deeply branching species within a monophyletic lineage of the suborder Spongillina. Pachydictyum globosum (Malawispongiidae) and Nudospongilla vasta (Spongillidae), two morphologically quite distinct species from Sulawesi were found in a joint clade with Trochospongilla (Spongillidae) rendering Trochospongilla paraphyletic. Furthermore, Ochridaspongia sp., another Malawispongiidae, clustered far away from that clade, together with Ephydatia fluviatilis, making the latter family polyphyletic. The Lubomirskiidae endemic to Lake Baikal, Lubomirskia abietina, Baikalospongia bacillifera, B. intermedia, and Swartschewskia papyracea formed a well-supported clade that was most closely linked to the genus Ephydatia (99.9% identity over a total length of 2169 concatenated nucleotide positions). Our study indicates the frequent and independent origin of sponge species endemic to different freshwater ecosystems from a few cosmopolitan founder species. The highly specific primer sets newly developed here facilitate work on the molecular phylogeny and DNA barcoding of sponges.     

Small inverted repeats drive mitochondrial genome evolution in Lake Baikal sponges

Demosponges, the largest and most diverse class in the phylum Porifera, possess mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markedly different from that in other animals. Although several studies investigated evolution of demosponge mtDNA among major lineages of the group, the changes within these groups remain largely unexplored. Recently we determined mitochondrial genomic sequence of the Lake Baikal sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis and described proliferation of small inverted repeats (hairpins) that occurred in it since the divergence between L. baicalensis and the most closely related cosmopolitan freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri. Here we report mitochondrial genomes of three additional species of Lake Baikal sponges: Swartschewskia papyracea, Rezinkovia echinata and Baikalospongia intermedia morpha profundalis (Demospongiae, Haplosclerida, Lubomirskiidae) and from a more distantly related freshwater sponge Corvomeyenia sp. (Demospongiae, Haplosclerida, Metaniidae). We use these additional sequences to explore mtDNA evolution in Baikalian sponges, paying particular attention to the variation in the rates of nucleotide substitutions and the distribution of hairpins, abundant in these genomes. We show that most of the changes in Lubomirskiidae mitochondrial genomes are due to insertion/deletion/duplication of these elements rather than single nucleotide substitutions. Thus inverted repeats can act as an important force in evolution of mitochondrial genome architecture and be a valuable marker for population- and species-level studies in this group. In addition, we infer (((Rezinkovia+Lubomirskia)+Swartschewskia)+Baikalospongia) phylogeny for the family Lubomirskiidae based on the analysis of mitochondrial coding sequences from freshwater sponges.     

Microcystins in Cyanobacterial Biofilms from the Littoral Zone of Lake Baikal

Some species of cyanobacteria synthesize toxins whose concentration during water bloom can reach values dangerous for human and animal health. Planktonic cyanobacteria are the most common and well-studied microcystins producers, hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides, whereas microcystin-producing benthic cyanobacteria are less known. In recent years, the mass development of benthic cyanobacteria forming extensive fouling on different substrates has been detected in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal. We found microcystins produced by benthic cyanobacteria in the biofouling on different natural and artificial substrates, including diseased and dead endemic sponges Lubomirskia baicalensis and Baikalospongia spp. collected from the littoral area of Lake Baikal. Microscopic analysis of the biofouling revealed prevalence of representatives of Nostocales and Oscillatoriales with predominance of Tolypothrix distorta that is likely the main microcystin producer in Lake Baikal. According to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), microcystin concentrations in biofouling were 29.8–3050 μg/kg dry weight. We identified eight microcystin variants using MALDI-TOF/TOF; [Dha7]MC-YR was detected in most samples. The presence of microcystins in biofilms formed on the surface of the artificial substrate by Phormidium autumnale was also recorded. The data obtained demonstrated the necessity to monitor potentially toxic species and concentrations of cyanotoxins in plankton and benthos in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal, especially in the regions with intense tourist and recreational activities.     

Phylogenetic position of sponges from Chagatai and Tore-Khol lakes

Morphological and molecular genetic data for freshwater sponges from the lakes of Tuva Depression, Baikalospongia dzhegatajensis (Rezvo, 1936), forms Dzh05 and Dzh06, from Chagatai Lake, as well as forms TKh1 and TKh2, from the Lake Tore-Khol, were obtained and examined. In the sponges examined, which on phylogenetic tree clustered together with the Ephydatia fluviatilis (Linneaus, 1758) sponge from the family Spongillidae, the ITS rDNA regions were sequenced. Comparison of highly variable interal spacer regions of the mitochondrial genome was performed using corresponding sequences of three sponges from the family Spongillidae (E. fluviatilis, E. muelleri and Spongilla lacustris), sponges from the Chagatai and Tore-Khol lakes (Dzh06 and TKh2) with an unknown status, and sponges from the Baikalian family Lubomirskiidae. Minimum genetic differences were observed between E. fluviatilis, Dzh06, and TKh2 (from 0.003 to 0.01% of nucleotide substitutions), while maximum differences were found between the species of Lubomirskiidae and Spongillidae (from 0.928 to 2.06%). The data obtained indicated that sponges from Chagatai and Tore-Khol lakes were most close to E. fluviatilis.     

Sterols from sponges of Anavilhanas

Sponges present a wide variety of metabolites, and are considered one of the hotspots in research on the chemistry of natural products. Sterols from sponges have received attention because they present patterns of branches that distinguish them from all other living organisms. Freshwater sponges, native to rivers and lakes, have been studied chemically throughout the world, but there have been no studies on sponges from the Amazon region. The present work describes the sterols present in freshwater sponges collected in Anavilhanas, the world's second largest river archipelago, in the Negro river (Amazonas-Brazil), focussing on species whose family has not been studied previously in regard to their chemistry of natural products. Using a set of derivatization reactions for identification by chromatographic and spectrometric techniques, it was observed that the steroid extracts of sponges of the species Metania reticulata, Drulia browni and Drulia uruguayensis (Metaniidae) present 24-ethyl-cholest-5,22-dien-3β-ol as the principal sterol. Cholesterol, the main sterol in Spongillidae and Lubomirskiidae, was already detected but as a minor component along with three other sterols.     

Phylogenetic position of sponges from Chagytaĭ and Tore-Khol' lakes

Morphological and molecular genetic data for freshwater sponges from the lakes of Tuva Depression, Baikalospongia dzhegatajensis (Rezvo, 1936), forms Dzh05 and Dzh06, from Chagatai Lake, as well as forms TKhl and TKh2, from the Lake Tore-Khol, were obtained and examined. In the sponges examined, which on phylogenetic tree clustered together with the Ephydatia fluviatilis (Linneaus, 1758) sponge from the family Spongillidae, the ITS rDNA regions were sequenced. Comparison of highly variable interal spacer regions of the mitochondrial genome was performed using corresponding sequences of three sponges from the family Spongillidae (E. fluviatilis, E. muelleri and Spongilla lacustris), sponges from the Chagatai and Tore-Khol lakes (Dzh06 and TKh2) with an unknown status, and sponges from the Baikalian family Lubomirskiidae. Minimum genetic differences were observed between E. fluviatilis, Dzh06, and TKh2 (from 0.003 to 0.01% of nucleotide substitutions), while maximum differences were found between the species of Lubomirskiidae and Spongillidae (from 0.928 to 2.06%). The data obtained indicated that sponges from Chagatai and Tore-Khol lakes were most close to E. fluviatilis.     

The number of endemic species of freshwater sponges (Malawispongiidae; Spongillina; Porifera) from Lake Kinneret is overestimated

It is well accepted that the freshwater sponges (Porifera; Haplosclerida; Spongillina) currently comprise six extant families: Spongillidae, Lubomirskiidae, Malawispongiidae, Metaniidae, Metschnikowiidae and Potamolepidae, but the phylogeny of this group is poorly understood. Family Malawispongiidae includes five genera: Malawispongia, Spinospongilla, Cortispongilla, Ochridaspongia, Pachydictyum, which inhabit ancient lakes: Malawi and Tanganyika (African Rift Valley), Kinneret (Middle East), Ohrid (Europe) and Poso (Central Sulawesi). We show via nuclear and mitochondrial markers (cox 1, 28S rRNA and ribosomal ITS regions) that both endemic species Cortispongilla barroisi and Ephydatia syriaca from Lake Kinneret are synonymous with the cosmopolitian species Ephydatia fluviatilis, which also supports suggestions that the family Malawispongiidae is polyphyletic. Our findings also suggest that Nudospongilla is a synthetic taxon and that the number of endemic freshwater sponge species is overestimated.     

SEQUENTIAL RADIATIONS AND PATTERNS OF SPECIATION IN THE HAWAIIAN CRICKET GENUS LAUPALA INFERRED FROM DNA SEQUENCES

The tremendous diversity of endemic Hawaiian crickets is thought to have originated primarily through intraisland radiations, in contrast to an interisland mode of diversification in the native Hawaiian Drosophila. The Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala (family Gryllidae) is one of several native genera of flightless crickets found in rain-forest habitat across the Hawaiian archipelago. I examined the phylogenetic relationships among mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences sampled from 17 species of Laupala, including the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (RNA)^val and 16S rRNA regions. The distribution of mtDNA variants suggests that species within Laupala are endemic to single islands. The phylogenetic estimate produced from both maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony supports the hypothesis that speciation in Laupala occurred mainly within islands. The inferred biogeographical history suggests that diversification in Laupala began on Kauai, the oldest rain-forested Hawaiian island. Subsequently, colonization to younger islands in the archipelago resulted in a radiation of considerable phylogenetic diversity. Phylogenetic patterns in mtDNA are not congruent with prior systematic or taxonomic hypotheses. Hypotheses that may explain the conflict between the phylogenetic patterns of mtDNA variation and the species taxonomy are discussed.     

Phylogenetic relationships of freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillina) inferred from analyses of 18S rDNA, COI mtDNA, and ITS2 rDNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships of nine species of freshwater sponges, representing the families Spongillidae, Lubomirskiidae, and Metaniidae, were inferred from analyses of 18S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA, and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA sequences. These species form a strongly supported monophyletic group within the Demospongiae, with the lithistid Vetulina stalactites as the sister taxon. Within the freshwater sponge clade, the basal taxon is not resolved. Depending upon the method of analysis and sequence, the metaniid species, Corvomeyenia sp., or the spongillid species, Trochospongilla pennsylvanica , emerges as the basal species. Among the remaining freshwater sponge species, the spongillids, Spongilla lacustris and Eunapius fragilis , form a sister group to a clade comprised of the spongillid species, Clypeatula cooperensis , Ephydatia fluviatilis , and Ephydatia muelleri , and the lubomirskiid species, Baikalospongia bacillifera and Lubomisrkia baicalensis . C. cooperensis is the sister taxon of E. fluvialitis , and E. muelleri is the sister taxon of ( B. bacillifera + L. baicalensis ). The family Spongillidae and the genus Ephydatia are thus paraphyletic with respect to the lubomirskiid species; Ephydatia is also paraphyletic to C. cooperensis . We suggest that C. cooperensis be transferred to the genus Ephydatia and that the family Lubomirskiidae be subsumed into the Spongillidae.     

The endemic Cladophorales (Ulvophyceae) of ancient Lake Baikal represent a monophyletic group of very closely related but morphologically diverse species

Lake Baikal, the oldest lake in the world, is home to spectacular biodiversity and extraordinary levels of endemism. While many of the animal species flocks from Lake Baikal are famous examples of evolutionary radiations, the lake also includes a wide diversity of endemic algae that are not well investigated with regards to molecular‐biological taxonomy and phylogeny. The endemic taxa of the green algal order Cladophorales show a range of divergent morphologies that led to their classification in four genera in two families. We sequenced partial large‐ and small‐subunit rDNA as well as the internal transcribed spacer region of 14 of the 16 described endemic taxa to clarify their phylogenetic relationships. One endemic morphospecies, Cladophora kusnetzowii, was shown to be conspecific with the widespread Aegagropila linnaei. All other endemic morphospecies formed a monophyletic group nested within the genus Rhizoclonium (Cladophoraceae), a very surprising result, in stark contrast to their morphological affinities. The Baikal clade represents a species flock of closely related taxa with very low genetic differentiation. Some of the morphospecies were congruent with lineages recovered in the phylogenies, but due to the low phylogenetic signal in the rDNA sequences the relationships within the Baikal clade were not all well resolved. The Baikal clade appears to represent a recent radiation, based on the low molecular divergence within the group, and it is hypothesized that the large morphological variation results from diversification in sympatry from a common ancestor in Lake Baikal.     

Freshwater sponge silicateins: comparison of sequences and exon-intron structure of genes

Siliceous sponge spicules contain silicateins--proteins taking part in biogenic silica precipitation and determination of the spicule morphological features. The exon-intron structure of four silicatein-alpha isoforms: -alpha1,-alpha2, -alpha3 and -alpha4 from endemic baikalian sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis was studied. For eight sponge species, including both cosmopolitan (Spongilla lacustris, Ephydatia muelleri, E. fluviatilis) and Baikal endemic (L. baicalensis, L. incrustans, Baikalospongia intermedia, B. fungiformis, Sw. papyracea) species, seventeen gene fragment sequences of different silicatein isoforms were determined. It was shown that cosmopolitan and endemic Baikalian sponges differ from each other by gene structure (have different length ofintrons). Among Baikalian sponges silicatein-alpha1 has the most variable intron length, and silicatein-alpha4 is the most conservative. Phylogenetic analysis of amino-acid silicatein sequences allow identify different silicatein isoforms, which authentically differ form four clusters on phylogenetic tree. Phylogenetic analysis of exon-intron sequences gives the possibility to separate different sponge species in the clusters.     

Two Radix spp. (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) endemic to thermal springs around Lake Baikal represent ecotypes of the widespread Radix auricularia

In this study, we re‐examine two species of freshwater gastropods of the genus Radix Montfort, 1810 (family Lymnaeidae), endemic to the geothermal springs in the Lake Baikal region in the southern part of eastern Siberia — Lymnaea (Radix) hakusyensis Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1989, and Lymnaea (Radix) thermobaicalica Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1989. The alleged species status of these endemics has been re‐assessed by means of an integrative approach combining molecular genetic taxonomy techniques with the traditional methods based on shell and soft body morphology. Phylogenetic reconstructions were made using both mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ITS2) DNA markers. We used topotypic samples of both species and specimens sampled from other sites around Lake Baikal. The results demonstrate that the two endemic species are only synonyms of a widespread Holarctic species, Radix auricularia (Linnaeus, 1758), and represent its intraspecific morph (ecotype) adapted to living in thermal springs. A new synonymy is proposed: Thermoradix Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1989 = Radix Montfort, 1810 (syn. n.).     

Materials on the flora of diatoms (Centrophyceae) from lakes of the Baikal Region and Transbaikalia

The species composition of Centrophyceae (Bacillariophyta) in the phytoplankton of nine lakes in the Baikal Region and Transbaikalia was studied using electron microscopy (SEM) methods. Nineteen species and varieties of Centrophyceae were recorded; Aulacoseira distans var. septentrionalis and Cyclotella arctica were registered in this region for the first time. Aulacoseira baicalensis, Cyclotella minuta, and Stephanodiscus inconspicuus were also found in the studied lakes and attributed to being endemic to Lake Baikal.     

Complete mitochondrial genomes of three sea basses Lateolabrax (Perciformes,Lateolabracidae) species: Genome description and phylogenetic considerations

Genus Lateolabrax consists of three species, Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus, spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus and blackfin sea bass Lateolabrax latus. The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the three sea basses were amplified and sequenced to characterize and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. The length of mitogenomes was 16,593 bp, 16,479 bp and 16,600 bp, respectively, and all of them consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) and a control region, which are typical for mtDNA of vertebrate. Most genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for the ND6 and eight tRNA genes encoding on the L-strand. A significant variation among the three species was detected in length of the control region. Phylogenetic relationship among the three species was constructed based on the datasets, including the 12 protein-coding genes (except ND6 gene), 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA sequences. The results supported the sister taxon between L. japonicus and L. maculatus. The genetic resources reported here are useful for further studies in taxonomy and phylogeny of the three sea basses and related species.