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Molecular and morphological evidence indicates that Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) represents two species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2005

X. Y. WU
Affiliation:
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang West Street, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, The People's Republic of China
N. B. CHILTON
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
X. Q. ZHU
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, The People's Republic of China
M. Q. XIE
Affiliation:
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang West Street, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, The People's Republic of China
A. X. LI
Affiliation:
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang West Street, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, The People's Republic of China
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Abstract

Sequences of the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) and the D1-D3 domains of the large subunit (LSU) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were determined for multiple specimens of 4 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the monogenean, Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis. OTUs were defined based on their collecting localities, host and/or morphological characteristics. All P. lantauensis specimens of one group (OTUs 1 and 3) differed in their sequences of the ITS-1 and partial LSU rDNA when compared with specimens of a second group (OTUs 2 and 4) by 12% and 2%, respectively. Results of the phylogenetic analyses of the LSU rDNA sequence data showed total (100%) bootstrap support for the separation of P. lantauensis into 2 distinct clades. At least 11 of the 18 nucleotide differences in the LSU sequence between the two P. lantauensis clades were derived (i.e. autapomorphic) characters when the morphologically distinct species, P. epinepheli and P. coioidesis, were used as outgroups. Furthermore, there were several autapomorphic character states for each P. lantauensis clade. This provides sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis that P. lantauensis represents a single species. Morphological and morphometric differences between these two clades provided additional strong support for the separation of P. lantauensis into two species. These two parasite species were found to co-exist on one of the two species of serranid fish (i.e. Epinephelus coioides) examined in the South China Sea (Guangdong Province, China).

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Table 1. The number, host species and collection localities in Guangdong Province (China) for Pseudorhabdosynochus specimens used in the molecular and morphological analyses

Figure 1

Fig. 1. Phenograms depicting the average percentage differences in sequences for the (A) ITS-1 and (B) LSU rDNA (D1-D3 domains) among Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis OTUs, P. epinepheli and P. coioidesis.

Figure 2

Fig. 2. Strict consensus trees, constructed using maximum parsimony and depicting the relationships of Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis OTUs 1–4, and the outgroups P. epinepheli (A) and P. coioidesis (B) based on sequence for the D1-D3 domains of the LSU rDNA. The derived character states (numbers correspond to sequence alignment positions) separating the two groups of P. lantauensis are shown on each branch. Numerals above the branches represent bootstrap values (%).

Figure 3

Fig. 3. Key morphological features of the two clades (A, OTUs 1 and 3; B, OTUs 2 and 4) of Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis. A1 and B1, male copulatory organs; A2 and B2, vagina; A3 and B3, squamodisc; A4 and B4, dorsal bar. Scale bars: 20 μm.

Figure 4

Table 2. Comparative measurements (μm) of Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis specimens used in present study