loading page

Hidden diversity in Antarctica: molecular and morphological evidence of two different species within one of the most conspicuous ascidian species
  • +2
  • Micaela Ruiz,
  • Anabela Taverna,
  • Natalia Servetto,
  • Ricardo Sahade,
  • Christoph Held
Micaela Ruiz
Universidad Nacional de Cordoba

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Anabela Taverna
Universidad Nacional de Cordoba
Author Profile
Natalia Servetto
Universidad Nacional de Cordoba
Author Profile
Ricardo Sahade
Universidad Nacional de Cordoba
Author Profile
Christoph Held
Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
Author Profile

Abstract

The Southern Ocean is one of the most isolated marine ecosystems, characterized by high levels of endemism, diversity, and biomass. Ascidians are among the dominant groups in Antarctic benthic assemblages, thus recording the evolutionary patterns of this group is crucial to improve our current understanding of the assembly of this polar ocean. We studied the genetic variation within Cnemidocarpa verrucosa sensu lato, one of the most widely distributed abundant and studied ascidian species in Antarctica. Using a mitochondrial and a nuclear gene (COI and 18S), the phylogeography of fifteen populations distributed along the Antarctic Peninsula and South America (Burdwood Bank/MPA NamuncurĂ¡) was characterized, where the bimodal distribution of the genetic distance suggested the existence of two species within the nominal C. verrucosa. When re-evaluating morphological traits to distinguish between genetically defined species, the presence of a basal disc in one of the genotypes could be a morphological trait to differentiate the species. These results are surprising due to the large research that has been carried out with the conspicuous C. verrucosa with no differentiation between species. Furthermore, it provides important tools to distinguish species in the field and laboratory. But also, these results give new insights to patterns of differentiation between closely related species that are distributed in sympatry, where the permeability of species boundaries still needs to be well understood.
10 Mar 2020Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
11 Mar 2020Submission Checks Completed
11 Mar 2020Assigned to Editor
12 Mar 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
30 Mar 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Mar 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
27 May 20201st Revision Received
28 May 2020Submission Checks Completed
28 May 2020Assigned to Editor
28 May 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Jun 2020Editorial Decision: Accept