Ecological niche modelling and DNA sequencing support a new, morphologically cryptic beetle species unveiled by DNA barcoding
Hawlitschek, Oliver, Porch, Nick, Hendrich, Lars and Balke, Michael 2011, Ecological niche modelling and DNA sequencing support a new, morphologically cryptic beetle species unveiled by DNA barcoding, PLoS ONE, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 1-14.
Background: DNA sequencing techniques used to estimate biodiversity, such as DNA barcoding, may reveal cryptic species. However, disagreements between barcoding and morphological data have already led to controversy. Species delimitation should therefore not be based on mtDNA alone. Here, we explore the use of nDNA and bioclimatic modelling in a new species of aquatic beetle revealed by mtDNA sequence data.
Methodology/Principal Findings: The aquatic beetle fauna of Australia is characterised by high degrees of endemism, including local radiations such as the genus Antiporus. Antiporus femoralis was previously considered to exist in two disjunct, but morphologically indistinguishable populations in south-western and south-eastern Australia. We constructed a phylogeny of Antiporus and detected a deep split between these populations. Diagnostic characters from the highly variable nuclear protein encoding arginine kinase gene confirmed the presence of two isolated populations. We then used ecological niche modelling to examine the climatic niche characteristics of the two populations. All results support the status of the two populations as distinct species. We describe the south-western species as Antiporus occidentalis sp.n.
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Language
eng
Field of Research
060302 Biogeography and Phylogeography
Socio Economic Objective
960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
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