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The molecular systematics of Leiopotherapon unicolor (Günther, 1859): testing for cryptic speciation in Australia’s most widespread freshwater fish
journal contribution
posted on 2006-04-18, 00:00 authored by B Bostock, M Adams, Laurie Laurenson, Chris AustinChris AustinLeiopotherapon unicolor is the most widespread freshwater fish species in Australia. A comprehensive allozyme and mitochondrial DNA 16S rRNA data set was assembled from 141 specimens of L. unicolor collected Australia-wide in order to test for cryptic speciation in this far-ranging species. Surprisingly, little genetic diversity was observed within L. unicolor and provided no evidence for the existence of cryptic species within this lineage. In contrast, a small sample set of L. aheneus used as the outgroup showed two highly divergent haplotypes strongly suggestive of cryptic speciation. L. unicolor has a number of ecological and life history attributes that may explain the lack of significant genetic divergence over substantial geographical distances. The occurrence of other widespread fish and crustacean species that also display only limited genetic diversity indicate that climate conditions more favourable to dispersal across central and northern Australia than is suggested by the extent of present-day aridity have occurred in the relatively recent geological past.
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Journal
Biological journal of the linnean societyVolume
87Issue
4Pagination
537 - 552Publisher
Linnean Society of LondonLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
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ISSN
0024-4066eISSN
1095-8312Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2006, The Linnean Soiety of LondonUsage metrics
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