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The molecular systematics of Leiopotherapon unicolor (Günther, 1859): testing for cryptic speciation in Australia’s most widespread freshwater fish

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journal contribution
posted on 2006-04-18, 00:00 authored by B Bostock, M Adams, Laurie Laurenson, Chris AustinChris Austin
Leiopotherapon 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.

History

Journal

Biological journal of the linnean society

Volume

87

Pagination

537 - 552

Location

London, England

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

0024-4066

eISSN

1095-8312

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2006, The Linnean Soiety of London