Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Soil-feeding termites are particularly interesting models for studying the effects of fragmentation, a natural or anthropic phenomenon described as promoting genetic differentiation. However, studying the link between fragmentation a...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2006-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/6/102 |
| _version_ | 1818887944690204672 |
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| author | Livet Alexandre Demanche Christine Roy Virginie Harry Myriam |
| author_facet | Livet Alexandre Demanche Christine Roy Virginie Harry Myriam |
| author_sort | Livet Alexandre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Soil-feeding termites are particularly interesting models for studying the effects of fragmentation, a natural or anthropic phenomenon described as promoting genetic differentiation. However, studying the link between fragmentation and genetics requires a method for identifying species unambiguously, especially when morphological diagnostic characters are lacking. In humivorous termites, which contribute to the fertility of tropical soils, molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships are rarely studied, though mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers are widely used in studies of pest termites. Here, we attempt to clarify the taxonomy of soil-feeding colonies collected throughout the naturally fragmented Lopé Reserve area (Gabon) and morphologically affiliated to <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>. The mitochondrial gene of cytochrome oxidase II (COII), the second nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and five microsatellites were analyzed in 19 colonies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bayesian Inference, Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony phylogenetic analyses, which were applied to the COII and ITS2 sequences, and Neighbor-Joining reconstructions, applied to the microsatellite data, reveal four major lineages in the <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus </it>colonies. The concordant genealogical pattern of these unlinked markers strongly supports the existence of four cryptic species. Three are sympatric in the Reserve and are probably able to disperse within a mosaic of forests of variable ages and savannahs. One is limited to a very restricted gallery forest patch located in the North, outside the Reserve.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our survey highlights the value of combined mitochondrial and nuclear markers for exploring unknown groups such as soil-feeding termites, and their relevance for resolving the taxonomy of organisms with ambiguous morphological diagnostic characters.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:45:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87d3befb3e48497dbdc354cdeaec446d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:45:17Z |
| publishDate | 2006-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-87d3befb3e48497dbdc354cdeaec446d2022-12-21T20:13:40ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482006-11-016110210.1186/1471-2148-6-102Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markersLivet AlexandreDemanche ChristineRoy VirginieHarry Myriam<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Soil-feeding termites are particularly interesting models for studying the effects of fragmentation, a natural or anthropic phenomenon described as promoting genetic differentiation. However, studying the link between fragmentation and genetics requires a method for identifying species unambiguously, especially when morphological diagnostic characters are lacking. In humivorous termites, which contribute to the fertility of tropical soils, molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships are rarely studied, though mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers are widely used in studies of pest termites. Here, we attempt to clarify the taxonomy of soil-feeding colonies collected throughout the naturally fragmented Lopé Reserve area (Gabon) and morphologically affiliated to <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>. The mitochondrial gene of cytochrome oxidase II (COII), the second nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and five microsatellites were analyzed in 19 colonies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bayesian Inference, Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony phylogenetic analyses, which were applied to the COII and ITS2 sequences, and Neighbor-Joining reconstructions, applied to the microsatellite data, reveal four major lineages in the <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus </it>colonies. The concordant genealogical pattern of these unlinked markers strongly supports the existence of four cryptic species. Three are sympatric in the Reserve and are probably able to disperse within a mosaic of forests of variable ages and savannahs. One is limited to a very restricted gallery forest patch located in the North, outside the Reserve.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our survey highlights the value of combined mitochondrial and nuclear markers for exploring unknown groups such as soil-feeding termites, and their relevance for resolving the taxonomy of organisms with ambiguous morphological diagnostic characters.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/6/102 |
| spellingShingle | Livet Alexandre Demanche Christine Roy Virginie Harry Myriam Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| title | Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers |
| title_full | Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers |
| title_fullStr | Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers |
| title_short | Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite <it>Cubitermes </it>sp. <it>affinis subarquatus</it>: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers |
| title_sort | genetic differentiation in the soil feeding termite it cubitermes it sp it affinis subarquatus it occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/6/102 |
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