Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov.
Abstract The processes leading to the emergence of new species are poorly understood in marine plankton, where weak physical barriers and homogeneous environmental conditions limit spatial and ecological segregation. Here, we combine molecular and ecological information from a long‐term time series...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9155 |
| _version_ | 1811316351624544256 |
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| author | Isabella Percopo Maria Valeria Ruggiero Diana Sarno Lorenzo Longobardi Rachele Rossi Roberta Piredda Adriana Zingone |
| author_facet | Isabella Percopo Maria Valeria Ruggiero Diana Sarno Lorenzo Longobardi Rachele Rossi Roberta Piredda Adriana Zingone |
| author_sort | Isabella Percopo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The processes leading to the emergence of new species are poorly understood in marine plankton, where weak physical barriers and homogeneous environmental conditions limit spatial and ecological segregation. Here, we combine molecular and ecological information from a long‐term time series and propose Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona, a new cryptic planktonic diatom, as a possible case of speciation by temporal segregation. The new species differs in several genetic markers (18S, 28S and ITS rDNA fragments and rbcL) from its closest relatives, which are morphologically very similar or identical, and is reproductively isolated from its sibling species P. arenysensis. Data from a long‐term plankton time series show P. allochrona invariably occurring in summer–autumn in the Gulf of Naples, where its closely related species P. arenysensis, P. delicatissima, and P. dolorosa are instead found in winter–spring. Temperature and nutrients are the main factors associated with the occurrence of P. allochrona, which could have evolved in sympatry by switching its phenology and occupying a new ecological niche. This case of possible speciation by time shows the relevance of combining ecological time series with molecular information to shed light on the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of marine microorganisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:47:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-895bdcb9192b4785afd1aada0093c3b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:47:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-895bdcb9192b4785afd1aada0093c3b72022-12-22T02:48:09ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-08-01128n/an/a10.1002/ece3.9155Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov.Isabella Percopo0Maria Valeria Ruggiero1Diana Sarno2Lorenzo Longobardi3Rachele Rossi4Roberta Piredda5Adriana Zingone6Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples ItalyIntegrative Marine Ecology Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples ItalyResearch Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples ItalyIntegrative Marine Ecology Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno Portici ItalyIntegrative Marine Ecology Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples ItalyResearch Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples ItalyAbstract The processes leading to the emergence of new species are poorly understood in marine plankton, where weak physical barriers and homogeneous environmental conditions limit spatial and ecological segregation. Here, we combine molecular and ecological information from a long‐term time series and propose Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona, a new cryptic planktonic diatom, as a possible case of speciation by temporal segregation. The new species differs in several genetic markers (18S, 28S and ITS rDNA fragments and rbcL) from its closest relatives, which are morphologically very similar or identical, and is reproductively isolated from its sibling species P. arenysensis. Data from a long‐term plankton time series show P. allochrona invariably occurring in summer–autumn in the Gulf of Naples, where its closely related species P. arenysensis, P. delicatissima, and P. dolorosa are instead found in winter–spring. Temperature and nutrients are the main factors associated with the occurrence of P. allochrona, which could have evolved in sympatry by switching its phenology and occupying a new ecological niche. This case of possible speciation by time shows the relevance of combining ecological time series with molecular information to shed light on the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of marine microorganisms.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9155cryptic speciesdiatomseco‐evolutionary dynamicslong‐term ecological research (LTER)phenology |
| spellingShingle | Isabella Percopo Maria Valeria Ruggiero Diana Sarno Lorenzo Longobardi Rachele Rossi Roberta Piredda Adriana Zingone Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. Ecology and Evolution cryptic species diatoms eco‐evolutionary dynamics long‐term ecological research (LTER) phenology |
| title | Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. |
| title_full | Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. |
| title_fullStr | Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. |
| title_short | Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. |
| title_sort | phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom pseudo nitzschia allochrona sp nov |
| topic | cryptic species diatoms eco‐evolutionary dynamics long‐term ecological research (LTER) phenology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9155 |
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