Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
Free-living terrestrial mites (Acari) have persisted through numerous glacial cycles in Antarctica. Very little is known, however, of their genetic diversity and distribution, particularly within the Ross Sea region. To redress this gap, we sampled mites throughout the Ross Sea region, East Antarcti...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/606 |
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| author | Gemma E. Collins Monica R. Young Peter Convey Steven L. Chown S. Craig Cary Byron J. Adams Diana H. Wall Ian D. Hogg |
| author_facet | Gemma E. Collins Monica R. Young Peter Convey Steven L. Chown S. Craig Cary Byron J. Adams Diana H. Wall Ian D. Hogg |
| author_sort | Gemma E. Collins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Free-living terrestrial mites (Acari) have persisted through numerous glacial cycles in Antarctica. Very little is known, however, of their genetic diversity and distribution, particularly within the Ross Sea region. To redress this gap, we sampled mites throughout the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica, including Victoria Land and the Queen Maud Mountains (QMM), covering a latitudinal range of 72–85 °S, as well as Lauft Island near Mt. Siple (73 °S) in West Antarctica and Macquarie Island (54<sup>o</sup>S) in the sub-Antarctic. We assessed genetic diversity using mitochondrial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase subunit I gene sequences (COI-5P DNA barcode region), and also morphologically identified voucher specimens. We obtained 130 sequences representing four genera: <i>Nanorchestes</i> (<i>n</i> = 30 sequences), <i>Stereotydeus</i> (<i>n</i> = 46), <i>Coccorhagidia</i> (<i>n</i> = 18) and <i>Eupodes</i> (<i>n</i> = 36). Tree-based analyses (maximum likelihood) revealed 13 genetic clusters, representing as many as 23 putative species indicated by barcode index numbers (BINs) from the Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) database. We found evidence for geographically-isolated cryptic species, e.g., within <i>Stereotydeus belli</i> and <i>S. punctatus</i>, as well as unique genetic groups occurring in sympatry (e.g., <i>Nanorchestes</i> spp. in QMM). Collectively, these data confirm high genetic divergence as a consequence of geographic isolation over evolutionary timescales. From a conservation perspective, additional targeted sampling of understudied areas in the Ross Sea region should be prioritised, as further diversity is likely to be found in these short-range endemic mites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:30:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b88bfb35f1404a299cfa7a2eeb30b196 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:30:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-b88bfb35f1404a299cfa7a2eeb30b1962023-11-17T11:16:54ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252023-02-0114360610.3390/genes14030606Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, AntarcticaGemma E. Collins0Monica R. Young1Peter Convey2Steven L. Chown3S. Craig Cary4Byron J. Adams5Diana H. Wall6Ian D. Hogg7School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New ZealandCanadian National Collection of Insects Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, CanadaBritish Antarctic Survey, Cambridge CB3 OET, UKSecuring Antarctica’s Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, AustraliaSchool of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New ZealandDepartment of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Laboratories, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USASchool of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New ZealandFree-living terrestrial mites (Acari) have persisted through numerous glacial cycles in Antarctica. Very little is known, however, of their genetic diversity and distribution, particularly within the Ross Sea region. To redress this gap, we sampled mites throughout the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica, including Victoria Land and the Queen Maud Mountains (QMM), covering a latitudinal range of 72–85 °S, as well as Lauft Island near Mt. Siple (73 °S) in West Antarctica and Macquarie Island (54<sup>o</sup>S) in the sub-Antarctic. We assessed genetic diversity using mitochondrial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase subunit I gene sequences (COI-5P DNA barcode region), and also morphologically identified voucher specimens. We obtained 130 sequences representing four genera: <i>Nanorchestes</i> (<i>n</i> = 30 sequences), <i>Stereotydeus</i> (<i>n</i> = 46), <i>Coccorhagidia</i> (<i>n</i> = 18) and <i>Eupodes</i> (<i>n</i> = 36). Tree-based analyses (maximum likelihood) revealed 13 genetic clusters, representing as many as 23 putative species indicated by barcode index numbers (BINs) from the Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) database. We found evidence for geographically-isolated cryptic species, e.g., within <i>Stereotydeus belli</i> and <i>S. punctatus</i>, as well as unique genetic groups occurring in sympatry (e.g., <i>Nanorchestes</i> spp. in QMM). Collectively, these data confirm high genetic divergence as a consequence of geographic isolation over evolutionary timescales. From a conservation perspective, additional targeted sampling of understudied areas in the Ross Sea region should be prioritised, as further diversity is likely to be found in these short-range endemic mites.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/606speciationgeographic isolationAcariAntarctic conservationDNA barcoding |
| spellingShingle | Gemma E. Collins Monica R. Young Peter Convey Steven L. Chown S. Craig Cary Byron J. Adams Diana H. Wall Ian D. Hogg Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica Genes speciation geographic isolation Acari Antarctic conservation DNA barcoding |
| title | Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
| title_full | Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
| title_short | Biogeography and Genetic Diversity of Terrestrial Mites in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
| title_sort | biogeography and genetic diversity of terrestrial mites in the ross sea region antarctica |
| topic | speciation geographic isolation Acari Antarctic conservation DNA barcoding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/606 |
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