Publication
Title
Looking beneath the tip of the iceberg : diversification of the genus Epimeria on the Antarctic shelf (Crustacea, Amphipoda)
Author
Abstract
The amphipod genus Epimeria is very speciose in Antarctic waters. Although their brooding biology, massive and heavily calcified body predict low dispersal capabilities, many Epimeria species are documented to have circum-Antarctic distributions. However, these distribution records are inevitably dependent on the morphological species definition. Yet, recent DNA evidence suggests that some of these Epimeria species may be complexes of species with restricted distributions. Mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S rDNA sequence data were used to infer evolutionary relationships among 16 nominal Epimeria species from the Antarctic Peninsula, the eastern Weddell Sea and the Ad,lie Coast. Based on this phylogenetic framework, we used morphology and the DNA-based methods GMYC, bPTP and BPP to investigate species boundaries, in order to revise the diversity and distribution patterns within the genus. Most of the studied species appeared to be complexes of pseudocryptic species, presenting small and previously overlooked morphological differences. Altogether, 25 lineages were identified as putative new species, increasing twofold the actual number of Antarctic Epimeria species. Whereas most of the species may be geographically restricted to one of the three studied regions, some still have very wide distribution ranges, hence suggesting a potential for large-scale dispersal.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Polar biology. - New York, N.Y., 1982, currens
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2016
ISSN
0722-4060 [print]
1432-2056 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S00300-016-1910-5
Volume/pages
39 :5 (2016) , p. 925-945
ISI
000374662500012
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.06.2016
Last edited 09.10.2023
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