Increased molecular divergence of two endemic Trachelipus (Isopoda, Oniscidea) species from Greece reveals patterns not congruent with current taxonomy

Abstract

In the present study, we employed three mitochondrial DNA genetic markers in a phylogenetic analysis aiming at the delineation of the relationships amongst nominal Trachelipus kytherensis populations, as well as between populations of this species and of Trachelipus aegaeus and a new form, occurring syntopically with the latter. Both the phylogenetic analysis and the genetic distances separating populations, show the presence of several distinct and well differentiated clades that undermine the monophyly of T. kytherensis. On the other hand, despite the insular distribution of T. aegaeus populations, their divergence is low and the monophyly of this taxon can be rescued by the inclusion of two more insular populations previously assigned to T. kytherensis. The patterns of genetic divergence among clades are only partially congruent with the geographic distribution of populations. The validity of taxonomic characters used so far in the genus appears to be questionable; therefore, a more comprehensive phylogenetic study at a population level is deemed necessary for understanding the divergence of Trachelipus lineages.

A review of phylogeographic analyses of animal taxa from the Aegean and surrounding regions

“…; Parmakelis et al. ) and Ligidium (Klossa‐Kilia et al. ), may also belong to old colonizers, but more data are necessary to confirm it.…”

“…). Two additional isopod taxa, Trachelipus(Klossa-Kilia et al 2006;Parmakelis et al 2008) and Ligidium (Klossa-Kilia et al 2006), may also belong to old colonizers, but more data are necessary to confirm it. Finally, there are five other cases for which the MAT had been invoked as the main cause of present day patterns (the Reticulitermes termites, the Mesobuthus scorpions, the Scolopendra centipedes, the Dendarus beetles and the Mediodactylus geckos), but their complex and unresolved phylogeographic status make the phylogeographic assumptions for these taxa worth revising.…”

Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of the Neotropical genusAtlantoscia(Oniscidea, Philosciidae): DNA barcoding and description of two new species

“…Species‐level taxonomy for terrestrial isopods is mainly based on secondary sexual characters of males (Parmakelis et al ., ). Differences between species are generally small and restricted to only a few characters, most of which are also subject to intraspecific variation (Poulakakis & Sfenthourakis, ).…”

“…Phylogenetic relationships amongst species of terrestrial isopods are largely unknown because few studies based on robust analyses have been published to date (Parmakelis et al ., ). These analyses, which at first focused on the phylogeny of higher taxonomic groups (Wetzer, , ; Mattern, ), now seek to resolve the relationships between congeneric species or between populations of a nominal species (Klossa‐Kilia et al ., ; Parmakelis et al ., ; Poulakakis & Sfenthourakis, ; Karasawa & Honda, ; Kamilari et al ., ; Lee et al ., ; Raupach et al ., ). In the case of terrestrial isopods, phylogenetic studies have primarily focused on species from the Northern Hemisphere, with a few rare exceptions (e.g.…”

Biological Responses of <I>Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</I> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to <I>Steinernema carpocapsae</I> (Nematoda: Steinernematidae)

“…One important aspect to be investigated is the capacity of the insect to recover from infection (Parmakelis et al 2008). Insects use both humoral and cellular responses against invading pathogens and parasites.…”