Integrative taxonomy and evolutionary history of a newly revealed spiderDysdera ninniicomplex (Araneae: Dysderidae)

Abstract

The spider genus Dysdera is a species‐rich clade of specialized woodlice predators, composed typically of complexes of sibling species. Here, we analyse the Dysdera ninnii complex, distinguishing three species that exhibit slight but constant differences in the morphology of their copulatory organs, and in their genetic background. We designate a neotype for D. ninnii and redescribe it. We consider Dysdera pavesii Thorell, 1873 to be a junior synonym of Dysdera ninnii Canestrini, 1868. In addition, we describe two new species (Dysdera moravica sp. nov. and Dysdera microdonta sp. nov.). All three species occur in the region of north‐eastern Italy, Slovenia, and north‐western Croatia. Dysdera moravica sp. nov. expanded to central Europe. The species occur allopatrically or parapatrically. All three species possess the same diploid number and X0 sex chromosome determination. In some individuals we found chromosome fusions, and such polymorphism is common in spiders with holokinetic chromosomes. The analysis of mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI) and nuclear ribosomal (internal transcribed spacer 2, ITS2) DNA markers revealed two clades, one formed by D. ninnii and D. microdonta sp. nov., and a second by D. moravica sp. nov. Species of the first clade are not well defined by DNA markers. We noticed only weak separation of maternally inherited COI, and even overlap of autosomally inherited ITS2 sequences. We suggest that either short speciation time, unfinished lineage sorting, or rare hybridization events caused this pattern. In one sample of D. microdonta sp. nov. we detected the coxA gene of a Rickettsia species, which is the first record of this parasitic bacteria from the spider family Dysderidae. Dysdera microdonta sp. nov. occurs at higher altitudes than D. ninnii, and their distribution ranges form a long contact zone. Remarkably, we did not record any overlap of the two distribution ranges, suggesting that the lack of a precopulatory interspecific barrier causes a loss of reproduction potential. We hypothesize that because of the unsolved interspecific barrier together with only tiny differences in morphology and COI sequences, and no differences in karyotypes and ITS2 sequences, the D. ninnii species complex is evolutionarily young. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London

Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Forest Ecosystems of Třesín National Nature Monument (Litovelské Pomoraví, Czech Republic) with Suggestions to Conservation Management of the Locality

“…Dysdera moravica Řezáč, Gasparo, Král & Heneberg, 2014 C, R, VU This spider belongs to Dysdera ninni complex since it was described as a new species native to the Pannonian province (Řezáč et al, 2014). It is a thermophilous species of spider and the distribution the in Czech Republic represent the northernmost border of the distribution area.…”

“…The species is endangered by overgrowing of forest-steppe and steppe habitats due to absence of traditional management (coppice, mowing, pasture etc.). Finding in Třesín NNM is among the northernmost occurrence in the Czech 2: Distribution of Dysdera moravica (Řezáč, Gasparo, Král and Heneberg, 2014) in the Czech Republic (red dotsstudied locality Třesín) (orig. www.biolib.cz) Republic, even in the whole distribution area of this Pannonian spider species (Fig.…”

“…The families Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Gnaphosidae, and Thomisidae exhibited high species diversity. Three species listed on the Red List of Threatened Species in the Czech Republic were recorded: Dysdera moravica (Řezáč, Gasparo, Král & Heneberg, 2014), Megalepthyphantes pseudocollinus (Saaristo, 1997), and Nusoncus nasutus (Schenkel, 1925). The fi nding of N. nasutus is among the fi rst reports of this spider in the Moravia region.…”

Faunistic Study on Spiders (Araneae) in the Špraněk National Nature Reserve with Suggestion to Conservation Management of the Locality

“…These species occurred mainly in south exposed rock formation around of Špláz (Site 1 and 2). Such species included mainly rare and threatened spiders, typical for such endangered habitats, categorized as rare to scarce in the Czech Republic (Buchar and Růžička, 2002) (Řezáč et al, 2014;Košulič, 2015).…”

Widespread Torix Rickettsia in New Zealand amphipods and the use of blocking primers to rescue host COI sequences

“…In fact, this phenomenon of the amplification of non-targeted COI sequences with widely used DNA barcoding primers has already been reported. Řezáč et al (2014) 32 obtained a rickettsial COI sequence from a spider species in a study with a different purpose. Ceccarelli et al (2016) 33 obtained COI sequences of Torix Rickettsia from six individuals of a spider species while conducting DNA barcoding, and these authors formally discussed the presence of misidentified COI sequences in GenBank.…”