Identifying biochemical phenotypic differences between cryptic species

Liebeke, Manuel; Bruford, Michael W.; Donnelly, Robert K.; Ebbels, Timothy M.D.; Hao, Jie; Kille, Peter; Lahive, Elma; Madison, Rachael M.; Morgan, A. John; Pinto-Juma, Gabriela A.; Spurgeon, David J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760; Svendsen, Claus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7281-647X; Bundy, Jacob G.. 2014 Identifying biochemical phenotypic differences between cryptic species. Biology Letters, 10 (9), 20140615. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0615

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Abstract/Summary

Molecular genetic methods can distinguish divergent evolutionary lineages in what previously appeared to be single species, but it is not always clear what functional differences exist between such cryptic species. We used a metabolomic approach to profile biochemical phenotype (metabotype) differences between two putative cryptic species of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. There were no straightforward metabolite biomarkers of lineage, i.e. no metabolites that were always at higher concentration in one lineage. Multivariate methods, however, identified a small number of metabolites that together helped distinguish the lineages, including uncommon metabolites such as Nε-trimethyllysine, which is not usually found at high concentrations. This approach could be useful for characterizing functional trait differences, especially as it is applicable to essentially any species group, irrespective of its genome sequencing status.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0615
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Acreman
ISSN:	1744-9561
Additional Keywords:	metabolomics, cryptic species, Lumbricus
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	05 Dec 2014 11:26 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508985

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