An ancient, Antarctic-specific species complex: large divergences between multiple Antarctic lineages of the tardigrade genus Mesobiotus

Short, K.A.; Sands, C.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1028-0328; McInnes, S.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3403-9379; Pisani, D.; Stevens, M.I.; Convey, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903. 2022 An ancient, Antarctic-specific species complex: large divergences between multiple Antarctic lineages of the tardigrade genus Mesobiotus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 170, 107429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107429

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Abstract/Summary

Antarctica has been isolated and progressively glaciated for over 30 million years, with only approximately 0.3 % of its area currently ice-free and capable of supporting terrestrial ecosystems. As a result, invertebrate populations have become isolated and fragmented, in some cases leading to speciation. Terrestrial invertebrate species currently found in Antarctica often show multi-million year, and even Gondwanan, heritage, with little evidence of recent colonisation. Mesobiotus is a globally distributed tardigrade genus. It has commonly been divided into two “groups”, referred to as harmsworthi and furciger, with both groups currently considered cosmopolitan, with global reports including from both the Arctic and the Antarctic. However, some authors considered that Meb. furciger, as originally described, may represent an Antarctic-specific lineage. Using collections of tardigrades from across the Antarctic continent and publicly available sequences obtained from online databases, we use mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal sequence data to clarify the relationships of Antarctic Mesobiotus species. Our analyses show that all Antarctic members belong to a single lineage, evolving separately from non-Antarctic representatives. Within this Antarctic lineage there are further deep divisions among geographic regions of the continent, consistent with the presence of a species complex. Based on our data confirming the deep divisions between this Antarctic lineage, which includes representatives of both groups, we recommend that the use of furciger and harmsworthi group terminology is now abandoned, as it leads to systematic and biogeographical confusion.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107429
ISSN:	10557903
Additional Keywords:	Antarctica, historical biogeography, species complex, Tardigrada, biodiversity
Date made live:	21 Feb 2022 09:54 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530229

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107429

ISSN:

10557903

Additional Keywords:

Antarctica, historical biogeography, species complex, Tardigrada, biodiversity

Date made live:

21 Feb 2022 09:54 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530229