Overlooked species diversity and distribution in the Antarctic mite genus Stereotydeus

Brunetti, Claudia; Siepel, Henk; Convey, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903; Fanciulli, Pietro Paolo; Nardi, Francesco; Carapelli, Antonio. 2021 Overlooked species diversity and distribution in the Antarctic mite genus Stereotydeus [in special issue: 2021 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members] Diversity, 13 (10), 506. 30, pp. 10.3390/d13100506

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Abstract/Summary

In the harsh Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, invertebrates are currently confined to sparse and restricted ice free areas, where they have survived on multi-million-year timescales in refugia. The limited dispersal abilities of these invertebrate species, their specific habitat requirements, and the presence of geographical barriers can drastically reduce gene flow between populations, resulting in high genetic differentiation. On continental Antarctica, mites are one of the most diverse invertebrate groups. Recently, two new species of the free living prostigmatid mite genus Stereotydeus Berlese, 1901 were discovered, bringing the number of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic species of this genus up to 15, of which 7 occur along the coast of Victoria Land and in the Transantarctic Mountains. To examine the biodiversity of Stereotydeus spp., the present study combines phylogenetic, morphological and population genetic data of specimens collected from nine localities in Victoria Land. Genetically distinct intraspecific groups are spatially isolated in northern Victoria Land, while, for other species, the genetic haplogroups more often occur sympatrically in southern Victoria Land. We provide a new distribution map for the Stereotydeus species of Victoria Land, which will assist future decisions in matters of the protection and conservation of the unique Antarctic terrestrial fauna.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3390/d13100506
ISSN:	1424-2818
Additional Keywords:	Victoria Land; molecular phylogeny; cox1; 28S; biogeography; terrestrial invertebrates; acari; Stereotydeus spp.
Date made live:	20 Oct 2021 10:21 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531278

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.3390/d13100506

ISSN:

1424-2818

Additional Keywords:

Victoria Land; molecular phylogeny; cox1; 28S; biogeography; terrestrial invertebrates; acari; Stereotydeus spp.

Date made live:

20 Oct 2021 10:21 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531278