Journal of Plankton Research Vol.23 no.12 pp.1311-1328, 2001
© Oxford University Press 2001
On the taxonomy of three sympatric sibling species of the Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera) complex from Spain, with the description of B. ibericus n. sp.
1 Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat I Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, A.O. 22085, València 46071, Spain, 2 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
jorge.ciros{at}uv.es
The accumulation of evidence during the last decade led to the splitting of the Brachionus plicatilis complex (Rotifera) into two morphologically recognizable species: B. plicatilis Müller and B. rotundiformis Tschugunoff, previously referred to as L- and S-type B. plicatilis (s.l.), respectively. However, recent population genetics and molecular studies have revealed that each of these taxa concern cryptic species complexes. In particular, in Torreblanca Marsh, a wetland on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, three genetically distinct groups in this rotifer complex have been shown to co-occur. Differences in genetic markers, ecological preferences, mixis responses, mating behaviour and no evidence of gene flow between them have led to the conclusion that they must be considered as three different biological species. In this study we present a detailed comparative analysis using light and scanning electron microscopy of laboratory strains enabling a morphological characterization of the three species. Fine morphology and morphometry revealed taxonomic characters constant enough to recognize three well-defined morphologies, which always correspond with the respective biological species identified. Since no type material of both B. plicatilis and B. rotundiformis is available, we designed our Spanish clones as neotypes, which would allow further comparative work. Furthermore, B. ibericus n. sp. is described. This study sets the first step for a complete characterization of the biological diversity contained within this economically important species complex.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G. B. McManus and L. A. Katz Molecular and morphological methods for identifying plankton: what makes a successful marriage? J. Plankton Res., October 1, 2009; 31(10): 1119 - 1129. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Suga, D. B. Mark Welch, Y. Tanaka, Y. Sakakura, and A. Hagiwara Two Circular Chromosomes of Unequal Copy Number Make Up the Mitochondrial Genome of the Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Mol. Biol. Evol., June 1, 2008; 25(6): 1129 - 1137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. L. Wallace Rotifers: Exquisite Metazoans Integr. Comp. Biol., July 1, 2002; 42(3): 660 - 667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|