A phylogeny of Vesiculariidae (Bryozoa, Ctenostomata) supports synonymization of three genera and reveals possible cryptic diversity

Author(s)

Waeschenbach, Andrea ^[1] ; Vieira, Leandro M. ^{[2, 3]} ; Reverter-Gil, Oscar ^[4] ; Souto-Derungs, Javier ^{[4, 5]} ; Nascimento, Karine B. ^{[6, 2]} ; Fehlauer-Ale, Karin H. ^{[7, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Nat Hist Museum, Dept Life Sci, London SW7 5BD - England

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Biol Marinha, Lab Sistemat & Evolucao Bryozoa, BR-11600000 Sao Sebastiao, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Pernambuco, Dept Zool, Ctr Ciencias Biol, Lab Estudos Bryozoa, BR-50670901 Recife, PE - Brazil

^[4] Univ Santiago de Compostela, Fac Biol, Dept Zool & Antropol Fis, Santiago De Compostela 15782 - Spain

^[5] Univ Vienna, Inst Palaontol, Geozentrum, A-1090 Vienna - Austria

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Parana, Ctr Estudos Mar, Lab Bentos, BR-83255976 Pontal Do Parana, PR - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA; v. 44, n. 6, p. 667-683, NOV 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 11

Abstract

Compared to their calcified sister group, order Cheilostomata, uncalcified ctenostome bryozoans exhibit relatively simple and often inconsistent morphologies, making them particularly suitable candidates for the use of molecular tools to delimit species and examine their interrelationships. The family Vesiculariidae is composed of six genera, three of which, Zoobotryon, Avenella and Watersiana are monotypic, and one, Vesicularia, encompasses four species. The majority of vesiculariid diversity, however, is found in Amathia (39 species) and Bowerbankia (21 species). The respective monophyletic status for Amathia and Bowerbankia has recently been put into question by molecular evidence and is being further examined in this study. Multigene (ssrDNA, rrnL, cox1) phylogenetic analysis revealed that Bowerbankia is paraphyletic to the inclusion of Zoobotryon and Amathia, where the latter was resolved as non-monophyletic. Although Vesicularia also nested within this paraphyletic assemblage in some of the analyses, Bayesian topology testing did not support this result. Our results are discussed within the context of published morphological evidence and lead to the conclusion that Bowerbankia and Zoobotryon should be classified as junior subjective synonyms of Amathia. A revised nomenclature is provided. Furthermore, we examined genetic divergences between widely distributed supposed conspecific species and discovered possible cryptic diversity in the outgroup taxon Anguinella palmata and in Bowerbankia citrina, Amathia vidovici and Amathia crispa. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/08940-7 - Molecular characterization of Bugula spp. (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata, Bugulidae): implications on taxonomy, phylogeny, and bioinvasion
• Grantee: Karin Hoch Fehlauer Ale
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 12/24285-1 - Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision of Scrupocellaria spp. (Bryozoa, Candidae): a morphological approach
• Grantee: Leandro Manzoni Vieira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 12/11301-9 - Molecular phylogeny of Vesiculariidae (Bryozoa: Ctenostomata) clarifies the taxonomic status of species of Amathia Lamoroux and Bowerbankia Farre
• Grantee: Karin Hoch Fehlauer Ale
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• FAPESP's process: 09/08941-3 - Molecular characterization of Bugula spp.(Bryozoa, Cheilostomata, Bugulidae): implications on taxonomy, phylogeny, and bioinvasion
• Grantee: Alvaro Esteves Migotto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants