Journal
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
Volume 161, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107153
Keywords
Helicoidea; Integrative taxonomy; Multispecies coalescent; Tenerife; Speciation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The two endemic species Hemicycla mascaensis and H. diegoi in Tenerife show differences in shell morphology and genital anatomy, with molecular analysis indicating they are reciprocally monophyletic. Species delimitation methods tend to recognize them as distinct species, while anatomical comparisons suggest differentiation within H. mascaensis. Thus, despite recognition as distinct species, there is still potential for further taxonomic study, including the possibility of recognizing them as subspecies.
Hemicycla mascaensis and H. diegoi are short-range endemics that occur allopatrically in small areas in the Teno Mountains in the western part of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Both taxa have been recognised as distinct species based on differences in shell morphology and genital anatomy. Preliminary molecular analyses using mitochondrial markers suggested a potential paraphyly of H. diegoi with regard to H. mascaensis. We here use multilocus AFLP data and ddRADseq data as well as distribution data, data on shell morphology and genital anatomy to assess the status of these taxa using phylogenetic analyses, species tree reconstruction and molecular species delimitation based on the multispecies coalescent as implemented in BFD* and BPP in an integrative approach. Our analyses show that, based on the analysis of multilocus data, the two taxa are reciprocally monophyletic. Species delimitation methods, however, tend to recognise all investigated populations as distinct species, albeit neither lending unambiguous support to any of the species hypotheses. The comparison of the anatomy of distal genital organs further suggests differentiation within H. mascaensis. This highlights the need for a balanced weighting of arguments from different lines of evidence to determine species status and calls for cautious interpretations of the results of molecular species delimitation analyses, especially in organisms with low active dispersal capacities and expected distinct population structuring such as land snails. Taking all available evidence into account, we favour to recognise H. mascaensis and H. diegoi as distinct species, acknowledging, though, that the recognition of both taxa as subspecies (with possibly a third yet undescribed) would also be an option as morphological differentiation is within the limits of other land snail species that are traditionally subdivided into subspecies.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available