Specific and Genetic Structure of the Daphnia longispina s. l. Complex (Cladocera, Daphniidae) in Water Bodies of Southern Siberia

Data on the species diversity, morphological variability, genetic structure, phylogeny, and phylogeography of the D. longispina s. l. group from water bodies of southern Siberia are summarized. The integrated approach involves traditional morphological studies, an analysis of body shape variability using geometric morphometrics, and study of the genetic variability based on mitochondrial (12S, 16S, ND2) and nuclear (ITS2) markers. This approach allows us to identify several forms/species within the genus Daphnia that are new and endemic to the fauna of Russia, to describe some distinctive features of their morphology, to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the D. longispina s. l. group, and to elucidate the distribution ranges of species, both common and rare. The study of the variability of mitochondrial DNA genes provided the opportunity to propose and substantiate the hypothesis that various forms/species of this cladoceran group could have passed through different evolutionary scenarios across the territory of northern Eurasia.

Automated summary

A comprehensive study on the D. longispina group from water bodies of southern Siberia summarized data on species diversity, morphological variability, genetic structure, phylogeny, and phylogeography. Several new forms/species unique to Russia were identified, along with their morphological characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, and distribution ranges. Variability in mitochondrial DNA genes suggested different evolutionary scenarios for these cladoceran group in northern Eurasia.