The species concept in a marine diatom: LSU rDNA-based phylogenetic differentiation in Skeletonema marinoi/dohrnii (Bacillariophyceae) is not reflected in morphology

The ubiquitous marine diatom genus Skeletonema includes several newly described species. This paper presents a study of morphology and LSU sequence diversity of one of these new species, Skeletonema marinoi. The 15 monoclonal strains (from the Swedish west coast, the Swedish east coast, Portugal and Canada) included in the study showed differences in LSU rDNA sequence within the morphospecies, with differences seen even among clones established from a single plankton net sample. Morphologically, all clones were indistinguishable from each other and from the closely related species Skeletonema dohrnii. In the original description of these two species, they were differentiated by the structure of the girdle bands. However, the girdle band types of both species were found within single samples of almost all clones of S. marinoi in this study. The LSU-based phylogeny is consistent with the split into two species, and there may be a difference in their bioaeoszraphical distribution. We therefore do not at present suggest that the two species be merged. Questions regarding species delimitation and cryptic species within protists often arise from such studies that include data from both morphological and DNA sequence analysis, and such questions are addressed here.

Godhe, Anna,1967Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för marin ekologi,Department of Marine Ecology(Swepub:gu)xgodan (author)
Harnstrom, Karolina,1980Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för marin ekologi,Department of Marine Ecology(Swepub:gu)xharnk (author)
McQuoid, M. (author)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för marin ekologi (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Ellegaard, M.; Godhe, Anna, 196 ...; Harnstrom, Karol ...; McQuoid, M.

About the subject

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.