DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory
With threats to biodiversity posed by anthropogenic impacts and global climate change, characterization of existing flora and fauna is increasingly important, but continues to focus predominantly on easily studied taxa. In the Southern Ocean, levels of species richness remain relatively unexplored d...
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ftbowdoincollege:oai:digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu:marinelab-faculty-papers-1021 2024-09-15T17:47:09+00:00 DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory Mahon, Andrew R. Thornhill, Daniel J. Norenburg, Jon L. Halanych, Kenneth M. 2009-08-14T07:00:00Z https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/marinelab-faculty-papers/48 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-009-0696-0 unknown Bowdoin Digital Commons https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/marinelab-faculty-papers/48 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-009-0696-0 Marine Lab Faculty Bibliography Antarctica Bioviversity Cryptic species 16S Larvae Biology Life Sciences Marine Biology text 2009 ftbowdoincollege 2024-07-05T03:11:03Z With threats to biodiversity posed by anthropogenic impacts and global climate change, characterization of existing flora and fauna is increasingly important, but continues to focus predominantly on easily studied taxa. In the Southern Ocean, levels of species richness remain relatively unexplored due to remoteness and difficulties of sampling the region. Nemerteans (proboscis worms; ribbon worms) are unusually abundant and occasionally conspicuous in the Antarctic region. Despite being routinely collected, difficulties in preserving voucher material, morphological limitations, and shortage of taxonomic expertise have hindered our understanding of nemertean diversity. To assess patterns of diversity, we examined a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene from larval and adult nemerteans (n= 192) from 53 sites along the western Antarctic Peninsula. We found 20 distinct lineages having an uncorrected genetic distance (p) greater than 5% to the nearest sister taxon or group, 19 of which have not been genetically characterized in previous studies. Additionally, the putatively dominant adult species in the region, Parborlasia corrugatus, was found to comprise only 4.3% of larvae sampled (n= 3 out of 69 samples from 12 locations). Of 47 nemertean species recorded from Antarctic waters, 20 are heteronemerateans and therefore could have a pelagic pilidium larval phase. These results suggest that Antarctic biodiversity is underestimated, and that unknown species of nemerteans await description from Southern Ocean waters. Text Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Southern Ocean Bowdoin College: Bowdoin Digital Commons |
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Bowdoin College: Bowdoin Digital Commons |
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Antarctica Bioviversity Cryptic species 16S Larvae Biology Life Sciences Marine Biology |
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Antarctica Bioviversity Cryptic species 16S Larvae Biology Life Sciences Marine Biology Mahon, Andrew R. Thornhill, Daniel J. Norenburg, Jon L. Halanych, Kenneth M. DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory |
topic_facet |
Antarctica Bioviversity Cryptic species 16S Larvae Biology Life Sciences Marine Biology |
description |
With threats to biodiversity posed by anthropogenic impacts and global climate change, characterization of existing flora and fauna is increasingly important, but continues to focus predominantly on easily studied taxa. In the Southern Ocean, levels of species richness remain relatively unexplored due to remoteness and difficulties of sampling the region. Nemerteans (proboscis worms; ribbon worms) are unusually abundant and occasionally conspicuous in the Antarctic region. Despite being routinely collected, difficulties in preserving voucher material, morphological limitations, and shortage of taxonomic expertise have hindered our understanding of nemertean diversity. To assess patterns of diversity, we examined a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene from larval and adult nemerteans (n= 192) from 53 sites along the western Antarctic Peninsula. We found 20 distinct lineages having an uncorrected genetic distance (p) greater than 5% to the nearest sister taxon or group, 19 of which have not been genetically characterized in previous studies. Additionally, the putatively dominant adult species in the region, Parborlasia corrugatus, was found to comprise only 4.3% of larvae sampled (n= 3 out of 69 samples from 12 locations). Of 47 nemertean species recorded from Antarctic waters, 20 are heteronemerateans and therefore could have a pelagic pilidium larval phase. These results suggest that Antarctic biodiversity is underestimated, and that unknown species of nemerteans await description from Southern Ocean waters. |
format |
Text |
author |
Mahon, Andrew R. Thornhill, Daniel J. Norenburg, Jon L. Halanych, Kenneth M. |
author_facet |
Mahon, Andrew R. Thornhill, Daniel J. Norenburg, Jon L. Halanych, Kenneth M. |
author_sort |
Mahon, Andrew R. |
title |
DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory |
title_short |
DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory |
title_full |
DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory |
title_fullStr |
DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory |
title_full_unstemmed |
DNA Uncovers Antarctic Nemertean Biodiversity and Exposes a Decades-Old Cold Case of Asymmetric Inventory |
title_sort |
dna uncovers antarctic nemertean biodiversity and exposes a decades-old cold case of asymmetric inventory |
publisher |
Bowdoin Digital Commons |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/marinelab-faculty-papers/48 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-009-0696-0 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Southern Ocean |
op_source |
Marine Lab Faculty Bibliography |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/marinelab-faculty-papers/48 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-009-0696-0 |
_version_ |
1810495849854140416 |