Molecular and morphological discrimination between an invasive ascidian, Ascidiella aspersa, and its congener A. scabra (Urochordata: Ascidiacea).
Zoolog Sci
; 31(3): 180-5, 2014 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24601780
ABSTRACT
The solitary ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) has sometimes been regarded as conspecific with A. scabra (Müller, 1776), although previous detailed morphological comparisons have indicated that the two are distinguishable by internal structures. Resolution of this taxonomic issue is important because A. aspersa has been known as a notoriously invasive ascidian, doing much damage to aquaculture e.g. in Hokkaido, Japan. We collected many specimens from European waters (including the Swedish coast, near the type localities of these two species) and Hokkaido, Japan (as an alien population) and made molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and found that in terms of COI sequences all the analyzed specimens were clustered into two distinct groups, one of which is morphologically referable to A. aspersa and the other to A. scabra. Thus, these two species should be regarded as distinct from each other.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Urocordados
/
Espécies Introduzidas
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País como assunto:
Asia
/
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article