Molecular evidence reveals a polyphyletic origin and chromosomal speciation of Lake Baikal's endemic asellid isopods

• Published in: Molecular ecology Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 1509 - 1514
• Main Authors: Hidding, B., Michel, E., Natyaganova, A. V., Sherbakov, D. YU
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2003
• Subjects: 16S rRNA; ancient lakes; Animals; Asellidae; Asellus; Baicalasellus; Base Sequence; biogeography; Chromosomes - genetics; Cluster Analysis; DNA Primers; Evolution, Molecular; Fresh Water; Freshwater; Geography; Isopoda; Isopoda - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; morphology; Phylogeny; Population Dynamics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Russia; Sequence Analysis, DNA; species flocks; Russia; Russia, Siberia, Baykal L
• ISSN: 0962-1083; 1365-294X
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01821.x

The six endemic isopod species of Lake Baikal have been regarded as a small species flock with uncertain affinities to related asellids. We provide evidence from 16S rRNA sequences for polyphyletic origins of Baikalian Asellidae. One clade of two species is related to the Eurasian genus Asellus. The other clade, Baicalasellus, shows affinities to North American asellids and may have a long evolutionary history within the lake basin. Some speciation events within Baicalasellus clearly have a chromosomal basis. In contrast with numerous taxa exhibiting monophyletic radiations in ancient lakes, the endemic Baikalian isopods arose by multiple invasions and chromosomal mechanisms.