Two in one: cryptic species discovered in biological control agent populations using molecular data and crossbreeding experiments

Paterson, Iain D; Mangan, Rose; Downie, Douglas A; Coetzee, Julie A; Hill, Martin P; Burke, Ashley M; Downey, Paul O; Henry, Thomas J; Compton, Stephen G

Title: Two in one: cryptic species discovered in biological control agent populations using molecular data and crossbreeding experiments
Creator: Paterson, Iain D
Creator: Mangan, Rose
Creator: Downie, Douglas A
Creator: Coetzee, Julie A
Creator: Hill, Martin P
Creator: Burke, Ashley M
Creator: Downey, Paul O
Creator: Henry, Thomas J
Creator: Compton, Stephen G
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2016
Date: 2016
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424877
Identifier: vital:72191
Identifier: xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2297"
Description: There are many examples of cryptic species that have been identified through DNA-barcoding or other genetic techniques. There are, however, very few confirmations of cryptic species being reproductively isolated. This study presents one of the few cases of cryptic species that has been confirmed to be reproductively isolated and therefore true species according to the biological species concept. The cryptic species are of special interest because they were discovered within biological control agent populations. Two geographically isolated populations of Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Carvalho) [Hemiptera: Miridae], a biological control agent for the invasive aquatic macrophyte, water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms [Pontederiaceae], in South Africa, were sampled from the native range of the species in South America. Morphological characteristics indicated that both populations were the same species according to the current taxonomy, but subsequent DNA analysis and breeding experiments revealed that the two populations are reproductively isolated. Crossbreeding experiments resulted in very few hybrid offspring when individuals were forced to interbreed with individuals of the other population, and no hybrid offspring were recorded when a choice of mate from either population was offered. The data indicate that the two populations are cryptic species that are reproductively incompatible. Subtle but reliable diagnostic characteristics were then identified to distinguish between the two species which would have been considered intraspecific variation without the data from the genetics and interbreeding experiments. These findings suggest that all consignments of biological control agents from allopatric populations should be screened for cryptic species using genetic techniques and that the importation of multiple consignments of the same species for biological control should be conducted with caution.
Format: computer
Format: online resource
Format: application/pdf
Format: 1 online resource (12 pages)
Format: pdf
Publisher: Wiley
Language: English
Relation: Ecology and Evolution
Relation: Paterson, I.D., Mangan, R., Downie, D.A., Coetzee, J.A., Hill, M.P., Burke, A.M., Downey, P.O., Henry, T.J. and Compton, S.G., 2016. Two in one: cryptic species discovered in biological control agent populations using molecular data and crossbreeding experiments. Ecology and Evolution, 6(17), pp.6139-6150
Relation: Ecology and Evolution volume 6 number 17 p. 6139 2016 2045-7758
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Wiley Library Online Terms of Use Statement (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions)
Rights: Open Access

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Paterson, Iain D (Associate Professor)

Hill, Martin Patrick (Distinguished Professor)

Coetzee, Julie A (Prof)

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