An ancient, Antarctic-specific species complex: large divergences between multiple Antarctic lineages of the tardigrade genus Mesobiotus

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dc.contributor.authorShort, K.A.
dc.contributor.authorSands, C.J.
dc.contributor.authorMcInnes, S.J.
dc.contributor.authorPisani, D.
dc.contributor.authorStevens, M.I.
dc.contributor.authorConvey, P.
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractAntarctica has been isolated and progressively glaciated for over 30 million years, with only approximately 0.3 % of its area currently ice-free and capable of supporting terrestrial ecosystems. As a result, invertebrate populations have become isolated and fragmented, in some cases leading to speciation. Terrestrial invertebrate species currently found in Antarctica often show multi-million year, and even Gondwanan, heritage, with little evidence of recent colonisation. Mesobiotus is a globally distributed tardigrade genus. It has commonly been divided into two "groups", referred to as harmsworthi and furciger, with both groups currently considered cosmopolitan, with global reports including from both the Arctic and the Antarctic. However, some authors considered that Meb. furciger, as originally described, may represent an Antarctic-specific lineage. Using collections of tardigrades from across the Antarctic continent and publicly available sequences obtained from online databases, we use mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal sequence data to clarify the relationships of Antarctic Mesobiotus species. Our analyses show that all Antarctic members belong to a single lineage, evolving separately from non-Antarctic representatives. Within this Antarctic lineage there are further deep divisions among geographic regions of the continent, consistent with the presence of a species complex. Based on our data confirming the deep divisions between this Antarctic lineage, which includes representatives of both groups, we recommend that the use of furciger and harmsworthi group terminology is now abandoned, as it leads to systematic and biogeographical confusion.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityK.A. Short, C.J. Sands, S.J. McInnes, D. Pisani, M.I. Stevens, P. Convey
dc.identifier.citationMolecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2022; 170:107429-107429
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107429
dc.identifier.issn1055-7903
dc.identifier.issn1095-9513
dc.identifier.orcidStevens, M.I. [0000-0003-1505-1639]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/137665
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier BV
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/SR200100005
dc.rights© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107429
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectEcosystem
dc.subjectPhylogeny
dc.subjectAntarctic Regions
dc.subjectArctic Regions
dc.subjectTardigrada
dc.subject.meshAnimals
dc.subject.meshEcosystem
dc.subject.meshPhylogeny
dc.subject.meshAntarctic Regions
dc.subject.meshArctic Regions
dc.subject.meshTardigrada
dc.titleAn ancient, Antarctic-specific species complex: large divergences between multiple Antarctic lineages of the tardigrade genus Mesobiotus
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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