Cytochrome b sequence data suggest rapid speciation within the Paramecium aurelia species complex

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Dana Barth - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Ewa Przyboś - , Polish Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Sergei I. Fokin - , University of Pisa (Author)
  • Martin Schlegel - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Thomas U. Berendonk - , Leipzig University (Author)

Abstract

We investigated mitochondrial Cytochrome b sequences from all 15 members of the enigmatic Paramecium aurelia species complex (Ciliophora). The analysis revealed high genetic distances between the different P. aurelia species (6.1-19.8%) and a largely unresolved, star-like phylogenetic tree. This result strongly supports a rapid radiation in the evolutionary history of this species complex and it correlates well with the hypothesis that the extant species diversity may have originated from the neutral consequences of a whole genome duplication in the common ancestor of P. aurelia.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)669-673
Number of pages5
JournalMolecular phylogenetics and evolution
Volume49
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2008
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 18778782
ORCID /0000-0002-9301-1803/work/161409805

Keywords

Keywords

  • Cytochrome b, Paramecium aurelia, Phylogeny, Polytomy, Rapid radiation, Speciation