1
|
Moravec F, Bakenhaster MD, Seyoum S, Tringali MD. Heterocheilus floridensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae) from the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus (Trichechidae, Sirenia) in Florida, USA. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2024; 71:2024.006. [PMID: 38567406 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Morphological data are used to describe a new nematode species, Heterocheilus floridensis sp. n. (Heterocheilidae) from the digestive tract of the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris (Harlan) (Trichechidae, Sirenia) from Florida, USA. Examination by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the new species differs from the related Heterocheilus tunicatus Diesing, 1839 mainly by having dentigerous ridges on the inner surface of the lips, a median unpaired papilla located anterior to the cloaca, and a considerably larger body size. Sequence data for subunits I and II of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene, 18S small subunit and 28S ribosomal RNA genes were provided for molecular characterisation of the new species. However, the current unavailability of homologous sequence data for congeneric specimens precluded a molecular assessment of the morphological species hypothesis, and ascaridoid phylogenetic hypotheses could not be advanced. Specimens of Heterocheilus sp. collected from the Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus in Puerto Rico, on loan from the US National Museum of Natural History, were morphologically consistent with the new species, so apparently all congeneric nematodes reported from both subspecies of the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus Linnaeus and previously identified as H. tunicatus belong rather to H. floridensis sp. n. Heterocheilus hagenbecki (Khalil et Vogelsang, 1932) Sprent 1980 is here considered to be a species inquirenda. A key to valid species of Heterocheilus Diesing, 1839 is provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frantisek Moravec
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Micah D Bakenhaster
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Seifu Seyoum
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Michael D Tringali
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gowan TA, Tringali MD, Hostetler JA, Martin J, Ward-Geiger LI, Johnson JM. A hidden Markov model for estimating age-specific survival when age and size are uncertain. Ecology 2021; 102:e03426. [PMID: 34091898 PMCID: PMC8459222 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Estimates of age‐specific survival probabilities are needed for age‐structured population models and to inform conservation decisions. However, determining the age of individuals in wildlife populations is often problematic. We present a hidden Markov model for estimating age‐specific survival from capture–recapture or capture–recapture–recovery data when age is unknown and indicators of age, such as size and growth layer counts, are imprecise. The model is evaluated through simulations, and its implementation is illustrated with maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches in commonly used software. The model is then applied to genetic capture–recapture data of Florida manatees to estimate age‐ and time‐variant survival probabilities. The approach is broadly applicable to studies aiming to quantify age‐specific effects of environmental change and management actions on population dynamics, including studies that rely on minimally invasive methods such as genetic and photo identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Gowan
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA.,Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Michael D Tringali
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Hostetler
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA.,Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, 20708, USA
| | - Julien Martin
- Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, Florida, 32653, USA
| | - Leslie I Ward-Geiger
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Jennifer M Johnson
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Moravec F, Bakenhaster MD, Seyoum S, Tringali MD. Morphological and genetic description of two new species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) parasitic in needlefishes (Belonidae) from estuaries of Florida, USA. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2021; 68. [PMID: 33871382 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Two new species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) from needlefishes (Belonidae) in Florida are described based on morphological and genetic characteristics: Philometra aequispiculata sp. n. (males and females) collected from the ovary of Strongylura marina (Walbaum) (type host) and Strongylura notata (Poey), and Philometra notatae sp. n. (females) from the swimbladder of S. notata. Both species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Morphologically, P. aequispiculata sp. n. differs from all congeners mainly in the unique structure of the distal tip of the gubernaculum, whereas P. notatae sp. n. is mainly characterised by the presence of eight markedly large cephalic papillae of the outer circle in gravid and subgravid females, the body length of the gravid female (54 mm) and by the absence of caudal projections. Molecular characterisation of the new species was assessed from phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and SSU rRNA small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) sequences among closely related philometrids by way of Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on COI and SSU sequences show each of the new species comprise discrete ancestor-descendent lineages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frantisek Moravec
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Micah D Bakenhaster
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Seifu Seyoum
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Michael D Tringali
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald R. Bielefeld
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 544 Jay Street; Sebastian FL 32958 USA
| | - Andrew Engilis
- Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology; University of California Davis; Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Jamie C. Feddersen
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 3200 T. M. Goodwin Road; Fellsmere FL 32948 USA
| | - John M. Eadie
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology; University of California Davis; Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Michael D. Tringali
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 100 Eighth Avenue SE; St. Petersburg FL 33701 USA
| | - R. Joseph Benedict
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 8932 Apalachee Parkway; Tallahassee FL 32311 USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Seyoum S, Barthel BL, Tringali MD, Davis MC, Schmitt SL, Bellotti PS, Porak WF. Isolation and characterization of eighteen microsatellite loci for the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and cross amplification in congeneric species. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-013-9885-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
6
|
Seyoum S, Tringali MD, Barthel BL, Puchulutegui C, Davis MC, Collins AB, Craig MT. Isolation and characterization of 29 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), and the Pacific goliath grouper (E. quinquefasciatus). CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-013-9892-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
7
|
Seyoum S, Tringali MD, Bielefeld RR, Feddersen JC, Benedict RJ, Fanning AT, Barthel BL, Curtis C, Puchulutegui C, Roberts ACM, Villanova VL, Tucker EC. Fifty-nine microsatellite markers for hybrid classification studies involving endemic Florida Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) and invasive Mallards (A. platyrhynchos). CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-012-9622-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
8
|
Tringali MD, Seyoum S, Higham M, Wallace EM. A dispersal-dependent zone of introgressive hybridization between weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, and sand seatrout, C. arenarius, (Sciaenidae) in the Florida Atlantic. J Hered 2011; 102:416-32. [PMID: 21670172 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esr044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Five diagnostic codominant nuclear DNA markers and a diagnostic mitochondrial DNA marker were used to survey weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) and sand seatrout (C. arenarius), with particular focus on heretofore uncharacterized juvenile populations along the Florida (FL) Atlantic coast. Geographic and reproductive ranges of weakfish and sand seatrout were shown to overlap on the Atlantic coast along north and central FL. An active bidirectional zone of introgressive hybridization exists between these taxa, centered in the St Johns River, FL. Strong patterns of Hardy-Weinberg, linkage, and cytonuclear disequilibrium and a bimodal hybrid index distribution were observed for juvenile cohorts in the zone center, coupled with narrow (∼240 km) concordant clines. Parental forms had disparate habitat preferences; hybrid forms occurred predominantly in intermediate habitats. All genetic data were consistent with the hypothesis that the C. arenarius-C. regalis hybrid zone is maintained by a dynamic equilibrium between continued interspecific gene flow and one or more opposing forces. Cytonuclear analyses indicated that parental forms mate assortatively in the zone but that mate recognition was imperfect. Ethological mating dynamics are likely stabilized by some form of endogenous or exogenous postfertilization selection against hybrids such that parental taxa will likely continue to evolve independently.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Tringali
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St Petersburg, FL 33710, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wallace EM, Tringali MD. Identification of a novel member in the family Albulidae (bonefishes). J Fish Biol 2010; 76:1972-1983. [PMID: 20557650 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02639.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A novel Caribbean species Albula sp. cf. vulpes in the family Albulidae (bonefishes) was diagnosed through genetic and morphometric study. Phylogenies derived from 16S rRNA sequences revealed deeply separated lineages among Caribbean bonefishes. Mitochondrial DNA sequence divergences indicated a separation between 3.0 and 5.2 million years before present (b.p.). Cytochrome b phylogenies further supported the classification of A. sp. cf. vulpes as a novel albulid. Morphological variability revealed several differences between A. sp. cf. vulpes and other Caribbean species. A microsatellite library was developed to discern hybridization rates among the species. Microsatellite analyses revealed low levels of hybridization between some members in the complex. One instance of backcrossing was found between A. vulpesxA. sp. B and a pure A. sp. B, indicating that hybrids may have reduced fitness or may be reproductively isolated due to temporal-spatial spawning habitat differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E M Wallace
- University of Minnesota, 100 Ecology, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tringali MD, Leber KM, Halstead WG, Mcmichael R, O'hop J, Winner B, Cody R, Young C, Neidig C, Wolfe H, Forstchen A, Barbieri L. Marine Stock Enhancement in Florida: A Multi-Disciplinary, Stakeholder-Supported, Accountability-Based Approach. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1080/10641260701776902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
11
|
Tringali MD, Seyoum S, Wallace EM, Higham M, Taylor RG, Trotter AA, Whittington JA. Limits to the Use of Contemporary Genetic Analyses in Delineating Biological Populations for Restocking and Stock Enhancement. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1080/10641260701686887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
12
|
Tringali MD, Seyoum S, Carney SL, Davis MC, Rodriguez-Lopez MA, Reynolds Iii JE, Haubold E. PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Eighteen new polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris. Mol Ecol Resour 2008; 8:328-31. [PMID: 21585782 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-8286.2007.01944.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Tringali
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue S.E. Saint Petersburg, FL 33701-5095, USA, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236-1004, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tringali MD, Seyoum S, Schmitt SL. Ten di- and trinucleotide microsatellite loci in the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, for studies of regional population connectivity. Mol Ecol Resour 2008; 8:650-2. [PMID: 21585860 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-8286.2007.02032.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We describe 10 microsatellite loci for Panulirus argus (Caribbean spiny lobster). The number of alleles at each locus ranged from four to 39 (mean = 21.8) in 89 juvenile specimens collected at two different times at a recruitment site in south Florida. Levels of expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.48 to 0.96 (mean = 0.83) and from 0.32 to 0.98 (mean = 0.71), respectively. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed at two loci. There was no evidence of genotypic disequilibrium for any pair of loci. Overall, the loci were well resolved, highly polymorphic and independently segregating, confirming their utility for population genetic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Tringali
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue S.E. Saint Petersburg, FL 33701-5095, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Seyoum S, Tringali MD, Higham M. Development of 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers in the Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) for capture-recapture studies. Mol Ecol Resour 2008; 8:126-8. [PMID: 21585734 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-8286.2007.01924.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci for Atlantic tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, were isolated by using PIMA, a polymerase chain reaction-based technique. The number of alleles at each locus ranged from two to 24 (mean = 7.7) in 65 specimens from Tampa Bay, Florida. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.27 to 0.92 (mean = 0.60) and from 0.28 to 0.95 (mean = 0.62), respectively. Genotypes at one locus deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In exact tests for genotypic disequilibrium, there was no evidence of associations between any pair of loci. Overall, loci were well resolved and highly polymorphic, confirming their suitability for DNA fingerprinting applications and other genetic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seifu Seyoum
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701-5095, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Garber AF, Tringali MD, Stuck KC. Population structure and variation in red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast of Florida as determined from mitochondrial DNA control region sequence. Mar Biotechnol (NY) 2004; 6:175-185. [PMID: 14586768 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-003-0023-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2003] [Accepted: 09/09/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial DNA control regions of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) from the Gulf of Mexico (n = 140) and Atlantic coast of Florida (n = 35) were sequenced to generate a prestocking genetic baseline for planned stock enhancement. Intrasample haplotype and nucleotide diversities ranged from 0.94 to 1.00 and 1.8% to 2.5%, respectively. All population analyses were consistent with the hypothesis that red snapper constitute a single, panmictic population over the sampled range. A ubiquitous, predominant haplotype, shared by 23% of the specimens, appeared to be evolutionarily recent, in contrast to previous findings based on restriction fragment length polymorphism data. Tajima's D values were suggestive of a recent bottleneck. Mismatch distributions from Gulf samples were smooth and unimodal, characteristic of recent population expansion. However, the Atlantic sample exhibited a comparatively broader, possibly multimodal distribution, suggestive of a more stable population history. Additional control-region data may clarify potentially disparate demographic histories of Gulf and Atlantic snapper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amber F Garber
- Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, University of Southern Mississippi, College of Marine Sciences, P.O. Box 7000, Ocean Springs, MS 39566-7000, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bert TM, Seyoum S, Tringali MD, McMillen-Jackson A. Methodologies for conservation assessments of the genetic biodiversity of aquatic macro-organisms. BRAZ J BIOL 2002; 62:387-408. [PMID: 12530175 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842002000300002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
International organizations and biodiversity scientists recognize three levels of biodiversity: genetic, species, and ecosystem. However, most studies with the goal of assessing biodiversity collect data at only a single level--that of the species. Even when multiple levels of biodiversity are considered, usually only ecosystem diversity is also evaluated. Genetic diversity is virtually never considered. Yet, genetic diversity is essential for the maintenance of populations and species over ecological and evolutionary time periods. Moreover, because components of genetic diversity are independent of either species or ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity can provide a unique measure by which to assess the value of regions for conservation. Regions can be valuable for conservation of their genetic resources regardless of their levels of species or ecosystem uniqueness or diversity. In general, the same methods and statistical programs that are used to answer questions about population genetics and phylogenetics are applicable to conservation genetics. Thus, numerous genetic techniques, laboratory methods, and statistical programs are available for assessing regional levels of genetic diversity for conservation considerations. Here, we provide the rationale, techniques available, field and laboratory protocols, and statistical programs that can be used to estimate the magnitude and type of genetic diversity in regions. We also provide information on how to obtain commonly utilized statistical programs and the type of analyses that they include. The guide that we present here can be used to conduct investigations of the genetic diversity of regions under consideration for conservation of their natural resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T M Bert
- Florida Marine Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Tringali MD, Bert TM, Seyoum S, Bermingham E, Bartolacci D. Molecular phylogenetics and ecological diversification of the transisthmian fish genus Centropomus (Perciformes: Centropomidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 1999; 13:193-207. [PMID: 10508552 DOI: 10.1006/mpev.1999.0624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic relationships among the 12 recognized fish species in the New World genus Centropomus (Pisces, Centropomidae) were analyzed using allozyme electrophoresis and 618 bp of the mitochondrial DNA 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Molecular phylogenetic trees were generally consistent with previously published partial hypotheses based on morphological evidence. However, previously undefined sister group relationships between major species groups were resolved using molecular data, and phylogenetic hypotheses for Centropomus based on 16S rRNA sequences were better supported than were allozyme-based hypotheses. The high level of congruence among the trees inferred from the nuclear and mitochondrial characters provided a firm phylogenetic basis for analysis of ecological diversification and molecular evolution in the genus. Compared to basal Centropomus species, members of the most nested species group were significantly larger in body size and occupied a marine niche only peripherally utilized by their congeners. We also observed substitution rate heterogeneity among 16S rRNA lineages; in contrast to expectations based on "metabolic rate" and "generation interval" models, relative substitution rates were faster than expected for the group of large-bodied snooks. Using the Pliocene rise of the Central American isthmian marine barrier to calibrate rates of 16S ribosomal gene evolution in Centropomus, we found that the rates for the genus were similar to those reported for higher vertebrates. Analysis of the three sets of transisthmian geminate taxa in Centropomus indicated that two of the pairs were probably formed during the Pliocene rise of the isthmus while the third pair diverged several million years earlier.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M D Tringali
- Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Marine Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|