Vol. 59, 2020 (update: 2020.03.04; 04.28) Molecular Evaluation of the Fairy Shrimp Family Branchinectidae (Crustacea: Anostraca) Supports Peripatric Speciation and Complex Divergence PatternsD. Christopher Rogers1,* and Andres Aguilar2 doi:10.6620/ZS.2020.59-14
1Kansas
Biological Survey, Kansas University, Higuchi Hall, 2101 Constant
Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047-3759 USA. *Correspondence: E-mail:
branchiopod@gmail.com (Rogers) Received 13 August 2019 / Accepted 21
February 2020 The
Branchinectidae is a diverse and widely distributed group of
anostracans. The majority of work on the group has focused on the
morphological delineation of taxa and biogeography. Here we present a
molecular phylogeny for select members of the family to better
understand the distribution of morphological variation among species,
and test biogeographic models of speciation for the group. Although we
conducted both molecular and morphological phylogenies for the
Branchinectidae, the morphological analysis did not support our
molecular phylogeny and it did not support previous species group
concepts based on geography. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis
suggests that the family may have originated in Eurasia and found
support for numerous species groups. These phylogenetic groups assisted
in delineating species groups that are all definable morphologically
and/or ecologically. The peripatric speciation model was supported from
our analysis, offering credence to previously published speciation
models in anostracans. This suggests that these processes may be
important in other Branchiopoda and should be rigorously evaluated when
delineating species. Key words: Branchinecta, Archaebranchinecta, Species groups, Phylogeny, Branchiopoda. Citation:
Rogers DC, Aguilar A. 2020. Molecular evaluation of the fairy shrimp
family Branchinectidae (Crustacea: Anostraca) supports peripatric
speciation and complex divergence patterns. Zool Stud 59:14. doi:10.6620/ZS.2020.59-14. Supplementary
Materials: Appendix
1 | Table S1 |