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The integrative taxonomic approach reveals host specific species in an encyrtid parasitoid species complex
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, Vol 7, Iss 5, p e37655 (2012), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2012
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2012.
-
Abstract
- Integrated taxonomy uses evidence from a number of different character types to delimit species and other natural groupings. While this approach has been advocated recently, and should be of particular utility in the case of diminutive insect parasitoids, there are relatively few examples of its application in these taxa. Here, we use an integrated framework to delimit independent lineages in Encyrtus sasakii (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid morphospecies previously considered a host generalist. Sequence variation at the DNA barcode (cytochrome c oxidase I, COI) and nuclear 28S rDNA loci were compared to morphometric recordings and mating compatibility tests, among samples of this species complex collected from its four scale insect hosts, covering a broad geographic range of northern and central China. Our results reveal that Encyrtus sasakii comprises three lineages that, while sharing a similar morphology, are highly divergent at the molecular level. At the barcode locus, the median K2P molecular distance between individuals from three primary populations was found to be 11.3%, well outside the divergence usually observed between Chalcidoidea conspecifics (0.5%). Corroborative evidence that the genetic lineages represent independent species was found from mating tests, where compatibility was observed only within populations, and morphometric analysis, which found that despite apparent morphological homogeneity, populations clustered according to forewing shape. The independent lineages defined by the integrated analysis correspond to the three scale insect hosts, suggesting the presence of host specific cryptic species. The finding of hidden host specificity in this species complex demonstrates the critical role that DNA barcoding will increasingly play in revealing hidden biodiversity in taxa that present difficulties for traditional taxonomic approaches.
- Subjects :
- Male
Species complex
Evolutionary Processes
Speciation
Science
Molecular Sequence Data
Wasps
Zoology
Evolutionary Selection
Locus (genetics)
Generalist and specialist species
DNA barcoding
Host Specificity
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Encyrtidae
Phylogenetics
Animals
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
Evolutionary Systematics
Parasites
Biology
Phylogeny
Taxonomy
Evolutionary Biology
Evolutionary Theory
Multidisciplinary
biology
Base Sequence
Systems Biology
biology.organism_classification
Classification
Taxon
Haplotypes
Genetic Loci
Animal Taxonomy
Medicine
Taxonomy (biology)
Parasitology
Female
Entomology
Research Article
Coevolution
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3fb8e1d51657154011f0fbd01239bccc