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Reproductive isolation among sympatric cryptic species in marine diatoms
Amato, A.; Kooistra, W.H.C.F.; Hee Levialdi Ghiron, J.; Mann, D.G.; Pröschold, T.; Montresor, M. (2007). Reproductive isolation among sympatric cryptic species in marine diatoms. Protist 158(2): 193-207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.protis.2006.10.001
In: Protist. Elsevier: Jena. ISSN 1434-4610; e-ISSN 1618-0941, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Algae > Diatoms
    Species diversity
    Taxa > Species
    Pseudo-nitzschia H. Peragallo in H. Peragallo & M. Peragallo, 1900 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    diatoms; cryptic diversity; Pseudo-nitzschia; reproductive isolation;species concept

Authors  Top 
  • Amato, A., more
  • Kooistra, W.H.C.F., more
  • Hee Levialdi Ghiron, J.
  • Mann, D.G.
  • Pröschold, T.
  • Montresor, M., more

Abstract
    Pseudo-nitzschia is a marine cosmopolitan genus of chain-forming planktonic diatoms. As for the vast majority of phytoplankton organisms, species identification within this genus mostly relies upon morphological features. Taxa were initially identified based on cell shape and gross morphology of their composite silica cell wall, called the frustule. Yet, observations of the frustule in electron microscopy showed many additional characters for species identification and results of molecular studies have demonstrated that genetically distinct groups might exist within morpho-species. However, these studies have not addressed the biological meaning of these genetic differences. Here, we bridge that gap by comparing ultrastructural features and sequence data (three ribosomal and one plastid marker) of 95 strains with results of mating experiments among these strains. Experiments were performed on two morphologically distinct entities: P. delicatissima and P. pseudodelicatissima. Each of the two entities consisted of multiple genetically distinct and reproductively isolated taxa, all occurring in sympatry: P. delicatissima was composed of three phylogenetic and reproductively distinct groups, whereas P. pseudodelicatissima consisted of up to five. Once these taxa had been defined both genetically and biologically, subtle ultrastructural differences could be detected as well. Our findings not only show that cryptic genetic variants abound in sympatry, but also that they are reproductively isolated and, therefore, biologically distinct units.

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