Exploring molecular variation in the cosmopolitan Caprella penantis (Crustacea: Amphipoda): results from RAPD analysis

Abstract

Eight populations of Caprella penantis, three of Caprella dilatata and two of Caprella andreae, collected from different sites all over the world, were selected for genetic study. Thirteen primers were tested, and the phenogram, based on the similarity coefficient of Nei & Li and the UPGMA method, separated clearly C. dilatata and C. andreae from the populations of C. penantis, supporting the validity of these three species, traditionally considered altogether under the old ‘acutifrons’ complex. Populations of C. penantis (including, at least, forms simulatrix, testudo and lusitanica) from Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Japan and Brazil were clustered together in the RAPD analysis, indicating that, probably, all the specimens of C. penantis could belong to the same species, in spite of morphological variations in the pleura, gills, robustness and presence/absence of proximal projection in adult male gnathopod 2 propodus. The only population which showed genetic differentiation within the C. penantis complex was the form gibbosa from Coquimbo, Chile. Future analysis based on different molecular approaches (mtDNA, 18S rRNA, ISSR) and additional material from other world areas, should be conducted to confirm these results.

Long-distance dispersal, low connectivity and molecular evidence of a new cryptic species in the obligate rafter Caprella andreae Mayer, 1890 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae)

“…To assess interspecific divergence, some populations of the close species Caprella penantis Leach, 1814 and Caprella dilatata Krøyer, 1843, also described by Mayer (1890) as forms of the 'C. acutifrons' group and later have been given specific rank (McCain 1968;Cabezas et al 2010), were also sequenced (Table 1). Genomic DNA was extracted from legs, gnathopods, gills, and pereopods using the commercial kit Jetquick (Genomed).…”

“…This species has been mainly reported to attach to floating objects, such as buoys and pieces of wood; however, it can also be found on the carapaces of Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) and Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) (Krapp-Schickel 1993Sezgin et al 2009;Zakhama-Sraieb et al 2010). Mayer (1890) described it as a variety of the complex Caprella acutifrons; however, it was given specific rank, and it is presently a valid species (McCain 1968;Cabezas et al 2010). Caprella andreae differs from the other related species of the complex mainly in the convexity of the propodus of pereopods 5-7, which is probably an adaptation to strongly cling to drifting objects or tiny algae on the turtle carapace.…”

Fouling assemblages associated with off-coast aquaculture facilities: an overall assessment of the Mediterranean Sea

“…Abbreviations are shown in Table 3, except for: Cacan: Caprella acanthifera; Msext: Monocorophium sextonae; Dspin: Dexamine spiniventris; Epoci: Elasmopus pocillimanus and STEN: Stenothoe sp. Data were published in: Ruffo, 1998;Relini et al, 1998;Relini et al, 1999;Relini et al, 2000;Baxevanis & Chintiroglou, 2000;Aliani & Molcard, 2003;Karalis et al, 2003;Chintiroglou et al, 2004a;Chintiroglou et al, 2004b;Kitsos et al, 2005;Sconfietti et al, 2005;Ramadan et al, 2006;Cook et al, 2006;Savini et al, 2006;Krapp et al, 2006;Muscat et al, 2007;Çinar et al, 2008;Cabezas et al, 2010;Zakhama-Sraieb et al, 2010;Antoniadou et al, 2011;Bakir & Katagan, 2011;Ros et al, 2013;Krapp-Schickel, 2013;Fernandez-Gonzalez & Sanchez-Jerez, 2013;Ros et al, 2014;Domenech et al, 2015;Gonzalez-Silvera et al, 2015;Guerra-Garcia et al, 2015;Krapp-Schickel et al, 2015;Ros et al, 2015. Table 3.…”

Hidden diversity and cryptic speciation refute cosmopolitan distribution inCaprella penantis(Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae)

“…; Cabezas et al. ). In his monographs, Mayer (, ) described 19 forms of the ‘ Caprella acutifrons ’ group.…”

“…Despite its abundance, cosmopolitan distribution and importance as bioindicator, the taxonomy of C. penantis remains unsettled (Mayer 1890(Mayer , 1903McCain and Steinberg 1970). The taxonomy status of this species has been fraught with controversy for years, and it has been recorded under several species or subspecies names from temperate regions worldwide (McCain and Steinberg 1970) because of its considerable intraspecific morphological variability (McCain 1968;Laubitz 1972;Guerra-García et al 2006;Cabezas et al 2010). In his monographs, Mayer (1890Mayer ( , 1903 described 19 forms of the 'Caprella acutifrons' group.…”