Phylogeny based on two mtDNA genes ( Co-1, Cyt-B ) among Sculpins (Scorpaeniformes, Cottidae) and some other scorpionfish in the Russian Far East

Abstract

The average scores of p-distances at Co-1 and Cyt-b genes revealed a pattern of increased nucleotide diversity for four categories: (1) intraspecies, (2) intragenus, (3) intrafamily, and (4) intraorder. Scores for Co-1 genes were following: (1) 0.24 ± 0.19% (n = 66), (2) 1.54 ± 0.27% (n = 33), (3) 11.57 ± 0.24% (n = 42), and (4) 12.91 ± 0.16% (n = 102); while for Cyt-b genes, those values were (1) 1.92 ± 0.55% (n = 24), (2) 8.19 ± 0.09% (n = 812), (3) 15.42 ± 0.07% (n = 1573), and (4) 23.13 ± 0.19% (n = 211). A concordant increase in the distance score, as the rank of taxa grows, with the minimum at intraspecies level substantiates the concept that speciation in the order Scorpaeniformes mostly follows a geographic mode. Phylogenetic trees for 40 sequences of scorpionfish and four other fishes belonging to Actinopterigii were developed using Co-1 gene and four different analytical approaches: Bayesian, ML, MP, and NJ. Resolution of the Co-1 trees for the three genera that included different species branches was quite distinct in all approaches. Intrafamily branching for Cyt-b in Cottidae was also supported by all four kinds of trees but only for less numerous genera in the research.

Genetic Evidence for a Mixed Composition of the Genus Myoxocephalus (Cottoidei: Cottidae) Necessitates Generic Realignment

“…However, the present genetic data does not support the synonymization of Megalocottus and Myoxocephalus , as was proposed by a number of authors (e.g., [ 10 , 11 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]). The genetic distance between them is significantly larger than the average interspecific distance within the genus Myoxocephalus (see above) and fits into the range of intergeneric distances detected for sculpin fishes [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], nevertheless, having the lowest values (see also the Results section). Instead, our genetic data indicate that the composition of the genera Myoxocephalus and Megalocottus needs revision.…”

“…The level of divergence (Dxy = 0.0314 ± 0.0012) between the sequences within this group is slightly higher, but still matches the value of divergence for different species within the same genus (intrageneric level). The level of divergence between clusters 1 and 2 is significantly higher (Dxy = 0.0789 ± 0.0016), matching the values of divergence, albeit the lowest ones, between different genera within the family Cottidae (intrafamily level) [16][17][18]. Comparable values of divergence based on complete mt genomes have been obtained in the pairwise comparisons between the other genera of the cottids studied (Figure 1) such as Megalocottus-Microcottus (Dxy = 0.0829 ± 0.0024), Myoxocephalus-Microcottus (Dxy = 0.0865 ± 0.0015), Myoxocephalus-Enophrys (Dxy = 0.0898 ± 0.0025), Myoxocephalus-Argyrocottus (Dxy = 0.0910 ± 0.0020), Megalocottus-Enophrys (Dxy = 0.0970 ± 0.0023), Megalocottus-Argyrocottus (Dxy = 0.0987 ± 0.0019), Myoxocephalus-Icelus (Dxy = 0.1025 ± 0.0023), and Myoxocephalus-Porocottus (Dxy = 0.1032 ± 0.0021).…”

“…Members of this genus have diverse morphologies but are clearly differentiated from other taxa in the family Cottidae [5,6,[10][11][12][13]. Morpho-anatomical [5,6,14,15] and genetic [16][17][18][19] studies have shown that the genus Myoxocephalus is closely related to the genus Megalocottus Gill 1861 represented by the only species, the belligerent sculpin Megalocottus platycephalus (Pallas 1814). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers [20] have revealed a genetic heterogeneity associated with the spatial distribution of the species which might result in the emergence of two subspecies known for Me.…”

DNA Barcoding for Scorpion Species from New Valley Governorate in Egypt Reveals Different Degrees of Cryptic Speciation and Species Misnaming

“…Scorpions exhibited the highest percentage of guanine in the COI barcode. Despite this being the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge, that this issue in scorpions has been reported, some reports in other animal groups identified this type of deviation as a reflection of separate divergence of these groups from their ancestors and sister groups [50][51][52]. More future work is expected to ensue from this finding in order to assess the taxonomic significance of this guanine-skewed composition of COI barcode region in scorpions among all arachnid taxa.…”

Taxonomy confirmation of Puntius cf. binotatus from Gunung Tujuh Lake, Jambi, Indonesia based on Cytochrome Oxidase-I (COI) gene

“…Studies by those of Kartavtsev and Lee (2006); Kartavtsev et al (2007); Kartavtsev et al (2009); Kartavtsev (2011); Kartavtsev et al (2014) reported that the range of sequence divergences values of COI gene between P. cf. binotatus Gunung Tujuh and other Sumatra P. cf.…”