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Genetic diversity in Australian ancient asexual Vestalenula (Ostracoda, Darwinulidae): little variability down under

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Abstract

Darwinulid ostracods are putative ancient asexuals, and are thus assumed to be unable to purge deleterious mutations from their genomes. Some darwinulids species can be found both above (epigeic) and below ground (hypogeic). We hypothesize that surface populations carry more mutations than their below-ground counterparts, which are buffered from mutagens such as UV-B. Given the age of the investigated area, the Pilbara in Western Australia, we also expect geographic patterning of observed haplotypes. We have used DNA sequence data from the nuclear ITS and the mitochondrial COI region to investigate a (limited) data set on two Australian species, the endemic Vestalenula matildae and V. marmonieri from the Pilbara region. We do not find differences in genetic variability between specimens from subterranean habitats as compared to those from habitats above ground. There was also no congruence between hydrological basins and distribution patterns of the haplotypes identified. Although our data indicate that the two species may have split from each other ca. 70 myr ago, this has not resulted in any clear phylogeographic patterns among the analysed specimens across the regions of the Pilbara.

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Acknowledgements

IS thanks the Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, for two fellowships as visiting fellow in 2006 and 2008/2009. KM and IS are grateful to the Department of Environment and Conservation and Bennelongia for financial support during their two scientific stays in Perth (2006 and 2008/2009). KM and IS also acknowledge the Belgian Belspo (project MO/36/015) for funding and financial contribution of the project 1.5.172.09 (krediet aan navorsers) of the FWO Vlaanderen (Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders).

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  1. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Freshwater Biology, Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Isa Schön & Koen Martens

  2. Bennelongia Pty Ltd, P.O. Box 384, Wembley, WA, 6913, Australia

    Stuart Halse

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  1. Isa Schön
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  2. Koen Martens
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Correspondence to Isa Schön.

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Schön, I., Martens, K. & Halse, S. Genetic diversity in Australian ancient asexual Vestalenula (Ostracoda, Darwinulidae): little variability down under. Hydrobiologia 641, 59–70 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-009-0057-6

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