Deep mtDNA divergences indicate cryptic species in a fig-pollinating wasp.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Figs and fig-pollinating wasps are obligate mutualists that have coevolved for ca. 90 million years. They have radiated together, but do not show strict cospeciation. In particular, it is now clear that many fig species host two wasp species, so there is more wasp speciation than fig speciation. However, little is known about how fig wasps speciate.

Results

We studied variation in 71 fig-pollinating wasps from across the large geographic range of Ficus rubiginosa in Australia. All wasps sampled belong to one morphological species (Pleistodontes imperialis), but we found four deep mtDNA clades that differed from each other by 9-17% nucleotides. As these genetic distances exceed those normally found within species and overlap those (10-26%) found between morphologic

SUBMITTER: Haine ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1626083 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature