Diversity in the reproductive modes of European Daphnia pulicaria deviates from the geographical parthenogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multiple transitions to obligate parthenogenesis have occurred in the Daphnia pulex complex in North America. These newly formed asexual lineages are differentially distributed being found predominantly at high latitudes. This conforms to the rule of geographical parthenogenesis postulating prevalence of asexuals at high latitudes and altitudes. While the reproductive mode of high-latitude populations is relatively well studied, little is known about the reproduction mode in high altitudes. This study aimed to assess the reproductive mode of Daphnia pulicaria, a species of the D. pulex complex, from high altitude lakes in Europe.

Methodology/principal findings

Variation at eight microsatellite loci revealed that D. pulicaria from the High Tatra Mountains (HTM) had

SUBMITTER: Dufresne F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3104988 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature