Evolutionary history of relict Congeria (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae): unearthing the subterranean biodiversity of the Dinaric Karst.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patterns of biodiversity in the subterranean realm are typically different from those encountered on the Earth's surface. The Dinaric karst of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a global hotspot of subterranean biodiversity. How this was achieved and why this is so remain largely unresolved despite a long tradition of research. To obtain insights into the colonisation of the Dinaric Karst and the effects of the subterranean realm on its inhabitants, we studied the tertiary relict Congeria, a unique cave-dwelling bivalve (Dreissenidae), using a combination of biogeographical, molecular, morphological, and paleontological information.

Results

Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses using both nuclear and mitochondrial markers have shown that the survi

SUBMITTER: Bilandzija H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3599595 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature