Evidence of cryptic and pseudocryptic speciation in the Paracalanus parvus species complex (Crustacea, Copepoda, Calanoida).

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Many marine planktonic crustaceans such as copepods have been considered as widespread organisms. However, the growing evidence for cryptic and pseudo-cryptic speciation has emphasized the need of re-evaluating the status of copepod species complexes in molecular and morphological studies to get a clearer picture about pelagic marine species as evolutionary units and their distributions. This study analyses the molecular diversity of the ecologically important Paracalanus parvus species complex. Its seven currently recognized species are abundant and also often dominant in marine coastal regions worldwide from temperate to tropical oceans.

Results

COI and Cytochrome b sequences of 160 specimens of the Paracalanus parvus complex from all oceans were obtained. Fur

SUBMITTER: Cornils A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3948017 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature