Chromosomal and mitochondrial diversity in Melitaea didyma complex (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae): eleven deeply diverged DNA barcode groups in one non-monophyletic species?

ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that cases of species' polyphyly in COI trees arising as a result of deep intraspecific divergence are negligible, and the detected cases reflect misidentifications or/and methodological errors. Here we studied the problem of species' non-monophyly through chromosomal and molecular analysis of butterfly taxa close to Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1779) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). We found absence or low interspecific chromosome number variation and presence of intraspecific variation, therefore we conclude that in this group, chromosome numbers have relatively low value as taxonomic markers. Despite low karyotype variability, the group was found to have unexpectedly high mitochondrial haplotype diversity. These haplotypes were clustered in 23 highly diverge

SUBMITTER: Pazhenkova EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5240519 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature