Karanovic, I.; Huyen, P. T. M.; Yoo, H.; Nakao, Y.; Tsukagoshi, A. (2020). Shell and appendages variability in two allopatric ostracod species seen through the light of molecular data. Contributions to Zoology. 89(3): 247-269.
Karanovic, I.; Huyen, P. T. M.; Yoo, H.; Nakao, Y.; Tsukagoshi, A.
2020
Shell and appendages variability in two allopatric ostracod species seen through the light of molecular data
Contributions to Zoology
89(3): 247-269
Publication
Available for editors
Ostracod crustaceans are among the most abundant microfossil animals. Understanding intra- and interspecific
variability of their shell is of pivotal importance for the interpretation of paleontological data.
In comparison to appendages, ostracod shell displays more intraspecific variability (in shape, size, and
ornamentation), often as a response to environmental conditions. Shell variability has been studied with
sophisticated methods, such as geometric morphometrics (GM), but the conspecificity of examined specimens
and populations was never tested. In addition, there are no GM studies of appendages. We build
on previously published high cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) divergence rates among populations
of a brackish water species, Ishizakiella miurensis (Hanai, 1957). With landmark-based GM analyses of
its shell and appendages, and additional genetic markers (ITS, 28S, 18S), we test if the genetic variability
is structured in morphospace. This approach is the core of integrative taxonomy paradigm which has
been proposed to bring the gap between traditional taxonomy and other disciplines such as evolutionary biology. The results show that it is the shell shape, and not the shape of appendages, that mirrors the
molecular phylogeny, and we describe a new species. Our results suggest that the landmark-based GM
studies may be useful in paleontological datasets for closely related species delineation. We implement
molecular clock and population statistics to discuss speciation processes and phylogeography of the two
congeners in Korea and Japan.