Morphological and molecular variations of the Perinereis nuntia (Polychaeta: Nereididae) species group

• Main Authors: Mei-Jen Kuo, 郭美貞
• Other Authors: Allen C. Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/82548463905600322799

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 海洋研究所 === 92 === The Perinereis nuntia species group is widely-distributed in the intertidal areas of Indo-Pacific. Currently, there are at least fourteen recognized species in the group based on morphological characters. The objective of the present study is to elucidate morphological and molecular variations of the Perinereis nuntia species group in Taiwan and southeastern China. Seven morphs of the Perinereis nuntia species group were recognized based on morphological characters. However, these characters exhibited variations within and between clades. The overlap of characters made identification between these morphs difficult. Five distinct clades of the Perinereis nuntia species group were identified using molecular markers, H2A-H2B histone gene spacer region (H2A-H2B spacer) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) DNA gene. In addition, genetic distances between clades of this species group showed an order of divergence magnitude similar to that between species in other marine invertebrates. Therefore, the divergence between clades of this species group reached the level of species. Clade I comprised morph #1, #4, and #5. While clade II, clade III, clade IV, and clade V was equivalent to morph #2, #3, #6, and #7 respectively. The identification of morphological characters and molecular markers for the P. nuntia species group were compatible and revealed that there were at least five species of the P. nuntia species group in Taiwan and the southeastern of China. The present study also indicated the utility of molecular tools in conjunction with morphological characters to delineate species boundaries in the P. nuntia species group.