Molecular phylogeny of Bulinus (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) reveals the presence of three species complexes in the Albertine Rift freshwater bodies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Molecular phylogeny of Bulinus (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) reveals the presence of three species complexes in the Albertine Rift freshwater bodies

AU - Nalugwa, A.

AU - Jørgensen, Aslak

AU - Nyakaana, S.

AU - Kristensen, Thomas K.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - In this study, partial mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) sequences (612 bp) of Bulinus snails sampled from 31 freshwater bodies in the Albertine Rift were analyzed to investigate the extent of genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships. Bayesian phylogenetic inferences clustered the samples into three species groups; Bulinus truncatus/tropicus, Bulinus forskalii and Bulinus africanus. Twenty-two haplotypes were identified within the B. truncatus/tropicus species group which clustered into two well-differentiated lineages; with 2.7% sequence divergence between them. Significant genetic variation was also observed within the B. forskalii group, with the Maramagambo forest haplotype being separated by 55 mutational changes from the rest of the haplotypes. The B. truncatus/tropicus species group showed early divergence from the two B. forskalii and B. africanus species groups which were more closely related. A single species B. globosus in the B. africanus species group was identified in the Albertine Rift. We report the presence of five Bulinus species in the Albertine Rift; two in the B. truncatus/tropicus group, two in the B. forskalii group (one species yet to be identified) and one species in the B. africanus group. The findings of this study highlight the limitations of relying solely on shell characteristics to delineate snail species within the genus Bulinus.

AB - In this study, partial mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) sequences (612 bp) of Bulinus snails sampled from 31 freshwater bodies in the Albertine Rift were analyzed to investigate the extent of genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships. Bayesian phylogenetic inferences clustered the samples into three species groups; Bulinus truncatus/tropicus, Bulinus forskalii and Bulinus africanus. Twenty-two haplotypes were identified within the B. truncatus/tropicus species group which clustered into two well-differentiated lineages; with 2.7% sequence divergence between them. Significant genetic variation was also observed within the B. forskalii group, with the Maramagambo forest haplotype being separated by 55 mutational changes from the rest of the haplotypes. The B. truncatus/tropicus species group showed early divergence from the two B. forskalii and B. africanus species groups which were more closely related. A single species B. globosus in the B. africanus species group was identified in the Albertine Rift. We report the presence of five Bulinus species in the Albertine Rift; two in the B. truncatus/tropicus group, two in the B. forskalii group (one species yet to be identified) and one species in the B. africanus group. The findings of this study highlight the limitations of relying solely on shell characteristics to delineate snail species within the genus Bulinus.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - Bulinus species

KW - cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1

KW - mitochondrial DNA

KW - phylogenetic relationships

KW - Albertine Rift

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2006-9863

VL - 2

SP - 130

EP - 139

JO - International Journal of Genetics and Molecular Biology

JF - International Journal of Genetics and Molecular Biology

IS - 7

ER -