The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Lawley, Jonathan W.
Data de Publicação: 2021
Outros Autores: Gamero-Mora, Edgar, Maronna, Maximiliano M., Chiaverano, Luciano M., Stampar, Sérgio N. [UNESP], Hopcroft, Russell R., Collins, Allen G., Morandini, André C.
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11954
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/222414
Resumo: Cryptic species have been detected across Metazoa, and while no apparent morphological features distinguish them, it should not impede taxonomists from formal descriptions. We accepted this challenge for the jellyfish genus Aurelia, which has a long and confusing taxonomic history. We demonstrate that morphological variability in Aurelia medusae overlaps across very distant geographic localities. Even though some morphological features seem responsible for most of the variation, regional geographic patterns of dissimilarities are lacking. This is further emphasized by morphological differences found when comparing lab-cultured Aurelia coerulea medusae with the diagnostic features in its recent redescription. Previous studies have also highlighted the difficulties in distinguishing Aurelia polyps and ephyrae, and their morphological plasticity. Therefore, mostly based on genetic data, we recognize 28 species of Aurelia, of which seven were already described, 10 are formally described herein, four are resurrected and seven remain undescribed. We present diagnostic genetic characters for all species and designate type materials for newly described and some resurrected species. Recognizing moon jellyfish diversity with formal names is vital for conservation efforts and other studies. This work clarifies the practical implications of molecular genetic data as diagnostic characters, and sheds light on the patterns and processes that generate crypsis.
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spelling The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)Cryptic speciesDiagnosisDNA barcodingMedusaPhylogenySpecies delimitationSpecies descriptionSynapomorphyTaxonomyCryptic species have been detected across Metazoa, and while no apparent morphological features distinguish them, it should not impede taxonomists from formal descriptions. We accepted this challenge for the jellyfish genus Aurelia, which has a long and confusing taxonomic history. We demonstrate that morphological variability in Aurelia medusae overlaps across very distant geographic localities. Even though some morphological features seem responsible for most of the variation, regional geographic patterns of dissimilarities are lacking. This is further emphasized by morphological differences found when comparing lab-cultured Aurelia coerulea medusae with the diagnostic features in its recent redescription. Previous studies have also highlighted the difficulties in distinguishing Aurelia polyps and ephyrae, and their morphological plasticity. Therefore, mostly based on genetic data, we recognize 28 species of Aurelia, of which seven were already described, 10 are formally described herein, four are resurrected and seven remain undescribed. We present diagnostic genetic characters for all species and designate type materials for newly described and some resurrected species. Recognizing moon jellyfish diversity with formal names is vital for conservation efforts and other studies. This work clarifies the practical implications of molecular genetic data as diagnostic characters, and sheds light on the patterns and processes that generate crypsis.Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo, São PauloSchool of Environment and Science Coastal and Marine Research Centre Australian Rivers Institute Griffith UniversityInstituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero, Buenos AiresDepartamento de Ciências Biológicas Faculdade de Ciências e Letras Universidade Estadual Paulista, São PauloCollege of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska-FairbanksNational Systematics Laboratory National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian InstitutionCentro de Biologia Marinha Universidade de São Paulo, São PauloDepartamento de Ciências Biológicas Faculdade de Ciências e Letras Universidade Estadual Paulista, São PauloUniversidade de São Paulo (USP)Griffith UniversityInstituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo PesqueroUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)University of Alaska-FairbanksSmithsonian InstitutionLawley, Jonathan W.Gamero-Mora, EdgarMaronna, Maximiliano M.Chiaverano, Luciano M.Stampar, Sérgio N. [UNESP]Hopcroft, Russell R.Collins, Allen G.Morandini, André C.2022-04-28T19:44:37Z2022-04-28T19:44:37Z2021-09-09info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11954PeerJ, v. 9.2167-8359http://hdl.handle.net/11449/22241410.7717/peerj.119542-s2.0-85114892852Scopusreponame:Repositório Institucional da UNESPinstname:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)instacron:UNESPengPeerJinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess2022-04-28T19:44:37Zoai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/222414Repositório InstitucionalPUBhttp://repositorio.unesp.br/oai/requestopendoar:29462024-08-05T17:17:56.142334Repositório Institucional da UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)false
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
title The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
spellingShingle The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
Lawley, Jonathan W.
Cryptic species
Diagnosis
DNA barcoding
Medusa
Phylogeny
Species delimitation
Species description
Synapomorphy
Taxonomy
title_short The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
title_full The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
title_fullStr The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
title_full_unstemmed The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
title_sort The importance of molecular characters when morphological variability hinders diagnosability: Systematics of the moon jellyfish genus Aurelia (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
author Lawley, Jonathan W.
author_facet Lawley, Jonathan W.
Gamero-Mora, Edgar
Maronna, Maximiliano M.
Chiaverano, Luciano M.
Stampar, Sérgio N. [UNESP]
Hopcroft, Russell R.
Collins, Allen G.
Morandini, André C.
author_role author
author2 Gamero-Mora, Edgar
Maronna, Maximiliano M.
Chiaverano, Luciano M.
Stampar, Sérgio N. [UNESP]
Hopcroft, Russell R.
Collins, Allen G.
Morandini, André C.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Griffith University
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Smithsonian Institution
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Lawley, Jonathan W.
Gamero-Mora, Edgar
Maronna, Maximiliano M.
Chiaverano, Luciano M.
Stampar, Sérgio N. [UNESP]
Hopcroft, Russell R.
Collins, Allen G.
Morandini, André C.
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Cryptic species
Diagnosis
DNA barcoding
Medusa
Phylogeny
Species delimitation
Species description
Synapomorphy
Taxonomy
topic Cryptic species
Diagnosis
DNA barcoding
Medusa
Phylogeny
Species delimitation
Species description
Synapomorphy
Taxonomy
description Cryptic species have been detected across Metazoa, and while no apparent morphological features distinguish them, it should not impede taxonomists from formal descriptions. We accepted this challenge for the jellyfish genus Aurelia, which has a long and confusing taxonomic history. We demonstrate that morphological variability in Aurelia medusae overlaps across very distant geographic localities. Even though some morphological features seem responsible for most of the variation, regional geographic patterns of dissimilarities are lacking. This is further emphasized by morphological differences found when comparing lab-cultured Aurelia coerulea medusae with the diagnostic features in its recent redescription. Previous studies have also highlighted the difficulties in distinguishing Aurelia polyps and ephyrae, and their morphological plasticity. Therefore, mostly based on genetic data, we recognize 28 species of Aurelia, of which seven were already described, 10 are formally described herein, four are resurrected and seven remain undescribed. We present diagnostic genetic characters for all species and designate type materials for newly described and some resurrected species. Recognizing moon jellyfish diversity with formal names is vital for conservation efforts and other studies. This work clarifies the practical implications of molecular genetic data as diagnostic characters, and sheds light on the patterns and processes that generate crypsis.
publishDate 2021
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2021-09-09
2022-04-28T19:44:37Z
2022-04-28T19:44:37Z
dc.type.status.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11954
PeerJ, v. 9.
2167-8359
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/222414
10.7717/peerj.11954
2-s2.0-85114892852
url http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11954
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/222414
identifier_str_mv PeerJ, v. 9.
2167-8359
10.7717/peerj.11954
2-s2.0-85114892852
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv PeerJ
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Scopus
reponame:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
instname:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
instacron:UNESP
instname_str Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
instacron_str UNESP
institution UNESP
reponame_str Repositório Institucional da UNESP
collection Repositório Institucional da UNESP
repository.name.fl_str_mv Repositório Institucional da UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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