Flying with the birds? Recent large-area dispersal of four Australian Limnadopsis species (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata)

摘要: Temporary water bodies are important freshwater habitats in the arid zone of Australia. They harbor a distinct fauna and provide feeding breeding grounds for birds. This paper assesses, on basis haplotype networks, analyses molecular variation relaxed clock divergence time estimates, phylogeographic history, population structure four common temporary species Australian endemic clam shrimp taxon Limnadopsis eastern central Australia (an area >1,350,000 km2). Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences 413 individuals subset 63 nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 were analyzed. Genetic differentiation was observed between populations inhabiting southeastern those northern Lake Eyre Basin Western However, over large parts study across river drainage systems (the Murray–Darling Basin, Bulloo River, southern Basin), no evidence subdivision any species. indicates recent gene flow an ∼800,000 km2. finding contrasts with patterns other taxa, particularly species, whose often structured according to systems. The lack genetic within question may be linked huge number highly nomadic birds that potentially disperse resting eggs among bodies. Genetically undifferentiated geographic scale contrast starkly findings many branchiopods world, where pronounced is even pools separated by few kilometers. Due its divergent lineages (up 5.6% uncorrected p-distance) estimates obtained, parvispinus assumed have inhabited continuously since mid-Pliocene (∼4 million years ago). means suitable would existed this throughout wet–dry cycles Pleistocene.