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Fairy shrimps in distress: a molecular taxonomic review of the diverse fairy shrimp genus Branchinella (Anostraca: Thamnocephalidae) in Australia in the light of ongoing environmental change

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Abstract

Australia, and especially South-Western Australia, is a diversity hotspot for large branchiopod crustaceans. A significant proportion of this diversity is found in the anostracans (Crustacea, Anostraca) and particularly in the diverse genus Branchinella with at least 34 species. Members of this genus are found exclusively in temporary aquatic habitats which are increasingly threatened by secondary salinization and other anthropogenic pressures. The development of adequate conservation strategies is therefore considered a priority. To define conservation units, however, thorough knowledge of the taxonomy and phylogenetic position of extant lineages is essential. We reconstructed a large scale phylogeny of the Australian Branchinella by analyzing the 16S mitochondrial gene of 31 presumed species, complemented with analysis of morphological structures holding taxonomic information. Results revealed the presence of at least three new cryptic species. On the other hand, some Branchinella lineages, surviving in environments subjected to contrasting selection regimes, appeared to be conspecific. This suggests substantial physiological plasticity or important adaptive variation present in some species, potentially enabling them to better cope with environmental change, such as secondary salinization. Overall, these results further illustrate the benefits of combining molecular markers and classic morphological taxonomy and phylogeny to assess biodiversity and define conservation units in cryptic groups.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO–Vlaanderen): project G.0627.09N (Interactions between ecological and evolutionary precesses in rock pool metacommunities along a climate gradient). B.V. and M.P.M.V. currently hold, respectively, a doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship with the Research Foundation Flanders. The authors would also like to thank Bart Hellemans, Carla Denis and Maarten H. D. Larmuseau for their valuable insights during preparation of the manuscript and technical assistance. We thank the Department of Environment and Conservation of Western Australia for issuing permits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, KULeuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Tom Pinceel, Bram Vanschoenwinkel, Aline Waterkeyn & Luc Brendonck

  2. Laboratory of Animal Diversity and Systematics, KULeuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Maarten P. M. Vanhove

  3. Department of Environment and Conservation, Wildlife Place, Woodvale, WA, 6026, Australia

    Adrian Pinder

  4. Australian Museum, 6-9 College St, Sydney, 2000, Australia

    Brian V. Timms

  5. Australian Wetland and Rivers Centre, BEES, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Brian V. Timms

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  1. Tom Pinceel
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Pinceel, T., Vanschoenwinkel, B., Waterkeyn, A. et al. Fairy shrimps in distress: a molecular taxonomic review of the diverse fairy shrimp genus Branchinella (Anostraca: Thamnocephalidae) in Australia in the light of ongoing environmental change. Hydrobiologia 700, 313–327 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1240-8

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