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Molecular systematics of polychaetes (Annelida)

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Abstract

Some progress has been made in the field of molecular systematics of polychaetes over the past couple of years. In particular, phylogenetic analyses of sequence data from the 18S rRNA gene have included increasing numbers of taxa, and explicit hypothesis testing of sister-group relationships is being incorporated into the most recent studies. An increasing number of analyses of relationships within polychaete groups are being undertaken, with specific inferences being drawn regarding the evolution of characters such as reproductive mode. Despite this progress, the unanswered questions regarding annelid relationships outlined by McHugh (2000, p. 1881) remain: “what are the relationships among the polychaete annelids, what group is sister to the Clitellata, what extant group is most basal on the annelid tree, and what group is sister to Annelida?” Continued expansion of taxon sampling and further combined investigation of conserved nuclear coding genes, in conjunction with rRNA genes, may help to resolve some of these issues. Furthermore, only by expanding molecular systematic studies of polychaetes to analyses of nuclear coding genes for comprehensive taxon samples will it become clear whether the lack of basal-node resolution observed in analyses of 18S rRNA reflects a rapid radiation of the group, or is a feature associated with the 18S rRNA gene itself. Genomic-level data (e.g., mitochondrial gene order) may also be informative, and the cautious use of gene copies in phylogenetic analyses may point to a root of the annelid tree.

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  1. Biology Department, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, 13346, USA

    Damhnait McHugh

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  1. Damhnait McHugh
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Correspondence to Damhnait McHugh.

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McHugh, D. Molecular systematics of polychaetes (Annelida). Hydrobiologia 535, 309–318 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-4414-1

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