Allozymic Variation and Species Diversity in North American Bosminidae

Abstract

North American members of the genus Bosmina show marked morphological variation and integradation, which have been attributed to the occurrence of both phenotypic plasticity and occasional hybridization between a small number of species. We employed allozyme analysis on 72 bosminid populations from 62 North American habitats to ascertain the validity of species boundaries and to verify the occurrence of hybridization. Results showed that levels of genetic variability (15.8% polymorphic loci, 10% individual heterozygosities) in bosminids were comparable with those reported in other zooplankton groups. Significant Hardy–Weinberg deviations were detected at 38% of polymorphic loci and were usually due to heterozygote deficiency. No clear evidence of interspecific hybridization was obtained, although some cases of heterozygote excess require further investigation. While prior morphological studies indicated the occurrence of only six species, the allozyme data revealed the presence of eight assemblages showing allelic substitutions at one or more loci. Each assemblage corresponded to a different species belonging to one of four subgenera (Bosmina, Eubosmina, Neobosmina, or Sinobosmina). Within two assemblages, individuals could be further partitioned into two morphologically distinct, but genetically similar species, leading to the recognition of 10 species in this study.