Abstract
BackgroundIn most Arthropod groups, the study of systematics and evolution rely mostly on neutral characters, in this context cuticular compounds, as non-neutral characters, represent an underexplored but potentially informative type of characters at the infraspecific level as they have been routinely proven to be involved in sexual attraction.Methods and FindingsThe collembolan species complex Deutonura deficiens was chosen as a model in order to test the utility of these characters for delineating four infraspecific entities of this group. Specimens were collected for three subspecies (D. d. deficiens, D. d. meridionalis, D. d. sylvatica) and two morphotypes (D. d. sylvatica morphoype A and B) of the complex; an additional species D. monticola was added. Cuticular compounds were extracted and separated by gas chromatography for each individual. Our results demonstrate that cuticular compounds succeeded in separating the different elements of this complex. Those data allowed also the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships among them.ConclusionsThe discriminating power of cuticular compounds is directly related to their involvement in sexual attraction and mate recognition. These findings allowed a discussion on the potential involvement of intrinsic and paleoclimatic factors in the origin and the diversification of this complex in the Pyrenean zone. This character type brings the first advance from pattern to process concerning the origin of this species complex.
Highlights
Species and subspecies are taxonomic levels generally considered as objective descriptors of biological reality, a mere fact at the origin of the numerous different studies proposed to date
The discriminating power of cuticular compounds is directly related to their involvement in sexual attraction and mate recognition
These findings allowed a discussion on the potential involvement of intrinsic and paleoclimatic factors in the origin and the diversification of this complex in the Pyrenean zone. This character type brings the first advance from pattern to process concerning the origin of this species complex
Summary
Species and subspecies are taxonomic levels generally considered as objective descriptors of biological reality, a mere fact at the origin of the numerous different studies proposed to date. Besides the most commonly used neutral genetic markers such as ISSR [2], microsatellites [3] nuclear and mitochondrial sequences [4.5], allozymes [6] and karyotypes [7,8], alternative sets of characters, such as cuticular compounds, have been proposed and tested with promising results [9,10]. These compounds are lipids present on the most external cuticular layer of all terrestrial arthropods: the epicuticular layer. In most Arthropod groups, the study of systematics and evolution rely mostly on neutral characters, in this context cuticular compounds, as non-neutral characters, represent an underexplored but potentially informative type of characters at the infraspecific level as they have been routinely proven to be involved in sexual attraction
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