Abstract
To re-evaluate the taxonomic status of Cheilosia canicularis (Panzer, 1801), C. himantopus (Panzer, 1798) and C. orthotricha VujiÄ & Claussen, 1994, variation in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and 18 nuclear allozyme genes were surveyed in allopatric and sympatric populations from Serbia and Montenegro. Genetic relationships among five populations of these species from the FruĹĄka Gora (Serbia), Kopaonik (Serbia) and Durmitor (Montenegro) mountains were analyzed. Seven allozyme loci (Aat, Aco, Fum, Idh-1, Idh-2, Mdh-2 and Sdh) were diagnostic for delineating C. orthotricha from the other two species, while only a low, but consistent, genetic differentiation was observed between C. canicularis and C. himantopus. Differentiating all three species was possible based solely on the species-specific alleles at the Est-? locus. Sequence comparisons of 738 bp of the COI gene from eleven specimens was consistent with the variability in nuclear allozymes. Sequence data revealed variation in 5% of the nucleotide sites among C. orthotricha and the C. canicularis/C. himantopus pair, while less variation (0.68%) was observed within the pair C. canicularis/C. himantopus. However, the presence of one diagnostic allozyme locus and five consistently variable nucleotide sites in sympatric populations of C. canicularis and C. himantopus (Durmitor, Montenegro) suggest that these two species have separate gene pools.
Highlights
Seven allozyme loci (Aat, Aco, Fum, Idh-1, Idh-2, Mdh-2 and Sdh) were diagnostic for delineating C. orthotricha from the other two species, while only a low, but consistent, genetic differentiation was observed between C. canicularis and C. himantopus
Samples of the species Cheilosia orthotricha, C. canicularis and C. himantopus were collected from Fruška Gora and two high Dinaric mountains, Durmitor and Kopaonik, in Serbia and Montenegro (Fig. 1, Table 1)
Delineation of all three species was possible based only on allozymes coded by the alleles at the Est-? locus that were unique for the populations of C. orthotricha, C. canicularis and C. himantopus (Table 2)
Summary
Cheilosia himantopus was re-established as a valid species by Stuke & Claussen (2000) after detailed study of the morphological variability and ecology of both adult and immature specimens. Adults inhabit deciduous and evergreen forest habitats and clearings along streams and rivers (Stuke & Claussen, 2000; Speight, 2003; Vujiü & Šikoparija, 2001). The immature stages of C. canicularis and C. himantopus develop in stems, leaves and rhizomes of Petasites spp. (Stuke & Claussen, 2000; Speight, 2003; Vujiü & Šikoparija, 2001). Females of C. canicularis have been observed to oviposit on leaves surrounding flower buds or on leaf buds in late summer or early autumn and those of C. himantopus on leaf buds in late spring (Vujiü & Šikoparija, 2001). The larvae of C. orthotricha develop in flower stems of Petasites hybridus (Stuke & Claussen, 2000) and pupate in the rhizome or in the vicinity of the host plant
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
