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

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.