Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca
| Dato | Valore |
|---|---|
| Title | Do Species Exist in Asexuals? Theory and Evidence from Bdelloid Rotifers. |
| Abstract | The possibility for independently evolving entities to form and persist in the absence of sexual recombination in eukaryotes has been questioned; nevertheless, there are organisms that are known to be asexual and that have apparently diversified into multiple species as recognized by taxonomists. These organisms have therefore been identified as an evolutionary paradox. We explore three alternative hypotheses attempting to solve the apparent paradox, focusing on bdelloid rotifers, the most studied group of organisms in which all species are considered asexual: (1) they may have some hidden form of sex; (2) species do not represent biological entities but simply convenient names; and (3) sex may not be a necessary requirement for speciation. We provide ample evidence against the first two hypotheses, reporting several studies supporting (1) bdelloids asexuality from different approaches, and (2) the existence of species from genetics, jaw morphology, ecology, and physiology. Thus, we (3) explore the role of sex in speciation comparing bdelloid and monogonont rotifers, and conclude with some caveats that could still change our understanding of bdelloid species. |
| Source | Integrative and comparative biology 55 (2), pp. 253–263 |
| Keywords | rotifera |
| Journal | Integrative and comparative biology |
| Editor | Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology,, McLean, VA, Stati Uniti d'America |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1093/icb/icv024 |
| Authors | Fontaneto, Diego; Barraclough, Timothy G |
| Text | 333105 2015 10.1093/icb/icv024 ISI Web of Science WOS 25912362 rotifera Do Species Exist in Asexuals Theory and Evidence from Bdelloid Rotifers. Fontaneto, Diego; Barraclough, Timothy G National Research Council, Institute of Ecosystem Study, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy; d.fontaneto@ise.cnr.it. The possibility for independently evolving entities to form and persist in the absence of sexual recombination in eukaryotes has been questioned; nevertheless, there are organisms that are known to be asexual and that have apparently diversified into multiple species as recognized by taxonomists. These organisms have therefore been identified as an evolutionary paradox. We explore three alternative hypotheses attempting to solve the apparent paradox, focusing on bdelloid rotifers, the most studied group of organisms in which all species are considered asexual 1 they may have some hidden form of sex; 2 species do not represent biological entities but simply convenient names; and 3 sex may not be a necessary requirement for speciation. We provide ample evidence against the first two hypotheses, reporting several studies supporting 1 bdelloids asexuality from different approaches, and 2 the existence of species from genetics, jaw morphology, ecology, and physiology. Thus, we 3 explore the role of sex in speciation comparing bdelloid and monogonont rotifers, and conclude with some caveats that could still change our understanding of bdelloid species. 55 Published version http //icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/2/253 FB2015 2015_IntCompBiol_Fontaneto_Barraclough.pdf Articolo in rivista Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, 1540 7063 Integrative and comparative biology Integrative and comparative biology Integr. comp. biol. Integrative and comparative biology. diego.fontaneto FONTANETO DIEGO |