Molecular and morphological discrimination between an invasive Ascidian, Ascidiella aspersa, and its congener A. scabra (Urochordata: Ascidiacea)
Nishikawa, T.; Oohara, I.; Saitoh, K.; Shigenobu, Y.; Hasegawa, N.; Kanamori, M.; Baba, K.; Turon, X.; Bishop, J.D.D. (2014). Molecular and morphological discrimination between an invasive Ascidian, Ascidiella aspersa, and its congener A. scabra (Urochordata: Ascidiacea). Zool. Sci. 31(3): 180-185. https://dx.doi.org/10.2108/zsj.31.180
In: Zoological Science. Zoological Society of Japan: Tokyo. ISSN 0289-0003; e-ISSN 2212-3830, more
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| Keywords |
Ascidiacea [WoRMS]; Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) [WoRMS]; Ascidiella scabra (Müller, 1776) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Ascidiella aspersa, Ascidiella scabra, invasive ascidian, molecular analysis, morphology, species, taxonomy |
| Authors | | Top |
- Nishikawa, T.
- Oohara, I.
- Saitoh, K.
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- Shigenobu, Y.
- Hasegawa, N.
- Kanamori, M.
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- Baba, K.
- Turon, X.
- Bishop, J.D.D.
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| Abstract |
The solitary ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Muller, 1776) has sometimes been regarded as conspecific with A. scabra (Muller, 1776), although previous detailed morphological comparisons have indicated that the two are distinguishable by internal structures. Resolution of this taxonomic issue is important because A. aspersa has been known as a notoriously invasive ascidian, doing much damage to aquaculture e.g. in Hokkaido, Japan. We collected many specimens from European waters (including the Swedish coast, near the type localities of these two species) and Hokkaido, Japan (as an alien population) and made molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and found that in terms of COI sequences all the analyzed specimens were clustered into two distinct groups, one of which is morphologically referable to A. aspersa and the other to A. scabra. Thus, these two species should be regarded as distinct from each other. |
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