Meeting Abstract

41.5  Friday, Jan. 4  Molecular phylogeny of Dendrobranchiata inferred from two nuclear markers MA, K.Y.*; CHU, K.H.; CHAN, T.Y.; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; National Taiwan Ocean University makayana@gmail.com

Dendrobranchiata is a diverse group of marine shrimps consisting of seven families in two superfamilies (Penaeoidea and Sergestoidea). Attention to the phylogeny of the dendrobranchiates is raised since studies using mitochondrial markers have challenged the monophyly and classification of the penaeoid families, with Solenoceridae nested within Penaeidae, despite low bootstrap support. In this study, DNA sequences of two nuclear protein-coding genes were determined from more than 50 species representing all families of Dendrobranchiata. The phylogenetic analyses strongly support the monophyly of each of the two superfamilies. Each of the three penaeoid families (Solenoceridae, Aristeidae and Benthesicymidae) is monophyletic and they cluster together, with the latter two families more closely related. However, the monophyly of Penaeidae is questioned as Sicyoniidae is grouped with Metapenaeus. The results are largely in accordance with the evolutionary history inferred from morphological data as proposed by Burkenroad (1983). Among the penaeoid families, the penaeid and sicyoniid shrimps are predominantly found in littoral waters while the remaining three families inhabit deeper waters. Thus, the two lineages might have originated from different water depths such that habitat differentiation is an important driving force in the evolution of the dendrobranchiates.