0436717 - BC 2015 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Gassner, M. - Dejaco, T. - Schönswetter, P. - Marec, František - Arthofer, W. - Schlick-Steiner, B. C. - Steiner, F. M.
Extensive variation in chromosome number and genome size in sexual and parthenogenetic species of the jumping-bristletail genus Machilis (Archaeognatha).
Ecology and Evolution. Roč. 4, č. 21 (2014), s. 4093-4105. ISSN 2045-7758. E-ISSN 2045-7758
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA14-22765S
Grant - others:University of Innsbruck(AT) 40.3/22306/27.01.2014
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : asexuality * chromosomal speciation * genome downsizing
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 2.320, year: 2014

We applied flow cytometry, karyotyping, and mitochondrial DNA sequencing to three sexual and five parthenogenetic Eastern-Alpine species of the jumping-bristletail genus Machilis to investigate whether (1) parthenogenesis originated once or multiply and (2) whether parthenogenesis is strictly associated with polyploidy. The mitochondrial phylogeny revealed that parthenogenesis evolved at least five times independently in this genus. One parthenogenetic species was exclusively triploid, while a second consisted of both diploid and triploid populations. The other parthenogenetic species and all sexual species were diploid. Our results thus indicate that polyploidy can co-occur with parthenogenesis, but that it was not mandatory for the emergence of parthenogenesis in Machilis. The haploid genome size decreased with elevation, and we therefore hypothesize that genome downsizing could have been crucial for the persistence of alpine Machilis species.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0240407