둥근성게과, Strongylocentrotidae, Echinoidea의 속 구분에 대한 분자계통학적 검정

Abstract

Sea urchins of the family Strongylocentrotidae have been model organisms in many biological studies. Yet, there remain controversies among systematists regarding the genera of the family and their phylogenetic relationships. Here, we carried out molecular phylogenetic tests, Kishino‐Hasegawa and Simodaria‐Hasegawa tests, to resolve the controversies with mtDNA sequences of 12SrDNA‐tRNA(gln) (838nt) and COI (1078nt). We determined whether the genera Pseudocentrotus and Loxechinus belong to Strongylocentrotidae and whether the genus Hemicentrotus is a valid cladistic assignment. The tests reveal that Pseudocentrotus forms a distinct clade with Strongylocentrotus indicating its belonging to Strongylocentrotidae. However, Loxechinus is clearly separated from the other genera of Strongylocentrotidae but forms a clade with genera Paracentrotus and Sterechinus belonging to Parechinidae and Echinidae, respectively. On the other hand, Hemicentrotus locates its phylogenetic position within the genus Strongylocentrotus implying its genus level assignment invalid.