Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

Most cave-obligate species (troglobionts) have small ranges due to limited dispersal ability and the isolated nature of cave habitats. The troglobiontic linyphiid spider Phanetta subterranea (Emerton, 1875), the only member of its genus, is a notable exception to this pattern; it has been reported f...

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Main Authors: Kathryn A. Kennedy, Kirk S. Zigler, Brendan Cramphorn, Curt W. Harden, Kurt Helf, Julian J. Lewis, Thomas E. Malabad, Marc A. Milne, Matthew L. Niemiller, Charles D. R. Stephen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2024-12-01
Series:Subterranean Biology
Online Access:https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/135200/download/pdf/
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author Kathryn A. Kennedy
Kirk S. Zigler
Brendan Cramphorn
Curt W. Harden
Kurt Helf
Julian J. Lewis
Thomas E. Malabad
Marc A. Milne
Matthew L. Niemiller
Charles D. R. Stephen
author_facet Kathryn A. Kennedy
Kirk S. Zigler
Brendan Cramphorn
Curt W. Harden
Kurt Helf
Julian J. Lewis
Thomas E. Malabad
Marc A. Milne
Matthew L. Niemiller
Charles D. R. Stephen
author_sort Kathryn A. Kennedy
collection DOAJ
description Most cave-obligate species (troglobionts) have small ranges due to limited dispersal ability and the isolated nature of cave habitats. The troglobiontic linyphiid spider Phanetta subterranea (Emerton, 1875), the only member of its genus, is a notable exception to this pattern; it has been reported from more counties and caves than any other troglobiont in North America. As many troglobionts exhibit significant genetic differentiation between populations over even small geographic distances, it has been hypothesized that Phanetta may comprise multiple, genetically distinct lineages. To test this hypothesis, we examined genetic diversity in Phanetta across its range at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene for 47 individuals from 40 caves, distributed across seven states and 37 counties. We found limited genetic differentiation across the species’ range with haplotypes shared by individuals collected up to 600 km apart. Intraspecific nucleotide diversity was 0.006 +/- 0.005 (mean +/- SD), and the maximum genetic p-distance observed between any two individuals was 0.022. These values are within the typical range observed for other spider species. Thus, we found no evidence of cryptic genetic diversity in Phanetta. Our observation of low genetic diversity across such a broad distribution raises the question of how these troglobiontic spiders have managed to disperse so widely.
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series Subterranean Biology
spelling doaj-art-dfabf3d9e52c40c9967f273d00d039652024-12-14T08:30:53ZengPensoft PublishersSubterranean Biology1314-26152024-12-015010511810.3897/subtbiol.50.135200135200Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)Kathryn A. Kennedy0Kirk S. Zigler1Brendan Cramphorn2Curt W. Harden3Kurt Helf4Julian J. Lewis5Thomas E. Malabad6Marc A. Milne7Matthew L. Niemiller8Charles D. R. Stephen9University of the SouthUniversity of the SouthThe University of Alabama in HuntsvilleClemson UniversityNational Park Service, Mammoth Cave National ParkLewis and Associates, Cave, Karst and Groundwater Biological ConsultingNatural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationUniversity of IndianapolisThe University of Alabama in HuntsvilleGeorgia State UniversityMost cave-obligate species (troglobionts) have small ranges due to limited dispersal ability and the isolated nature of cave habitats. The troglobiontic linyphiid spider Phanetta subterranea (Emerton, 1875), the only member of its genus, is a notable exception to this pattern; it has been reported from more counties and caves than any other troglobiont in North America. As many troglobionts exhibit significant genetic differentiation between populations over even small geographic distances, it has been hypothesized that Phanetta may comprise multiple, genetically distinct lineages. To test this hypothesis, we examined genetic diversity in Phanetta across its range at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene for 47 individuals from 40 caves, distributed across seven states and 37 counties. We found limited genetic differentiation across the species’ range with haplotypes shared by individuals collected up to 600 km apart. Intraspecific nucleotide diversity was 0.006 +/- 0.005 (mean +/- SD), and the maximum genetic p-distance observed between any two individuals was 0.022. These values are within the typical range observed for other spider species. Thus, we found no evidence of cryptic genetic diversity in Phanetta. Our observation of low genetic diversity across such a broad distribution raises the question of how these troglobiontic spiders have managed to disperse so widely.https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/135200/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Kathryn A. Kennedy
Kirk S. Zigler
Brendan Cramphorn
Curt W. Harden
Kurt Helf
Julian J. Lewis
Thomas E. Malabad
Marc A. Milne
Matthew L. Niemiller
Charles D. R. Stephen
Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)
Subterranean Biology
title Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)
title_full Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)
title_fullStr Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)
title_full_unstemmed Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)
title_short Remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider Phanetta subterranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae)
title_sort remarkably low genetic diversity in the widespread cave spider phanetta subterranea araneae linyphiidae
url https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/135200/download/pdf/
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