Original Article

Genetic structure and phylogeography of platypuses revealed by mitochondrial DNA

  1. Jaime Gongora1,*,
  2. Amelia B. Swan1,
  3. Amanda Y. Chong1,
  4. Simon Y. W. Ho2,3,
  5. Chandramaya S. Damayanti1,
  6. Stephen Kolomyjec4,5,
  7. Tom Grant6,
  8. Emily Miller1,
  9. David Blair4,
  10. Elise Furlan7,
  11. Nick Gust8

Article first published online: 7 OCT 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00854.x

Issue

Journal of Zoology

Journal of Zoology

Volume 286, Issue 2, pages 110–119, February 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Gongora, J., Swan, A. B., Chong, A. Y., Ho, S. Y. W., Damayanti, C. S., Kolomyjec, S., Grant, T., Miller, E., Blair, D., Furlan, E. and Gust, N. (2012), Genetic structure and phylogeography of platypuses revealed by mitochondrial DNA. Journal of Zoology, 286: 110–119. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00854.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

  2. 2

    Centre for Macroevolution and Macroecology, Research School of Biology, Australian, National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

  3. 3

    School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

  4. 4

    School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld., Australia

  5. 5

    School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

  6. 6

    School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

  7. 7

    Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia

  8. 8

    Department of Primary Industries and Water, Biodiversity Conservation Branch, Hobart, Tas., Australia

*Correspondence
Jaime Gongora, Faculty of Veterinary Science, RMC Gunn Building B19, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Tel: +61 2 90369348; Fax: +61 2 93513957
Email: jaime.gongora@sydney.edu.au

  1. Editor: Prof. Jean-Nicolas Volff

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 JAN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 7 OCT 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 18 JUL 2011
  4. Manuscript Revised: 16 JUL 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 25 MAY 2011

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Keywords:

  • platypus;
  • Ornithorhynchus anatinus;
  • mitochondrial DNA;
  • control region;
  • cytochrome b

Abstract

The platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus is an endemic monotreme species with a wide latitudinal distribution in eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Understanding of the phylogeography within this species is very limited at present and represents a gap in the documentation of Australia's unique biodiversity. We analysed mitochondrial DNA sequences (partial control region and complete cytochrome b, including portions of flanking tRNAs) of 74 individuals from across the distribution of the species. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences corroborated the primary split within the platypus, showing two major clades: one from mainland Australia and the other from Tasmania/King Island. Estimates of divergence times suggest that these clades last shared a common mitochondrial ancestor ∼0.7–0.94 Ma. Using an extended dataset of partial control region sequences from 284 individuals, we found evidence of genetic structure between river basins, primarily within mainland Australia, as well as an additional divergent lineage in North-eastern Australia. Overall, few haplotypes were shared between river basins. Analyses of molecular variance of the control region sequences indicated low rates of gene flow and significant divergence, particularly at the river basin and geographical area scales.

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