Origins of Semisulcospira libertina (gastropoda: semisulcospiridae) in Taiwan

Abstract

The most accepted hypothesis has suggested that the fauna in Taiwan Island originated from South China, but some studies supported the Japan, Ryukyu Archipelago, and Taiwan Islands as a unique biogeographical district. This study examines whether the populations of freshwater snail Semisulcospira libertina in Taiwan are closer to those in Japan based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. Our study shows the populations in North Taiwan originated from Japan and the cyclic glacial caused the migrations among islands and continent repeatedly; the populations in South Taiwan might originate from South China or South Asia. Our results will not only affect the conclusions in phylogeography of freshwater species in Taiwan but also change the sampling plans in the future studies about evolutionary of freshwater species in East Asia.

Keywords:

• Cryptic species
• East Asia islands
• Semisulcospira libertina

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous referees for their helpful comments.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interests in the preparation and execution of this manuscript. The authors are solely responsible for its content. This research was supported by the National Science Council grants to Yuh-Wen Chiu (NSC96-2313-B-037-001-MY3)