Phylogenetics of the Monogenea--evidence from a medley of molecules

Nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences of Monogenea from both complete small and partial large (D1-D2) subunits were determined and added to previously published sequences in order to best estimate the molecular phylogeny of the group. A total of 35 ssrDNA, 100 D1 lsrDNA and 51 D2 lsrDNA monogenean sequences were used, representing a total of 27 families. From these sequences different data sets were assembled and analysed to make the best use of all available molecular phylogenetic information from the taxa. Maximum parsimony and minimum evolution trees for each data partition were rooted against published sequences from the Cestoda, forcing the Monogenea to appear monophyletic. There was broad agreement between tree topologies estimated by both methods and between genes. Well-supported nodes were restricted to deeply diverging major groupings and more derived taxa with the lsrDNA data but were at most nodes with ssrDNA. The Polyonchoinea showed the greatest resolution with a general pattern of ((Monocotylidae(Capsalidae(Udonellidae+Gyrodactylidea)))((Anoplodiscidae+Sundanonchidae)(Pseudomurraytrematidae+Dactylogyridae))). The Heteronchoinea readily split into the Polystomatoinea+Oligonchoinea, and Chimaericolidae and Hexabothriidae were successively the most basal of oligonchoinean taxa. Relationships within the Mazocraeidea, comprising 27 families of which 15 were sampled here, were largely unresolved and appear to reflect a rapid radiation of this group that is reflected in very short internal branches for ssrDNA and D1 lsrDNA, and highly divergent D2 lsrDNA. A reduced morphological matrix, employing only those families represented by molecules, contrasted sharply with respect to polyonchoinean interrelationships. Deep branches of the Heteronchoinea were similar for both classes of data but also showed that the interrelationships of the mazocraeidean families are labile and susceptible to sampling.