Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
Published on: July 11, 2025
Sphaeridiotrema globulus and Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus (Digenea): species differentiation based on mtDNA
Laura Bergmame1, Jane Huffman, Rebecca Cole
1Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4B 1R6. mcljd@alcor.concordia.ca
Abstract:
Flukes belonging to Sphaeridiotrema are important parasites of waterfowl, and 2 morphologically similar species Sphaeridiotrema globulus and Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus, have been implicated in waterfowl mortality in North America. Cytochrome oxidase I (barcode region) and partial LSU-rDNA sequences from specimens of S. globulus and S. pseudoglobulus, obtained from naturally and experimentally infected hosts from New Jersey and Quebec, respectively, confirmed that these species were distinct. Barcode sequences of the 2 species differed at 92 of 590 nucleotide positions (15.6%) and the translated sequences differed by 13 amino acid residues. Partial LSU-rDNA sequences differed at 29 of 1,208 nucleotide positions (2.4%). Additional barcode sequences from specimens collected from waterfowl in Wisconsin and Minnesota and morphometric data obtained from specimens acquired along the north shore of Lake Superior revealed the presence of S. pseudoglobulus in these areas. Although morphometric data suggested the presence of S. globulus in the Lake Superior sample, it was not found among the specimens sequenced from Wisconsin or Minnesota.
Related Concept Videos
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Diversity of Protists III
Phylogenetic Species Concept in Microbiology
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Diversity of Protists I
Microbial Phylogeny

