POLYPHYLETIC ORIGINS OF ASEXUALITY IN DAPHNIA PULEX. II. MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIATION

Allozyme studies of the cladoceran Daphnia pulex have shown that most populations reproduce by obligate parthenogenesis, although some cyclically parthenogenetic populations remain throughout the southern portion of its range. Clonal diversity within the obligate parthenogens is extremely high and has been attributed to the polyphyletic origin of asexuality. Specifically, it has been proposed that the clonal diversity in the obligate parthenogens was generated via the spread of a sex-limited meiosis suppressor through populations of a cyclically parthenogenetic ancestor. In this study, analysis of polymorphism of restriction-endonuclease sites in the mitochondrial genome, in conjunction with allozyme analysis, was used to determine whether obligate parthenogenesis has a monophyletic or polyphyletic origin in D. pulex. An allozyme survey of 77 populations from Ontario and Michigan was first conducted to determine breeding systems and levels of clonal diversity (Hebert et al., 1989). Mitochondrial-DNA variation was then surveyed in one isolate of each clone from each population reproducing by obligate parthenogenesis and in 2-4 isolates from each population reproducing by cyclic parthenogenesis. Seventeen restriction enzymes were used in this analysis. Thirty-five mitochondrial genotypes were found among the 36 obligate clones (as identified by allozyme analysis), while 17 mitochondrial genotypes were identified among 40 cyclic isolates from 14 populations. Five mitochondrial genotypes were found in both groups. Parsimony and phenetic-clustering methods were used to construct trees showing the genetic relationship among mitochondrial genotypes. The results clearly show that obligate parthenogenesis had a polyphyletic origin in this species. The close relationship between cyclic and obligate parthenogens in the Great Lakes region suggests that many obligate clones have recently been derived from cyclic populations and that the generation of clones is still occurring in this area. Patterns of clonal diversity based on the joint consideration of allozyme and mitochondrial-DNA data are discussed.