Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from the Rising Sun (Far East Asia): Phylogeny, systematics, and distribution

Publication date: Available online 3 February 2020Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionAuthor(s): Manuel Lopes-Lima, Akimasa Hattori, Takaki Kondo, Jin Hee Lee, Sang Ki Kim, Akihisa Shirai, Hironori Hayashi, Taira Usui, Kanta Sakuma, Taishi Toriya, Youhei Sunamura, Haruki Ishikawa, Naoki Hoshino, Yushi Kusano, Hinata Kumaki, Yuya Utsugi, Shinnosuke Yabe, Yuma Yoshinari, Hazuki Hiruma, Akiko TanakaAbstractFreshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) is a diverse family with around 700 species being widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and Africa. These animals fulfill key ecological functions and provide important services to humans. Unfortunately, populations have declined dramatically over the last century, rendering Unionidae one of the world’s most imperiled taxonomic groups. In Far East Asia (comprising Japan, Korea, and Eastern Russia), conservation actions have been hindered by a lack of basic information on the number, identity, distribution and phylogenetic relationships of species. Available knowledge is restricted to studies on national and sub-national levels. The present study aims to resolve the diversity, biogeography and evolutionary relationships of the Far East Asian Unionidae in a globally comprehensive phylogenetic and systematic context.We reassessed the systematics of all Unionidae species in the region, including newly collected specimens from across Japan, South Korea, and Russia, based on molecular (including molecular species delineation and a ...

Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - February 5, 2020 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research