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Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.

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Main Author: Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan)
Other Authors: Cook, B. A.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
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access_status_str Open Access
author Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan)
author2 Cook, B. A.
author_browse Cook, B. A.
Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan)
author_facet Cook, B. A.
Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan)
author_sort Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53078
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:00.621Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2012
publishDateRange 2012
publishDateSort 2012
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
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source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53078 Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes) Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan) Cook, B. A. Matthee, C. A. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology. Freshwater crabs -- South Africa -- Classification Animal populations -- South Africa Crabs -- South Africa Freshwater crabs -- South Africa -- Phylogeny Potamonautidae -- South Africa -- Classification Potamonautidae -- South Africa -- Phylogeny Dissertations -- Zoology Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the present study, the systematic status, aspects of the evolutionary biology and phylogenetic relationships among species of the African freshwater crab genus Potamonautes in South Africa are examined. Systematic research between allopatric populations of P. brincki, using allozyme and morphometric data has revealed the existence of a new undescribed freshwater crab species occurring in mountain streams of the Cape Peninsula. This species is described in the present study. In addition, the diagnostic value of carapace dentition patterns in the taxonomy of freshwater crabs is explored among two toothed river crab species from South Africa. The latter study utilized P. warreni and P. unispinus where considerable variation in the dentition pattern of the former species has been recorded. Fixed differences in allozyme loci demonstrated that these two taxa should indeed be considered separate, yet closely related species, while the morphometric data failed to reveal this taxonomic separation. The holotype of P. warreni is re-described. The relationship of hybrid taxa between P. depressus and P. clarus populations are investigated. Evident from this study is that populations that occur equidistant from the two parental taxa have undergone extensive introgressive hybridization. Considering the pronounced sequence divergence and the occurrence of fixed allozyme loci between populations, it is postulated that the hybrid populations should be considered to be on a unique evolutionary trajectory worthy of conservation. The population genetic structure of P. calcaratus is examined as this species is unique in its occupation of water holes. Results demonstrate that the genetic population structure is the result of recent colonization and moderate gene flow among populations. Phylogenetic relationships between the southern African freshwater crab fauna is investigated with the use of sequence data from two mitochondial genes (12 S rRNA and 16 S rRNA), allozymes and morphology in an attempt to firstly, test the usefulness of freshwater crabs as biogeographic indicators, secondly to explore the relationship among hybrid taxa, and thirdly to examine Bott's (1955) subgeneric divisions. Results demonstrated that freshwater crabs can be used as biogeographic indicators, that hybrid taxa are phylogenetic ally closely related and that Bott's subgeneric divisions have no systematic basis. Among the three data sets, the sequence data provided the best resolution, while the phylogenetic inferences derived from the allozyme data and the morphology was limited. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die sistematiek, aspekte van die evolusionêre biologie en filogenetiese verwantskappe tussen spesies van die varswater krap genus Potamonautes ondersoek in Suid Afrika. Navorsing op geografies geisoleerde populasies van P. brincki word met behulp van allosieme en morfometriese data ondersoek en dui daarop dat daar 'n nuwe onbeskryfde spesie op die berge van die Kaapse Skiereiland voorkom. Die nuwe spesies word beskryf in hierdie studie. Die diagnostiese waarde van tand patrone in varswater krappe word tussen twee spesies P. warreni en P. unispinus ondersoek. Genetiese data dui daarop dat alhoewel P. warreni morfologies baie naverwant is aan P. unispin us, is genoegsame verskille in allosiem lokusse wat daarop dui dat die twee taksa volwaardige spesies is. Die holotipe van P. warreni word herbeskryf. Die verwantkap tussen populasies van twee hibried taksa, P. depressus en P. clarus, word ondersoek. Resultate van hierdie studie dui daarop dat noemenswaardige verskille voorkom tussen die twee hibridie taxa en dat die hibriede populasies geneties verskillend is. 'n Argument word aangevoer vir die beskerming van hibriede taksa. Die populasie genetika van P. calcaratus word ondersoek en vergelyk met vorige studies. Die data dui daarop dat minimale geen vloei tusses populasies is en dat die populasie struktuur waarskynlik die resultaat is van onlangse kolonisasie. Die filogenetiese verwantskap tussen die suider Afrikaanse krappe word ondersoek met DNA, allosieme en morfologiese karakters met drie hoofdoele. Eerstens om die gebruik van varswater krappe as biografiese indikatore te toets. Tweedens om die verwantskap van hibriede taksa te ondersoek, en derdens om die status van Bott (1955) se subgenera te bepaal. Resultate dui daarop aan dat varswater krappe wel gebruik kan word as biografiese indikatore. Hibridieserende taxa naverwant is derdens en dat Bott se subgenera geen taksonomiese basis het nie. Die DNA data het die beste resolusie gebied vir die filogenetiese vrae, terwyl die allosieme en morfologiese data 'n laer resolusie bedied het, en meer beperk was. Doctoral 2012-08-27T11:35:17Z 2012-08-27T11:35:17Z 2002-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53078 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 309 p. : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Freshwater crabs -- South Africa -- Classification
Animal populations -- South Africa
Crabs -- South Africa
Freshwater crabs -- South Africa -- Phylogeny
Potamonautidae -- South Africa -- Classification
Potamonautidae -- South Africa -- Phylogeny
Dissertations -- Zoology
Daniels, Savel R. (Savel Regan)
Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)
title Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)
title_full Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)
title_fullStr Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)
title_full_unstemmed Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)
title_short Systematics and population genetics of the South African freshwater crab fauna (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes)
title_sort systematics and population genetics of the south african freshwater crab fauna decapoda potamonautidae potamonautes
topic Freshwater crabs -- South Africa -- Classification
Animal populations -- South Africa
Crabs -- South Africa
Freshwater crabs -- South Africa -- Phylogeny
Potamonautidae -- South Africa -- Classification
Potamonautidae -- South Africa -- Phylogeny
Dissertations -- Zoology
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53078
work_keys_str_mv AT danielssavelrsavelregan systematicsandpopulationgeneticsofthesouthafricanfreshwatercrabfaunadecapodapotamonautidaepotamonautes