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Cryptic species in an endangered pondweed community (Potamogeton, Potamogetonaceae) revealed by AFLP markers¹

³Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 USA; ⁴Department of Biology, Unit 9168, 375 Church Street, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, Massachusetts 01247 USA; ⁵Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, California 93105 USA

Cryptic species are morphologically indistinguishable, yet reproductively isolated. Morphological boundaries between species can also be obscured by hybridization and clonality. Determining the roles of reproductive isolation, hybridization, and clonality in morphologically indistinguishable taxa is essential to determining appropriate species-level taxonomic rankings for conservation purposes. The taxonomic status of the endangered Little Aguja pondweed of west Texas, Potamogeton clystocarpus, is uncertain due to a lack of fixed morphological differences between it and two sympatric congeners. Morphology, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and trnL-F intron and spacer were used to determine the degree of genetic distinctiveness, hybridization and clonality for this rare species. AFLPs indicate that P. clystocarpus is a genetically distinct lineage compared to P. pusillus and P. foliosus. No hybrids involving P. clystocarpus were detected, but two putative hybrids involving P. pusillus and P. foliosus were identified. Clonal growth was only detected in P. pusillus. A combination of morphological and molecular markers was successful in determining the genetic distinctiveness of an endangered cryptic species, Potamogeton clystocarpus. Further sampling in this and adjacent drainages is necessary to assess the degree of endemism of P. clystocarpus and confidently rule out hybridization and clonality in this taxon.

Key Words: AFLP • aquatic plant • cryptic species • endangered species • hybridization • Potamogeton clystocarpus • Potamogetonaceae

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