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The evolutionary history of krill inferred from nuclear large subunit rDNA sequence analysis

2001; Oxford University Press; Volume: 73; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1006/bijl.2001.0538

1095-8312

Simon Jarman,

Ichthyology and Marine Biology

Early events in the speciation history of krill (Malacostraca: Euphausiacea), an abundant group of extant pelagic crustaceans, were studied with slowly evolving nuclear DNA sequences (large subunit ribosomal DNA, 28S rDNA). Krill have no fossil record, so very little is known about their paleobiology. The timing of past speciation events in krill was estimated by comparing change in their 28S rDNA to change in the 28S rDNA of their close relatives that do have a fossil record. Relationships between krill genera were also studied by phylogenetic analysis of partial 28S rDNA sequences. The analyses estimated the time that the last common ancestor of the krill family Euphausiidae lived to be the lower Cretaceous about 130 million years ago (Mya). Two lineages of krill survived the end Cretaceous extinctions 65 Mya and the modern genera of krill were established before the end of the Palaeogene 23 Mya.