Phylogenetic Relationships of the North American
Sturgeons (Order Acipenseriformes) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences
Jeannette Krieger, Paul A. Fuerst and Ted M. Cavender1
Departments of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal
Biology1, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
Abstract
The evolutionary relationships of the extant species within
the order Acipenseriformes are not well understood. Nucleotide sequences
of four mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, COII, tRNAPhe and tRNAAsp genes)
in North American sturgeon and paddlefish were examined to reconstruct
a phylogeny. Analysis of the combined gene sequences suggests a basal
placement of the paddlefish with regard to the sturgeons. Nucleotide
sequences of all four genes for the three Scaphirhynchus species were identical.
The position of Scaphirhynchus was uncertain based on our data. Within
the genus Acipenser, the two Acipenser oxyrinchus subspecies were very
similar in sequence and found basal to the remaining Acipenser species
examined. Based on our data, Acipenser transmontanus and Acipenser
medirostris were sister taxa, as were Acipenser fulvescens and Acipenser
brevirostrum. Comparison of our results with hypotheses of sturgeon
relationships proposed by previous authors is presented. The sequence
data presented here are phylogenetically useful, and provide a solid foundation
of genetic information for the North American Acipenseriformes that can
be expanded to include Eurasian species to provide a global picture of
sturgeon evolution.
12S
rRNA Gene Sequence Alignment
tRNAPhe
Gene Sequence Alignment
Cytochrome
c oxidase subunit II Gene Sequence Alignment
tRNAAsp
Gene Sequence Alignment
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