[Taxacom] molecular species description

[Rob Smissen]

Hi Winston

I'm sure Richard can answer your question, but an example of species named primarily on the basis of DNA sequence from a single non-coding locus can be found in

"A new species of Treubia (Treubiaceae, Hepaticophytina) from New Zealand based on molecular evidence: Studies in austral temperate rain forest bryophytes 20"

Authors: Pfeiffer, Tanja; Frey, Wolfgang; Stech, Michael

Source: Nova Hedwigia<http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/schweiz/novh;jsessionid=di288gc03gk18.alice>, Volume 75, Numbers 1-2, 1 August 2002 , pp. 241-253(13)
Although I am far from comfortable with this, in defense of the Author's they do claim habitat differences between the clades, and the number of substitutions differing between the "species" is certainly on the high side. On the other hand, sample sizes were far from compelling (2 and 3), and not sympatric.

Quote,

 "This new species is morphologically, anatomically and cytologically similar to Treubia lacunosa, but is clearly differentiated (i) by substitutions in the trnLUAA intron, and (ii) ecologically, by its occurrence in ± exposed, rather open secondary habitats in
forests."


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