Taxonomic and Morphological Evaluation of an Endemic Freshwater Gastropod

Abstract

Mollusks are the second most diverse animal phylum in terms of number of described species and nonmarine mollusks are among the most imperiled groups of invertebrate taxa. In particular, freshwater and terrestrial mollusks have the highest number of documented extinctions of any major taxonomic group. Such extinctions are not without their consequences as nonmarine mollusks provide several ecosystem functions including regulation of rates of primary production, decomposition, water clarity, and nutrient cycling. Given this and the level of fluidity found within freshwater mollusk taxonomy, the proper identification of potentially endangered species is an issue of great concern. The present study evaluates the taxonomic status of a small freshwater snail endemic to southeastern Oregon within the Owyhee River, referred to here as the Owyhee physa. Molecular, morphological, and environmental analyses were employed using specimens from both a sister species, “Physa gyrina”, and another species with similar morphology and habitat conditions as the Owyhee physa, Physa zionis. Molecular analyses also incorporated supplemental sequences from other physid species to assess the status of the Owyhee physa within the Physidae family. Genetic analyses at the cytochrome oxidase 1 and ITS-1 and ITS-2 gene regions indicate that the Owyhee physa is a phylogenetically distinct species with “Physa gyrina” as its sister species. Using theoretical morphological techniques, the shell morphology of each of the three physid species was qualitatively described. Qualitative analyses of these morphological descriptions along with the phylogenetic tree and environmental data for each species suggests that convergent evolution played an important role in influencing shell morphology within this taxonomic group. The present work has provided additional information about the current status of Physidae species richness, but additional studies must be done to both broaden and deepen our knowledge of freshwater gastropod diversity.