DNA sequence analysis to study the evolution of Antarctic Collembola

The mitochondrial COII gene was shown to be a useful marker at the population level in Isotoma klovstadi, and for studying phylogenetic relationships at the family level, while the nuclear EF-1 alpha and 28S rRNA genes were less useful. The populations of I. klovstadi from four collecting sites in North Victoria Land appeared to be fairly isolated from one another, with the exception of one population which has probably been influenced by immigrants from others. The position of Friesea grisea within the Neanuridae suggests that, in contrast with other morphological hypotheses, the subfamily Frieseinae is the sister-group of the Pseudachorutinae. Comparison of the mitochondrial gene order in Gomphiocephalus bodgsoni and other insects suggested that some translocations in the tRNA genes may represent useful markers for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within Arthropoda