Knowledge Bank

Abstract: Caribbean populations of the Pederson's cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) have undergone increasing phylogenetic scrutiny, especially in Bermuda and the Florida Keys. Until now, however, no research using molecular data has been conducted to evaluate whether these populations constitute separate species. In this study, phylogenetic analyses of Pederson shrimp from the Florida Keys and Bermuda were performed using multiple loci: mitochondrial genes encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S-rDNA, and nuclear genes encoding the enzyme enolase. The phylogenetic networks estimated using mitochondrial DNA strongly suggest that the populations constitute three reciprocally monophyletic groups, one endemic to Bermuda, and two sympatric clades in the Florida Keys. The insights gained from this study will be instrumental in resolving the contested status of the Pederson’s cleaner shrimp species, and will contribute to a fuller understanding of Caribbean species diversity.