title: A six-gene phylogeny provides new insights into choanoflagellate evolution.
abstract: Recent studies have shown that molecular phylogenies of the choanoflagellates (Class Choanoflagellatea) are in disagreement with their traditional taxonomy, based on morphology, and that Choanoflagellatea requires considerable taxonomic revision. Furthermore, phylogenies suggest that the morphological and ecological evolution of the group is more complex than has previously been recognized. Here we address the taxonomy of the major choanoflagellate order Craspedida, by erecting four new genera. The new genera are shown to be morphologically, ecologically and phylogenetically distinct from other choanoflagellate taxa. Furthermore, we name five novel craspedid species, as well as formally describe ten species that have been shown to be either misidentified or require taxonomic revision. Our revised phylogeny, including 18 new species and sequence data for two additional genes, provides insights into the morphological and ecological evolution of the choanoflagellates. We examine the distribution within choanoflagellates of these two additional genes, EF-1A and EFL, closely related translation GTPases which are required for protein synthesis. Mapping the presence and absence of these genes onto the phylogeny highlights multiple events of gene loss within the choanoflagellates.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK. Electronic address: M.Carr@hud.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA. Electronic address: daniel.j.richter@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA. Electronic address: pfozouni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Parinaz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fozouni
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK. Electronic address: tim897@inbox.com.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Biocentre, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: alexandra.jeuck@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeuck
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: b.s.c.leadbeater@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Barry S C
authors.initials: BSC
authors.lastname: Leadbeater
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Biocentre, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: FNitsche@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nitsche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056897:Choanoflagellata / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005618:Fresh Water; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010802:Phylogeny; D012623:Seawater; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Choanoflagellates; Craspedida; Genome evolution; Holozoa; Molecular phylogeny; Taxonomic revision