title: Intra- and interspecific genetic diversity of New Zealand hairworms (Nematomorpha).
abstract: Hairworms (Nematomorpha) are a little-known group of parasites, and despite having been represented in the taxonomic literature for over a century, the implementation of molecular genetics in studies of hairworm ecology and evolution lags behind that of other parasitic taxa. In this study, we characterize the genetic diversity of the New Zealand nematomorph fauna and test for genetic structure within the most widespread species found. We provide new mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal sequence data for three previously described species from New Zealand: Gordius paranensis, Parachordodes diblastus and Euchordodes nigromaculatus. We also present genetic data on a previously reported but undescribed Gordius sp., as well as data from specimens of a new Gordionus sp., a genus new for New Zealand. Phylogenetic analyses of CO1 and nuclear rDNA regions correspond with morphological classification based on scanning electron microscopy, and demonstrate paraphyly of the genus Gordionus and the potential for cryptic species within G. paranensis. Population-level analyses of E. nigromaculatus showed no genetic differentiation among sampling locations across the study area, in contrast to previously observed patterns in known and likely definitive hosts. Taken together, this raises the possibility that factors such as definitive host specificity, intermediate host movement, and passive dispersal of eggs and larvae may influence host-parasite population co-structure in hairworms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology,University of Otago,P.O. Box 56,Dunedin 9054,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Zachary J C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9249-771X
authors.initials: ZJC
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology,North-Eastern Hill University,Shillong 793022,India.
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Zoological Museum,University of Hamburg,Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3,20146 Hamburg,Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Rhaesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology,University of Otago,P.O. Box 56,Dunedin 9054,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D009520:New Zealand; D009987:Orthoptera / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: 
                 Euchordodes nigromaculatus
              ; Nematomorpha; New Zealand; hairworms; host–parasite population structure