Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bdelloid rotifers in Dominican amber: Evidence for parthenogenetic continuity

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Experientia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recently discovered representatives of the Class Bdelloidea from Tertiary amber from the Dominican Republic represent the oldest known fossils of the Phylum Rotifera. Assuming that the fossil bdelloids had a similar mode of reproduction as present day members of the Class (apomictic thelytoky), then contrary to current thought, some lines of parthenogenetic organisms are not doomed to an early extinction and have evolved built-in mechanisms for genetic diversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Warner, B. G., and Chengalath, R., J. Paleolimnology7 (1988) 141.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Poinar, G. O. Jr, and Singer, R., Science248 (1990) 1099.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Eberle, W., Hirdes, W., Muff, R., and Pelaez, M., The Geology of the Cordillera Septentrional, pp. 619–632. Proc. Ninth Caribb. Geol. Conf., Santo Domingo, August 1980.

  4. Lambert, J. B., Frye, J. S., and Poinar, G. O. Jr, Archaeometry27 (1985) 43.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Baroni-Urbani, C., and Saunders, J. B., The Fauna of the Dominican Republic Amber: The Present Status of Knowledge, pp. 213–223. Proc. Ninth Caribb. Geol. Conf., Santo Domingo, August 1980.

  6. Schlee, D., Das Bernstein-Kabinett. Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk., Ser. C No. 28, 1990.

  7. Poinar, G. O. Jr, Amber — true or false. Gems Miner.534 (1982) 80.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ricci, C., Hydrobiologia147 (1987) 117.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hyman, L. H., The Invertebrates, vol. III, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nogrady, T., Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms, vol. 1, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wallace, R. L., and Snell, T. W., Rotifera, in: Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, pp. 187–248. Eds J. H. Thorp and A. P. Covich. Academic Press, New York 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Poinar, G. O. Jr, and Hansen, E., Helminthological Abstr., Series B,52 (1983) 145.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Maynard-Smith, J., The Evolution of Sex. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Margulis, L., and Sagan, D., Orgins of Sex. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Boucot, A. J., Evolutionary Paleobiology of Behavior and Coevolution. Elsevier, Amsterdam 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lynch, M., Q. Rev. Biol.59 (1984) 257.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California, USA

    G. O. Poinar Jr

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Torino, I-10123, Torino, (Italy)

    C. Ricci

Authors
  1. G. O. Poinar Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Ricci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Poinar, G.O., Ricci, C. Bdelloid rotifers in Dominican amber: Evidence for parthenogenetic continuity. Experientia 48, 408–410 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01923444

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01923444

Key words

Search

Navigation