Phylogeny and Historical Biogeography of the Spider Genus Lutica (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Spiders of the genus Lutica from 19 populations in southern California and Baja California, including all the California Channel Islands except Anacapa, were compared electrophoretically on the basis of variability at 15 gene loci. Fixed allelic differences clearly define two species: new species A [Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, northern Channel Islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz), southern Channel Islands (San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina)] and new species C [Guerrero Negro, central Baja California], while morphological features define two others: new species B [Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, northern Baja California] and clementea [San Clemente Island] . Phylogenetic analysis of the electrophoretic data using a variety of methods revealed that evolutionary rates among the populations sampled have been very unequal . The phylogenetic relationships among populations consistently supported by the electrophoretic cladograms generally correspond with the geological history of the Channel Islands and adjacent mainland and suggest certain likely colonization events involving some of the islands