scholarly journals Genetic characterization and implications for conservation of the last autochthonous Mouflon population in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Satta ◽  
Paolo Mereu ◽  
Mario Barbato ◽  
Monica Pirastru ◽  
Giovanni Bassu ◽  
...  

AbstractPopulation genetic studies provide accurate information on population structure, connectivity, and hybridization. These are key elements to identify units for conservation and define wildlife management strategies aimed to maintain and restore biodiversity. The Mediterranean island of Sardinia hosts one of the last autochthonous mouflon populations, descending from the wild Neolithic ancestor. The first mouflon arrived in Sardinia ~ 7000 years ago and thrived across the island until the twentieth century, when anthropogenic factors led to population fragmentation. We analysed the three main allopatric Sardinian mouflon sub-populations, namely: the native sub-populations of Montes Forest and Mount Tonneri, and the reintroduced sub-population of Mount Lerno. We investigated the spatial genetic structure of the Sardinian mouflon based on the parallel analysis of 14 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. The Montes Forest sub-population was found to harbour the ancestral haplotype in the phylogeny of European mouflon. We detected high levels of relatedness in all the sub-populations and a mitochondrial signature of hybridization between the Mount Lerno sub-population and domestic sheep. Our findings provide useful insights to protect such an invaluable genetic heritage from the risk of genetic depletion by promoting controlled inter-population exchange and drawing informed repopulation plans sourcing from genetically pure mouflon stocks.

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (03) ◽  
pp. 137-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.B. Badii ◽  
M.K. Billah ◽  
K. Afreh-Nuamah ◽  
D. Obeng-Ofori

An important aspect of fruit fly management is accurate information on the species and their host spectrum. Studies were conducted between October 2011 and September 2013 to determine the host range and species diversity of pest fruit flies in the northern savannah ecology of Ghana. Fruit samples from 80 potential host plants (wild and cultivated) were collected and incubated for fly emergence; 65 (81.5%) of the plant species were positive to fruit flies. From records in Africa, 11 plant species were reported to be new hosts to the African invader fly,Bactrocera invadens(Drew, Tsuruta and White, 2005). This study documented the first records ofDacus ciliatus(Loew) andTrirhithrum nigerrimum(Bezzi) in northern Ghana although both species have been previously reported in other parts of the country. Infestation byB. invadenswas higher in the cultivated fruits;Ceratitis cosyradominated in most wild fruits. Cucurbitaceae were mainly infested by three species ofDacusandBactroceracucurbitae, a specialized cucurbit feeder. Among the commercial fruit species, the highest infestations were observed in mango, tomato, sweet pepper and watermelon, whereas marula plum, soursop, tropical almond, sycamore fig, African peach, shea nut, persimmon, icacina and albarillo dominated the wild host flora. The widespread availability of host plants and the incidence of diverse fly species in the ecology call for particular attention to their impact on commercial fruits and the development of sustainable management strategies against these economically important pests in Ghana.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3333
Author(s):  
Tomás Fernández ◽  
Alex Lancaster ◽  
Claudio A. Moraga ◽  
Sergio Radic-Schilling ◽  
Achaz von Hardenberg ◽  
...  

In extensive livestock production, high densities may inhibit regulation processes, maintaining high levels of intraspecific competition over time. During competition, individuals typically modify their behaviours, particularly feeding and bite rates, which can therefore be used as indicators of competition. Over eight consecutive seasons, we investigated if variation in herd density, food availability, and the presence of a potential competitor, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), was related with behavioural changes in domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia. Focal sampling, instantaneous scan sampling, measures of bite and movement rates were used to quantify behavioural changes in domestic sheep. We found that food availability increased time spent feeding, while herd density was associated with an increase in vigilant behaviour and a decrease in bite rate, but only when food availability was low. Guanaco presence appeared to have no impact on sheep behaviour. Our results suggest that the observed behavioural changes in domestic sheep are more likely due to intraspecific competition rather than interspecific competition. Consideration of intraspecific competition where guanaco and sheep co-graze on pastures could allow management strategies to focus on herd density, according to rangeland carrying capacity.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustina di Virgilio ◽  
Juan Manuel Morales

Background.A large proportion of natural grasslands around the world is exposed to overgrazing resulting in land degradation and biodiversity loss. Although there is an increasing effort in the promotion of sustainable livestock management, rangeland degradation still occurs because animals’ foraging behaviour is highly selective at different spatial scales. The assessment of the ecological mechanisms modulating the spatial distribution of grazing and how to control it has critical implications for long term conservation of resources and the sustainability of livestock production. Considering the relevance of social interactions on animals’ space use patterns, our aim was to explore the potential effects of including animals’ social context into management strategies using domestic sheep grazing in rangelands as case study.Methods.We used GPS data from 19 Merino sheep (approximately 10% of the flock) grazing on three different paddocks (with sizes from 80 to 1000 Ha) during a year, to estimate resource selection functions of sheep grazing in flocks of different levels of heterogeneity. We assessed the effects of sheep class (i.e., ewes, wethers, and hoggets), age, body condition and time since release on habitat selection patterns.Results.We found that social rank was reflected on sheep habitat use, where dominant individuals (i.e., reproductive females) used more intensively the most preferred areas and low-ranked (i.e., yearlings) used less preferred areas. Our results showed that when sheep grazed on more heterogeneous flocks, grazing patterns were more evenly distributed at all the paddocks considered in this study. On the other hand, when high-ranked individuals were removed from the flock, low-ranked sheep shifted their selection patterns by increasing the use of the most preferred areas and strongly avoided to use less preferred sites (i.e., a highly selective grazing behaviour).Discussion.Although homogenization and segregation of flocks by classes are common practices to increase flock productivity, we are proposing an alternative that employs behavioural interactions in heterogeneous flocks to generate more evenly distributed grazing patterns. This practice can be combined with other practices such as rotational grazing and guardian dogs (to decrease mortality levels that may be generated by sheep grazing on more risky habitats). This does not imply any modifications of livestock stocking rates and densities or any additional investments for labour and materials. Considering livestock behaviour is critical for the design of sustainable management practices that balance landscape conservation and livestock productivity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Apolinário-Silva ◽  
Dhiego G. Ferreira ◽  
Analiza F. Cavenagh ◽  
Nícollas G. O. Aprígio ◽  
Bruno A. Galindo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Data on 15 novel microsatellite loci from the Neotropical fish Bryconamericus aff. iheringii are presented here. Analyses of 32 individuals from four different streams revealed 192 different alleles, ranging from four to 32 alleles per locus (mean of 12.8 per locus). Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.094 to 0.813 and 0.205 to 0.952, respectively. These loci showed high polymorphic information content and will be a resource for genetic studies of B. aff. iheringii. Furthermore, several loci also amplified other small Neotropical Characidae (Piabarchus stramineus and Piabina argentea) and should be useful for these species.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Arfiani Nur Khusna ◽  
Fahmi Ardhi Nugraha

The cooperative is faced with the problem of how to keep the availability of goods in the warehouse sufficient, not experiencing upperstock or understock in the stock inventory system. The Supply Chain Management approach can help overcome the problem of availability of goods by integrating suppliers efficiently. The study aims to produce information about the stock of goods and the number of orders for the next period so that it can make a suitable budget plan. Collecting data is the first step and then designing the pattern of supply chain management flow, supply chain management strategies include the use of pareto ABC classification to give priority to supervision of inventory and determination of purchase points by calculating Economy Order Quantity (EOQ), process flow, implementation and testing. The system produces goods stock information that is able to provide accurate information about the remaining stock of goods in the warehouse along with calculation calculations for the purchase of each item at an economical price and amount, for the determination of product reorder time (Reorder Point), the average product lead time is 2 days, the usage rate per day for rice is 0.34 and the safety stock of rice is 20 sacks so that if the rice has reached the 3 point sack then the cooperative must re-order. The test results using usability test showed that 66.66% of the questions were able to be answered by the respondents and the test results between 65-84% were declared good so that the application was feasible and usable.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo M. Landínez-García ◽  
Edna J. Márquez

The Neotropical freshwater fishIchthyoelephas longirostris(Characiformes: prochilodontidae) is a short-distance migratory species endemic to Colombia. This study developed for the first time a set of 24 polymorphic microsatellitelociby using next-generation sequencing to explore the population genetics of this commercially exploited species. Nineteen of theselociwere used to assess the genetic diversity and structure of 193I. longirostrisin three Colombian rivers of the Magdalena basin. Results showed that a single genetic stock circulates in the Cauca River, whereas other single different genetic stock is present in the rivers Samaná Norte and San Bartolomé-Magdalena. Additionally,I. longirostriswas genetically different among and across rivers. This first insight about the population genetic structure ofI. longirostrisis crucial for monitoring the genetic diversity, the management and conservation of its populations, and complement the genetic studies in Prochilodontidae.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-256
Author(s):  
Ricardo Perez-Enriquez ◽  
Janeth A. Valadez-Rodríguez ◽  
Adriana Max-Aguilar ◽  
Silvie Dumas ◽  
Noé Diaz-Viloria

The spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus is a fishery relevant species from the eastern Pacific Ocean, with aquaculture potential. Species-specific genetic markers are needed for the genetic characterization of wild and cultivated populations to help management strategies. Eighteen hypervariable microsatellites were developed by Next Generation Sequencing and characterized in a wild population sample. Genetic diversity was high (observed heterozygosity = 0.88 ± 0.050; the number of alleles per locus = 13.4 ± 1.3) and few loci departed from the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, leaving 14 loci potentially suitable for population genetic studies. A reduced panel of five loci was tested in a cultivated stock to determine the parentage of progeny (embryonated eggs; n = 413), to estimate the temporal contribution of each parental broodstock. The above resulted in the successful assignment of 95.6% of the progeny to its parental couple, representing 17 out of the 24 possible families. Two of the four females produced most of those progeny (97.3%). These females, which reproduced throughout the season, did not spawn on consecutive days. The contribution of males was evenly distributed during the season and occurred on successive days. Some microsatellites can be used in other lutjanids (L. peru, L. argentiventris, and Hoplopagrus guentherii).


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Gao ◽  
Xiaoxuan Tian ◽  
Yu Sun ◽  
Zhenfeng Wu ◽  
Zhi Cheng ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, we introduced a general framework to use PacBio full-length transcriptome sequencing for the investigation of the fundamental problems in mitochondrial biology,e.g.genome arrangement, heteroplasmy, RNA processing and the regulation of transcription or replication. As a result, we produced the first full-length human mitochondrial transcriptome from the MCF7 cell line based on the PacBio platform and characterized the human mitochondrial transcriptome with more comprehensive and accurate information. The most important finding was two novel lnRNAs hsa-MDL1 and hsa-MDL1AS, which are encoded by the mitochondrial D-loop regions. We propose hsa-MDL1 and hsa-MDL1AS, as the precursors of transcription initiation RNAs (tiRNAs), belong to a novel class of long non-coding RNAs (lnRNAs), which is named as long tiRNAs (ltiRNAs). Based on the mitochondrial RNA processing model, the primary tiRNAs, precursors and mature tiRNAs could be discovered to completely reveal tiRNAs from their origins to functions. The MDL1 and MDL1AS lnRNAs and their regulation mechanisms exist ubiquitously from insects to human.


Author(s):  
Abdelmo’ti Suleiman Abdelmo’ti Abu Al-Rub

Information and technology (IT) is considered as an important component of business activity because it provides accurate information that helps senior management accelerate their decision-making. It is worth noting that information technology and its uses are constantly changing, making it important to accommodate to all these changes. Therefore, it is imperative for business organizations, including electronic stores, to exploit them to achieve the maximum benefit so that it can achieve its goals and satisfy its customers. Hence, the problem of this study is to investigate the impact of the use of electronic stores of information technology on customer satisfaction? The importance of the study stems from the fact that it addresses an important element worthy of study, knowing the impact of electronic stores’ use of information technology on customer satisfaction. The study was based on the following main hypothesis: There is no statistically significant effect at (α = 0.05) level between IT and customer satisfaction. According to the study's objectives and hypotheses, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to a random sample including 250 customers of Amazon Electronic Marketing Company in Riyadh. A descriptive analytical method was used in data analysis according to the literature review dealing with the topic of the study. Therefore, the study recommended the concerned parties to use information technology in their management strategies and activities because of the benefits provided by information technology in improving the quality of services provided to customers, which, in return, impacts positively on their satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco F. Roldán Gallardo ◽  
Karen E. DeMatteo ◽  
Miguel A. Rinas ◽  
Carina F. Argüelles

Abstract Objective This study was designed to facilitate genetic studies that would allow information on population structure and genetic diversity of natural or captive stocks of paca (Cuniculus paca), a species of ecological and socioeconomic importance, by testing cross-amplification of 20 heterologous microsatellite primer pairs developed for guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Results Those primers that showed the best amplification profile in blood samples were subsequently applied to scats and saliva samples, to evaluate their efficiency. Of the 13 microsatellite pairs that amplified in blood, one-third (32%) were successfully amplified in saliva and scat samples. This initial work demonstrates successful cross-amplification in paca providing a solid and promising foundation for future genetic studies with this species. The ability to quantify genetic diversity using noninvasive samples from free-ranging paca is essential to developing applied management strategies for this large neotropical rodent that is not only a prey favored by wide-ranging carnivores [e.g., jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor)], but is also a species targeted by illegal hunting and wildlife trade.


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