Genetic variation in the Giant African Snail Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) in its invasive ranges of Asia and West Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-985
Author(s):  
Keerthy Vijayan ◽  
R Suganthasakthivel ◽  
T V Sajeev ◽  
Pritpal Singh Soorae ◽  
Fred Naggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
West Africa ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Common Haplotype ◽  
Achatina Fulica ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽  
The World ◽  
Coi Sequences ◽  
Haplotype 1

Abstract The rapidly spreading Giant African Snail Lissachatina [=Achatina] fulica (Bowdich, 1822) has been introduced to many parts of the world since the 1800s and is one of the world’s most invasive species. We compared cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from four invasive ranges: India, United Arab Emirates (UAE), China and West Africa. Sixteen distinct haplotypes were identified, with nine found in India, four in the UAE, one in China and four in West Africa. Haplotype 5 was the most common haplotype in Asia and haplotype 1 the most common in West Africa. Network analysis suggests that all haplotypes in India, the UAE, China and West Africa were derived from the most common haplotype 5 which is present in all three invasive ranges in Asia. Higher levels of genetic variation were observed in the invasive ranges of Asia than in West Africa. The high genetic variation observed in Asia, together with high levels of trade as exemplified by wood import data, supports the hypothesis that there could have been multiple invasion events in India and the UAE. Additional sampling from the native and invasive ranges in Africa and from other regions of invasion is essential for understanding the movement and spread of L. fulica.

Conhecimento Populacional Sobre o Caramujo Africano (Achatina Fulica) em Várzea Grande-MT: Visão de Moradores e Estudantes

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Maria Aparecida da Silva Alves ◽  
Neiva Sales Rodrigues ◽  
Renata Freitag ◽  
Jakson Bofinger
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
State School ◽  
Achatina Fulica ◽  
De Se ◽  
The World ◽  
Species Population ◽  
Survey Results

O molusco exótico Achatina fulica é classificado como uma das mais preocupantes espécies invasoras do mundo, sendo considerado sério problema ambiental, de saúde pública e econômica, sendo frequentemente encontrado em ambientes antrópicos, e em vários locais do Brasil. Esse molusco pode estar associado ao tipo de ambiente e a sua capacidade de se adaptar, principalmente, em bairros que propiciam locais com muito entulho, lixo e umidade, em que este molusco se adapta com muita facilidade. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar o grau de conhecimento dos moradores e estudantes do bairro Marajoara II, em Várzea Grande-MT, a respeito do caramujo africano, e dispor soluções para o controle populacional da espécie. Um questionário foi aplicado na comunidade do bairro e na escola Estadual Maria Leite Marcoski para saber o grau de conhecimento dos moradores sobre o caramujo africano. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram que tanto os entrevistados do bairro, quanto os da escola não têm informações sobre o molusco A. fulica, o que gera a necessidade de palestras educativas com a comunidade escolar e do bairro, para mais informações sobre o assunto.Palavras-chave: Conhecimento Local. Espécie Exótica. Molusco.AbstractThe exotic mollusk Achatina fulica is classified as one of the most troublesome invasive species in the world and is considered a serious environmental, public and economic health problem, often being found in man-made environments, and in many parts of Brazil. This mollusk may be associated with the type of environment and its ability to adapt, especially in neighborhoods that provides places with a lot of garbage, trash and moisture where it fits very easily. This study aims to assess the degree of knowledge of the residents from Marajoara II district of Várzea Grande-MT, about the African snail, and propose solutions to control this species population . A questionnaire was applied to the neighborhood community and the state school Maria Leite Marcoski to know the inhabitants knowledge degree of the African snail. The survey results showed that both respondents in the neighborhood, as the school has no information about the mollusk A. fulica, which creates the need for educational lectures with the school community and neighborhood, for more information on the subject.Keywords: Local Knowledge. Exotic Species. Mollusk.

Invasive Shot Hole Borers Euwallacea fornicatus, E. kuroshio, and E. perbrevis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Demian F. Gomez ◽  
Jiri Hulcr ◽  
Daniel Carrillo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Forest Resources ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Ambrosia Beetles ◽  
Invasive Insects ◽  
The World ◽  
And Control

Invasive species, those that are nonnative and cause economic damage, are one of the main threats to ecosystems around the world. Ambrosia beetles are some of the most common invasive insects. Currently, severe economic impacts have been increasingly reported for all the invasive shot hole borers in South Africa, California, Israel, and throughout Asia. This 7-page fact sheet written by Demian F. Gomez, Jiri Hulcr, and Daniel Carrillo and published by the School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes shot hole borers and their biology and hosts and lists some strategies for prevention and control of these pests. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr422

Policy Review: Dubai Health Authority’s COVID-19 Rapid Response

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (Special) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
World Health ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the entity regulating the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Dubai, ensuring high quality and safe healthcare services delivery to the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020, indicating to the world that further infection spread is very likely, and alerting countries that they should be ready for possible widespread community transmission. The first case of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates was confirmed on 29th of January 2020; since then, the number of cases has continued to grow exponentially. As of 8th of July 2020 (end of the day), 53,045 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed with a death toll of 327 cases. The UAE has conducted over 3,720,000 COVID-19 tests among UAE citizens and residents over the past four months, in line with the government’s plans to strengthen virus screening to contain the spread of COVID-19. There were vital UAE policies, laws, regulations, and decrees that have been announced for immediate implementation to limit the spread of COVID- 19, to prevent panic and to ensure the overall food, nutrition, and well-being are provided. The UAE is amongst the World’s Top 10 for COVID-19 Treatment Efficiency and in the World’s Top 20 for the implementation of COVID-19 Safety measures. The UAE’s mission is to work towards resuming life after COVID-19 and enter into the recovery phases. This policy research paper will discuss the Dubai Health Authority’s rapid response initiatives towards combating the control and spread of COVID-19 and future policy implications and recommendations. The underlying factors and policy options will be discussed in terms of governance, finance, and delivery.

The Boko Haram Reader

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cook
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Northern Nigeria ◽  
Boko Haram ◽  
Islamic Theology ◽  
Long Line ◽  
Islamic Thought ◽  
The World

Since it erupted onto the world stage in 2009, people have asked, what is Boko Haram, and what does it stand for? Is there a coherent vision or set of beliefs behind it? Despite the growing literature about the group, few if any attempts have been made to answer these questions, even though Boko Haram is but the latest in a long line of millenarian Muslim reform groups to emerge in Northern Nigeria over the last two centuries. The Boko Haram Reader offers an unprecedented collection of essential texts, documents, videos, audio, and nashids (martial hymns), translated into English from Hausa, Arabic and Kanuri, tracing the group's origins, history, and evolution. Its editors, two Nigerian scholars, reveal how Boko Haram's leaders manipulate Islamic theology for the legitimization, radicalization, indoctrination and dissemination of their ideas across West Africa. Mandatory reading for anyone wishing to grasp the underpinnings of Boko Haram's insurgency, particularly how the group strives to delegitimize its rivals and establish its beliefs as a dominant strand of Islamic thought in West Africa's religious marketplace.

Population Genetics ofCaenorhabditis elegans: The Paradox of Low Polymorphism in a Widespread Species

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjun Sivasundar ◽  
Jody Hey
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Model Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Natural Isolates ◽  
History Of ◽  
Low Levels

AbstractCaenorhabditis elegans has become one of the most widely used model research organisms, yet we have little information on evolutionary processes and recent evolutionary history of this widespread species. We examined patterns of variation at 20 microsatellite loci in a sample of 23 natural isolates of C. elegans from various parts of the world. One-half of the loci were monomorphic among all strains, and overall genetic variation at microsatellite loci was low, relative to most other species. Some population structure was detected, but there was no association between the genetic and geographic distances among different natural isolates. Thus, despite the nearly worldwide occurrence of C. elegans, little evidence was found for local adaptation in strains derived from different parts of the world. The low levels of genetic variation within and among populations suggest that recent colonization and population expansion might have occurred. However, the patterns of variation are not consistent with population expansion. A possible explanation for the observed patterns is the action of background selection to reduce polymorphism, coupled with ongoing gene flow among populations worldwide.

scholarly journals Genetic variation in the Middle East—an opportunity to advance the human genetics field

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad N. Abou Tayoun ◽  
Heidi L. Rehm
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Human Genetics ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Clinical Sequencing ◽  
The World ◽  
Genomic Studies

AbstractWe highlight the current lack of representation of the Middle East from large genomic studies and emphasize the expected high impact of cataloging its variation. We discuss the limiting factors and possible solutions to generating and accessing research and clinical sequencing data from this part of the world.

scholarly journals Taxonomy, Conservation, and the Future of Native Aquatic Snails in the Hawaiian Islands

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Carl C. Christensen ◽  
Kenneth A. Hayes ◽  
Norine W. Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Habitat Requirements ◽  
Freshwater Snails ◽  
Full Understanding ◽  
State Legislation ◽  
The World ◽  
Threatened Habitats ◽  
Life On Earth

Freshwater systems are among the most threatened habitats in the world and the biodiversity inhabiting them is disappearing quickly. The Hawaiian Archipelago has a small but highly endemic and threatened group of freshwater snails, with eight species in three families (Neritidae, Lymnaeidae, and Cochliopidae). Anthropogenically mediated habitat modifications (i.e., changes in land and water use) and invasive species (e.g., Euglandina spp., non-native sciomyzids) are among the biggest threats to freshwater snails in Hawaii. Currently, only three species are protected either federally (U.S. Endangered Species Act; Erinna newcombi) or by Hawaii State legislation (Neritona granosa, and Neripteron vespertinum). Here, we review the taxonomic and conservation status of Hawaii’s freshwater snails and describe historical and contemporary impacts to their habitats. We conclude by recommending some basic actions that are needed immediately to conserve these species. Without a full understanding of these species’ identities, distributions, habitat requirements, and threats, many will not survive the next decade, and we will have irretrievably lost more of the unique books from the evolutionary library of life on Earth.

A new melanistic variant of the caterpillar hunter Calosoma wilcoxi LeConte, 1848 from Texas, United States of America and a preliminary phylogeny of the genus Calosoma Weber, 1801 (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse W. Ray ◽  
Matthias Seidel ◽  
Martin Husemann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Central Texas ◽  
Coi Sequences ◽  
Dark Blue

AbstractTwo aberrant ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) specimens from the genus Calosoma Weber, 1801 were collected in Waco, Texas, United States of America, in 2012–2013. The specimens, which are morphologically most similar to Calosoma wilcoxi LeConte, 1848, but are dark blue-black instead of the typical metallic green. We employed DNA barcoding and phylogenetic methods to confirm the identities of the aberrant specimens. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of central Texas and southwestern species place the aberrant specimens with 100% confidence as C. wilcoxi. The new variant of C. wilcoxi presumably occurs at low densities. Frequent collecting from 2011 to 2014 resulted in the discovery of only two of the aberrant coloured individuals among hundreds of typical green specimens. These specimens (to our knowledge) represent the first published record of melanistic Calosoma from North America. While the majority of North American species in the genus are naturally black, two of the most widely distributed and abundant species, C. scrutator (Fabricius, 1775) and C. wilcoxi, are typically green. We sequenced the aberrant form as well as all species co-occurring with the new colour morph at the collection locality and used records from GenBank and the Barcode of Life Data System to generate a preliminary phylogeny of the genus, which suggested that some of the currently established subgenera are likely not monophyletic.

New species and findings of Pagastia Oliver (Diptera: Chironomidae: Diamesinae) from Central Asia, with DNA barcoding of known species of the genus

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4951 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-570
Author(s):  
EUGENYI A.  MAKARCHENKO ◽  
ALEXANDER A. SEMENCHENKO ◽  
DMITRY M. PALATOV
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase ◽  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽  
Oxidase Subunit ◽  
Coi Sequences

Chironomids of the genus Pagastia Oliver (Diamesinae, Diamesini) from the mountains of Central Asia are revised using both morphological characters and molecular data. Illustrated descriptions of the adult male Pagastia (P.) caelestomontana sp. nov. from Kirgizstan and Tajikistan, P. (P.) hanseni sp. nov. from Tajikistan, and record of a finding apparently a new species P. (P.) aff. lanceolata (Tokunaga) from Tajikistan as well as an updated a key to the determination of the adult males of all known species of Pagastia are provided. A phylogenetic framework is reconstructed based on two mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of 34 samples belonging to 7 species of the genus Pagastia and cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) available for most samples. Phylogenetic trees of some known species of the genus Pagastia were reconstructed using the combined dataset and Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods. The interspecific K2P distances between seven Pagastia species including P. (P.) caelestomontana sp. nov., P. (P.) hanseni sp. nov. and undescribed P. (P.) aff. lanceolata (Tokunaga) are 6.3–13.2 which corresponding to species level. 

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