Influence of Pleistocene glaciation on the distribution of three species of Labidostomma in Europe (Acari: Labidostommatidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Jerzy Błoszyk ◽  
Zofia Książkiewicz-Parulska ◽  
Zbigniew Adamski ◽  
Agnieszka Napierała

We present the results of research into the distribution and migration of three species of mites in the genus Labidostomma after the Pleistocene glaciation period in Europe. This study primarily focuses on the area of Poland, which was affected by the Scandinavian glacier four times. The migration trajectories of the species have been reconstructed on the basis of the current distribution, their altitude preferences, the sex ratio in populations of Labidostomma luteum, and the body size differences in different populations of L. luteum and L. denticulata. These species all have distributional limits in Poland: L. luteum—southeastern boundary, L. denticulata—northern, and Labidostomma cornuta—northwestern. Labidostomma luteum is a typically lowland species, L. cornuta occurred from 300 to 700 m a.s.l., and L. denticulata inhabits mountainous areas. The youngest populations of L. luteum and L. denticulata contain the smallest individuals. The number of males in populations of L. luteum is lower in northern areas of Europe, where the glacier has already retreated and the smaller specimens of L. luteum and L. denticulata were collected in the most remote habitats from the southern refugia where they succeeded in survival during the glaciation period. 

2019 ◽  
pp. 137-142
Author(s):  
Baaloudj Affef

Urothemis edwardsii is one of the most threatened dragonfly species in the Mediterranean. Recent investigations and conservation efforts have increased the local geographic distribution of the species in Northeast Algeria, where a new population (named El Graeate) has been discovered. In the absence of information about the biology and behavior of U. edwardsii in this new site, a study was conducted on the emergence ecology of the species taking into account the temporal pattern of emergence, sex ratio, body size and microhabitat selection. Emergence, which was quite asynchronous, lasted for 50 days, with 50% of the population emerging within the first half of the period. Sex ratio at emergence was slightly female biased despite the absence of sexual size dimorphism, suggesting that size is not the only driving force behind mortality bias during the larval stage. There was a slight seasonal increase in the body size of exuviae (exoskeletons) in both sexes. Microhabitat selection, assessed as the vertical stratification of exuviae at ecdysis, was positively correlated with the height of supporting plants, but the relationship reached a plateau suggesting that there are predetermined limits to the vertical distribution of exuviae. These data will be essential for the future species protection, restoration and management attempts in the region.


Author(s):  
Sokol Duro ◽  
Bektas Sönmez ◽  
Ozan Gündemir ◽  
Tefik Jashari ◽  
Tomasz Szara

Testudines show phenotypic plasticity, and variation among specific populations within a species is widespread. Morphological differences between populations reflect ecological factors that drive adaptation to local conditions. In this context, gathered basic data on morphology of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) to document their variation across different geographical regions. We surveyed Hermann’s tortoises, in five different locales within Albania during April and May 2020 and measured 20 morphological characteristics, including carapace and plastron dimensions. We measured 188 tortoises (81 males, 107 females) in this study, and females were larger (P=.0001) and heavier (P=.0001) than males. Mean straight carapace length [SCL] and body mass were = 172.4 mm and 1128.8 g, respectively, for females and 151.3 mm and 735 g, respectively, for males. The overall Albanian T. h. boettgeri population were regionally diverged into 3 different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati and Ballshi) and southern (Saranda) Albania. The body size (curved carapace length; CCL) of females was positively correlated (r=0.216; P=0.025) with the latitude degree, in accordance with Bergmann's rule. However, there was no correlation between body size and degrees north latitude in males. These striking regional differences among Albanian T. h. boettgeri strongly suggest that further study of molecular variations in and reproductive output of Hermann’s tortoises is warranted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sularto Sularto ◽  
Rita Febrianti ◽  
Suharyanto Suharyanto

Ikan gurami (Osphronemus goramy Lac.) pada ukuran dewasa memiliki bentuk morfometrik yang khas khususnya pada ikan jantan, sehingga dapat dibedakan antara ikan jantan dan betina. Ikan gurami jantan memiliki dahi menonjol dan bibir tebal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi rasio kelamin dan perbedaan performa pertumbuhan antara jantan dan betina. Ikan uji yang digunakan adalah empat populasi ikan gurami yang berbeda yaitu: Kalimantan Selatan, Jambi, Majalengka, dan Tasikmalaya. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Balai Penelitian Pemuliaan Ikan (BPPI), Sukamandi pada bulan Juni 2014 sampai dengan bulan Juli 2015. Hewan uji yang digunakan adalah benih ikan gurami keturunan galur murni berasal dari Kalimantan Selatan, Jambi (strain Batanghari), Majalengka, dan Tasikmalaya. Perawatan telur, pemeliharaan benih, dan pembesaran menggunakan prosedur operasional standar BPPI tentang pemeliharaan ikan gurami. Pemeliharaan ikan gurami dilakukan selama 14 bulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa berdasarkan jenis kelaminnya jumlah ikan gurami betina (67,3%-80,7%) lebih banyak dibandingkan dengan jumlah jantannya (19,3%-32,7%). Setelah mencapai ukuran > 300 g terdapat perbedaan pertumbuhan antara ikan jantan dan betina (P<0,05) yakni jantan tumbuh lebih cepat dibandingkan betina pada semua populasi yakni berkisar antara 4,74%-5,67% untuk karakter panjang standar, dan 14,10%-16,52% untuk karakter bobot. Hal tersebut menunjukkan bahwa ikan gurami memiliki dimorfisme pertumbuhan. Oleh karena itu, ketika dilakukan seleksi berdasarkan pertumbuhan 10% terbaik didapatkan ikan jantan 55%-80% lebih banyak dibandingkan ikan betina (20%-45%).Adult size of giant gouramy (Osphronemus goramy, Lac.) has a distinctive shape of morphometric particularly in male fish, making it easy to distinguish between male and female fishes. Giant gouramy males have a prominent forehead and thick lips. This study aimed to determine sex ratios and differences in growth performance between males and females. This study used 4 progenies of giant gouramy seed from four different populations, namely: Kalimantan, Jambi, Majalengka, and Tasikmalaya, aged 14 months. Eggs incubations,seed maintenance and grow-out were conducted using Standard Operational Procedures of Research Institute for Fish Breeding (RIFB) about the rearing of giant gouramy. Seed rearing were carried out for 14 months. The results showed that, based upon the sex ratio, the number of female was more than the number of males, contituting females 67.3%–80.7% and males from 19.3% to 32.7% of populations. After reaching the size of > 300 g there were a significant difference in growth between males and females (P <0.05), in which males grew faster than females in all populations between 4.74%–5.67% for the standard length and 14.10%–16.52% for the weight characters. IThis result indicated that giant gouramy have growth dimorphism.Therefore, when the selection conducted based on the best growth of top 10%, it was found that the number of male composing 55%–80% was higher than the number of female which only accounted for 20%–45%.


2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1952) ◽  
pp. 20210696
Author(s):  
David N. Fisher ◽  
Rebecca J. LeGrice ◽  
Christina J. Painting

Social selection occurs when traits of interaction partners influence an individual's fitness and can alter total selection strength. However, we have little idea of what factors influence social selection's strength. Further, social selection only contributes to overall selection when there is phenotypic assortment, but simultaneous estimates of social selection and phenotypic assortment are rare. Here, we estimated social selection on body size in a wild population of New Zealand giraffe weevils ( Lasiorhynchus barbicornis ). We measured phenotypic assortment by body size and tested whether social selection varied with sex ratio, density and interacted with the body size of the focal individual. Social selection was limited and unaffected by sex ratio or the size of the focal individual. However, at high densities social selection was negative for both sexes, consistent with size-based competitive interactions for access to mates. Phenotypic assortment was always close to zero, indicating negative social selection at high densities will not impede the evolution of larger body sizes. Despite its predicted importance, social selection may only influence evolutionary change in specific contexts, leaving direct selection to drive evolutionary change.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Sokol Duro ◽  
Bektaş Sönmez ◽  
Ozan Gündemir ◽  
Tefik Jashari ◽  
Tomasz Szara

Testudines show phenotypic plasticity, and variation among specific populations within a species is widespread. Morphological differences between populations may reflect ecological factors that drive adaptation to local conditions. In this context, we gathered basic data on the morphology of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) to document their variation across different geographical regions. We surveyed Hermann’s tortoises in five different locales within Albania during April and May 2020 and measured 20 morphological characteristics, including carapace and plastron dimensions. We measured 188 tortoises (81 males, 107 females) in this study, and females were larger (p = 0.0001) and heavier (p = 0.0001) than males. Mean straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass were 172.4 mm and 1128.8 g, respectively, for females, and 151.3 mm and 735 g, respectively, for males. The Albanian T. h. boettgeri were regionally diverged into three different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati, and Ballshi), and southern (Saranda) Albania. The body size (curved carapace length (CCL)) of females was positively correlated (r = 0.216; p = 0.025) with the latitude, in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. However, there was no correlation between body size and latitude in males. These striking regional differences among Albanian T. h. boettgeri strongly suggest that further study of molecular variations and reproductive output of Hermann’s tortoises is warranted.


Author(s):  
S. Obenat ◽  
E. Spivak ◽  
L. Garrido

The life history and reproductive biology of the gammaridean amphipod Melita palmata was studied in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Argentina). The animals were collected fortnightly or monthly from Ficopomatus enigmaticus reefs from December 2000 to March 2002. The population density reached a maximum of 1556.67±1560 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2001, decreased dramatically after intense rainfalls in winter 2001, and had a minimum value of 141.67±27.54 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2002. Size differed significantly between sexes. The maximum size of males was 11.5 mm and this was 1.4 times longer than the length of females. The average sex ratio (0.44) did not differ significantly from an expected 1:1 value. Ovigerous females were present from December to March, when the temperature was above 18°C. The body size of ovigerous females ranged from 2.9 to 6.81 mm. There was a positive correlation between the brood size and body length of ovigerous females, and the maximum number of eggs per female was ten. Recruitment took place during the whole breeding season; juveniles recruited at the beginning of the season matured at the end of the same season, those recruited late would probably reach maturity in the following season.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Sri Redjeki ◽  
Muhammad Zainuri ◽  
Ita Widowati ◽  
Ambariyanto Ambariyanto ◽  
Rudhi Pribadi ◽  
...  

Blue Swimming Crab (P. pelagicus, Linnaeus, 1758) is the main fisheries product from Betahwalang peoples. Fishing activity of Blue Swimming Crab by the fisherman almost every day in Betahwalang waters. Distribution and body size data of Blue Swimming Crab can be used for sustain management reference. The purpose of this study was to determine distribution pattern and body size of Blue Swimming Crab, started from July to November 2018 in Betahwalang waters, Demak. The data analyze consist of sex ratio, carapace width distribution and relationship between carapace width and body weight. 11790 samples Blue Swimming crab from Betahwalang waters consist of 7070 female crabs and 4720 male crabs. The result showed that sex-ratio between male and female crabs are balanced (1.0:1.37), with the most female crabs found at July and August. Body size distribution of male and female crabs are dominated in class 103-111 mm carapace width. Male and female crabs have a positive allometric on growth parameters, that means growth of the body weight is faster than carapace width. The result showed that Blue Swimming Crab in Betahwalang waters are support for sustainable fisheries. 


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin T. Walsh ◽  
Simon Garnier ◽  
Timothy A. Linksvayer

AbstractCollective behaviors are widespread in nature and usually assumed to be strongly shaped by natural selection. However, the degree to which variation in collective behavior is heritable and has fitness consequences -- the two prerequisites for evolution by natural selection -- is largely unknown. We used a new pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) mapping population to estimate the heritability, genetic correlations, and fitness consequences of three collective behaviors (foraging, aggression, and exploration) as well as body size, sex ratio, and caste ratio. Heritability estimates for the collective behaviors were moderate, ranging from 0.17 to 0.32, but lower than our estimates for the heritability of caste ratio, sex ratio, and the body size of new workers, queens, and males. Moreover, variation among colonies in collective behaviors was phenotypically correlated, suggesting that selection may shape multiple colony collective behaviors simultaneously. Finally, we found evidence for directional selection that was similar in strength to estimates of selection in natural populations. Altogether, our study begins to elucidate the genetic architecture of collective behavior and is one of the first studies to demonstrate that it is shaped by selection.


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo L. Hirose ◽  
Laize S. Souza ◽  
Sonja L. R. Silva ◽  
Douglas F. R. Alves ◽  
Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo

<p>The red mangrove crab, <em>Goniopsis cruentata,</em> influences the recruitment and composition of plant species in the mangrove ecosystem and it is an important fishery resource. Nevertheless, no current management and conservation plans are available for this species for the Brazilian coast. This investigation evaluated the population structure and reproductive biology in populations of <em>G. cruentata</em> under contrasting fishery pressures. The sampling program was carried out in two mangroves, Vaza-Barris and Sergipe River, from January through December 2011. Crabs from both mangroves were randomly collected by a professional fisherman during daytime low tide periods, using a fishing rod baited with pieces of a locally abundant gastropod, <em>Pugilina morio</em>, during 20min/area (catch per unit effort). Monthly measurements of air, sediment surface layer and water temperatures were obtained with a digital thermometer and salinity with an optical refractometer. Both crab populations were compared concerning their abundance, body size, sex ratio, size at onset of sexual maturity and fecundity (FI). Abiotic factors (air, water and mud temperature; and salinity) showed no significant differences between sampling localities. A total of 4 370 crabs were sampled, 2 829 from the Sergipe River and 1 541 from the Vaza-Barris River. The abundance and body size of crabs were compared between mangroves, and statistically significant differences were found. The sex ratio for both populations differed from the expected 1:1 ratio, and a significant deviation in favor of juvenile males was obtained, while adults showed a bias toward females. The estimated size at onset of sexual maturity for both sexes was similar in both populations. However, the populations differed significantly in the number and volume of eggs: a higher FI was obtained in females from the Sergipe River, while a higher egg volume was observed in females from the Vaza-Barris River mangrove. These results indicated a tendency to decrease the body size, the abundance of crabs and the reproductive potential of the species, with higher fishing intensities, reinforcing the need to develop a management plan as well as to establish conservation units for <em>G. cruentata</em> in the Northeastern Brazilian coast. Habitat loss in conjunction with long-term overfishing can have irreversible consequences, which can impact not only the populations of commercially exploited crabs, but the dynamics of virtually the entire mangrove ecosystem.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Nur Rasminati

<p>This study aimed to determine the grade of Ettawa crossbred goats reared in lowland<br />(coastal) areas at Wates subdistrict and highland (mountainous) areas at Pengasih subdistrict, Kulonprogo. Respondents were drawn from goat breeders who live in the village Karangwuni for lowland areas and villages Sidomulyo for highland, with the ownership of goats ranged between 2 and 20. This study used survey method, and a sample of respondents was taken by the census methods. In general, body size of goats both in lowland and highland areas were below the average standard. Some body size of goats in highland areas were higher than lowland. Based on the qualitative characteristic of the goats in lowland and highland areas were included in grade B, it has characteristics that fulfil the standards and harmonious balance, but the weight and size of the body is below the average. It can be concluded that the body sizes goat in mountain areas is higher than in the beach with a grade goat for both locations is B.<br />Key words : Ettawa cossbred goats, grade, coastal area, mountains region</p>


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