New haplotypes of Cyclura nubila nubila from Cuba changed the phylogenetic tree of rock-iguanas: a challenge for conservation strategies?

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Frynta ◽  
Ivan Rehák ◽  
Zuzana Starostová

AbstractRock-iguanas of the genus Cyclura are the largest native terrestrial herbivores of the West Indies. Most species are currently under a high risk of extinction. In order to assess genetic variation in Cuban rock iguanas (Cyclura nubila nubila), we sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial DNA (894 bp long region including a part of the ND4 subunit of the NADH gene and the tRNA genes histidine, serin and leucin (partial)) in 21 iguanas from European Zoos and private breeders. The animals sampled represent founders and important representatives of the studbook population. The data was combined with published sequences of other species/subspecies of the genus and outgroups. We used neighbour joining, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree. The results are congruent with the previously reported paraphyletic relationship of C. nubila with respect to C. cychlura from the Bahamas. Surprisingly, within C. n. nubila, we found previously undescribed haplotypes phylogenetically closer to those of the subspecies C. nubila caymanensis from Little Cayman Island, or C. nubila lewisi from Grand Cayman Island. Thus, our results show that C. n. nubila as currently defined represents more distinct lineages and is therefore a composite taxon. Nevertheless, as rapidly evolving isolates these taxa are still worthy of conservation efforts. We hypothesize that the basal divergence of the C. nubila–C. cychlura clade occurred in Cuba and the above mentioned taxa from the neighbouring islands are a result of relatively recent over-water dispersal. In conclusion, our data suggest that special attention should be devoted to conserving Cuban rock-iguanas.

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen F. Breslin ◽  
Jessica Cornell ◽  
Zachary Schuhmacher ◽  
Madison Himelright ◽  
Aya Andos ◽  
...  

Soil from George Town, Grand Cayman Island, yielded the bacteriophage Belinda, isolated on Bacillus thuringiensis DSM 350. We present here the analysis of the complete genome sequence of 162,308 bp, with 298 predicted genes. The genome also contains three tRNA genes. Belinda belongs to the C1 cluster of Bacillus phages.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1517
Author(s):  
Se-Hwan Cheon ◽  
Min-Ah Woo ◽  
Sangjin Jo ◽  
Young-Kee Kim ◽  
Ki-Joong Kim

The genus Zoysia Willd. (Chloridoideae) is widely distributed from the temperate regions of Northeast Asia—including China, Japan, and Korea—to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Among these, four species—Zoysia japonica Steud., Zoysia sinica Hance, Zoysia tenuifolia Thiele, and Zoysia macrostachya Franch. & Sav.—are naturally distributed in the Korean Peninsula. In this study, we report the complete plastome sequences of these Korean Zoysia species (NCBI acc. nos. MF953592, MF967579~MF967581). The length of Zoysia plastomes ranges from 135,854 to 135,904 bp, and the plastomes have a typical quadripartite structure, which consists of a pair of inverted repeat regions (20,962~20,966 bp) separated by a large (81,348~81,392 bp) and a small (12,582~12,586 bp) single-copy region. In terms of gene order and structure, Zoysia plastomes are similar to the typical plastomes of Poaceae. The plastomes encode 110 genes, of which 76 are protein-coding genes, 30 are tRNA genes, and four are rRNA genes. Fourteen genes contain single introns and one gene has two introns. Three evolutionary hotspot spacer regions—atpB~rbcL, rps16~rps3, and rpl32~trnL-UAG—were recognized among six analyzed Zoysia species. The high divergences in the atpB~rbcL spacer and rpl16~rpl3 region are primarily due to the differences in base substitutions and indels. In contrast, the high divergence between rpl32~trnL-UAG spacers is due to a small inversion with a pair of 22 bp stem and an 11 bp loop. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified in 59 different locations in Z. japonica, 63 in Z. sinica, 62 in Z. macrostachya, and 63 in Z. tenuifolia plastomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Zoysia (Zoysiinae) forms a monophyletic group, which is sister to Sporobolus (Sporobolinae), with 100% bootstrap support. Within the Zoysia clade, the relationship of (Z. sinica, Z japonica), (Z. tenuifolia, Z. matrella), (Z. macrostachya, Z. macrantha) was suggested.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Albenis Pérez-Alarcón ◽  
José C. Fernández-Alvarez ◽  
Rogert Sorí ◽  
Raquel Nieto ◽  
Luis Gimeno

The combined effect of the sea surface temperature (SST) and the North Atlantic subtropical high-pressure system (NASH) in the interannual variability of the genesis of tropical cyclones (TCs) and landfalling in the period 1980–2019 is explored in this study. The SST was extracted from the Centennial Time Scale dataset from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and TC records were obtained from the Atlantic Hurricane Database of the NOAA/National Hurricane Center. The genesis and landfalling regions were objectively clustered for this analysis. Seven regions of TC genesis and five for landfalling were identified. Intercluster differences were observed in the monthly frequency distribution and annual variability, both for genesis and landfalling. From the generalized least square multiple regression model, SST and NASH (intensity and position) covariates can explain 22.7% of the variance of the frequency of TC genesis, but it is only statistically significant (p < 0.1) for the NASH center latitude. The SST mostly modulates the frequency of TCs formed near the West African coast, and the NASH latitudinal variation affects those originated in the Lesser Antilles arc. For landfalling, both covariates explain 38.7% of the variance; however, significant differences are observed in the comparison between each region. With a statistical significance higher than 90%, SST and NASH explain 33.4% of the landfalling variability in the archipelago of the Bahamas and central–eastern region of Cuba. Besides, landfalls in the Gulf of Mexico and Central America seem to be modulated by SST. It was also found there was no statistically significant relationship between the frequency of genesis and landfalling with the NASH intensity. However, the NASH structure modulates the probability density of the TCs trajectory that make landfall once or several times in their lifetime. Thus, the NASH variability throughout a hurricane season affects the TCs trajectory in the North Atlantic basin. Moreover, we found that the landfalling frequency of TCs formed near the West Africa coast and the central North Atlantic is relatively low. Furthermore, the SST and NASH longitude center explains 31.6% (p < 0.05) of the variance of the landfalling intensity in the archipelago of the Bahamas, while the SST explains 26.4% (p < 0.05) in Central America. Furthermore, the 5-year moving average filter revealed decadal and multidecadal variability in both genesis and landfalling by region. Our findings confirm the complexity of the atmospheric processes involved in the TC genesis and landfalling.


1987 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Lewis ◽  
J. D. Dodge

Abstract. The cyst-theca relationship of Protoperidinium americanum (Gran &amp; Braarud) Balech was investigated using single cyst germination techniques. This Protoperidinium has an unusual theca with four intercalary plates (plate formula 4’, 4a, 7″, 4c, 7s, 5″’, 2″″). It has a distinctive brown capsulate cyst which has an apical archeopyle. The position of this species in the genus Protoperidinium is discussed. The distribution of the cyst on the west coast of Scotland is described.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Carlos Campos ◽  
Fernando Martínez-Freiría ◽  
Fábio Vieira Sousa ◽  
Frederico Santarém ◽  
José Carlos Brito

The West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) is an emblematic species from the Sahara-Sahel with scarce knowledge on distribution and conservation status. This study updated the knowledge on distribution, occupied habitats, population size, and factors that threaten C. suchus and its habitats in Mauritania. Five field expeditions to Mauritania (2011-2016), allowed the detection of 26 new localities, increasing by 27% the current number of all known locations (adding up to ). In most localities less than five individuals were observed, and in all visiting sites the number of observed individuals ranged from one to 23. Eleven threat factors were identified, being droughts and temperature extremes (100% localities affected) and water abstraction for domestic use and nomadic grazing (94%) the most frequent. These findings suggest that crocodiles are apparently vulnerable in Mauritania and that future local conservation strategies are needed to assure the continuity of its fragile populations and preserve their habitats.


Islamovedenie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Nabiev Rustam Fanisovich ◽  

The article deals with the problem of the spread of artillery weapons from the East to the West through the territory of the Eurasian steppes. Among the regions important for the devel-opment of firearms were countries with Islamic culture, which are currently part of the Russian Federation and the CIS. They were one of the most important links in the movement of new technologies from the East to Europe. Evidence of the development of artillery in the northern Muslim countries is not only written sources, but also finds of genuine medieval weapons. The author shows that the Muslim peoples of northern Eurasia have contributed to the world process of the development and spread of firearms. The article substantiates the view that in the territory of Russia powder technologies, the newest at that time, began to be used much earlier than in Western Europe. The author also identifies a number of areas of research into the history of powder technologies in the medieval Muslim world, such as sources of information, regions, landscapes, the main ways of spreading technologies, as well as terminology from the standpoint of cultural relationship of languages


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Dhina Yuliana ◽  
Faris Rahmadian ◽  
Nana Kristiawan ◽  
Selvy Anggriani Syarif

Land-use changes or land conversion issues not only poses a threat of ecological or environmental, but also trigger a variety of dynamics and complexity of social relations in it. West Cilebut Villages has been the target of investors and developers of housing since the 1990s, and now the West Cilebut Villages has changed from an area full of green “romantic” village, into the region filled with concrete. Therefore, this study was conducted to answer fundamental issues related to the issue of land conversion in the West Cilebut Village, first is to see the map and interests between actors in relation to land conversion in the West Cilebut Village, and second to know the social interactions dynamics that occur in West Cilebut community, following the land conversion from the farm into housing estates. The results showed that there are three main actors in relation to issues of land use change in West Cilebut Village: (1) The Housing Developer; (2) Village Apparatus / Government; (3) Society; where the three actors have a role and importance of different orientations. Meanwhile, social interaction between housing and rural communities basically shows a relationship of mutual need. Construction of housing community that luxurious and exclusive slowly turns into inclusive and reflect a resiprocity of the two communities. 


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1849
Author(s):  
Ranjita Thapa ◽  
Matthew Edwards ◽  
Matthew W. Blair

Amaranthus is a genus of C4 dicotyledonous herbaceous plants, and three New World species have been domesticated to produce grain crops with light colored seed which are classified as pseudo-cereals rich in protein and minerals. A core collection of grain amaranths and immediate precursor species has been established, representing the closest related species. The goal of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity in that collection of cultivated and wild species, using competitive allele single nucleotide polymorphism markers. A secondary objective was to determine the relationships among the three cultivated species and non-domesticated Amaranthus, while a third objective was to evaluate the utility of the markers in detecting diversity in the 276 genotypes. The markers were found to be highly variable with an average polymorphism information content of 0.365. All markers were bi-allelic; and the major allele frequency ranged from 0.388 to 0.871. Population structure analysis of the cultigens revealed the presence of two sub populations. Phylogeny confirmed that the two Mesoamerican species, Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus, were related and distant from the South American species Amaranthus caudatus, which in turn was very closely clustered with Amaranthus quitensis, even though this is considered a weedy relative. The first pair of species were likely to have inter-crossed, while the latter two likely exist in a wild-cultivated hybrid state. In conclusion, the results of this SNP study provided insights on amaranth cultivars and their relationship to wild species, the probable domestication events leading to the cultivars, and possible crop breeding or germplasm conservation strategies.


Lankesteriana ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Ackerman ◽  
Normandie González-Orellana

Eulophia graminea Lindley (Orchidaceae), a native orchid of tropical and subtropical Asia, was first reported in the Western Hemisphere from populations in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. where it spread rapidly through the southern part of the state. Here we report the first record of this species for Puerto Rico and sightings in the Bahamas and Cuba, reflecting the rapid spread seen in southern Florida (U.S.A).


Author(s):  
Х Алтанзул ◽  
Ю Оюунбилэг

The phylogenetic relationship of eight Iris species (I.flavisimma, I.ventricosa, I.bungei,I.kaempferi, I.tenuifolia, I.lactea, I.tigrida, I.dichotoma) were studied by PCR using six specificprimers (S-523, Z1204R, trnL, trnF and ITS1, ITS4). All species except I.ventricosa wereidentified when using S-523, Z1204R and trnL, trnF primers and the DNA fragment size rangedbetween 500 to 600 bp and 800 bp, respectively. Primers ITS1 and ITS4 produced double bandsin about 500 and 1500 bp to I.bungei, I.kaempferi, and I.lactea species. On the phylogenetic tree, some iris species have close relations based on chloroplastic DNA sequences. The closest relationships showed between I.sanguinea and I.sibirica, I.rutenica and I.uniflora. Also I.tenuifolia, I.ventricosa and I.halophila located on one branch of phylogenetic tree.


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