Re-evaluation of the taxonomy of the Sri Lankan pigmy shrew Suncus fellowesgordoni (Soricidae: Crocidurinae) and its phylogenetic relationship with S. etruscus

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3187 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUYAMA MEEGASKUMBURA ◽  
MADHAVA MEEGASKUMBURA ◽  
CHRISTOPHER J. SCHNEIDER

The taxonomy of the pigmy shrews Suncus fellowesgordoni and S. etruscus is unclear and their phylogenetic relationshipsare unknown. Using molecular and morphological data, we confirm the species status of S. fellowesgordoni as being dis-tinct from S. etruscus, its probable sister species. Suncus fellowesgordoni is genetically distant from S. etruscus popula-tions in Sri Lanka and India, and Europe with a percent pairwise uncorrected genetic distance of 7.9–8.2% and 9.2–9.3%for cytochrome-b (mitochondrial DNA), respectively. The genetic distance between S. fellowesgordoni and S. etruscus ofSri Lanka and India for Rag 1 (nuclear DNA, exon) is 1.3–1.7%. The two species are also morphologically distinct by S. fellowesgordoni being larger in all dimensions, darker in hue and having two denticulations on the lower incisors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Savithri Sarojani Udage ◽  
Deepthi Yakandawala

The genus Monochoria is represented in Sri Lanka by only two species, M. hastata and M. vaginalis. Of the two species M. vaginalis exhibits a high morphological diversity. A morphometric analysis was performed on the Sri Lankan members of the genus Monochoria to evaluate the morphological diversity exhibited by comparing 34 vegetative, anatomical and reproductive characters. Both cluster and principal coordinate analyses resulted in four clusters of which one corresponded to M. hastata, while M. vaginalis was divided into three phenetic groups indicating that the Sri Lankan M. vaginalis is a species complex involving more than one taxon. The length ratio of the lower spathe petiole to inflorescence stalk was identified as an informative character in delimiting the phenetic groups, a character that has not been considered before. Further, the occurrence of sub-palisade cavities that are filled with a red colored liquid in the leaves of two phenetic groups was a novel character for the genus as well as the family Pontederiaceae.Keywords: Monochoria vaginalis; Morphological data; Sub-palisade cavities; Principal coordinate anaysis.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 24(1): 13–22, 2017 (June)


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4236 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
RALPH E. HARBACH ◽  
RAMPA RATTANARITHIKUL ◽  
BRUCE A. HARRISON

Anopheles (Anopheles) prachongae, a new species of the Gigas Complex from northern Thailand, is described and illustrated in the adult, pupal and larval stages, and bionomics and chaetotaxy tables are provided for the immature stages. The species is distinguished from Anopheles baileyi, the only other species of the complex known to occur in Thailand, and contrasted with other taxa of the complex that occur in the Oriental Region. Available morphological data indicate that An. gigas sumatrana is unique and is therefore formally afforded species status. The three other Sumatran subspecies may be conspecific. The taxonomic status of the non-Sumatran subspecies, i.e. crockeri (Borneo), formosus (Philippines), refutans (Sri Lanka) and simlensis (south-central Asia), is questioned but their status is unchanged pending further study. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Freitas ◽  
Sylvain Ursenbacher ◽  
Konrad Mebert ◽  
Oleksandr Zinenko ◽  
Silke Schweiger ◽  
...  

Abstract The designation of taxonomic units has important implications for the understanding and conservation of biodiversity. Eurasian vipers are a monophyletic group of viperid snakes (Serpentes, Viperinae), currently comprising four genera (Daboia, Macrovipera, Montivipera and Vipera) and up to 40 species. Taxonomic units have been described using a wide variety of methods and criteria, and consequently, considerable controversy still surrounds the validity of some currently listed species. In order to promote a consensus- and evidence-based taxonomy of Eurasian vipers, we analysed published mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences for this group to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among currently recognized viper species. We also compiled information on external morphology to assess their morphological distinctiveness. Phylogenetic inference based on mtDNA sequences shows contrasting levels of divergence across genera and species and identifies several instances of non-monophyly in described species. Nuclear DNA sequences show extremely low levels of genetic variation, with a widespread pattern of allele sharing among distant species, and even among genera. Revision of morphological data shows that most species designations rely on scalation traits that overlap extensively among species of the same genus. Based on our combined assessment, we recognize 15 taxa as valid species, three taxa which likely represent species complexes, 17 taxa of doubtful validity as species, and five taxa for which species status is maintained but further research is highly recommended to assess taxonomic arrangements. We stress the need to implement integrative taxonomic approaches for the recognition of evidence-based taxonomic units in Eurasian vipers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 93-100
Author(s):  
Gisa Jähnichen

The Sri Lankan Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue, and Official Languages published the work “People of Sri Lanka” in 2017. In this comprehensive publication, 21 invited Sri Lankan scholars introduced 19 different people’s groups to public readers in English, mainly targeted at a growing number of foreign visitors in need of understanding the cultural diversity Sri Lanka has to offer. This paper will observe the presentation of these different groups of people, the role music and allied arts play in this context. Considering the non-scholarly design of the publication, a discussion of the role of music and allied arts has to be supplemented through additional analyses based on sources mentioned by the 21 participating scholars and their fragmented application of available knowledge. In result, this paper might help improve the way facts about groups of people, the way of grouping people, and the way of presenting these groupings are displayed to the world beyond South Asia. This fieldwork and literature guided investigation should also lead to suggestions for ethical principles in teaching and presenting of culturally different music practices within Sri Lanka, thus adding an example for other case studies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-71
Author(s):  
Balasubramaniam M ◽  
◽  
Sivapalan K ◽  
Tharsha J ◽  
Sivatharushan V ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5100
Author(s):  
Paulina Kozakiewicz ◽  
Ludmiła Grzybowska-Szatkowska ◽  
Marzanna Ciesielka ◽  
Jolanta Rzymowska

The mitochondria are essential for normal cell functioning. Changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may affect the occurrence of some chronic diseases and cancer. This process is complex and not entirely understood. The assignment to a particular mitochondrial haplogroup may be a factor that either contributes to cancer development or reduces its likelihood. Mutations in mtDNA occurring via an increase in reactive oxygen species may favour the occurrence of further changes both in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial DNA mutations in postmitotic cells are not inherited, but may play a role both in initiation and progression of cancer. One of the first discovered polymorphisms associated with cancer was in the gene NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 3 (mt-ND3) and it was typical of haplogroup N. In prostate cancer, these mutations and polymorphisms involve a gene encoding subunit I of respiratory complex IV cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI). At present, a growing number of studies also address the impact of mtDNA polymorphisms on prognosis in cancer patients. Some of the mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms occur in both chronic disease and cancer, for instance polymorphism G5913A characteristic of prostate cancer and hypertension.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 527-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Patterson ◽  
Anna M. Duncan ◽  
Kelsey C. McIntyre ◽  
Vett K. Lloyd

Ixodes scapularis Say, 1821 (the black-legged tick) is becoming established in Canada. The northwards expansion of I. scapularis leads to contact between I. scapularis and Ixodes cookei Packard, 1869, a well-established tick species in Eastern Canada. Examination of I. cookei and I. scapularis collected from New Brunswick revealed ticks with ambiguous morphologies, with either a mixture or intermediate traits typical of I. scapularis and I. cookei, including in characteristics typically used as species identifiers. Genetic analysis to determine if these ticks represent hybrids revealed that four had I. cookei derived mitochondrial DNA but I. scapularis nuclear DNA. In one case, the nuclear sequence showed evidence of heterozygosity for I. scapularis and I. cookei sequences, whereas in the others, the nuclear DNA appeared to be entirely derived from I. scapularis. These data strongly suggest genetic hybridization between these two species. Ixodes cookei and hybrid ticks were readily collected from humans and companion animals and specimens infected with Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson et al., 1984, the causative agent of Lyme disease, were identified. These findings raise the issue of genetic introgression of I. scapularis genes into I. cookei and warrant reassessment of the capacity of I. cookei and I. cookei × I. scapularis hybrids to vector Borrelia infection.


Author(s):  
George B. Stefano ◽  
Richard M. Kream

AbstractMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy is the dynamically determined co-expression of wild type (WT) inherited polymorphisms and collective time-dependent somatic mutations within individual mtDNA genomes. The temporal expression and distribution of cell-specific and tissue-specific mtDNA heteroplasmy in healthy individuals may be functionally associated with intracellular mitochondrial signaling pathways and nuclear DNA gene expression. The maintenance of endogenously regulated tissue-specific copy numbers of heteroplasmic mtDNA may represent a sensitive biomarker of homeostasis of mitochondrial dynamics, metabolic integrity, and immune competence. Myeloid cells, monocytes, macrophages, and antigen-presenting dendritic cells undergo programmed changes in mitochondrial metabolism according to innate and adaptive immunological processes. In the central nervous system (CNS), the polarization of activated microglial cells is dependent on strategically programmed changes in mitochondrial function. Therefore, variations in heteroplasmic mtDNA copy numbers may have functional consequences in metabolically competent mitochondria in innate and adaptive immune processes involving the CNS. Recently, altered mitochondrial function has been demonstrated in the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Accordingly, our review is organized to present convergent lines of empirical evidence that potentially link expression of mtDNA heteroplasmy by functionally interactive CNS cell types to the extent and severity of acute and chronic post-COVID-19 neurological disorders.


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