Multivariate Characterization of Phenotypic Variation from throughout the Geographic Ranges of Philippine False Coral Snakes: Two Species or Four?

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin M. Bernstein ◽  
Joward Bautista ◽  
Arvin C. Diesmos ◽  
Michael A. Clores ◽  
Michael Cuesta ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Edwin Jesús Naranjo Quinaluisa ◽  
César Guillermo Tapia Bastidas ◽  
Roberto Javier Velázquez Feria ◽  
Yudemir Cruz Pérez ◽  
Angélica Hipatia Delgado Pilla ◽  
...  

Ecogeographic characterization of Melloco (Ullucus tuberosus C.) in the high Andean region of Ecuador Resumen El estudio se llevó a cabo en la región alto Andina del Ecuador, utilizando la colección nacional de Melloco (Ullucus tuberosus C.), perteneciente al Banco Nacional de Germoplasma del INIAP. El objetivo fue evaluar las características de los sitios de colecta, identificar rangos climáticos y ecosistemas favorables o marginales para el cultivo. Para la caracterización se utilizó información geo-referencial de puntos de colecta y 13 variables climáticas, geofísicas y edáficas. Se generó un Mapa de Caracterización Eco-geográfica del Terreno Específico (mapa ELC) aplicando la herramienta CAPFITOGEN y estadística descriptiva. Como resultados se identificaron categorías que establecen los rangos adaptativos en el cultivo, con 22 categorías definidas por el mapa ELC y el 39% (73) de las accesiones fueron colectadas en las categorías con rangos de temperatura de 11 ºC a 13 ºC, bajo contenido de materia orgánica, pendiente ligeramente inclinada, suelo franco arenoso, poco profundos y un pH moderadamente ácido. Las variables ambientales para las categorías más frecuentes presentaron valores promedios de temperatura entre 5 - 20 °C, una precipitación que oscila entre 379 - 3764 mm, con un rango de altitud entre los 1800 - 3800 msnm, pendiente de 8 - 9° y un pH de 5,7. Los mapas de caracterización eco-geográfica resultaron de utilidad para identificar zonas adecuadas para el melloco y otros tubérculos andinos en Ecuador, y conocer los rangos eco-geográficos para dicho cultivo. Palabras clave: Adaptación de las plantas; Biodiversidad; Conservación de recursos; Mapa; pH. Abstract The study was carried out in the high Andean region of Ecuador using the National collection of Melloco (Ullucus tuberosus C.), which belongs to the National Germplasm Bank of INIAP. The objective was to evaluate the characteristics of the collection sites, identify climatic ranges and favorable or marginal ecosystems for cultivation. For the characterization, georeferential information of collection points and other climatic, geophysical and edaphic variables were used. An Eco-geographic Characterization Map of the specific Land (ELC map) was generated applying the tool CAPFITOGEN and descriptive statistics. As results, categories that establish the adaptive ranges in the crop were identified, with 22 categories defined by the ELC map. 39% (73) of the accessions were collected in the categories with temperature ranges from 11ºC to 13ºC, low content of organic matter, slope slightly inclined, sandy loam soil, shallow and a pH moderately acidic. The environmental variables for the most frequent categories presented average values of temperature between 5 – 20ºC, a precipitation that oscillates between 379 – 3764 mm, with an altitude range between 1800 – 3800 masl, slope of 8 – 9º and pH of 5.7. The eco – graphical characterization maps were useful to identify suitable areas for melloco and other Andean tubers in Ecuador, and to know the eco – geographic ranges for the studied crop. Keywords: Plant adaptation; Biodiversity; Resources conservation; Maps; pH.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier H. Santos-Santos ◽  
Mireia Guinovart-Castán ◽  
David R. Vieites

Mantellid frogs present an extensive adaptive radiation endemic to Madagascar and Comoros, being the subfamily Mantellinae the most morphologically and ecologically diverse. The Mantellinae present key innovative evolutionary traits linked to their unique reproductive behavior, including the presence of femoral glands and a derived vomeronasal organ. In addition, previous studies pointed to size differentiation in playing an important role in species’ dispersal capacities and shaping of their geographic ranges. Despite the high phenotypic variation observed in this clade, to date an exhaustive morphological analysis of their anatomy has still not been performed, much less in relation to internal structures. Here, we present a comprehensive skeletal description of a mantellid species, Blommersia transmarina, from the island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, which has potentially undergone a process of moderate gigantism compared to other Blommersia species. We describe its intraspecific skeletal variation utilizing non-destructive volume renderings from μCT-scans, and characterize the presence of sexual dimorphism and size covariation in skeletal structures. Notably, we found numerous signs of hyperossification, a novel structure for mantellids: the clavicular process, and the presence of several appendicular sesamoids. Our findings suggest that skeletal phenotypic variation in this genus may be linked to biomechanical function for reproduction and locomotion.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Elliott ◽  
Jennifer Yuzon ◽  
Mathu Malar C ◽  
Sucheta Tripathy ◽  
Mai Bui ◽  
...  

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 1308-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H. Adler ◽  
Ke Chung Kim

Larval polytene chromosomes provided the identification tool that enabled ecological characterization of two black fly sibling species, IIIL-1 and IS-7, in the Simulium vittatum complex. A 4-year study in the eastern United States demonstrated important differences between the two siblings, based primarily on differential occupancy of the stream continuum. Immatures of the IIIL-1 sibling predominated below nonspring-fed reservoirs, downstream of sewage effluent outflows, and in warm downstream areas. Immatures of the IS-7 sibling occurred, with IIIL-1, in cool well-oxygenated flows generally associated with groundwater discharge. These sibling–habitat relations produced sibling gradients along the stream continuum. Over their geographic ranges, the IIIL-1 sibling became increasingly abundant from north to south, relative to IS-7. At mixed-sibling sites, populations were asynchronous; IS-7 generally predominated in early spring and late fall. The major determinants of sibling distributions were those factors affecting respiration: temperature, oxygen, and current. Species such as the black fly Simulium decorum and the midge Chironomus riparius signalled essentially pure populations of IIIL-1. Preimaginal densities of Glossosoma spp. (Trichoptera) also indicated sibling proportions. IIIL-1 and IS-7 shared all pathogens. At mixed-sibling sites, proportionally more larvae of IIIL-1 occurred on rocks than on grasses. Regardless of sibling, larvae on rocks were darker than those on grasses, which suggested differences in the proportion of ingested materials.


Intervirology ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartholemew G. Corsaro ◽  
M.J. Fraser
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Vasyl Alba ◽  
James E. Carthew ◽  
Richard W. Carthew ◽  
Madhav Mani

ABSTRACTOrganismal phenotypes emerge from a complex set of genotypic interactions. While technological advances in sequencing provide a quantitative description of an organism’s genotype, characterization of an organism’s physical phenotype lags far behind. Here, we relate genotype to the complex and multi-dimensional phenotype of an anatomical structure using the Drosophila wing as a model system. We develop a mathematical approach that enables a robust description of biologically salient phenotypic variation. Analysing natural phenotypic variation, and variation generated by weak perturbations in genetic and environmental conditions during development, we observe a highly constrained set of wing phenotypes. In a striking example of dimensionality reduction, the nature of varieties produced by the Drosophila developmental program is constrained to a single integrated mode of variation in the wing. Our strategy demonstrates the emergent simplicity manifest in the genotype-to-phenotype map in the Drosophila wing and may represent a general approach for interrogating a variety of genotype-phenotype relationships.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasas S. N. Jayaratne ◽  
Roger A. Zwahlen

Craniofacial anthropometry is an objective technique based on a series of measurements and proportions, which facilitate the characterization of phenotypic variation and quantification of dysmorphology. With the introduction of stereophotography, it is possible to acquire a lifelike three-dimensional (3D) image of the face with natural color and texture. Most of the traditional anthropometric landmarks can be identified on these 3D photographs using specialized software. Therefore, it has become possible to compute new digital measurements, which were not feasible with traditional instruments. The term “digital anthropometry” has been used by researchers based on such systems to separate their methods from conventional manual measurements. Anthropometry has been traditionally used as a research tool. With the advent of digital anthropometry, this technique can be employed in several disciplines as a noninvasive tool for quantifying facial morphology. The aim of this review is to provide a broad overview of digital anthropometry and discuss its clinical applications.


Plant Disease ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 99 (12) ◽  
pp. 1704-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Bai ◽  
Lifeng Zhai ◽  
Xiaoren Chen ◽  
Ni Hong ◽  
Wenxing Xu ◽  
...  

In recent years, a widespread canker disease that infects the branches of pear trees has been observed in many provinces in China; it kills the branches and results in high losses in fruit production. Symptomatic branches were collected for etiological isolation from 11 varieties of three pear species and from Malus pumila. Samples were collected from six provinces in China. In total, 143 Phomopsis isolates were obtained from 181 samples and these were identified as belonging to five species: Phomopsis fukushii (n = 69 isolates), Diaporthe eres (n = 31), P. amygdali (n = 22), P. longicolla (n = 13), and D. neotheicola (n = 8). Pathogenicity tests showed that only the first three species induced lesions on nonwounded branches of Pyrus pyrifolia var. Cuiguan. All the fungal species induced branch cankers following wound inoculations, and tests with additional pear varieties showed significantly higher virulence levels for the first three species than the latter two. A host range evaluation suggested that the five species could infect most fruit trees belonging to the Rosaceae family as well as some non-Rosaceous species. Virulence varied depending on the species of both host and pathogen. Isolates of Phomopsis amygdali had significantly higher virulence in all the tested Rosaceae plants. Correlations among the host, pathogen, and sampling regions were noted, and the morphology, growth rate, and sporulation of these species in varied media were also characterized. This study presents the first attempt to perform a broad survey and characterization of the Phomopsis spp. associated with the pear shoot cankers in China. This study shows that D. eres and P. amygdali are just as responsible for the pear shoot canker diseases as P. fukushii, and it expands the host and geographic ranges of the five species. This report provides useful information for understanding and improving management strategies for controlling this economically important disease.


Author(s):  
B. L. Soloff ◽  
T. A. Rado

Mycobacteriophage R1 was originally isolated from a lysogenic culture of M. butyricum. The virus was propagated on a leucine-requiring derivative of M. smegmatis, 607 leu−, isolated by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis of typestrain ATCC 607. Growth was accomplished in a minimal medium containing glycerol and glucose as carbon source and enriched by the addition of 80 μg/ ml L-leucine. Bacteria in early logarithmic growth phase were infected with virus at a multiplicity of 5, and incubated with aeration for 8 hours. The partially lysed suspension was diluted 1:10 in growth medium and incubated for a further 8 hours. This permitted stationary phase cells to re-enter logarithmic growth and resulted in complete lysis of the culture.


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