The muricid gastropod subfamily Rapaninae: phylogeny and ecological history

Paleobiology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geerat J. Vermeij ◽  
Sandra J. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Early Miocene ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
West Pacific ◽  
Ecological Diversification ◽  
Ecological History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Paraphyletic Group ◽  
Anatomical Characters

Members of the neogastropod muricid subfamily Rapaninae are abundant, shallow-water predators whose phylogeny was previously investigated by Kool (1993b), who used mainly anatomical characters. In order to deepen understanding of the evolution of this important clade and to incorporate functional, ecological fossil evidence, we performed a phylogenetic analysis based on 34 shell characters in 45 genus-level taxa, including five muricid outgroups. Cladograms based on shell characters alone differed from those founded on anatomical features these analyses differed from the phylogenetic reconstruction combining all available morphological evidence. The preferred cladogram incorporates all evidence and reveals a “Thais group” and an “Ergalatax clade” that both emerge from the derived portion of a more primitive, paraphyletic group of other rapanines. The Ocenebrinae, the other four outgroup taxa three ergalataxine taxa all lie outside the rapanine clade that includes the remaining ergalataxines as a derived subclade.We used the phylogenetic results to probe aspects of the ecological history of the Rapaninae. Our data imply that antipredatory shell defenses (elongated aperture, denticles on the inner side of the outer lip robust external spines and tubercles) evolved multiple times, mainly in post–early Miocene clades in the Indo–West Pacific region. These results support earlier nonphylogenetic inferences.We compared known prey types and methods of predation of living rapanines with their distribution on our phylogenetic tree. The plesiomorphic mode of feeding in the Rapaninae is drilling of hard-shelled prey. Feeding by other means and on such soft-bodied prey as sipunculan and polychaete worms evolved several times independently among post–early Miocene rapanines in the Indo–West Pacific. Methods of predation on hard-shelled prey that involve edge-drilling or attack by way of the aperture also evolved independently several times, but did so throughout the geographical range of the subfamily.Specialization for life on the upper shore occurred in at least eight lineages, all but two of which are confined to the Indo–West Pacific. Ecological diversification of the Rapaninae was therefore most common in the tropical Indo–West Pacific during and after early Miocene time. This diversification occurred in a setting of already high biological diversity and intense competition and predation.

scholarly journals Reconstructing the evolutionary and ecological history of the sea skaters Halobates spp. (Heteroptera: Gerridae)

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Román Palacios ◽  
Daniela Moraga Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Ecological History ◽  
Independent Events ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Pelagic Environment ◽  
History Of

The genus Halobates includes the only five insect species that have been successful in a pelagic marine environment. Different scenarios of independent colonization events of that environment have been proposed, considering the appearance of pelagic distribution in several non-sister clades in the phylogeny of the genus. In this paper, we aim to update the phylogenetic hypothesis under the criterion of Bayesian inference, calibrate a molecular clock using the only fossil described in the genus and also analyze the diversity pattern of the lineage since its divergence. High support values were found in the phylogenetic reconstruction, which tend to decrease with an increase of the distances from the root. Low supports for the most derived clades or relatively recent divergences cast doubt on the delimitation of some species. Although the divergence time for Halobates was estimated at 42.01 mya (± 8.13) the emergence of the lineage probably happened a few million years before, so the estimated time of divergence probably also marked the start of diversification of the marine lineages of this genus. Since divergence, the richness of genus showed continuous linear growth for approximately 24.4 my, when the lineages began to diversify more quickly with a significantly lower extinction rate.The colonization of the pelagic environment which occurred nearly 42 mya, could also have been the starting point of the colonization of the marine pelagic environment when changes in their morphology, physiology and behaviour enabled them to exploit novel ecological niches. Ancestors of pelagic marine insects probably inhabited areas close to the seacoast more than 41 mya ago. The ecological history of Halobates was probably not limited to a pair of open water colonization events as indicated by earlier proposals. We hypothesize instead that at least three independent events of open water colonization by Halobates species have occurred. In this sense, the ecological character of coastal or pelagic distribution is considered to be a homoplasic character without direct implications on the net diversification of Halobates.

scholarly journals Reconstructing the evolutionary and ecological history of the sea skaters Halobates spp. (Heteroptera: Gerridae)

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Román Palacios ◽  
Daniela Moraga Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Ecological History ◽  
Independent Events ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Pelagic Environment ◽  
History Of

The genus Halobates includes the only five insect species that have been successful in a pelagic marine environment. Different scenarios of independent colonization events of that environment have been proposed, considering the appearance of pelagic distribution in several non-sister clades in the phylogeny of the genus. In this paper, we aim to update the phylogenetic hypothesis under the criterion of Bayesian inference, calibrate a molecular clock using the only fossil described in the genus and also analyze the diversity pattern of the lineage since its divergence. High support values were found in the phylogenetic reconstruction, which tend to decrease with an increase of the distances from the root. Low supports for the most derived clades or relatively recent divergences cast doubt on the delimitation of some species. Although the divergence time for Halobates was estimated at 42.01 mya (± 8.13) the emergence of the lineage probably happened a few million years before, so the estimated time of divergence probably also marked the start of diversification of the marine lineages of this genus. Since divergence, the richness of genus showed continuous linear growth for approximately 24.4 my, when the lineages began to diversify more quickly with a significantly lower extinction rate.The colonization of the pelagic environment which occurred nearly 42 mya, could also have been the starting point of the colonization of the marine pelagic environment when changes in their morphology, physiology and behaviour enabled them to exploit novel ecological niches. Ancestors of pelagic marine insects probably inhabited areas close to the seacoast more than 41 mya ago. The ecological history of Halobates was probably not limited to a pair of open water colonization events as indicated by earlier proposals. We hypothesize instead that at least three independent events of open water colonization by Halobates species have occurred. In this sense, the ecological character of coastal or pelagic distribution is considered to be a homoplasic character without direct implications on the net diversification of Halobates.

La valorisation des prestations non-bois: particularités genevoises (essai) | Commercialization of non-wood forest services: the case of Geneva (essay)

2009 ◽  
Vol 160 (8) ◽  
pp. 232-234
Author(s):  
Patrik Fouvy
Keyword(s):  
Forest Regeneration ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
The State ◽  
Forest Land ◽  
Private Forests ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Body ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
History Of ◽  
Near Future

The history of the forests in canton Geneva, having led to these being disconnected from productive functions, provides a symptomatic demonstration that the services provided by the forest eco-system are common goods. Having no hope of financial returns in the near future and faced with increasing social demands, the state has invested in the purchase of forest land, financed projects for forest regeneration and improvement of biological diversity and developed infrastructures for visitors. In doing this the state as a public body takes on the provision of services in the public interest. But the further funding for this and for expenses for the private forests, which must be taken into account, are not secured for the future.

scholarly journals Multilocus phylogeny and historical biogeography of Hypostomus shed light on the processes of fish diversification in La Plata Basin

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamila P. Cardoso ◽  
Luiz Jardim de Queiroz ◽  
Ilham A. Bahechar ◽  
Paula E. Posadas ◽  
Juan I. Montoya-Burgos
Keyword(s):  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Drainage Pattern ◽  
Ecological Diversification ◽  
La Plata ◽  
La Plata Basin ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dispersal Corridors ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Strong Barrier ◽  
Multilocus Phylogeny

AbstractDistribution history of the widespread Neotropical genus Hypostomus was studied to shed light on the processes that shaped species diversity. We inferred a calibrated phylogeny, ancestral habitat preference, ancestral areas distribution, and the history of dispersal and vicariance events of this genus. The phylogenetic and distribution analyses indicate that Hypostomus species inhabiting La Plata Basin do not form a monophyletic clade, suggesting that several unrelated ancestral species colonized this basin in the Miocene. Dispersal to other rivers of La Plata Basin started about 8 Mya, followed by habitat shifts and an increased rate of cladogenesis. Amazonian Hypostomus species colonized La Plata Basin several times in the Middle Miocene, probably via the Upper Paraná and the Paraguay rivers that acted as dispersal corridors. During the Miocene, La Plata Basin experienced marine incursions, and geomorphological and climatic changes that reconfigured its drainage pattern, driving dispersal and diversification of Hypostomus. The Miocene marine incursion was a strong barrier and its retraction triggered Hypostomus dispersal, increased speciation rate and ecological diversification. The timing of hydrogeological changes in La Plata Basin coincides well with Hypostomus cladogenetic events, indicating that the history of this basin has acted on the diversification of its biota.

Systematic revision of the living African Slender-snouted Crocodiles (Mecistops Gray, 1844)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4504 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHEW H. SHIRLEY ◽  
AMANDA N. CARR ◽  
JENNIFER H. NESTLER ◽  
KENT A. VLIET ◽  
CHRISTOPHER A. BROCHU
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
West African ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
Systematic Revision ◽  
Current State ◽  
History Of ◽  
Living Species ◽  
African Form

Molecular and morphological evidence has shown that the African slender-snouted, or sharp-nosed, crocodile Mecistops cataphractus (Cuvier, 1824) is comprised of two superficially cryptic species: one endemic to West Africa and the other endemic to Central Africa. Our ability to characterize the two species is compromised by the complicated taxonomic history of the lineage and overlapping ranges of variation in distinguishing morphological features. The name M. cataphractus was evidently originally based on West African material, but the holotype is now lost. Although types exist for other names based on the West African form, the name M. cataphractus is sufficiently entrenched in the literature, and other names sufficiently obscure, to justify retypification. Here, we designate a neotype for M. cataphractus and restrict it to West Africa. We resurrect M. leptorhynchus as a valid species from Central Africa and identify exemplary referred specimens that, collectively, overcome the obscurity and diagnostic limits of the extant holotype. We additionally indicate suitable neotype material in the event the holotype is lost, destroyed, or otherwise needing replacement, and we rectify the previously erroneous type locality designation. We provide a revised diagnosis for crown Mecistops, and revise and update previous descriptions of the two living species, including providing both more complete descriptions and discussion of diagnostic characters. Finally, we provide considerable discussion of the current state of knowledge of these species’ ecology, natural history, and distribution. 

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of a Novel clcn7 Variant Associated With Osteopetrosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitrii S. Bug ◽  
Ildar M. Barkhatov ◽  
Yana V. Gudozhnikova ◽  
Artem V. Tishkov ◽  
Natalia V. Petukhova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structure Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Novel Variant ◽  
Uncertain Significance ◽  
Precise Diagnosis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Identification And Characterization

Osteopetrosis is a group of rare inheritable disorders of the skeleton characterized by increased bone density. The disease is remarkably heterogeneous in clinical presentation and often misdiagnosed. Therefore, genetic testing and molecular pathogenicity analysis are essential for precise diagnosis and new targets for preventive pharmacotherapy. Mutations in the CLCN7 gene give rise to the complete spectrum of osteopetrosis phenotypes and are responsible for about 75% of cases of autosomal dominant osteopetrosis. In this study, we report the identification of a novel variant in the CLCN7 gene in a patient diagnosed with osteopetrosis and provide evidence for its significance (likely deleterious) based on extensive comparative genomics, protein sequence and structure analysis. A set of automated bioinformatics tools used to predict consequences of this variant identified it as deleterious or pathogenic. Structure analysis revealed that the variant is located at the same “hot spot” as the most common CLCN7 mutations causing osteopetrosis. Deep phylogenetic reconstruction showed that not only Leu614Arg, but any non-aliphatic substitutions in this position are evolutionarily intolerant, further supporting the deleterious nature of the variant. The present study provides further evidence that reconstructing a precise evolutionary history of a gene helps predicting phenotypical consequences of variants of uncertain significance.

This Fissured Land: An Ecological History of India.

1995 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Cheung Robinson ◽  
Madhav Gadgil ◽  
Ramachandra Guha
Keyword(s):  
Ecological History ◽  
History Of
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