Molecular Footprint of Parasite Co-introduction with Nile Tilapia in the Congo Basin

Abstract Nile tilapia, one of the most popular aquaculture species worldwide, has been introduced into the Congo Basin several times. In previous morphological studies, we showed that some of the monogenean gill parasites were co-introduced with Nile tilapia and some spilled over to native Congolese cichlids. In this study, we investigated the co-introduced monogeneans of Nile tilapia genetically from three major parts of the Congo Basin; Upper, Middle and Lower Congo. We generated sequences of Congolese native and introduced monogeneans from native and introduced tilapias and evaluate their position in a phylogeny. Additionally, we generated sequences of the same species of monogeneans co-introduced with Nile tilapia in Madagascar and of a native population of Nile tilapia from Burundi. Our results confirm the co-introductions in the Congo. We found that co-introduced parasites are less genetically diverse than native ones, and that there was no geographical pattern between introduced populations. Furthermore, our COI haplotype networks suggest multiple introduction events of Nile tilapia into the Congo Basin. Additionally, we tested the barcoding gap and the performance of mitochondrial COI and nuclear ribosomal ITS-1, 28S and 18S markers. We found a significant intra/interspecific barcoding gap of 15% for COI, but none for the other markers. Our molecular results reveal that Cichlidogyrus halli, C. papernastrema, C. tiberianus, C. cirratus and C. zambezensis are in need of taxonomic revision.

Download Full-text

Preliminary results of sediments eDNA metabarcoding along arctic fjord

ARPHA Conference Abstracts ◽

10.3897/aca.4.e64935 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Mikołaj Mazurkiewicz ◽

Joanna Pawłowska ◽

Jan Pawlowski ◽

Maria Włodarska-Kowalczuk

Keyword(s):

Sea Water ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Benthic Fauna ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Wiener Index ◽

Taxonomic Structure ◽

Marine Biota ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Inorganic Matter

Ecosystems of arctic fjords are exposed to various natural and human-induced stressors that shape the taxonomic structure and functioning. Glacial activity and meltwater inflows together with advection of sea water masses from shelves form variety of environmental gradients that have been shown to influence marine biota. Some of these stressors like sedimentation of inorganic matter, instabilities of bottom sediments or food supply have been recognized as drivers of benthic species richness and diversity with use of traditional (morphology based) methods (Węsławski et al. 2011, Włodarska-Kowalczuk et al. 2005, Włodarska-Kowalczuk et al. 2012). In this study we aimed to use eDNA metabarcoding based methods to discriminate ecological diversity of benthic Eukaryota along environmental gradient (fjord mouth – glacier) at 6 stations in Hornsund fjord (Svalbard). At each station we collected 9 surface sediment samples. To cover a wide diversity of eukaryotic taxa we sequenced mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S VIV2 genes to. Computational pipeline (SLIM, Dufresne et al. 2019) was used to de-multiplexed sequences, cluster them into ASVs and then taxonomically assigned. For the COI marker we distinguished 4486 unique ASVs, which in majority (95%) remained unassigned but constituted 51% of all sequences. Among sequences with assigned taxonomy 98% of them belonged to Opisthokonta clade, which consisted of 12 phyla in majority Annelida (80% of seqences) followed by Nemertea (13%) and Echinodermata (6%). In case of 18S marker we obtained 1309 unique ASVs, almost 70% of them were taxonomically assigned, constituting almost 97% of all sequences. Seven clades were assessed with dominance of Opistokonta (44%) followed by Stramenopiles (29%) and Rhizaria (18%) of all sequences. Among Opistokonta we noted 17 phyla, which were dominated by Annelida (54% of sequences) with significant share of Arthropoda (20%), Nematoda (10%) and Nemertea (8%). Analysis of alpha diversity expressed as number of unique ASV and Shannon-Wiener index showed different results for COI and 18S markers. For the first marker we did no notice any trend along fjord except much lower indices at the station nearest to the glacier, while for the second marker we observed a decline of both indices from fjord mouth towards glacier, however when data were limited only to benthic metazoans (e.g. excluding Calanoida or Chaetognatha) the trend was not that evident. Our results show that eDNA metabarcoding based methods may be successfully used for diversity assessments of arctic benthic fauna. Among the two markers we used 18S V1V2 allowed to assign higher number of taxa, however high proportion of sequences belonged to non-benthic and unicellular organism. Nevertheless, using 18S V1V2 data we observer similar biodiversity pattern along fjord (desceasing biodiversity with decreasing distance to glacier) that is known from traditional, morphological studies.

Download Full-text

Examining range disjunctions in Australian Terminalia (Combretaceae) with taxonomic revision of the T. canescens and T. cunninghamii species complexes

Australian Systematic Botany ◽

10.1071/sb14026 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 23 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Russell L. Barrett

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Field Studies ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Morphological Examination ◽

Additional Species ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Species Complexes ◽

Taxonomic Changes ◽

North And South ◽

A New Species

Several range disjunctions have been identified in the Australian species of the genus Terminalia L. Field studies and examination of herbarium specimens of taxa with range disjunctions have demonstrated that taxonomic changes are justified. Detailed morphological studies of the Terminalia canescens (DC.) Radlk. species complex showed that four taxa should be recognised. The name Terminalia circumalata F.Muell. is resurrected as a taxon endemic to the Pilbara region, with T. canescens not occurring in that region. The distinction of Terminalia bursarina F.Muell., T. canescens and T. pterocarya F.Muell. is also supported. Terminalia cunninghamii C.A.Gardner has been considered to have a disjunct range between the far north and south-west of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Terminalia kumpaja R.L.Barrett is described as a new species to accommodate the disjunct southern populations because morphological examination has shown them to be distinct. Terminalia kumpaja is restricted to the Dampier Botanical District. Full descriptions and illustrations of key identifying features are provided for these species. Keys to all Australian Terminalia species are presented. Additional species with disjunct distributions that warrant further study are noted. Lectotypes are selected for Terminalia circumalata and T. rogersii W.Fitzg.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic revision of Dasydorylas Skevington, 2001 (Diptera, Pipunculidae) in the Middle East

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8511 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8511 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Behnam Motamedinia ◽

Jeffrey H. Skevington ◽

Scott Kelso

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Middle East ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Identification Key ◽

Sequence Information ◽

Morphological Parameters ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Coi Barcoding ◽

Three New Species ◽

Species Descriptions

Species of the distinctive and cosmopolitan genus Dasydorylas Skevington, 2001 in the Middle East are revised. Seven species are documented, and three new species, Dasydorylas dactylos sp. nov., D. forcipus sp. nov. and D. parazardouei sp. nov., are described, and one synonym, D. derafshani Motamedinia & Kehlmaier, 2017, syn. nov. is proposed, based on sequence information from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene and morphological parameters. Diagnoses, illustrations and distributional data are provided for all studied species. Descriptions of new species as well as an identification key to all known species in the Middle East are also provided.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic revision of the genus Copelatus of Madagascar (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae): the non- erichsonii group species

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.869.33997 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 869 ◽

pp. 19-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tolotra Ranarilalatiana ◽

Lala Harivelo Raveloson Ravaomanarivo ◽

Johannes Bergsten

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Species Group ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

Valid Species ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Taxonomic Approach ◽

First Time ◽

Group Species

The genus Copelatus Erichson, 1832 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae) of Madagascar is revised in two parts. This review is restricted to the Copelatus species that have fewer than ten elytral + one submarginal stria, including all species except those of the erichsonii species group. Both morphological and molecular (mitochondrial COI) data are used in an integrative taxonomic approach. Thirteen species are recognised, of which five are described as new: Copelatus ankaratrasp. nov., Copelatus kelysp. nov., Copelatus pseudostriatussp. nov., Copelatus safiotrasp. nov. and Copelatus vokokasp. nov.Copelatus unguicularis Régimbart, 1903 and Copelatus apicalis Fairmaire, 1898 are both transferred to the genus Madaglymbus Shaverdo & Balke, 2008 (comb. nov.). Copelatus mimetesGuignot 1957 is a junior synonym of the widespread Afrotropical–Arabian Copelatus pulchellus (Klug, 1834) (syn. nov.). Copelatus marginipennis (Laporte, 1835) is reinstated (stat. nov.) as a valid species with Copelatus aldabricus Balfour-Browne, 1950 and Copelatus aldabricus var. simplex Guignot, 1952 as junior synonyms (syn. nov.). We designate lectotypes for Colymbetes marginipennis Laporte, 1835 and Copelatus obtusus Boheman, 1848. Copelatus peridinus Guignot, 1955 is recorded for Madagascar for the first time and Copelatus nodieri Régimbart, 1895 is rejected as a species present in Madagascar.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic revision and zoogeographical patterns of the species of Gnopharmia Staudinger, 1892 (Geometridae, Ennominae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3360.1.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3360 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

HOSSEIN RAJAEI SH. ◽

DIETER STÜNING ◽

ROBERT TRUSCH

Keyword(s):

New Records ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Female Genitalia ◽

Valid Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Entire Area ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Morphological Studies

The genus Gnopharmia Staudinger, 1892 is revised, based on more than 2000 specimens from the entire area ofdistribution and study of type material of all described taxa, as far asmap available. Seven species and three subspeciesare confirmed as valid for the genus. All important morphological characters have been studied and compared, includingmale and female genitalia. In addition, preliminary results of DNA-Barcoding were used to reassess our taxonomicdecisions, based on morphological studies. Type specimens and their labels are illustrated and additional specimens,demonstrating the variability of certain species, are also figured. Male genitalia of all valid species are figured and SEMphotos of the aedeagus are illustrated. Further important structures, the so-called ‘octavals’ on the male pre-genitalabdomen, are also figured. Female genitalia revealed a high similarity between species, combined with a considerablevariability, and were unsuitable for characterisation of species. Female genitalia of three species are figured to exemplifythis situation. As a result of the morphological and genetic studies, 12 out of the 21 described species and subspecies aresynonymised or transferred to the closely related genus Neognopharmia Wehrli, 1953. In addition, G. colchidariacocandaria (Erschoff, 1874) is revived as a valid species, G. sinesefida Wehrli, 1941 is downgraded to a subspecies of G.colchidaria Lederer, 1870. Five new records for the fauna of the following countries are presented: G. colchidariaobjectaria: new for Pakistan; G. irakensis: new for Turkey and Pakistan; G. kasrunensis: new for Oman and G. sarobiana: new for Pakistan. Distribution maps and an identification key are given for all species.

Download Full-text

A review of the genus Narcissia Gray, 1840 (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Ophidiasteridae)

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315421000783 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Rosana Cunha ◽

Marcos Tavares

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Type Locality ◽

Valid Species ◽

New Genera ◽

Large Specimen ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Taxonomic Importance ◽

New Diagnosis ◽

First Time

Abstract Since the taxonomic revision of the Ophidiasteridae by H.L. Clark (1921), in which 20 genera were recognized as valid, several new genera and species were included in this family, and the boundaries between some of them became largely arbitrary. This also applies to Narcissia Gray, 1840, whose morphology and taxonomy are still very poorly understood today. The main goals of this research were: review the taxonomy of the genus Narcissia, from morphological studies; redescribe N. trigonaria Sladen, 1889s. str.; characterize N. canariensis (d'Orbigny, 1839) and N. gracilis A.H. Clark, 1916, the two valid species most similar to N. trigonaria; review the validity of N. ahearnae Pawson, 2007 and N. trigonaria var. helenae Mortensen, 1933; review the validity of N. gracilis malpeloensis Downey, 1975. Altogether 370 specimens were analysed. All morphological structures of taxonomic importance have been illustrated, and, for the first time, the internal characters of this group were studied, from electron microscopy and microtomography. A new diagnosis for the genus Narcissia was constructed. Narcissia trigonaria was redescribed from a large specimen, from the type locality (Bahia, Brazil). Narcissia ahearnae is considered a valid species, and N. canariensis and N. trigonaria distinct entities. Narcissia trigonaria var. helenae is placed in the synonymy of N. trigonaria, and N. gracilis malpeloensis into the synonymy of N. gracilis. The dataset obtained in this work is by far the most complete acquired for the genus Narcissia.

Download Full-text

New species of Synodontella (Monogenea, Ancyrocephalidae) gill parasites of two Synodontis spp. (Pisces, Mochokidae) from the Boumba River (Congo Basin, East Cameroon)

Parasite ◽

10.1051/parasite/2019037 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 37 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jonathan A. Mbondo ◽

Jacques Nack ◽

Arnold R. Bitja Nyom ◽

Antoine Pariselle ◽

Charles F. Bilong Bilong

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Accessory Piece ◽

Copulatory Organ ◽

The Other ◽

Congo Basin ◽

Thin Tube ◽

The Difference ◽

Three New Species ◽

Gill Parasites ◽

Parasite Populations

Three new species of Synodontella Dossou & Euzet, 1993 are described from two species of Synodontis (Mochokidae) collected from the middle course of the Boumba River (East Cameroon): Synodontella angustupenis n. sp. from Synodontis nummifer, Synodontella longipenis n. sp. and Synodontella simplex n. sp. from Synodontis decorus. These new species are different from the other Synodontella species already described due to their horseshoe-shaped dorsal transverse bars. Synodontella angustupenis differs from S. longipenis and S. simplex by the morphology of its penis, a thin tube, and its accessory piece, bifid at its extremity. Synodontella longipenis differs from the other two species by the morphology and the size of its male copulatory organ, which is very long. Synodontella simplex differs from S. angustupenis and S. longipenis by the shape of its penis, which is simple, and of its accessory piece, with a developed heel. The difference between the dorsal transverse bars of Synodontella species from the Sanaga River in Cameroon (and other localities in Africa), slightly curved, and those from the Boumba River, horseshoe-shaped, makes it possible to separate Synodontella species into two different subgroups. This difference can be explained by a long isolation period of the hosts, living in different river basins, followed by the divergence of the parasite populations (vicariant speciation).

Download Full-text

Comparative phylogeography, morphological boundaries and climate envelopes of two sympatric widespread Bromeliaceae from the southern Andes

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/botlinnean/boz108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 192 (4) ◽

pp. 726-743

Author(s):

Lucia V Castello ◽

Jorge O Chiapella ◽

Michael H J Barfuss ◽

Walter Till ◽

M Paula Quiroga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Regions ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

North Central ◽

Mountain Environments ◽

The Andes ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Haplotype Networks ◽

Discriminant Analyses

Abstract We studied the epiphytic species Tillandsia capillaris and T. virescens that grow as neotenic forms with autogamous and cleistogamous flowers. They have expanded in Andean mountain environments, where they grow sympatrically across most of their ranges in arid regions of Peru, central-western Bolivia and north-central Argentina and Chile. We studied the relationships between the two species and populations within each of them, the morphological boundaries and the climatic characterization of distinct genetic entities. We analysed 125 and 102 individuals from 25 and 27 populations of T. virescens and T. capillaris, respectively, by means of haplotype networks, phylogenetic and genetic structure analyses, using the plastid gene ycf1 (c. 4500 bp) to define genetic groups. Morphological studies by discriminant analyses and correlation with climatic variables extracted from WorldClim were used to test differentiations among the genetic groups within each species. We confirm that T. capillaris is a distinct entity and that T. virescens consists of three groups that diverged by vicariance from widespread ancestors. The high genetic diversity found in both species is consistent with the complex geography of the Andes and the Pleistocene glaciation cycles that have driven ecological speciation in both species reflected in the timing of divergence of the clusters.

Download Full-text

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Echinococcus

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000080902 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 317-328 ◽

Cited By ~ 134

Author(s):

J. Bowles ◽

D. Blair ◽

D. P. McManus

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Valid Species ◽

Sequence Variant ◽

Data Sets ◽

Its1 Sequence ◽

Strain Group ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Bovine Strain ◽

Nucleotide Data ◽

Ambiguous Data

SUMMARYThree nucleotide data sets, two mitochondrial (COI and ND1) and one nuclear (ribosomal ITS1), have been investigated in order to resolve relationships among species and strains of the genus Echinococcus. The data have some unusual properties in that mitochondrial heteroplasmy was detected in one strain of E. granulosus, and more than one class of ITS1 sequence variant can occur in a single isolate. The data failed to support the hypothesis that E. granulosus, as it is currently viewed, is a single valid species. Rather, the strains of E. granulosus seem to comprise at least three evolutionarily diverse groups, the sheep strain group, bovine strain group and horse strain group. Molecular distances between them are comparable to, or greater than, molecular evolutionary distances observed between recognized species. The affinities of the cervid strain of E. granulosus are unclear because of ambiguous data, but this strain does not appear to be ancestral to others. E. multilocularis may not be distinct from E. granulosus. However, the remaining two species, E. vogeli and E. oligarthrus appear distinct and rather distant from the first two. Based on the results presented here, taxonomic revision of the genus is clearly warranted.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic revision of the Carex stricta (Cyperaceae) complex in eastern North America

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b89-001 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lisa A. Standley

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Chromosome Numbers ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Distinct Species ◽

North American Species ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Carex Stricta ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Infraspecific Taxa

Morphological studies of the Carex stricta complex confirm hypotheses based on chromosome numbers that there are three distinct species in eastern North America, Carex stricta, C. emoryi, and C. haydenii, but they do not indicate the existence of any distinct infraspecific taxa. These species are compared phenetically with all other North American species of section Phacocystis. Results indicate that the three species examined here do not form a closely related subgroup within the section as suggested by previous authors. Distribution maps, descriptions, and synonomy are provided for these species, and a complete key to the species of section Phacocystis in eastern North America is given.

Download Full-text