scholarly journals Identification of CITES-Listed Euphorbia royleana through DNA Barcoding Technology: A New Facet in Wildlife Forensics

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-272
Author(s):  
Mukesh Thakar ◽  
Tina Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Wildlife Forensics ◽  
Interspecific Genetic Distance ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Endangered Status ◽  
Discrimination Method

Disorganized and chaotic collection of the Euphorbia plant species from the wild is one of the major reasons for its endangered status. According to CITES, the trade in Euphorbia royleana species is prohibited under Appendix II. However, the trade continues unabated as current identification methods do not discriminate between closely related species.  In the present study, a DNA barcoding method has been used to establish inter- and intra-specific divergences of both matK and rbcL regions by using pairwise genetic distance measurement methods for evaluating the maximum barcoding gap. The matk and rbcL yielded a 100% amplification and sequencing success rate to distinguish closely related species of Euphorbia royleana unambiguously. The matk and rbcL showed average interspecific genetic distance divergence values of 0.031and 0.015, respectively. The maximum number of species-specific SNPs was observed in matK sequences at seven consecutive sites, which could distinguish Euphorbia royleana from closely related species.  The best candidate barcoding region to identify Euphorbia royleana was found to be matK with a single-locus barcoding approach. Furthermore, the species discrimination method was developed with the help of species-specific SNPs derived from the matK barcoding region to accurately authenticate Euphorbia royleana, and it provided 100% species resolution

scholarly journals Repeated evolution of asymmetric genitalia and right-sided mating behavior in theDrosophila nannopteraspecies group

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Acurio ◽  
Flor T. Rhebergen ◽  
Sarah Paulus ◽  
Virginie Courtier-Orgogozo ◽  
Michael Lang
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Current Data ◽  
The Other ◽  
Genital Morphology ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Outgroup Species ◽  
Repeated Evolution ◽  
Drosophila Pachea ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Group Species

AbstractBackgroundMale genitals have repeatedly evolved left-right asymmetries, and the causes of such evolution remain unclear. TheDrosophila nannopteragroup contains four species, among which three exhibit left-right asymmetries of distinct genital organs. In the most studied species,Drosophila pachea, males display asymmetric genital lobes and they mate right-sided on top of the female. Copulation position of the other species is unknown.ResultsTo assess whether the evolution of genital asymmetry could be linked to the evolution of one-sided mating, we examined phallus morphology and copulation position inD. pacheaand closely related species. The phallus was found to be symmetric in all investigated species exceptD. pachea, which display an asymmetric phallus with a right-sided gonopore, andD. acanthoptera, which harbor an asymmetrically bent phallus. In all examined species, males were found to position themselves symmetrically on top of the female, except inD. pacheaandD. nannoptera, where males mated right-sided, in distinctive, species-specific positions. In addition, the copulation duration was found to be increased innannopteragroup species compared to closely related outgroup species.ConclusionOur study shows that gains, and possibly losses, of asymmetry in genital morphology and mating position have evolved repeatedly in thenannopteragroup. Current data does not allow us to conclude whether genital asymmetry has evolved in response to changes in mating position, or vice versa.

scholarly journals DNA barcoding reveals cryptic diversity in the underestimated genus Triplophysa (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae, Nemacheilinae) from the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tai Wang ◽  
Yan-ping Zhang ◽  
Zhuo-yu Yang ◽  
Zhe Liu ◽  
Yan-yan Du
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Northeastern Part ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Background The northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) presents a high number of plateau loach species. As one of the three major groups of fishes distributed on the QTP, plateau loach has high ecological value. However, the taxonomy and systematics of these fish are still controversial, and a large number of new species have been reported. The reason for this phenomenon is that the degree of morphological variation is low, the phylogenetic information provided by morphological and anatomical features used for species identification is relatively poor, and many cryptic species are observed. Based on the high-density sampling points from the biodiversity hotspots surveyed, this study aims to evaluate the biodiversity of plateau loach in the northeastern part of the QTP and reveal the hidden diversity by comparing morphological species with molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). Results After careful identification and comparison of the morphology and DNA barcoding of 1630 specimens, 22 species were identified, with 20 considered valid local species and two identified as new species that had not been previously described. Based on the combination of morphological and molecular methods, a total of 24 native species were found, two of which were cryptic species: Triplophysa robusta sp1 and Triplophysa minxianensis sp1. Fourteen of the 24 species form clusters of barcodes that allow them to be reliably identified. The remaining cases involved 10 closely related species, including rapidly differentiated species and species that seemed to have experienced incomplete lineage sorting or showed introgressions. Conclusions The results highlight the need to combine traditional taxonomies with molecular methods to correctly identify species, especially closely related species, such as the plateau loach. This study provides a basis for protecting the biodiversity of plateau loach.

Description of ten tadpoles in the genus Boophis from Madagascar

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2694 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAHIRY RASOLONJATOVO HIOBIARILANTO ◽  
ROGER-DANIEL RANDRIANIAINA ◽  
JULIAN GLOS ◽  
AXEL STRAUß ◽  
MIGUEL VENCES
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
Sister Species ◽  
Morphological Similarity ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
First Time

We provide morphological descriptions of the tadpoles of ten species of Malagasy treefrogs of the genus Boophis (family Mantellidae). Based on individuals determined by DNA barcoding, the larvae of eight species are described for the first time: B. anjanaharibeensis, B. axelmeyeri, B. elenae, B. englaenderi, B. luciae, B. rhodoscelis, B. roseipalmatus, and B. vittatus. For two additional species, B. andreonei and B. microtympanum, we provide descriptions from other localities than the previously known larvae. All tadpoles described herein are stream-adapted, exotrophic, and of a relatively generalized morphology. In general, we found a morphological similarity of larvae belonging to phenetic species groups of Boophis, but more detailed analyses showed several differences between taxa that are known to be sister species or closely related to each other: B. luciae has a much higher number of oral papillae than B. sibilans, B. roseipalmatus has a slightly lower number of papillae and possibly a stronger caudal musculature than B. madagascariensis, and B. elenae has a distinctly lower number of oral papillae and keratodonts in the first upper keratodont row than B. sandrae. This indicates that tadpole characters might, in some cases, provide good taxonomic characters in Boophis, a genus in which adults of closely related species are often morphologically extremely similar.

Description and DNA barcoding assessment of the new species Deutonura gibbosa (Collembola: Neanuridae: Neanurinae), a common springtail of Alps and Jura

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2639 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID PORCO ◽  
LOUIS DEHARVENG
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
The Alps ◽  
A New Species

Deutonura gibbosa, a new species of the phlegraea group, is described. It is characterized by a large elongate uneven tubercle Di on Abd. V, with chaetae Di1 and Di2 shift backward. It has otherwise the same chaetotaxic pattern as the subspecies sylvatica of D. deficiens. Deutonura gibbosa sp. nov. is the most widespread Deutonura in the Alps and southern Jura. Its barcode sequence is provided and compared to those of four other Deutonura of the phlegraea group; it unambiguously differs from them, including from D. deficiens sylvatica, its closest relative according to current taxonomy. This is the most convincing example so far that barcode may help to discriminate taxa among closely related species in Collembola.

Altitudinal Variation in, and Morphological Divergence between, Three Related Species of Grasshopper, Praxibulus sp., Kosciuscola cognatus and K. usitatus (Orthoptera:Acrididae)

1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Campbell ◽  
JM Dearn
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Character Displacement ◽  
Altitudinal Variation ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Parallel Change ◽  
Variable Character ◽  
Multivariate Statistical Approach ◽  
Species Specific

Morphological variation between and within the closely related species Praxibuius sp.. Kosciuscola cognatus and K. usiratus has been examined along three independent altitudinal transects, by a multivariate statistical approach. The analyses, which were restricted to males. show that there is complete morphological separation between the three species. Moreover. there are species-specific patterns of character correlation which are consistent and relatively invariant within species, and do not exhibit altitudinal variation. The results suggest that there exist both distinct invariant species-specific character patterns and variable character patterns showing intraspecific variation. It is concluded that speciation in these grasshoppers could have involved genetic changes quite distinct from those involved in local intraspecific adaptation. Two further results are: first. evidence has been obtained for character displacement between Kosciuscola cognaius and Praxibulus sp. in an area of extensive sympatry: second. populations of K. cognatus along one transect, with a karyotype intermediate between typical K. cognatus and X usiiatus, show a parallel change in morphology towards that characteristic of K. usiiatus.

scholarly journals DNA Barcoding Reveals Cryptic Diversity in the Genus Triplophysa (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae, Nemacheilinae) from the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
tai wang ◽  
Yanping Zhang ◽  
Zhuoyu Yang ◽  
Zhe Liu ◽  
Yanyan Du
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Background: The northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is one of the areas where the number of species of plateau loach is the largest. As one of the three major groups of fishes distributed on the QTP, plateau loach have very important ecological value. However, their taxonomy and systematics are still controversial, and a large number of new species have been reported. The reason for this phenomenon is that the degree of morphological variation is low, the phylogenetic information provided by morphological and anatomical features used for species identification is relatively poor, and there are many cryptic species. Based on the high-density sampling points from the biodiversity hotspots surveyed, this study aims to evaluate the taxonomic characteristics of the plateau loach by means of morphology, DNA barcoding and multiple species demarcation methods to accurately describe species and allocate taxonomic units to unknown specimens. Results: After careful identification and comparison of the morphology and DNA barcoding of 1,630 specimens, 22 species were identified, 20 of which were considered valid local species and two of which were new species that had not been described. Based on the combination of morphological and molecular methods, a total of 24 native species have been found, two of which are cryptic species: Triplophysa robusta sp1 and Triplophysa minxianensis sp1. Fourteen of the 24 species form clusters of barcodes, which allow them to be reliably identified. The remaining cases involved 10 closely related species, some of which were rapidly differentiated, had a disputed taxonomic status, or showed introgressions.Conclusions: The results highlight the need to combine traditional taxonomies with molecular methods to correctly identify species, especially in closely related species such as the plateau loach. This study provides a basis for protecting the biodiversity of plateau loach.

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