Unravelling the origin and introduction pattern of the tropical species Paracaprella pusilla Mayer, 1890 (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Caprellidae) in temperate European waters: first molecular insights from a spatial and temporal perspective

Paracaprellapusilla Mayer, 1890 is a tropical caprellid species recently introduced to the Eastern Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we used direct sequencing of mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and nuclear (28S and ITS) genes to compare genetic differences in presumed native and introduced populations in order to infer its introduction pattern and to shed light on the native range of this species. The temporal pattern of genetic diversity at the westernmost limit of the geographic range of P.pusilla in Europe (the Atlantic coast of southern Spain) over an eight-year period was also investigated. Our results confirm P.pusilla as a neocosmopolitan species and suggest that the species is native to the Atlantic coast of Central and South America. Paracaprellapusilla seems to have been introduced into European waters from multiple introduction pathways and source populations, which are likely to include populations from coastal waters of Brazil. Multiple introduction pathways may have been involved, with the most important being commercial shipping through the Strait of Gibraltar. While this tropical species appears to be expanding in the Mediterranean, populations from the westernmost limit of its geographic range in Europe showed a temporal instability. This study constitutes the first molecular approach focused on this species, but it is also the first study of temporal change in genetic diversity of any introduced marine amphipod. Additional intensive sampling of this species, including both native and non-native populations, and detailed temporal studies are still necessary to properly understand how genetic diversity influences the introduction and survival of P.pusilla in invaded areas.

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Mitogenomics of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) reveals dramatic loss of diversity and supports historical gene-flow between Atlantic and eastern Mediterranean populations

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa084 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alba Rey-Iglesia ◽

Philippe Gaubert ◽

Gonçalo Espregueira Themudo ◽

Rosa Pires ◽

Constanza De La Fuente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

North Atlantic ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

The Black Sea ◽

Mediterranean Populations ◽

Geographic Ranges ◽

Western Sahara ◽

The Mediterranean

Abstract The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is one of the most threatened marine mammals, with only 600–700 individuals restricted to three populations off the coast of Western Sahara and Madeira (North Atlantic) and between Greece and Turkey (eastern Mediterranean). Its original range was from the Black Sea (eastern Mediterranean) to Gambia (western African coast), but was drastically reduced by commercial hunting and human persecution since the early stages of marine exploitation. We here analyse 42 mitogenomes of Mediterranean monk seals, from across their present and historical geographic ranges to assess the species population dynamics over time. Our data show a decrease in genetic diversity in the last 200 years. Extant individuals presented an almost four-fold reduction in genetic diversity when compared to historical specimens. We also detect, for the first time, a clear segregation between the two North Atlantic populations, Madeira and Cabo Blanco, regardless of their geographical proximity. Moreover, we show the presence of historical gene-flow between the two water basins, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and the presence of at least one extinct maternal lineage in the Mediterranean. Our work demonstrates the advantages of using full mitogenomes in phylogeographic and conservation genomic studies of threatened species.

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Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Nile Soft-Shelled Turtle (Trionyx triunguis) Along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-2020-27-6-307-315 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 307-315

Author(s):

Özgür Güçlü ◽

Bülent Bozdoğan

Keyword(s):

Microsatellite Loci ◽

Geographic Distance ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Genetic Variations ◽

Mediterranean Coast ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Mediterranean Populations ◽

Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽

Polymorphic Microsatellite ◽

The Mediterranean

The Nile soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx triunguis) is distributed between Dalyan and Samandağ throughout the Mediterranean coast in Turkey. The Mediterranean subpopulation of the Nile soft-shelled turtle is listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List Categories. This investigation aimed to determinate levels of genetic variations and patterns of genetic structures among Mediterranean populations in Turkey by using T. triunguis-specific microsatellite primers. A total of 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci were studied among samples of 121 individuals collected from five populations in Turkey. Of 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci used, 3 new were identified in this study. The genetic differentiation among the 5 studied populations of T. triunguis was significant (p 0.001). The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that genetic variations occurred mainly within populations (89.7%) rather than among populations (10.3%). Structure analysis showed presence of two main groups among the Mediterranean T. triunguis populations. However genetic variations among populations were not correlated with geographic distance between the locations. Analysis of data showed that one of the populations (Dalyan) had undergone a bottleneck effect. Migration analysis indicates that T. triunguis migrates between five Mediterranean populations in Turkey. We concluded that based on our results the status of ‘critically endangered’ of T. triunguis should be maintained. Long term population genetic survey studies should be undertaken and changes in habitats of T. triunguis populations, as well as their population size and structure should be monitored for each population to be able to establish a clear strategy for protection of T. triunguis.

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AFLP analysis of genetic diversity in Turkish green plum accessions (Prunus cerasifera L.) adapted to the Mediterranean region

Scientia Horticulturae ◽

10.1016/j.scienta.2007.06.020 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 114 (4) ◽

pp. 263-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

H. Ayanoğlu ◽

S. Bayazit ◽

G. İnan ◽

M. Bakır ◽

A.E. Akpınar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Aflp Analysis ◽

Prunus Cerasifera ◽

The Mediterranean

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The Beneficial Health Effects of Vegetables and Wild Edible Greens: The Case of the Mediterranean Diet and Its Sustainability

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10249144 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (24) ◽

pp. 9144

Author(s):

Elena Chatzopoulou ◽

Márcio Carocho ◽

Francesco Di Gioia ◽

Spyridon A. Petropoulos

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Scientific Interest ◽

Mediterranean Populations ◽

Cultural Aspects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

The World ◽

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD) concept as currently known describes the dietary patterns that were followed in specific regions of the area in the 1950s and 1960s. The broad recognition of its positive effects on the longevity of Mediterranean populations also led to the adoption of this diet in other regions of the world, and scientific interest focused on revealing its health effects. MD is not only linked with eating specific nutritional food products but also with social, religious, environmental, and cultural aspects, thus representing a healthy lifestyle in general. However, modern lifestyles adhere to less healthy diets, alienating people from their heritage. Therefore, considering the increasing evidence of the beneficial health effects of adherence to the MD and the ongoing transitions in consumers’ behavior, the present review focuses on updating the scientific knowledge regarding this diet and its relevance to agrobiodiversity. In addition, it also considers a sustainable approach for new marketing opportunities and consumer trends of the MD.

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Radiocarbon dating of individual foram tests show that alleged Lessepsian species are of Holocene age

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-6206 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Paolo G. Albano ◽

Anna Sabbatini ◽

Jonathan Lattanzio ◽

Jan Steger ◽

Sönke Szidat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Red Sea ◽

Native Species ◽

Radiocarbon Dating ◽

Suez Canal ◽

Tropical Species ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Last Interglacial ◽

Sediment Depth ◽

The Mediterranean

The Lessepsian invasion &#8211; the largest marine biological invasion &#8211; followed the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 (81 years BP). Shortly afterwards, tropical species also distributed in the Red Sea appeared on Mediterranean shores: it was the dawn of what would become the invasion of several hundred tropical species. The time of the Suez Canal opening coincided with an acceleration in natural history exploration and description, but the eastern sectors of the Mediterranean Sea lagged behind and were thoroughly explored only in the second half of the 20th century. Many parts are still insufficiently studied today. Baseline information on pre-Lessepsian ecosystem states is thus scarce. This knowledge gap has rarely been considered by invasion scientists: every new finding of species belonging to tropical clades has been assumed to be a Lessepsian invader.We here question this assumption by radiocarbon dating seven individual tests of miliolids &#8211; imperforated calcareous foraminifera &#8211; belonging to five alleged non-indigenous species. Tests were found in two sediment cores collected at 30 and 40 m depth off Ashqelon, on the Mediterranean Israeli shelf. We dated one Cribromiliolinella milletti (core at 40 m, 20 cm sediment depth), three Nodophthalmidium antillarum (core at 40 m, 35 cm sediment depth), one Miliolinella cf. fichteliana (core at 30 m, 110 cm sediment depth), one Articulina alticostata (core at 40 m, 35 cm sediment depth) and one Spiroloculina antillarum (core at 30 m, 110 cm sediment depth). All foraminiferal tests proved to be of Holocene age, with a median calibrated age spanning between 749 and 8285 years BP. Only one test of N. antillarum showed a 2-sigma error overlapping the time of the opening of the Suez Canal, but with a median age of 1123 years BP. Additionally, a thorough literature search resulted in a further record of S. antillarum in a core interval dated 1820&#8211;2064 years BP in Turkey.Therefore, these foraminiferal species are not introduced, but native species. They are all circumtropical or Indo-Pacific and in the Mediterranean distributed mostly in the eastern sectors (only S. antillarum occurs also in the Adriatic Sea). Two hypotheses can explain our results: these species are Tethyan relicts that survived the Messinian salinity crisis (5.97&#8211;5.33 Ma) and the glacial periods of the Pleistocene in the Eastern Mediterranean, which may have never desiccated completely during the Messinian crisis and which may have worked as a warm-water refugium in the Pleistocene; or they entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea more recently but before the opening of the Suez Canal, for example during the Last Interglacial (MIS5e) high-stand (125,000 years BP) when the flooded Isthmus of Suez enabled exchanges between the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific fauna. The recognition that some alleged Lessepsian invaders are in fact native species influences our understanding of the invasion process, its rates and environmental correlates.

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Genetic flow among olive populations within the Mediterranean basin

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5260 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5260 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Valentina di Rienzo ◽

Sara Sion ◽

Francesca Taranto ◽

Nunzio D’Agostino ◽

Cinzia Montemurro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Olive Tree ◽

Gene Pools ◽

The North ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

And Migration ◽

The Mediterranean Basin

Background The olive tree is a typical crop of the Mediterranean basin where it shows a wide diversity, accounting for more than 2,600 cultivars. The ability to discriminate olive cultivars and determine their genetic variability is pivotal for an optimal exploitation of olive genetic resources. Methods We investigated the genetic diversity within 128 olive accessions belonging to four countries in the Mediterranean Basin (Italy, Algeria, Syria, and Malta), with the purpose of better understanding the origin and spread of the olive genotypes across Mediterranean Basin countries. Eleven highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used and proved to be very informative, producing a total of 179 alleles. Results Cluster analysis distinguished three main groups according to their geographical origin, with the current sample of Maltese accessions included in the Italian group. Phylogenetic analysis further differentiated Italian and Maltese olive accessions, clarifying the intermediate position of Maltese accessions along the x/y-axes of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Model-based and neighbor clustering, PCoA, and migration analysis suggested the existence of two different gene pools (Algerian and Syrian) and that the genetic exchange occurred between the Syrian, Italian and Maltese populations. Discussion The close relationship between Syrian and Italian and Maltese olives was consistent with the historical domestication and migration of olive tree from the North Levant to eastern Mediterranean basin. This study lays the foundations for a better understanding of olive genetic diversity in the Mediterranean basin and represents a step toward an optimal conservation and exploitation of olive genetic resources.

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Diversity analysis of Moroccan carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) accessions using phenotypic traits and RAPD markers

Acta Botanica Malacitana ◽

10.24310/abm.v32i0.7031 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 79-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ibrahim Konaté ◽

Abdelkarim Filali-Maltouf ◽

El Bekkay Berraho

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Rapd Markers ◽

Phenotypic Traits ◽

Diversity Analysis ◽

Ceratonia Siliqua ◽

Diversité Génétique ◽

Arbitrary Primers ◽

The North ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Ceratonia Siliqua L

SUMMARY. Diversity analysis of moroccan carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) accessions using phenotypic traits and RAPD markers. The carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a perennial leguminous (Caesalpinioideae) that grows as an evergreen shrub or tree. It’s an important component of the Mediterranean vegetation and its adaptation in marginal soils of the Mediterranean regions is important environmentally and economically. Phenotypic and genetic diversity among 10 Ceratonia siliqua accessions coming from different areas of Morocco were studied with morphometric and RAPD approaches. The analysis of discriminative fruit characters showed highly significant differences among these accessions, the closely related ones have a similarity level less than 65%. No molecular studies have been carried out so far on Ceratonia siliqua. To provide markers useful for molecular diversity study of the carob tree, genomic DNA extraction and amplification conditions were finalized and 67 arbitrary primers were screened. 52 of them showed clearly reproducible banding patterns. The analysis of RAPD profiles revealed a high degree of genetic diversity within these carob accessions and enabled each of them to be uniquely fingerprinted. Overall, in our study we note that morphological relationship between carob accessions is deeply different to their molecular relationship. Concerning the distribution of the accessions according to their geographical origin, clustering based on RAPD data revealed a rough distribution of theses accessions. Indeed, Sidi Bou Ottman, Demnate and Essaouira accessions coming from the south of Morocco seem to be linked in the PCA plot. However, two geographically distant accessions, Aïn Sfa and Ouazzane coming from the north (about 700 Km) were clustered with Essaouira and Demanate - Sidi Bou Ottman, respectively.Key words. Carob, Ceratonia siliqua L., genetic variability, morphometry, RAPD.RÉSUMÉ. Analyse de la diversite des accessions du caroubier marocain (Ceratonia siliqua L.) utilisant des traits phenotypiques et des marqueurs RAPD. Le caroubier (Ceratonia siliqua L.) est une légumineuse pérenne (Caesalpinioideae), à feuillage persistant et pouvant croître entant qu’arbrisseau ou arbre. C’est un composant important de la végétation méditerranéenne et son adaptation aux sols marginaux des régions méditerranéennes est d’une grande importance écologique et économique. La diversité phénotypique et génétique au sein de 10 accessions de caroubier provenant de différentes régions du Maroc a été étudiée par des approches morphométriques et moléculaires (RAPD). L’analyse des caractères morphologiques discriminants du fruit a montré des différences hautement significatives au sein des accessions, puisque les apparentées d’entre elles n’ont approximativement que 65% de similarité. Jusqu’à nos jours, aucune étude moléculaire n’a été entreprise sur Ceratonia siliqua. Pour mettre à disposition des marqueurs utiles pour l’étude de la diversité moléculaire du caroubier, l’extraction de l’ADN génomique et les conditions de l’amplification ont été mises au point et 67 amorces arbitraires ont été criblées. 52 d’entre elles ont montré clairement des profils de bandes reproductibles. L’analyse des profils RAPD a révélé une diversité génétique de haut niveau entre les accessions de caroubier ce qui a permis à chacune d’elles d’être distinguée génétiquement de façon singulière. De manière générale, nous avons noté que la relation morphologique entre les accessions du caroubier est profondément différente de leur relation moléculaire. Concernant la distribution des accessions selon leur origine géographique, le regroupement basé sur les données de la RAPD a révélé une distribution grossière. En effet, les provenances de Sidi Bou Ottman, Demnate et Essaouira, originaires du sud de Maroc, semblent être liés par l’analyse des composantes principales (PCA). Cependant, deux accessions géographiquement distantes, Aïn Sfa et Ouazzane, originaires du Nord (approximativement 700 Kms) ont été liées avec Essaouira et Demanate - Sidi Bou Ottman, respectivement.Mots clés. Caroubier, Ceratonia siliqua L., diversité génétique, morphométrie, RAPD.

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Alive and kicking, or, living on borrowed time? – Microsatellite diversity in natural populations of the endangered Ulmus minor Mill. sensu latissimo from Croatia

Acta Botanica Croatica ◽

10.1515/botcro-2016-0007 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 53-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marko Zebec ◽

Marilena Idžojtić ◽

Zlatko Šatović ◽

Igor Poljak ◽

Zlatko Liber

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Genetic Bottleneck ◽

Dutch Elm Disease ◽

Significant Excess ◽

Mediterranean Populations ◽

Ulmus Minor ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact ◽

Microsatellite Diversity

AbstractThe main objective of this research was to assess the genetic diversity of 5 natural field elm populations in Croatia. The study results suggest that the observed populations are characterized by a satisfactory amount of heterozygosity, and that the impact of the Dutch elm disease on the amount of genetic diversity in the sampled populations is currently negligible. However, one population displayed a significant excess of heterozygosity, implying a genetic bottleneck. The existence of a very clear genetic differentiation between the continental and the Mediterranean populations of Ulmus minor in Croatia was noticed.

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