scholarly journals Using an integrative taxonomic approach to delimit a sibling species, Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos sp. nov. (Formicidae: Attini: Attina)

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11622
Author(s):  
Cody Raul Cardenas ◽  
Amy Rongyan Luo ◽  
Tappey H. Jones ◽  
Ted R. Schultz ◽  
Rachelle M.M. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Barro Colorado Island ◽  
Panama Canal ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Chemical Profiles ◽  
Taxonomic Approach

The fungus-growing ant Mycetomoellerius (previously Trachymyrmex) zeteki (Weber 1940) has been the focus of a wide range of studies examining symbiotic partners, garden pathogens, mating frequencies, and genomics. This is in part due to the ease of collecting colonies from creek embankments and its high abundance in the Panama Canal region. The original description was based on samples collected on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. However, most subsequent studies have sampled populations on the mainland 15 km southeast of BCI. Herein we show that two sibling ant species live in sympatry on the mainland: Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos Cardenas, Schultz, & Adams and M. zeteki. This distinction was originally based on behavioral differences of workers in the field and on queen morphology (M. mikromelanos workers and queens are smaller and black while those of M. zeteki are larger and red). Authors frequently refer to either species as “M. cf. zeteki,” indicating uncertainty about identity. We used an integrative taxonomic approach to resolve this, examining worker behavior, chemical profiles of worker volatiles, molecular markers, and morphology of all castes. For the latter, we used conventional taxonomic indicators from nine measurements, six extrapolated indices, and morphological characters. We document a new observation of a Diapriinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) parasitoid wasp parasitizing M. zeteki. Finally, we discuss the importance of vouchering in dependable, accessible museum collections and provide a table of previously published papers to clarify the usage of the name T. zeteki. We found that most reports of M. zeteki or M. cf. zeteki—including a genome—actually refer to the new species M. mikromelanos.

The Mallophagan Family Menoponidae. Part III

Parasitology ◽  
1928 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. F. Ferris
Keyword(s):  
Original Description ◽  
Barro Colorado Island ◽  
Panama Canal ◽  
University Of Michigan ◽  
Canal Zone ◽  
Panama Canal Zone ◽  
The University

Material examined. A male and a female from Ramphastos brevicarinatus, Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone, collected by Mr J. Van Tyne of the University of Michigan, through whose kindness I have been enabled to examine them. The species was originally described from “probably Ramphastos tocard” (which is R. brevicarinatus) from Colombia. My material agrees with the original description and is probably correctly identified, although, as will be further considered, another species of the same genus occurs upon toucans.

Ramalina sekika (Ramalinaceae), a new species for the lichen flora of Russia from the Far East

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 256-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. A. Kataeva
Keyword(s):  
Far East ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Anatomical Structure ◽  
The Far East ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Independent Species ◽  
Lichen Flora

Ramalina sekika Asahina is reported for the first time from Russia from Sakhalin. It refers to the number of rare and poorly investigated species of the genus. Until now it was considered to be endemic to northeastern China. The original description and the location in the Far East are given, as well as the data on anatomical and morphological study of the Russian specimen. The differences in the anatomical structure of its thallus are discussed. A comparison of anatomical and morphological characters of R. sekika, R. pollinaria (Westr.) Ach. (European material), R. yasudae Räsänen has been made; the author considers them as independent species.

Geographic Variation in Behavior

1999 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Behavioral Characteristics ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Behavioral Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Patterns ◽  
Wide Range

Studies of animal behavior often assume that all members of a species exhibit the same behavior. Geographic Variation in Behavior shows that, on the contrary, there is substantional variation within species across a wide range of taxa. Including work from pioneers in the field, this volume provides a balanced overview of research on behavioral characteristics that vary geographically. The authors explore the mechanisms by which behavioral differences evolve and examine related methodological issues. Taken together, the work collected here demonstrates that genetically based geographic variation may be far more widespread than previously suspected. The book also shows how variation in behavior can illuminate both behavioral evolution and general evolutionary patterns. Unique among books on behavior in its emphasis on geographic variation, this volume is a valuable new resource for students and researchers in animal behavior and evolutionary biology.

scholarly journals Genetic, lifestyle, and health-related characteristics of adults without celiac disease who follow a gluten-free diet: a population-based study of 124,447 participants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J Littlejohns ◽  
Amanda Y Chong ◽  
Naomi E Allen ◽  
Matthew Arnold ◽  
Kathryn E Bradbury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Celiac Disease ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Gluten Free Diet ◽  
Hospital Inpatient ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Reported Health

ABSTRACT Background The number of gluten-free diet followers without celiac disease (CD) is increasing. However, little is known about the characteristics of these individuals. Objectives We address this issue by investigating a wide range of genetic and phenotypic characteristics in association with following a gluten-free diet. Methods The cross-sectional association between lifestyle and health-related characteristics and following a gluten-free diet was investigated in 124,447 women and men aged 40–69 y from the population-based UK Biobank study. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of following a gluten-free diet was performed. Results A total of 1776 (1.4%) participants reported following a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diet followers were more likely to be women, nonwhite, highly educated, living in more socioeconomically deprived areas, former smokers, have lost weight in the past year, have poorer self-reported health, and have made dietary changes as a result of illness. Conversely, these individuals were less likely to consume alcohol daily, be overweight or obese, have hypertension, or use cholesterol-lowering medication. Participants with hospital inpatient diagnosed blood and immune mechanism disorders (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.21) and non-CD digestive system diseases (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.42, 1.77) were more likely to follow a gluten-free diet. The GWAS demonstrated that no genetic variants were associated with being a gluten-free diet follower. Conclusions Gluten-free diet followers have a better cardiovascular risk profile than non-gluten-free diet followers but poorer self-reported health and a higher prevalence of blood and immune disorders and digestive conditions. Reasons for following a gluten-free diet warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Overview of the Genetic Diversity of African Macrotermes (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) and Implications for Taxonomy, Ecology and Food Science

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 518
Author(s):  
Bronwyn Egan ◽  
Zwannda Nethavhani ◽  
Barbara van Asch
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Food Science ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
African Species ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Coi Sequences ◽  
High Level

Macrotermes termites play important ecological roles and are consumed by many communities as a delicacy and dietary complement throughout Africa. However, lack of reliable morphological characters has hampered studies of Macrotermes diversity in a wide range of scientific fields including ecology, phylogenetics and food science. In order to place our preliminary assessment of the diversity of Macrotermes in South Africa in context, we analysed a comprehensive dataset of COI sequences for African species including new and publicly available data. Phylogenetic reconstruction and estimates of genetic divergence showed a high level of incongruity between species names and genetic groups, as well as several instances of cryptic diversity. We identified three main clades and 17 genetic groups in the dataset. We propose that this structure be used as a background for future surveys of Macrotermes diversity in Africa, thus mitigating the negative impact of the present taxonomic uncertainties in the genus. The new specimens collected in Limpopo fell into four distinct genetic groups, suggesting that the region harbours remarkable Macrotermes diversity relative to other African regions surveyed in previous studies. This work shows that African Macrotermes have been understudied across the continent, and that the genus contains cryptic diversity undetectable by classic taxonomy. Furthermore, these results may inform future taxonomic revisions in Macrotermes, thus contributing to advances in termitology.

scholarly journals A genome-scale metabolic model of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that integrates expression constraints and reaction thermodynamics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omid Oftadeh ◽  
Pierre Salvy ◽  
Maria Masid ◽  
Maxime Curvat ◽  
Ljubisa Miskovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Biomass Composition ◽  
Industrial Biotechnology ◽  
Overflow Metabolism ◽  
Cellular Expression ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms ◽  
Genome Scale

AbstractEukaryotic organisms play an important role in industrial biotechnology, from the production of fuels and commodity chemicals to therapeutic proteins. To optimize these industrial systems, a mathematical approach can be used to integrate the description of multiple biological networks into a single model for cell analysis and engineering. One of the most accurate models of biological systems include Expression and Thermodynamics FLux (ETFL), which efficiently integrates RNA and protein synthesis with traditional genome-scale metabolic models. However, ETFL is so far only applicable for E. coli. To adapt this model for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we developed yETFL, in which we augmented the original formulation with additional considerations for biomass composition, the compartmentalized cellular expression system, and the energetic costs of biological processes. We demonstrated the ability of yETFL to predict maximum growth rate, essential genes, and the phenotype of overflow metabolism. We envision that the presented formulation can be extended to a wide range of eukaryotic organisms to the benefit of academic and industrial research.

scholarly journals Determinants of vitamin D status in Kenyan calves

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Callaby ◽  
Emma Hurst ◽  
Ian Handel ◽  
Phil Toye ◽  
Barend M. de C. Bronsvoort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Vitamin D Metabolites ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Skeletal Health ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractVitamin D plays a critical role in calcium homeostasis and in the maintenance and development of skeletal health. Vitamin D status has increasingly been linked to non-skeletal health outcomes such as all-cause mortality, infectious diseases and reproductive outcomes in both humans and veterinary species. We have previously demonstrated a relationship between vitamin D status, assessed by the measurement of serum concentrations of the major vitamin D metabolite 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), and a wide range of non-skeletal health outcomes in companion and wild animals. The aims of this study were to define the host and environmental factors associated with vitamin D status in a cohort of 527 calves from Western Kenya which were part of the Infectious Disease of East African Livestock (IDEAL) cohort. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations measured in 7-day old calves and subsequent health outcomes over the following 12 months. A genome wide association study demonstrated that both dietary and endogenously produced vitamin D metabolites were under polygenic control in African calves. In addition, we found that neonatal vitamin D status was not predictive of the subsequent development of an infectious disease event or mortality over the 12 month follow up period.

A revision of Holothuria (Halodeima) kefersteinii (Selenka, 1867) and the revival of Holothuria inornata Semper, 1868 from sea cucumbers collected in Mexico and Central America

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4377 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAGALI HONEY-ESCANDÓN ◽  
FRANCISCO A. SOLÍS-MARÍN
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Sea Cucumbers ◽  
Mexican Pacific ◽  
Different Color

In 1958 Deichmann synonymized Holothuria inornata Semper, 1868 with Holothuria kefersteinii (Selenka, 1867). This nomenclature has been adopted until now. However, some specimens recently collected from the Mexican Pacific matched the original description of H. inornata Semper (1868) whereas others matched the original description by Selenka (1867). A morphological, molecular and ecological study of the specimens was conducted to confirm the identification of these specimens. The morphological characters of our specimens were compared with those contained in the original descriptions and figures of the types of both species. Besides the different color pattern of live specimens of both species, the main differences found are the presence of straight distally perforated rods in the dorsal papillae, and the presence of Holothuriophilus trapeziformis Nauck, 1880 in the cloaca of H. inornata, versus the absence of these kind of rods in the dorsal papillae, and the absence of symbionts in the cloaca in H. kefersteinii. The species identified by Deichmann (1958) as H. kefersteinii is, in fact H. inornata. Both species might have been confused because the morphology of preserved specimens is very similar and the presence of the straight rods in papillae might have been overlooked during identification. A more thorough review of the ossicles from the specimens, together with the comparison of ossicles from the type specimens, has allowed the resurrection of long-forgotten species, H. inornata 

Intraspecific variability of morphological characters in the species-rich deep-sea genus Acantholaimus Allgén, 1933 (Nematoda: Chromadoridae)

Nematology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry M. Miljutin ◽  
Maria A. Miljutina
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Species Differentiation ◽  
Lateral Field ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
General Arrangement ◽  
Taxonomic Approach

Acantholaimusis a species-rich genus of deep-sea nematodes, often with dozens of species found at the same locality but each represented by single or few individuals. Species discrimination by morphological characters in this genus is therefore often difficult due to transitional forms that may be referred to several species because of lack of data on intraspecific variability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraspecific variability of morphological characters that are most often used inAcantholaimustaxonomy, in order to distinguish those which are most informative for species differentiation. A reverse taxonomic approach was applied for initial species discrimination. Two loci, one each from small and large subunits of rRNA, were sequenced for 59Acantholaimusspecimens from two deep-sea locations. Twenty-seven Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTU) were identified, of which 12 were represented by more than one individual. These were then analysed for intraspecific variability in morphological characters. Some of the examined characters showed high intraspecific variability; specifically: length of cephalic setae; distance from anterior end to amphid; shape of anterior setae; position and arrangement of cervical setae. In the absence of genetic data, these characters should be used with caution for differential diagnoses or species discrimination. Other characters were more conservative within the same MOTU: body proportions; length of outer labial setae; amphidial diam.; appearance of lateral field; general arrangement of cervical setae; and shape of tail. These characters may be successfully used for species discrimination in the absence of molecular data.

scholarly journals The effect of the height gradient on morphological traits of Dracocephalum nutans L.

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 00024
Author(s):  
Gulnora Denisova ◽  
Safarbek Rahimov
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Altitude Gradient ◽  
Blade Length ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Inflorescence Length ◽  
Height Factor

Individuals of Dracocephalum nutans L. have been studied at different altitude levels from 460 to 2437 m above the level seas. The influence of the height gradient on morphological characters has been shown: the number of generative and vegetative shoots, the height of the generative shoot, the length and width of the leaf blade, length of its petiole, and inflorescence length. It was found that the height gradient has the greatest influence on the height of the generative shoot and the length of the inflorescence. When individuals grow higher along the altitude gradient, the height of the generative shoot and the length of the inflorescence decrease. The fluctuation of the average values of the traits of D. nutans in a wide range was established. The intrapopulation analysis of D. nutans individuals does not depend on the height factor.

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