Genetic Variability and the Potential Range of Darevskia rostombekowi in Transcaucasia

Abstract— The results of the analysis of the genetic variability of parthenogenetic Darevskia rostombekowi (Darevsky, 1957) species using four microsatellite-containing loci are presented. Based on 118 records with geographical coordinates of the presence of this species in Transcaucasia, the maps of potential range were created. The analysis of the genetic structure of populations demonstrated that despite the established multiclonality (seven clonal lines in four populations), D. rostombekowi was formed as a result of a single act of hybridization between closely related bisexual species. The predicted distribution of D. rostombekowi using the modelling of potential range revealed new suitable habitats, where the presence of the species has not been reported previously. The results of this study and the absence of multiple acts of hybridization during the formation of these clones may indicate a regression of population size of the species. Consequently, the estimation of the conservation status of this parthenogenetic species seems to be justified.

Parthenogenesis is self-destructive for scaled reptiles

Parthenogenesis is rare in nature. With 39 described true parthenogens, scaled reptiles (Squamata) are the only vertebrates that evolved this reproductive strategy. Parthenogenesis is ecologically advantageous in the short term, but the young age and rarity of parthenogenetic species indicate it is less advantageous in the long term. This suggests parthenogenesis is self-destructive: it arises often but is lost due to increased extinction rates, high rates of reversal or both. However, this role of parthenogenesis as a self-destructive trait remains unknown. We used a phylogeny of Squamata (5388 species), tree metrics, null simulations and macroevolutionary scenarios of trait diversification to address the factors that best explain the rarity of parthenogenetic species. We show that parthenogenesis can be considered as self-destructive, with high extinction rates mainly responsible for its rarity in nature. Since these parthenogenetic species occur, this trait should be ecologically relevant in the short term.

How land-use intensity affects sexual and parthenogenetic oribatid mites in temperate forests and grasslands in Germany

Intensive land use has been shown to alter the composition and functioning of soil communities. Due to their low dispersal ability, oribatid mites are particularly vulnerable to land-use intensification and species which are not adjusted to management-related disturbances become less abundant. We investigated how different land-use parameters in forests and grasslands affect oribatid mite diversity and abundance, with a focus on: (1) species-level impacts, by classifying species as increasing (‘winners’) or decreasing (‘losers’) in abundance with higher land-use intensity, and (2) reproductive impact, by investigating whether sexual and parthenogenetic species react differently. We collected 32,542 adult oribatid mites in 60 forests and grasslands of known land-use intensity in two regions of Germany. Diversity and total abundance as well as the proportion of sexual species were higher in forests than in grasslands. Diversity declined with higher land-use intensity in forests, but increased with higher mowing and fertilization in grasslands. Depending on land-use parameter and region, abundance either declined or remained unaffected by increasing intensity. Gravidity was higher in sexual than in parthenogenetic species and sexuals had 1.6× more eggs per gravid female. Proportions of sexual species and gravid females decreased with land-use intensity in forests, but increased with mowing in grasslands. At the species level, 75% of sexuals and 87.5% of parthenogens were ‘losers’ of higher percentages of dead wood originating from management-related disturbances. Across land-use parameters and habitats, a similar proportion of sexual and parthenogenetic oribatid mite species were ‘losers’ of high land-use intensity. However, ‘winner’ species were more common among sexuals.

A new charismatic Caenis Stephens, 1835 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from Southern India

Caenis americani sp. nov. is described based on larvae and female imagoes from the Mangalamkombu stream of Southern India. Caenis americani is most likely a parthenogenetic species, in the light of the fact that only females have been collected. The larva can be distinguished from other species of Caenis by the i) shape of the sternum IX and its shagreen field, ii) shape and denticulation of hind claws and iii) lateral lobes of mesonotum distinctly bulged. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species remain unknown, as molecular records of Caenis throughout the Oriental region are largely unknown, and the taxonomically important males are absent.

Convergent consequences of parthenogenesis on stick insect genomes

The shift from sexual reproduction to parthenogenesis has occurred repeatedly in animals, but how the loss of sex affects genome evolution remains poorly understood. We generated de novo reference genomes for five independently evolved parthenogenetic species in the stick insect genus Timema and their closest sexual relatives. Using these references in combination with population genomic data, we show that parthenogenesis results in an extreme reduction of heterozygosity, and often leads to genetically uniform populations. We also find evidence for less effective positive selection in parthenogenetic species, supporting the view that sex is ubiquitous in natural populations because it facilitates fast rates of adaptation. Contrary to studies of non-recombining genome portions in sexual species, genomes of parthenogenetic species do not accumulate transposable elements (TEs), likely because successful parthenogens derive from sexual ancestors with inactive TEs. Because we are able to conduct replicated comparisons across five species pairs, our study reveals, for the first time, how animal genomes evolve in the absence of sex in natural populations, providing empirical support for the negative consequences of parthenogenetic reproduction as predicted by theory.

New records and geographic distribution of the sympatric zones of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and adjacent territories

Caucasian rock lizards of the genus is a unique taxa, including both bisexual and parthenogenetic species. The parthenogenetic species have originated as a result of natural hybridisation between females and males of different bisexual species. The species involved in interspecific hybridisation are called parental. However, sympatric zones (SZ) of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the Caucasus are still poorly studied, although they are very important for understanding the role of hybrid individuals of different origin in reticulate evolution. This paper presents the location of the SZs of parthenogenetic and their parental bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and adjacent territories of Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh. We summarised the locations of the SZs identified from 1957 to the present, based on our field survey data gathered in 2018-2019 and records from publications and museum collections. This dataset includes 39 SZs of three types: SZ of parental bisexual species, SZ of parental species with unisexual species and SZ of the parthenogenetic species. For each zone, species composition, geographical and altitudinal distribution are presented. New records expand our knowledge of the geographical and altitudinal distribution of SZs in these species and provide additional data for understanding the mechanisms of reticulate evolution and hybridogeneous speciation in the past, present and future. The new records, including geographical and altitudinal distributions of three types of SZs, are presented, which expand the previously-known list to 39 locations of contact zones for parthenogenetic and its bisexual parental species of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and the adjacent territories of Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The scale insect Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) on citrus in Greece

SummaryPhenology and parasitism of the scale insect, Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae), infesting Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae), were studied in Papagou area, in northeastern Athens, from June 2015 to June 2017. Coccus pseudomagnoliarum is a univoltine, viviparous, parthenogenetic species. It overwintered as settled 1st instar nymph on the shoots of the trees. The 2nd instar nymphs appeared between the beginning of April and the end of May, and the mature females were recorded from the beginning of May until the middle of June. The crawlers appeared between the middle of May and the middle of June and the 1st instar nymphs settled on the shoots at the end of May, where they remained during the whole summer period, winter, until the beginning of April next year. Parasitism of the scale was recorded between the beginning of May and the middle of May and reached a maximum rate of 35%. The recorded parasitoid species were Coccophagus shillongensis Hayat and Singh (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Coccophagus spp. and Metaphycus dispar (Mercet) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).

Comparative Analysis of Fecundity in Related Amphimictic Aporrectodea сaliginosa and Apomictic A. trapezoides Earthworms, and the Problem of Reproductive Advantages of Parthenogenetic Animals

The comparative analysis of fecundity and fertility was studied experimentally for the amphimictic Aporrectodea caliginosa diploid earthworms and the close parthenogenetic A. trapezoides triploid earthworms during two seasons. The individual fecundity of cocoons at is significantly higher in the parthenogenetic species than in amphimictic one. Fertility is in contrast lower in the parthenogenetic species, which results in leveled parameters of the reproductive potential. A generalization and analysis of the available data on the comparative fecundity of representatives of different animal groups shows that the automatic increase in fecundity in same-sex organisms due to the exclusion of males cannot be considered a universal rule providing biological progress and the ecological advantage of parthenogenetic organisms. This explanation is not suitable for hermaphroditic organisms. In addition, in some cases, parthenogenetic reproduction is accompanied by reduced fertility and even reduced fecundity.

Sympatric populations of representatives of the genus Darevskia (Reptilia: Lacertidae) on the lesser Caucasus in Azerbaijan

Representatives of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1997 are widely distributed on the Caucasian Isthmus and in adjacent regions of northern Iran and Northern Turkey, with minor irradiation in South-Eastern Europe. As in many places, in the Lesser Caucasus bisexual and parthenogenetic species of rock lizards were found to be sympatric; a feature of interest to faunists, taxonomists and evolutionists. The purpose of this work is to consider the sympatric populations in Azerbaijan's Lesser Caucasus D. raddei (Boettger, 1892) with other representatives of the genus Darevskia.