Seasonal diets supersede host species in shaping the distal gut microbiota of Yaks and Tibetan sheep

Yaks and Tibetan sheep are important and renowned livestock of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Both host genetics and environmental factors can shape the composition of gut microbiota, however, there is still no consensus on which is the more dominant factor. To investigate the influence of hosts and seasons on the gut microbiome diversity component, we collected fecal samples from yaks and Tibetan sheep across different seasons (summer and winter), during which they consumed different diets. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, principal component analysis (PCoA) data showed that PCo1 explained 57.4% of the observed variance (P = 0.001) and clearly divided winter samples from summer ones, while PCo2 explained 7.1% of observed variance (P = 0.001) and mainly highlighted differences in host species. Cluster analysis data revealed that the gut microbiota composition displayed a convergence caused by season and not by genetics. Further, we profiled the gut microbial community and found that the more dominant genera in yak and Tibetan sheep microbiota were influenced by seasonal diets factors rather than genetics. This study therefore indicated that seasonal diet can trump host genetics even at higher taxonomic levels, thus providing a cautionary note for the breeding and management of these two species.

Far-Red Light-Induced Azolla filiculoides Symbiosis Sexual Reproduction: Responsive Transcripts of Symbiont Nostoc azollae Encode Transporters Whilst Those of the Fern Relate to the Angiosperm Floral Transition

Water ferns of the genus Azolla and the filamentous cyanobacteria Nostoc azollae constitute a model symbiosis that enabled the colonization of the water surface with traits highly desirable for the development of more sustainable crops: their floating mats capture CO2 and fix N2 at high rates using light energy. Their mode of sexual reproduction is heterosporous. The regulation of the transition from the vegetative phase to the spore forming phase in ferns is largely unknown, yet a prerequisite for Azolla domestication, and of particular interest as ferns represent the sister lineage of seed plants. Sporocarps induced with far red light could be crossed so as to verify species attribution of strains from the Netherlands but not of the strain from the Anzali lagoon in Iran; the latter strain was assigned to a novel species cluster from South America. Red-dominated light suppresses the formation of dissemination stages in both gametophyte- and sporophyte-dominated lineages of plants, the response likely is a convergent ecological strategy to open fields. FR-responsive transcripts included those from MIKCC homologues of CMADS1 and miR319-controlled GAMYB transcription factors in the fern, transporters in N. azollae, and ycf2 in chloroplasts. Loci of conserved microRNA (miRNA) in the fern lineage included miR172, yet FR only induced miR529 and miR535, and reduced miR319 and miR159. Phylogenomic analyses of MIKCC TFs suggested that the control of flowering and flower organ specification may have originated from the diploid to haploid phase transition in the homosporous common ancestor of ferns and seed plants.

A new species of the genus Potamophylax Wallengren, 1891 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) from Qafështamë National Park in Albania

In this paper we describe Potamophylax qafshtamaensis sp. n., a new species of the Potamophylax winneguthi species group, from Qafështamë National Park in Albania. The new species belongs to the Potamophylax tagas species cluster and is most close to Potamophylax hajlos Oláh, 2012 and Potamophylax alsos Oláh, 2014. Potamophylax qafshtamaensis sp. n. differs from all known species of the P. tagas species cluster by its unique shape of aedeagus. It also differs from its most similar congeners mainly in exhibiting differently shaped inferior appendages and parameres in males, as well as setose sternite IX and the dorsal unsetose plate of the anal tube in female.The new species is microendemic of Qafështamë National Park and is the fifth known species of the Potamophylax tagas species cluster, which is distributed in Albania and Macedonia.

Investigation and study on the fauna and epidemiology of rodent endoparasites in the desert of northwest China

Zoonoses are severe and have attracted wide attention in society. Many animal parasitic diseases can cause human infection, so it is necessary to study the host of parasites and their transmission routes. The sampling investigation in the inland arid desert area of northwestern China - Xinjiang, a total of 963 rodents belonging to 21 species, 15 genera, four families, and two Lepus yarkandensis,17 Crocidura leucodon were captured in the arid desert region of Xinjiang. Among them, 33 species of endoparasite were detected, including 17 species of nematodes,15 species of tapeworm, and one acanthocephalan species. A total of 127 positive specimens were detected. The infection rate of endoparasite was 13.19%, Nematode infection rate was 6.63%, and the tapeworm infection rate was 7.98%. Epidemiological studies were carried out, and the conclusions are as follows: The infection rate of endoparasite in rodents in this area is not related to gender but is closely related to the host’s age, distribution area, host species, cluster lifestyle, and season. The infection intensity is not related to the number of infected endoparasite species and the infection rate but is mainly related to specific parasite species and rodent species. With the succession of rodent communities, the infection intensity increases from desert to artificial forest, farmland, and residential area, indicating that the direction and route of parasite transmission from primitive desert to artificial environment have formed.

Novel Contributions to the Taxonomy of the Ciliates Genus Euplotes (Ciliophora, Euplotida): Redescription of Two Poorly Known Species, With a Brief Note on the Distributions of This Genus in Coastal Waters of Southern China

As the typical periphytic ciliate, the genus Euplotes Ehrenberg, 1830 is highly diversified and commonly observed in marine water. In this study, the living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of two poorly known Euplotes species, E. neapolitanusWichterman, 1964 and E. antarcticusFenchel and Lee, 1972, isolated from coastal water of southern China, were investigated. The original description of these two species were brief, and thus we provided detailed redescription based on our Chinese population. Their diagnoses were improved by adding some morphology characteristics and their detailed illustrations and photomicrographs were first supplied here. Based on the sufficient justification for identification of our population by morphology, their small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences which have been reported were linked to the accurate species name. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these two species cluster with their congeners which shared high morphological similarities with them. In addition, the geographic distribution of the genus Euplotes in coast of southern China was revealed, and the mangrove was considered as the ideal habitat for them by possessing the higher species richness.

Two new species of nematode-trapping fungi (Dactylellina, Orbiliaceae) from burned forest in Yunnan, China

Two new Dactylellina (nematode-trapping fungi) species, D. yushanensis and D. cangshanensis from the burned forest soil in Cangshan Mountain, Yunnan Province, China are introduced in this paper based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Their descriptions and illustrations are provided. Dactylellina yushanensis is characterized by its geniculate branched conidiophore, two types conidia and fusiform, clavate or drop-shaped microconidia grown in conidiophore or produced by macroconidia with micro-cycle conidiation pathway. Dactylellina cangshanensis is characterized by its fusiform, spindle-shaped, clavate or drop-shaped conidia with 2-4-septate. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined ITS, EF1-α and RPB2 sequence showed that these two species cluster together with D. ellipsospora with obvious genetic differentiation.

Short Communication: Composition of terpenoid compounds in essential oils extracted from stems of eight Piper species and their role in taxonomic relationships

Nugroho LH, Lexinta EC, Priyono Y, Susandarini R. 2020. Short Communication: Composition of terpenoid compounds in essential oils extracted from stems of eight Piper species and their role in taxonomic relationships. Biodiversitas 21: 3438-3443. Piper is widely used as source of essential oils from which many bioactive compounds with medicinal properties were used in traditional medicine. The objectives of this study were to explore the chemical composition of essential oils of eight Piper species and to identify its role in determining taxonomic relationships. Chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed using GC-MS analysis on petroleum ether extracts from stems of eight Piper species, while taxonomic relationship was determined using cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Results showed that 21 terpenoid compounds were identified as constituents of the essential oils, consisted of 4 monoterpenes, 14 sesquiterpenes, and 3 diterpenes. The composition of essential oils varied between species. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis showed that differences in the composition of essential oil compounds determined the grouping of species into two clusters. Five compounds were identified as having major role in the grouping of species. These compounds were α-selinene, α-caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene, farnesyl acetone, and α-amorphene. The results of this study offer opportunities for the use of Piper stems as source of essential oils. This study also confirms the interspecies variability in composition of essential oils, and at the same time supports the use of essential oils in chemotaxonomic studies.

Adaptation Evolution and Phylogenetic Analyses of Species in Chinese Allium Section Pallasia and Related Species Based on Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences

The section Pallasia is one of the components of the genus Allium subgenus Allium (Amaryllidaceae), and species relationship in this section is still not resolved very well, which hinders further evolutionary and adaptive studies. Here, the complete chloroplast genomes of five sect. Pallasia species were reported, and a comparative analysis was performed with other three related Allium species. The genome size of the eight species ranged from 151,672 bp to 153,339 bp in length, GC content changed from 36.7% to 36.8%, and 130 genes (except Allium pallasii), 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA were identified in each genome. By analyzing the IR/LSC and IR/SSC boundary, A. pallasii exhibited differences compared with other seven species. Phylogenetic analysis achieved high supports in each branch, seven of the eight Allium species cluster into a group, and A. pallasii exhibit a close relationship with A. obliquum. Higher pairwise Ka/Ks ratios were found in A. schoenoprasoides compared to A. caeruleum and A. macrostemon while a lower value of Ka/Ks ratios was detected between A. caeruleum and A. macrostemon. This study will be a great contribution to the future phylogenetic and adaptive research in Allium.

Bioakumulasi Logam Nikel dan Pola Ordinasi Pada Gastropoda di Kawasan Mangrove Sekitar Areal Bekas Lahan Pertambangan Kabupaten Konawe Utara Sulawesi Tenggara

This study aims to determine the bioaccumulation of nickel metal and the spatial distribution pattern of gastropods in the area of the former nickel mining area in Tokowuta Village, Lasolo District, North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The method used is a combination of the path method and sample plot. The parameters observed in this study include nickel bioaccumulation in gastropods, density, frequency, diversity index, uniformity index, dominance index, dispersal pattern, and PCA ordinance pattern. The results showed that there were seven species in this region where the highest nickel bioaccumulation was found in the type of Nerita lineata (0.068 ppm) and the lowest in Terebralia sulcata (0.017 ppm). The highest density and frequency were found in Terebralia sulcata (54.66% and 25.53%) and the lowest in Telescopium telescopium (1.93% and 4.26%). In this region has a low diversity index (1.36), a uniformity index that is an unstable community (0.70), a low index of dominance (0.35), cluster pattern distribution (1.19). The results of the PCA ordinance pattern study showed the spatial distribution of gastropod dissimilarity factors in each observation plot formed three clusters. Cluster 1 consists of plots 2 and 6. Cluster 2 consists of plots 3, 5, and 10. Cluster 3 consists of plots 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12. The spatial distribution of gastropod habitat factors in each observation plot forms three clusters with different characteristics. Cluster 1 is characterized by soil nickel content. Cluster 2 by salinity. Cluster 3 with pH and water temperature. The spatial distribution of gastropod types based on habitat characteristics can form four clusters. Cluster 1 consists of Littorariascabra. Cluster 2 consists of Terebraliasulcata species. Cluster 3 with Telescopium telescopium and Littoraria melanostoma species. Cluster 4 with Cerithidea cingulata, Cerithidea quadrata, and Nerita lineata species. Keywords: Nickel Metal, Gastropoda, Ordination PatternABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui mengetahui bioakumulasi logam nikel dan pola distribusi spasial gastropoda di kawasanareal bekas lahan tambang nikel di Desa Tokowuta Kecamatan Lasolo Kabupaten Konawe Utara Sulawesi Tenggara. Metode yang digunakan adalah kombinasi antara metode jalur dan petak contoh. Parameter yang diamati pada penelitian ini meliputi bioakumulasi nikel pada gastropoda, kepadatan, frekuensi, indeks keanekaragaman, indeks keseragaman, indeks dominansi, pola penyebaran dan pola ordinansi PCA. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terdapat tujuh spesies pada kawasan ini dimana bioakumulasi nikel tertinggi terdapat pada jenis Nerita lineata (0,068 ppm) dan terendah padaTerebralia sulcata (0,017 ppm). Kepadatan dan frekuensi tertinggi terdapat pada jenis Terebralia sulcata (54,66% dan 25,53%) dan terendah padaTelescopium telescopium (1,93% dan 4,26%).Pada Kawasan ini memiliki indeks keanekaragaman yang rendah (1,36), indeks keseragaman yang Komunitas Labil(0,70), indeks dominansi yang rendah (0,35), pola penyebaranmengelompok (1,19). Hasil penelitian pola ordinansi PCA menunjukkan sebaran spasial faktor disimilaritas gastropoda pada setiap plot pengamatan membentuk tiga cluster.Cluster 1 terdiri dari plot 2 dan 6. Cluster 2 terdiri dari plot 3, 5 dan 10. Cluster 3 terdiri dari plot 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 dan 12. Sebaran spasial faktor habitat gastropoda pada setiap plot pengamatan membentuk tiga cluster dengan karakteristik yang berbeda. Cluster 1 dicirikan kadar nikel tanah. Cluster 2 oleh salinitas. Cluster 3 dengan pH dan suhu perairan. Sebaran spasial jenis gastropoda berdasarkan karakteristik habitat dapat membentuk empat cluster. Cluster 1 terdiri dari Littoraria scabra. Cluster 2 terdiri dari Terebralia sulcata. Cluster 3 dengan jenis Telescopium telescopium dan Littoraria melanostoma. Cluster 4 dengan jenis Cerithidea cingulata, Cerithidea quadrata dan Nerita lineata

Taxonomic reassessment of Parasesarma (Crustacea: Brachyura: Decapoda: Sesarmidae) based on genetic and morphological comparisons, with the description of a new genus

Parasesarma is a species-rich genus whose representatives are common in wetlands and mangroves of the Indo-Pacific. Morphologically, the genus is heterogeneous and has been postulated to constitute a polyphyletic taxon. In the present study, most species of Parasesarma are re-evaluated phylogenetically, using mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers. The results show that the majority of the examined species cluster consistently with the type species Parasesarma plicatum. However, some species, among them the tree-climbing Parasesarma leptosoma, are clearly separated from this main clade of Parasesarma, forming a second stable monophyletic group, distinct from other known genera. Based on these results, and with additional support by morphological diagnoses highlighting consistent differences between the two species groups, we propose a new genus for the species clustering around P. leptosoma, proposing the new name Leptarma gen. nov.