The molecular systematics and diversification of a taxonomically unstable group of Asian cicada tribes related to Cicadini Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera : Cicadidae)

The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) related to tribe Cicadini exhibit some of the most remarkable phenotypes in the family, with many genera possessing striking colour patterns and unusual morphological features. This largely Asian group of 13 tribes has proven challenging for cicada taxonomists, in part because of likely convergent evolution or losses of these phenotypes. We present the first focused molecular phylogeny of this clade, including ~60 described genera. The genetic dataset contains 839 ingroup-informative sites (out of 2575) from mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase subunitI, nuclear elongation factor-1α, and nuclear acetyltransferase. We use Bayesian and maximum likelihood trees to test recent changes in tribe- and subtribe-level classification, and we reconstruct ancestral character states for potentially convergent traits influencing tribe descriptions. We use fossil and molecular clock calibrations to estimate the temporal and geographic context of the radiation. The tribes Gaeanini, Leptopsaltriini, Platypleurini, Psithyristriini, and Tosenini appear polyphyletic and in need of revision, in part because of convergent evolution of opaque wings and multiple convergent gains or losses of abdominal tubercles. Kalabita Moulton, 1923 is transferred from Platypleurini to Leptopsaltriini. Vittagaeana gen. nov. is established for Vittagaeana paviei comb. nov. and Vittagaeana dives comb. nov., formerly in Tosena. Sinosenini syn. nov. is synonymised with Dundubiina. Ayuthiini trib. nov. is established with two new subtribes for Ayuthia Distant, 1919 and Distantalna Boulard, 2009, formerly in Tosenini. For the earliest split in the tree, one common ancestor appears to have been Indian + Asian in geographic distribution and the other Asian. We estimate that the radiation began in the middle Cenozoic Era, possibly as recently as the early Miocene. The recent and steady pattern of diversification suggests that refinement of tribe diagnoses will prove challenging. http://zoobank.org:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5A6C16F4-5269-453B-BA5C-B29C3394683A

Acetate, Propionate and Butyrate Reduce Appetite and Fat Accumulation in Mice via Modulating Relevant Genes and Hormones

Acetate, propionate and butyrate, three of the most common short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), can be produced when some non-digestible carbohydrates enter the large intestine and undergo bacterial fermentation. This study was designed to investigate the effects of these three SCFAs on appetite regulation and lipid metabolism, and to what extent appetite contributed to the beneficial influences of SCFAs. In a 35-day study, a total of 48 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly allocated into six groups : (1) control; (2) 5% sodium acetate; (3) 5% sodium propionate; (4) 5% sodium butyrate; (5) pair fed 1; (6) pair fed 2. The results showed that sodium acetate reduced serum triglyceride, free fatty acids, glucose and interleukin (IL) 6 levels (P < 0.05), increased serum glucagon-like peptide 1 and leptin levels (P < 0.05), down-regulated the mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthase, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor and lipoprotein lipase (P < 0.05), and up-regulated the mRNA expressions of fasting induced adipose factor, nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9, cytochromec oxidase IV and free fatty acid receptor 2 (P < 0.05). Sodium propionate also reduced serum IL-1β level (P < 0.05), increased serum peptide YY level (P < 0.05), down-regulated the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (P < 0.05), and up-regulated the mRNA expression of transmembrane protein 26 (P < 0.05). Besides, Sodium butyrate decreased average daily feed intake (P < 0.05), down-regulated the mRNA expression of myosin heavy-chain (MyHc) Ⅱb (P < 0.05), and up-regulated the mRNA expressions of lipase hormone-sensitive, MyHC Ⅱa and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1α (P < 0.05). Moreover, the metabolic benefits of SCFAs were partly attributed to the reduction of feed intake. Taken together, SCFAs could reduce appetite and fat accumulation via modulating relevant genes and hormones, which might further illustrate the potential mechanisms that underlay the impacts of SCFAs on lipid homeostasis and body weight control.

Mesopolobus incultus auct. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) contains two distinct species: Mesopolobus incultus (Walker, 1834) and Mesopolobus amyntor (Walker, 1845)

Mesopolobus incultus auct. is hypothesized to consist of twodifferent species, M. amyntor (Walker) and M. incultus (Walker). This hypothesis is supported bymolecular(cytochromec oxidase subunit I, i.e. COI), morphological and biologicaldata.Mesopolobus amyntor is a primary parasitoid of Mecinus pascuorum (Gyllenhal) and M. labilis (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Plantago lanceolata. Mesopolobus incultus is a primary parasitoid of Protapion fulvipes (Geoffroy) (Coleoptera: Apionidae) on Trifolium repens and T. pratense, and hasalso been inferred to act as a secondary parasitoid (hyperparasitoid) of Spintherus dubius (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) or Bruchophagus gibbus (Boheman) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). The results of this study lead to following nomenclatural changes: M. amyntor is removed from synonymy under M. incultus, and Pteromalus urgo, P. belesis and P. berecynthos, all described by Walker, are synonymized under M. amyntor. The species are diagnosed with characters illustrated.

Looking for morphological evidence of cryptic species in Asterina Nardo, 1834 (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). The redescription of Asterina pancerii (Gasco, 1870) and the description of two new species

Three species of the genus Asterina are known to inhabit the Mediterranean Sea and the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean: Asterina gibbosa (Pennant, 1777), A. pancerii (Gasco, 1870) and A. phylactica Emson &amp; Crump, 1979. Differentiation of these species has primarily been based only on subtle characters (some highly debatable), such as colour or size. Therefore, this study aimed to review the morphological data characterising members of the genus, to incorporate new characters that may clarify morphological analyses and to couple morphological data with molecular evidence of differentiation based on the analysis of partial sequences of the cytochromec oxidase subunitI (COI) and 18S rDNA (18S) genes and two anonymous nuclear loci (AgX2 and AgX5). The different lineages and cryptic species identified from the molecular analysis were then morphologically characterised, which was challenging given the limited number of diagnostic characters. Two of the five monophyletic lineages obtained molecularly (COI divergence &gt;4%), further supported by differences in morphological characters and reproductive behaviour, are proposed as new species: Asterina martinbarriosi, sp. nov. from the Canary Islands, Spain (eastern central Atlantic Ocean) and Asterina vicentae, sp. nov. from Tarragona, north-eastern Spain (western Mediterranean Sea).

Divergence of the Populations of Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flaval Linnaeus, 1758, And Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776, (Motacillidae, Passeriformes) in Middle Volga Region of Russia

<p class="1Body">Blood samples of so-called “yellow” wagtails collected in geographical areas of Middle Volga breeding populations of these species were studied. After mtDNA isolation barcoding of studied species of "yellow" wagtails was performed. Site of gene cytochromec-oxidase I was amplified. This gene was used as a genetic marker for the comparison of obtained samples. After sequencing and sequence alignment of gene cytochrome c-oxidase I, based on the comparison of genetic distances between specimens of the studied species using Jalview software, phylogenetic trees of populations of species <em>Motacilla flava</em> L. and <em>Motacilla citreola</em> Pall. were constructed.</p>

Assessment of temporal genetic variability of two epibenthic amphipod species in an eastern Australian estuarine environment and their suitability as biological monitors

Population studies often assume temporally stable and consistent patterns of genetic variability. Violations of this assumption can lead to misrepresentation of the amount and patterns of genetic variability in natural populations, which can be problematic in basic research and environmental monitoring studies that are designed to detect environmental perturbation. We collected two endemic species of amphipods, Melita plumulosa and Melita matilda, in a major eastern Australian waterway between November 2009 and October 2011, and assessed genetic variation at the mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase subunitI locus. Overall, M. plumulosa was found to be more genetically variable than M. matilda. No distinct temporal trends in levels and patterns of genetic variation were identified in either species. These findings, combined with the published results demonstrating that M. plumulosa has greater sensitivity to a range of sediment-bound metals and organic contaminants, suggests it to be an informative species for environmental monitoring purposes.

Investigating the taxonomy and systematics of marine wood borers (Bivalvia : Teredinidae) combining evidence from morphology, DNA barcodes and nuclear locus sequences

Marine wood-boring teredinids, some of the most destructive wood borers in the sea, are a particularly difficult group to identify from morphological features. While in most bivalve species shell features are used as diagnostic characters, in the teredinids shell morphology shows high intraspecific variation and thus identification is based almost entirely on the morphology of the pallets. In the present study we aimed at improving ‘taxonomic resolution’ in teredinids by combining morphological evidence with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, respectively Cytochromec oxidase subunitI and small subunit rRNA 18S gene, to generate more rigorous and accessible identifications. DNA barcodes of Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of Lyrodus pedicellatus diverged by ~20%, suggesting cryptic species in the morphospecies L. pedicellatus. The low intraspecific divergence found in barcodes of specimens of Nototeredo norvagica (0.78%) confirms that Atlantic and Mediterranean forms of N. norvagica, the latter sometimes reported as Teredo utriculus, are the same species. Teredothyra dominicensis was found for the first time in the Mediterranean. A match was obtained between our 18S sequences and sequences of T. dominicensis from Netherlands Antilles, confirming that T. dominicensis in the Mediterranean is the same species that occurs in the Caribbean. There were differences in 18S sequences between Bankia carinata from the Mediterranean and Caribbean, which may indicate cryptic species.

Cryptic species within the wheat curl mite Aceria tosichella (Keifer) (Acari : Eriophyoidea), revealed by mitochondrial, nuclear and morphometric data

The wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella (Keifer, 1969), is one of the primary pests of wheat and other cereals throughout the world. Traditional taxonomy recognises WCM as a single eriophyoid species; however, a recent study suggested that two genetic lineages of WCM in Australia might represent putative species. Here, we investigate WCM populations from different host plants in Australia, South America and Europe and test the hypothesis that WCM is, in fact, a complex of cryptic species. We used morphological data in combination with nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase subunitI (COI) and nuclear D2 region of 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1, ITS2) sequences. The molecular analyses did not support the monophyly of A. tosichella because the outgroup A. tulipae (Keifer, 1938) is grouped within WCM. The molecular datasets indicated the existence of distinct lineages within WCM, with the distances between lineages corresponding to interspecific divergence. Morphological analyses failed to clearly separate WCM populations and lineages, but completely separated A. tulipae from A. tosichella. The results suggest that what has been recognised historically as a single species is, in fact, a complex of several genetically isolated evolutionary lineages that demonstrate potential as cryptic species. Hence, their discrimination using solely morphological criteria may be misleading. These findings are particularly significant because of the economic importance of WCM as a direct pest and vector of plant viruses.

COI barcoding of Hydroides: a road from impossible to difficult

A fragment of the cytochromec oxidase subunitI (COI) gene has been used increasingly for species identification and discovery in eukaryotes. However, amplifying COI has proven difficult, or even impossible, in some taxa due to non-homology between the universal primers and the target DNA region. Among the most problematic animal groups is Serpulidae (Annelida). These sedentary marine animals live in self-secreted calcareous tubes and many of them, especially of the genus Hydroides, are economically important reef-builders, foulers, and biological invaders. We developed novel taxon-specific primers for amplifying COI from Hydroides, and for the first time generated 460-bp COI sequences from 11 of 14 species attempted. Average Kimura-2-parameter interspecific sequence distance (26.2%) was >60 times greater than the average intraspecific distance (0.43%), indicating that the COI gene is effective for species delimitation in Hydroides. Although applicability of the new primers for a wide range of serpulids needs to be tested, barcoding of Hydroides is now on its way from impossible to difficult. We anticipate that COI barcoding will provide a modern species identification tool and, combined with other molecular markers, yield important insights in phylogeny and evolutionary ecology of this large and important genus.