The importance of applying Standardised Integrative Taxonomy when describing marine benthic organisms and collecting ecological data

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Gioia Di Camillo ◽  
Cinzia Gravili ◽  
Doris De Vito ◽  
Daniela Pica ◽  
Stefano Piraino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Integrative Taxonomy ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Benthic Organisms ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Present Trend ◽  
Morphological Approach ◽  
Integrated Taxonomy ◽  
Marine Benthic Organisms

The decline of morphologically based taxonomy is mainly linked to increasing species redundancy, which probably contributed to a worldwide disinterest in taxonomy, and to a reduction of funding for systematic biology and for expertise training. The present trend in the study of biodiversity is integrated taxonomy, which merges morphological and molecular approaches. At the same time, in many cases new molecular techniques have eclipsed the morphological approach. The application of Standardised Integrative Taxonomy, i.e. a rigorous, common method of description based on the integration between ecological and morphological characteristics, may increase the precision, accessibility, exploitability and longevity of the collected data, and favour the renaissance of taxonomy by new investments in biodiversity exploration.

scholarly journals Bioinformatics Approach to Mitigate Mislabeling in EU Seafood Market and Protect Consumer Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7497
Author(s):  
Gabriella Vindigni ◽  
Alfredo Pulvirenti ◽  
Salvatore Alaimo ◽  
Clara Monaco ◽  
Daniela Spina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Fish Market ◽  
Fishery Policy ◽  
Fisheries Policy ◽  
Consumer Interests ◽  
Zoonotic Parasites

Fisheries products are some of the most traded commodities world-wide and the potential for fraud is a serious concern. Fish fraud represents a threat to human health and poses serious concerns due to the consumption of toxins, highly allergenic species, contaminates or zoonotic parasites, which may be present in substituted fish. The substitution of more expensive fish by cheaper species, with similar morphological characteristics but different origins, reflects the need for greater transparency and traceability upon which which the security of the entire seafood value-chain depends. Even though EU regulations have made significant progress in consumer information by stringent labelling requirements, fraud is still widespread. Many molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding provide valuable support to enhance the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in the protection of consumer interests by unequivocally detecting any kind of fraud. This paper aims to highlight both the engagement of EU fishery policy and the opportunity offered by new biotechnology instruments to mitigate the growing fraud in the globalized fish market and to enforce the food security system to protect consumers’ health. In this paper, after a presentation of EU rules on fish labeling and a general overview on the current state of the global fish market, we discuss the public health implications and the opportunities offered by several techniques based on genetics, reporting a case study to show the efficacy of the DNA barcoding methodology in assessing fish traceability and identification, comparing different species of the Epinephelus genus, Mottled Grouper (Mycteroperca rubra) and Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus), often improperly sold with the commercial name of “grouper”.

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis: Current Insights

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 658-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barun Mathema ◽  
Natalia E. Kurepina ◽  
Pablo J. Bifani ◽  
Barry N. Kreiswirth
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Exogenous Reinfection

SUMMARY Molecular epidemiologic studies of tuberculosis (TB) have focused largely on utilizing molecular techniques to address short- and long-term epidemiologic questions, such as in outbreak investigations and in assessing the global dissemination of strains, respectively. This is done primarily by examining the extent of genetic diversity of clinical strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When molecular methods are used in conjunction with classical epidemiology, their utility for TB control has been realized. For instance, molecular epidemiologic studies have added much-needed accuracy and precision in describing transmission dynamics, and they have facilitated investigation of previously unresolved issues, such as estimates of recent-versus-reactive disease and the extent of exogenous reinfection. In addition, there is mounting evidence to suggest that specific strains of M. tuberculosis belonging to discrete phylogenetic clusters (lineages) may differ in virulence, pathogenesis, and epidemiologic characteristics, all of which may significantly impact TB control and vaccine development strategies. Here, we review the current methods, concepts, and applications of molecular approaches used to better understand the epidemiology of TB.

Integrative taxonomy of the Selaginella helvetica group based on morphological, molecular and ecological data

Taxon ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng‐Hua Zhang ◽  
Ran Wei ◽  
Qiao‐Ping Xiang ◽  
Atsushi Ebihara ◽  
Xian‐Chun Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Integrative Taxonomy ◽  
Ecological Data

A Photographic Method for Recording the Underwater Distribution of Marine Benthic Organisms

1969 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 453 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Johnston ◽  
I. A. Morrison ◽  
K. Maclachlan
Keyword(s):  
Photographic Method ◽  
Benthic Organisms ◽  
Marine Benthic Organisms

scholarly journals Characterization of Five New Earthworm Mitogenomes (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae): Mitochondrial Phylogeny of Lumbricidae

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 580
Author(s):  
Hongyi Liu ◽  
Yufeng Zhang ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Yu Fang ◽  
Honghua Ruan
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Octolasion Tyrtaeum ◽  
Eisenia Nordenskioldi ◽  
Novel Strategy

Identification based on conventional morphological characteristics is typically difficult and time-consuming. The development of molecular techniques provides a novel strategy that relies on specific mitochondrial gene fragments to conduct authentication. For this study, five newly sequenced partial mitogenomes of earthworms (Bimastos parvus, Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia andrei, Eisenia nordenskioldi, and Octolasion tyrtaeum) with lengths ranging from 14,977 to 15,715 were presented. Each mitogenome possessed a putative control region that resided between tRNA-Arg and tRNA-His. All of the PCGs were under negative selection according to the value of Ka/Ks. The phylogenetic trees supported the classification of Eisenia and Lumbricus; however, the trees based on cox1 did not. Through various comparisons, it was determined that cox1 fragments might be more suitable for molecular identification. These results lay the foundation for further phylogenetic studies on Lumbricidae.

Taxonomic changes and description of two new species for the Phyllodactylus lanei complex (Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae) in Mexico

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4407 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
TONATIUH RAMÍREZ-REYES ◽  
OSCAR FLORES-VILLELA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Integrative Taxonomy ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Taxonomic Changes

An integrative taxonomy approach was implemented based on analysis of genetic, phylogenetic, morphological and ecological data to identify the cryptic diversity within the Phyllodactylus lanei complex. At least six species can be identified, of which four are currently considered subspecies: Phyllodactylus lanei, Phyllodactylus rupinus, Phyllodactylus isabelae, Phyllodactylus lupitae and two corresponding to undescribed taxa, which are identified and described in this contribution. These differ from other Mexican geckos in several characters: genetic distance (DNAmt), position in molecular phylogeny (concatened data DNAmt+DNAnu), species tree, morphological characters such as snout-vent length, longitudinal scales, tubercles from head to tail, interorbital scales, scales across venter, third labial–snout scales and rows of tubercles across dorsum; there are also differences in their bioclimatic profiles (temperature and precipitation) and geographical distribution. The most recent studies on taxonomy and evolution of Mexican geckos (Phyllodactylus) show that the diversity of this group of reptiles is currently underestimated, suggesting that more research and conservation efforts are should be addressed at these lizards. 

scholarly journals Genetic and Morphological Characterization of Mangifera indica L. Growing in Egypt

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1266-1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader R. Abdelsalam ◽  
Hayssam M. Ali ◽  
Mohamed Z.M. Salem ◽  
Elsayed G. Ibrahem ◽  
Mohamed S. Elshikh
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mangifera Indica ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Germplasm Management ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Diversity

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a fruit crops belong to the family Anacardiaceae and is the oldest cultivated tree worldwide. Cultivars maintained in Egypt have not been investigated previously. Mango was first brought to Egypt from South Asia. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify the genetic diversity within 28 mango cultivars. SSR and EST-SSR were used for optimizing germplasm management of mango cultivars. Significant variations were observed in morphological characteristics and genetic polymorphism, as they ranged from 0.71% to 100%. High diversity was confirmed as a pattern of morphological and genotypes data. Data from the present study may be used to calculate the mango relationship and diversity currently grown in Egypt.

DNA-DNA Hybridization, Phylogenetic Reconstruction and the Fossil Record

1988 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 75-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Dna Hybridization ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Phylogenetic Information ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Molecular Characters ◽  
Rates Of Molecular Evolution

In 1962 Zuckerkandl & Pauling suggested that the amino acid sequence of proteins might evolve in a clock-like fashion and thus may be useful for phylogenetic reconstruction. Since then, many different molecular approaches to phylogenetic reconstruction have been proposed (Wilson et al., 1977). Enthusiasm for the clock hypothesis was dampened by the discovery that rates of molecular evolution for many macromolecules have been highly variable through time (Romero-Herrera et al., 1979). However, the contribution of molecular characters to the study of phylogeny is not necessarily dependent on the notion of a molecular clock and molecular approaches continue to be an important source of phylogenetic information. One of the more powerful and cost-effective molecular techniques for phylogenetic purposes is DNA-DNA hybridization, which measures the single-copy nuclear DNA sequence divergences between species.

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