Widespread polyploid forms off Lumbricillus lineatus (Müller) (Enchytraeidae: Oligochaeta): comments on polyploidism in the enchytraeids

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 1727-1734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Coates

Studies of a small fresh collection of the marine intertidal enchytraeid oligochaete Lumbricillus lineatus (Müller) and taxonomic collections from 27 additional locations in Europe, Canada, and Australia reveal the presence of morphotypes corresponding to parthenogenetic autopolyploid forms, triploid, tetraploid, and pentaploid, of the species in all the regions represented by the collections. The extension of the range of these cytotypes from Europe to a virtually global distribution raises questions about the significance of parthenogenesis and polyploidism to their invasion of new habitats. Differences in reproduction rates and the ecological breadth of the different ploidy levels are not known. The geographical distribution and abundance of polyploids of L. lineatus, in themselves, do not provide conclusive evidence for the repeated origins of polyploids within the species, but strongly suggest that possibility. General theories link evolutionary polyploidy among animals with parthenogenesis, as seen in the polyploid forms of L. lineatus. However, polyploidism combined with out-crossing underlies the present taxonomic diversity of the family Enchytraeidae.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 20160505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannen M. Smith ◽  
Rebecca J. Fox ◽  
Jennifer M. Donelson ◽  
Megan L. Head ◽  
David J. Booth

With global change accelerating the rate of species' range shifts, predicting which are most likely to establish viable populations in their new habitats is key to understanding how biological systems will respond. Annually, in Australia, tropical fish larvae from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are transported south via the East Australian Current (EAC), settling into temperate coastal habitats for the summer period, before experiencing near-100% mortality in winter. However, within 10 years, predicted winter ocean temperatures for the southeast coast of Australia will remain high enough for more of these so-called ‘tropical vagrants’ to survive over winter. We used a method of morphological niche analysis, previously shown to be an effective predictor of invasion success by fishes, to project which vagrants have the greatest likelihood of undergoing successful range shifts under these new climatic conditions. We find that species from the family of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae), and the moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus , are most likely to be able to exploit new niches within the ecosystem once physiological barriers to overwintering by tropical vagrant species are removed. Overall, the position of vagrants within the morphospace was strongly skewed, suggesting that impending competitive pressures may impact disproportionately on particular parts of the native community.


2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.B. Drago ◽  
M. Dueñas Díaz ◽  
R. Draghi ◽  
V. Núñez

Abstract An annotated checklist of the cestode parasites of Argentinean wild birds is presented, as the result of a compilation of parasitological papers published between 1900 and April 2021. This review provides data on hosts, geographical distribution, sites of infection, location of material deposited in helminthological collections, references and taxonomic comments. A host/parasite list is also provided. During this period, 38 papers were published that gather information about 34 cestode nominal species and 11 taxa identified at generic level, belonging to three orders, ten families and 35 genera. The highest number of cestode taxa was recorded in the family Hymenolepididae, with 12 nominal species and two taxa identified at generic level, followed by Dilepididae, with eight nominal species and three taxa identified at generic level. Of the 1042 species of birds reported in Argentina, only 29 (2.8%) were reported as hosts of adult cestodes. The families of birds with the highest number of reported taxa were Laridae and Anatidae, with 20 and 14 taxa, respectively.


Author(s):  
M. Rodríguez

Abstract A description is provided for Meliola mangiferae. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. DISEASE: Meliola mangiferae, as with the family Meliolaceae in general, is found on living leaves parasitizing the epidermis and sometimes deeper tissues, but without production of obvious disease symptoms. HOSTS: Mangifera indica, M. rigida and Mangifera sp. (Hansford, 1961). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Brazil, British Guiana, Costa Rica, Cuba, India, Indonesia (Java), Jamaica, Malaysia, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela. Meliola mangiferae is found in practically all areas of mango cultivation, with the exception of Africa and Australia (Hansford, 1961). TRANSMISSION: By air-borne ascospores.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249673
Author(s):  
Sara Sario ◽  
Conceição Santos ◽  
Fátima Gonçalves ◽  
Laura Torres

Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila, SWD) is a pandemic quarantine pest that attacks mostly red fruits. The high number of life cycles per year, its ability to rapidly invade and spread across new habitats, and highly polyphagous nature, makes this a particularly aggressive invasive species, for which efficient control methods are currently lacking. The use of native natural predators is particularly promising to anchor sustainable and efficient measures to control SWD. While several field studies have suggested the presence of potential predatory species in infested orchards, only a few confirmed the presence of SWD DNA in predators’ gut content. Here, we use a DNA-based approach to identify SWD predators among the arthropod diversity in South Europe, by examining the gut content of potential predator specimens collected in SWD-infested berry fields in North Portugal. These specimens were morphologically identified to the family/order, and their gut content was screened for the presence of SWD DNA using PCR. New SWD predatory taxonomical groups were identified, as Opiliones and Hemerobiidae, in addition to known SWD predators, such as Hemerobiidae, Chrysopidae, Miridae, Carabidae, Formicidae and Araneae. Additionally, the presence of a spider family, Uloboridae, in the orchards was recorded for the first time, posing this family as another SWD-candidate predator. This study sets important bases to further investigate the potential large-scale use of some of these confirmed predator taxa for SWD control in South Europe.


Author(s):  
D. W. Minter

Abstract A description is provided for Loma dimorpha, which infects fish of the family Blenniidae and Gobiidae in seas off Europe and, possibly, north Africa; infections developing in the host cytoplasm (but not in nerve tissues), without diplokarya, and resulting in tumours (also known as 'xenomas') in which the host nucleus is centrally located. Some information on its dispersal and transmission, habitats and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Europe (France, Spain)).


Author(s):  
D. W. Minter

Abstract This article describes the morphology, morphometrics, and geographical distribution of the parasite Glugea weissenbergi infecting largely freshwater fish of the family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks) in temperate eastern North America. This parasite is only endemic in Maryland, USA.


Author(s):  
D. W. Minter

Abstract This article describes the morphology, morphometrics, and geographical distribution of the fish parasite Glugea heraldi infecting fish of the family Syngnathidae (pipefish, seadragons and seahorses) in brackish waters of subtropical east coast of North America. This parasite can only be found in New York and Florida.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4527 (3) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
FABRICIO H. SANTOS ◽  
CRISTINA A. RHEIMS

Spiders of the family Philodromidae are free-living active predators, with laterigrade legs, eyes without tubercles, two tarsal claws and claw tufts. Although very common in zoological collections, their systematics is poorly known, especially in the Neotropics, and their specimens are usually identified only at family level. In this paper, the genus Gephyrellula Strand, 1932 is revised and the type species, G. violacea (Mello-Leitão, 1918) is redescribed and illustrated. Gephyrellula paulistana (Soares, 1943) is considered a junior synonym of G. violacea and thus, the genus becomes monotypic. In addition, the geographical distribution is extended and an updated distribution map is provided. 


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