Genetic evidence for asymmetric hybridization between menhadens (Brevoortia spp.) from peninsular Florida

Hybridization between the North American menhadens Brevoortia smithi , Brevoortia tyrannus and Brevoortia patronus has been reported by numerous authors, based primarily on the morphological intermediacy of hybrids relative to each parental type. In this study, genetic characterization of individuals in areas previously designated as hybrid zones validates the presence of F₁ hybrids. Evidence from microsatellite genotypes indicates that B. patronus and B. smithi are parental species of hybrids on both sides of the Florida peninsula, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes suggest a maternal contribution by B. smithi in each case. Hybrids between B. tyrannus and B. smithi were not identified in this study. The presence of B. patronus on the Atlantic coast of Florida, coupled with admixture between this species and B. tyrannus , has likely influenced the mixed lineage assortment of mtDNA haplotypes demonstrated in this study and in previous studies.     

The Bioarchaeology of Identity in Spanish Colonial Florida: Social and Evolutionary Transformation before, during, and after Demographic Collapse

In this article, I consider the effects of Spanish missionization on indigenous identity and biological interaction patterns. Odontometric data were recorded for 26 skeletal samples dating to three time periods: precontact (C.E. 1200–1400), early mission (C.E. 1600–1650), and late mission (C.E. 1650–1700). Population genetic analyses generated estimates of regional genetic variation (F_ST) and intersample genetic distances. Genetic variation during the precontact period was limited despite documented linguistic and cultural variation. Variation increased during the early mission period, indicating a decline in between-group interaction despite inclusion within a single colonial sociopolitical framework. During the late mission period, variation declined significantly, indicating a dramatic reduction in between-group variability consistent with genetic drift and gene flow between communities. I discuss these results in terms of archaeological and historical models of postcolonial transformation and suggest an emerging polyethnic community was resident in La Florida preceding the subsequent diaspora caused by burgeoning European military conflict in eastern North America.     

Isolation and characterization of eight compound microsatellite markers in a mangrove tree Kandelia candel (L.) Druce

Kandelia candel is an important mangrove tree species of family Rhizophoraceae. Here we isolated eight codominant compound microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci from K. candel. Our isolated loci provided compound SSR markers with polymorphism of three to 11 alleles per locus. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.230 to 0.887 and from 0.083 to 1.00, respectively. These markers would be the useful tools for analysing questions concerning population genetic structure and mating system of K. candel.     

Assessment of restocking as a strategy for rehabilitating a native population of brown trout Salmo trutta L. in a fast-flowing mountain stream in the northern French Alps

An attempt was made to extend the area of distribution of a native population of brown trout Salmo trutta belonging to a Mediterranean lineage (ML), which has maintained itself in the Dranse d'Abondance, a fast-flowing alpine stream (Haute-Savoie, France), despite several decades of intensive restocking with brown trout derived from the Atlantic lineage (AL). This was done by releasing an ML component into the predominantly AL population still present on the Ugine, the main tributary of the Dranse d'Abondance. This strategy of rehabilitation restocking was tested using fluoro-marked juveniles produced from a captive breeding stock derived from the wild Dranse d'Abondance ML stock. Samples of 0+ year fish were collected over the period 1995–2003 in order to assess the impact of the restocking. Percentages of fluoro-marked otoliths revealed significant contributions of ML restocking in the 0+ year autumnal standing population, with levels ranging from 34·3 to 61·4%. The change in the genetic characteristics of the 0+ year population produced by natural recruitment was monitored by analysing the unmarked subjects. Frequencies observed at two microsatellite loci revealed a considerable rise (from 0 to 60%) in the level of Mediterranean alleles in the natural 0+ year population since the introduction of restocking using ML individuals.     

Microsatellite markers for population studies of the rice blast fungus,Magnaporthe grisea

We developed nine new microsatellite markers for rice blast (Magnaporthe grisea) population studies. These markers were used in addition to nine microsatellite markers previously developed by our group for mapping purpose. Altogether, the 18 markers were used in multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to characterize six populations from different geographical origins. The average number of alleles per locus across populations ranged from 1.2 to 7 and the total number of alleles detected from 2 to 19. Based on this large range of polymorphism, this set of markers is expected to be useful for different kind of population studies at different geographical scales.     

Genetic differentiation of Elysia timida (Risso, 1818) populations in the Southwest Mediterranean and Mar Menor coastal lagoon

Genetic variation at 10 enzyme loci was analysed in Elysia timida sacoglossan mollusc samples, originating from both coastal lagoon and marine sites. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.390 (Los Urrutias) to 0.277 (Tabarca). Marine and coastal lagoon populations were characterised by exclusive alleles.     

Microsatellites from the vairone Leuciscus souffia (Pisces: Cyprinidae) and their application to closely related species

Eleven microsatellites were isolated from the vairone Leuciscus souffia (Risso 1826), an endangered fish that inhabits river systems in and around the Alps in Europe. The level of genetic diversity was assessed in 29 individuals of the subspecies L. s. souffia, and their variability was further estimated in seven individuals of a different subspecies, L. s. muticellus. Eight of these microsatellite loci were also applied to seven closely related cyprinid species. Availability of the reported microsatellite loci will facilitate the investigation of population genetic structure of these species with applications for the development of conservation strategies and phylogeographical approaches.     

Characterization of human-dog social interaction using owner report

Dog owners were surveyed for observations of social behaviors in their dogs, using questions adapted from the human Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) pre-verbal module. Using 939 responses for purebred and mixed-breed dogs, three factors were identified: initiation of reciprocal social behaviors (INIT), response to social interactions (RSPNS), and communication (COMM). There were small or no effects of sex, age, breed group or training. For six breeds with more than 35 responses (Border Collie, Rough Collie, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Standard Poodle), the behaviors eye contact with humans, enjoyment in interactions with human interaction, and name recognition demonstrated little variability across breeds, while asking for objects, giving/showing objects to humans, and attempts to direct humans’ attention showed higher variability across these breeds. Breeds with genetically similar backgrounds had similar response distributions for owner reports of dog response to pointing. When considering these breeds according to the broad categories of “herders” and “retrievers,” owners reported that the “herders” used more eye contact and vocalization, while the “retrievers” used more body contact. Information regarding social cognitive abilities in dogs provided by owner report suggest that there is variability across many social cognitive abilities in dogs and offers direction for further experimental investigations.     

Population relationships of Simulium yahense and Simulium sanctipauli in the Firestone Rubber Plantation at Harbel, Liberia

Comparative genetic differences for the phosphoglucomutase and trehalase loci were surveyed in larval and adult blackfly populations of the onchocerciasis vectors Simulium yahense Vajime and Dunbar, and S.sanctipauli Vajime and Dunbar. Genotype frequencies for each stage and all populations were at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, indicating that S.yahense and S.sanctipauli remain genetically distinct. S.yahense populations from three different locations were found to be genotypically comparable. The larval population of S.yahense found in closest proximity to a S.sanctipauli population was found to express the phosphoglucomutase allele 1.33, characteristic of S.sanctipauli, with significantly greater frequency than other larval populations of S.yahense. This may constitute evidence of limited genetic introgression of S.sanctipauli with the S.yahense population.