Life history evolution in a globally invading tephritid: patterns of survival and reproduction in medflies from six world regions

Comparisons among populations from different localities represent an important tool in the study of evolution. Medflies have colonized many temperate and tropical areas all over the world during the last few centuries. In a common garden environment, we examined whether medfly populations obtained from six global regions [Africa (Kenya), Pacific (Hawaii), Central America (Guatemala), South America (Brazil), Extra-Mediterranean (Portugal) and Mediterranean (Greece)] have evolved different survival and reproductive schedules. Whereas females were either short-lived [life expectancy at eclosion (e₀) 48–58 days; Kenya, Hawaii and Guatemala] or long-lived (e₀ 72–76 days; Greece, Portugal and Brazil], males with one exception (Guatemala) were generally long-lived (e₀ 106–122 days). Although males universally outlived females in all populations, the longevity gender gap was highly variable (20–58 days). Lifetime fecundity rates were similar among populations. However, large differences were observed in their age-specific reproductive patterns. Short-lived populations mature at earlier ages and allocate more of their resources to reproduction early in life compared with long-lived ones. In all populations, females experienced a post-reproductive lifespan, with this segment being significantly longer in Kenyan flies. Therefore, it seems plausible that medfly populations, inhabiting ecologically diverse habitats, have evolved different life history strategies to cope with local environmental conditions.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 97 , 106–117.     

Virgin females compete for mates in the male lekking species Ceratitis capitata

Abstract. Aggressive behaviour occurring in intrasexual competition is an important trait for animal fitness. Although female intrasexual aggression is reported in several insect species, little is known about female competition and aggressive interactions in polygynous male lekking species. The interactions of female Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (a male lekking species), with other females and mating pairs under laboratory conditions are investigated. Mature, unmated (virgin) females are aggressive against each other and against mating pairs, whereas immature females are not. Female aggression against other females decreases dramatically after mating; however, mated females maintain aggression against mating pairs. In addition, higher intrasexual aggression rates are observed for mature, virgin females than for virgin males of the same age. The results show that female aggressiveness is virginity related, suggesting female competition for mates. These findings have important implications for understanding the physiological aspects of a complex social behaviour such as aggression and should stimulate further research on female agonistic behaviour in male lekking mating systems.     

Tooth microwear and premaxillary shape of an archaic antelope

Extant ungulates can be divided into three dietary categories: browsing feeders, grazing feeders, and mixed feeders. Dietary adaptations can be differentiated in extinct ruminants based upon tooth microwear analysis as well as evaluation of premaxillary morphology. Tooth microwear shows that the extinct bovid Kipsigicerus labidotus from the Miocene of Fort Ternan in Kenya (14 million years old) was most likely a grazing feeder, with mixed-feeder tendencies, while morphologically the premaxilla most closely resembles that of a mixed feeder. Because the paleoenvironment at Fort Ternan was likely to have been forested, as shown by paleosol isotopic studies, grazing in this particular ruminant evolved within a forested environment preceding the origin of savanna. □ Tooth microwear, premaxilla, Miocene, Kenya, bovid, paleodiet.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in the wall lizard Podarcis erhardii (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Five polymorphic microsatellite loci (containing di‐ and penta‐nucleotide repeats) were developed for the Erhard's wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, an endemic species of southern Balkan Peninsula. The number of alleles ranged from five to 17. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.28 to 0.92 and 0.57 to 0.91, respectively. These markers will provide a valuable tool for population genetics analyses and can contribute to the evaluation of conservation programs.     

Isolation and characterization of six polymorphic microsatellite markers in the freshwater turtle Mauremys rivulata (Testudines: Geoemydidae)

Six polymorphic microsatellite loci containing dinucleotide repeats were developed for the freshwater turtle Mauremys rivulata. The number of alleles ranged from five to 18. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.19 to 0.79 and 0.46 to 0.90, respectively. These markers may serve as a valuable tool for population genetics analyses and provide information on the evolutionary history of the species.     

Studies of fossil hyaenids: the genus Adcrocuta Kretzoi and the interrelationships of some hyaenid taxa

Material of the Miocene hyaenid Adcrocuta eximia from China is analysed statistically. No heterogeneities were found within this material. Comparisons with material from Samos and Pikermi, Greece, show that no taxonomic differentiation between these three samples is warranted. Adcrocuta eximia latro from the Sivalik deposits is provisionally considered a valid subspecies. The species A. australis from Langebaanweg, South Africa is removed from Adcrocuta to the genus Chasmaporthetes . The phylogenetic position of Adcrocuta has been subject to dispute, and for this reason we present a study of the interrelationships of selected hyaenid taxa using numerical cladistic methods. Two equally parsimonious trees of length 47 and consistency index 0.766 were found. Adcrocuta is placed as a sister-group to the Recent Crocuta crocuta , and not as a separate clade as suggested by other workers. Recent hyaenids form a crown-group which does not extend deep into the cladogram. Hyaena hyaena and H. brunnea are not sister-groups, and we resurrect the genus Parahyaena for the latter species.     

Studies of fossil hyaenids: the genus Adcrocuta Kretzoi and the interrelationships of some hyaenid taxa

Material of the Miocene hyaenid Adcrocuta eximia from China is analysed statistically. No heterogeneities were found within this material. Comparisons with material from Samos and Pikermi, Greece, show that no taxonomic differentiation between these three samples is warranted. Adcrocuta eximia latro from the Sivalik deposits is provisionally considered a valid subspecies. The species A. australis from Langebaanweg, South Africa is removed from Adcrocuta to the genus Chasmaporthetes. The phylogenetic position of Adcrocuta has been subject to dispute, and for this reason we present a study of the interrelationships of selected hyaenid taxa using numerical cladistic methods. Two equally parsimonious trees of length 47 and consistency index 0.766 were found. Adcrocuta is placed as a sister-group to the Recent Crocuta crocuta, and not as a separate clade as suggested by other workers. Recent hyaenids form a crown-group which does not extend deep into the cladogram. Hyaena hyaena and H. brunnea are not sister-groups, and we resurrect the genus Parahyaena for the latter species.     

Isolation and amplification of shrew DNA from barn owl pellets

The last decade has seen a number of studies reporting the extraction of DNA from ancient sources, such as fossil bones. Owl pellets, which contain an excellent skeletal record of small mammals consumed, can be used in a non-invasive sampling method for genetic studies of free-ranging animals without the need for direct capture or even observation. Such a non-invasive sampling method will allow us to address questions that cannot be answered using conventional methods and will lead to a more integrated study of micromammals. In the present study, various protocols used for ancient DNA extraction were investigated, in order to determine the applicability of owl pellets as a source of DNA for phylogenetic and phylogeographical studies of micromammals. Of the 12 bone samples used in this study, 11 gave sequences of expected species ( Crocidura , Rattus and Mus ) and size (around 300 bp), using the pair of primers L14841/H15149, which target a highly conserved region of the cytochrome b gene. The results obtained demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA can be isolated and amplified using bones of micromammals found in barn owl ( Tyto alba ) pellets. The recovery of genetic data from owl pellets will enable the identification of prey species for several phylogenetic and phylogeographical studies of small mammals (Muridae and Insectivora) appearing in the owl's diet. The main advantages of this new approach are that (a) the pellets are very easy to find and collect, (b) the pellets can potentially provide a large number of individuals of small mammals, and (c) the method can cover a wide geographical area complementary to the range of owls of this type.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 85 , 331–340.     

Cryptic speciation and phylogeographic relationships in the elephant ear sponge Ianthella basta (Porifera,Ianthellidae) from northern Australia

Morphological delineation of sponge species is hindered by the narrow range of fixed diagnostic characters and our limited knowledge of how much phenotypic plasticity the sponge body plan assumes in response to environmental conditions. Here, we make use of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region to assess the taxonomic validity of colour morphotypes observed in the elephant ear sponge Ianthella basta (Pallas, 1776) across its distribution range in northern Australia, and explore levels and patterns of genetic diversity among populations of the species collected from both sides of the Torres Strait. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed congruent topologies consistent with three evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) that were independent of the morphology of the sponge. ESU I includes previously morphologically and genetically delineated western Pacific specimens of I. basta (Guam), and probably corresponds to the type specimen originally described from Indonesia. ESU I occurs in almost all sampling sites across northern Australia, suggesting considerable levels of connectivity among reefs throughout the Torres Strait. ESUs II and III are each exclusively associated with a geographic region of high sponge species richness separated by Torres Strait, and probably represent the result of historical population fragmentation. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 225–235.     

Hammering homoplasy: multiple gains and losses of vibrational sounding in cryptine wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Many hosts of parasitic wasps are, when attacked, either at an immobile stage, living in a concealed environment, or both, thus making their detection especially difficult. Cryptine ichneumonid wasps often parasitize beetle or moth larvae, prepupae or even pupae in tunnels in wood, and many others attack cocooned hosts in various states of concealment. The structure of the antennal tips shows a range of adaptations at least the most extreme of which appear to be involved in locating deeply concealed hosts through vibrational sounding (= echolocation through solid media). We show that, within the Cryptinae, the tips of the antenna are modified into a hammer-like structure that is suitable for knocking a substrate; this form of echo-location is typical to the tribe Cryptini, although it is also found in a few phygadeuontines and in the hemigastrine genus Echthrus . Electron micrographs are presented to illustrate the different degrees of antennal modifications found in the subfamily. Comparative analysis using independent contrasts was then used to demonstrate a statistically significant association between degree of antennal hammer development and attacking, typically wood-boring, beetle hosts of the families Cerambycidae and Buprestidae.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 82–102.