Multilevel studies on the two phenological forms of Large Blue (Maculinea arion) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

The main goal of our research was to study comprehensively the differences between the two phenological forms of the socially parasitic and globally threatened Large Blue (Maculinea arion) in the Carpathian Basin using four character sets (mitochondrial sequences, allozymes, male genitalia and wing morphometrics). Comparative analyses of distance matrices, phylogenetic trees and ordination patterns have been applied. The genetic and morphometric patterns revealed by our studies were discordant. While we experienced a significant differentiation between the ‘spring’ and ‘summer type’ of M. arion in both wing and genital traits, the two phenological forms did not show any genetic differentiation on two mitochondrial loci and in allozymes. At the same time, all individuals were infected by Wolbachia. Although certain wing traits may not represent reliable tracers of phylogeny because of the particular adaptive significance, the wing characteristics involved in our research are probably determined genetically. Additionally, the significant differentiation of male genitalia also indicates incipient prezygotic isolation arising from phenological differentiation between the ‘spring and summer arion’. It is possible that all extant differences between the two forms are attributable to (1) different host‐ant use, (2) incipient speciation, (3) cytoplasmatic incompatibility (CI) by Wolbachia or the combination of these factors. In addition, discordant results indicate that the combined use of different approaches and data sets is strictly necessary to clarify systematic and evolutionary relationships.     

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.     

Cryptic species identification: a simple diagnostic tool for discriminating between two problematic bumblebee species

Distinguishing between cryptic species is a perennial problem for biologists. Bombus ruderatus and Bombus hortorum are two species of bumblebee, which can be indistinguishable from their morphology. The former species is in decline, whereas the latter is ubiquitous. In the UK, isolated records of B. ruderatus occur amongst many for B. hortorum. For ecological studies of B. ruderatus to be feasible, the two species need to be reliably distinguishable. We present a diagnostic tool for quick and reliable identification of problematic individuals based on a restriction enzyme digest of the cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA.     

Molecular phylogenetic study of the Iranians based on polymorphic markers

The application of polymorphic markers in construction of phylogenetic trees has been documented. Five polymorphic markers located in the PAH gene region including PAH-BglII, PAH-PvuII(A), PAH-EcoRI, PAH-MspI and PAH-STR were selected for analysis of phylogenetic relationships of the Iranians with 15 other populations of the world. The lowest genetic distance was observed between the Iranians and populations residing in Adygei (an ethnic group of the Russian Caucasus), Russia and Druze (a Middle Eastern group). However, East Asian populations including Han, Japanese and Cambodians, Khmer or the Oceanians (Melanesian, Nasioi) showed high genetic distance with the Iranians. The data suggested that the Iranians might have relatively close evolutionary history with the populations residing in Russia rather than East Asian populations. This study provided the first new molecular insight into the evolutionary history of the Iranian population.     

A rapid,single leaf,nucleic acid assay for determining the cytoplasmic organelle complement of rapeseed and related Brassica species

Summary An assay is described whereby Eco RI restriction fragment length polymorphisms of mitochondrial and chloroplast DNAs can definitively identify cytoplasms of interest in Brassica crop development. Restrictable mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA is extracted from as little as 2–3 g and 0.5 g leaf tissue, respectively, and the donor plants are able to continue to develop in a normal manner. An unknown cytoplasm can be identified in three days, which is a considerable saving in time and labor compared to the several years required by traditional methods. The assay is very inexpensive and should be established as a routine procedure in laboratories involved in sexual or somatic Brassica hybrid production.     

Multilocus and morphological analysis of south-eastern Iberian Wall lizards (Squamata,Podarcis)

The phylogenetic relationships among the wall lizards of the Podarcis hispanicus complex that inhabit the south-east (SE) of the Iberian Peninsula and other lineages of the complex remain unclear. In this study, four mitochondrial and two nuclear markers were used to study genetic relationships within this complex. The phylogenetic analyses based on mtDNA gene trees constructed with ML and BI, and a species tree using *BEAST support three divergent clades in this region: the Valencia, Galera and Albacete/Murcia lineages. These three lineages were also corroborated in species delimitation analyses based on mtDNA using bPTP, mPTP, GMYC, ABGD and BAPS. Bayesian inference species delimitation method (BPP) based on both nuclear data and a combined data set (mtDNA + nuclear) showed high posterior probabilities for these three SE lineages (≥0.94) and another Bayesian analysis (STACEY) based on combined data set recovered the same three groups in this region. Divergence time dating of the species tree provided an estimated divergence of the Galera lineage from the other SE group (Podarcis vaucheri, (Albacete/Murcia, Valencia)) at 12.48 Ma. During this period, the Betic–Rifian arc was isolated, which could have caused the isolation of the Galera form distributed to the south of the Betic Corridor. Although lizards from the Albacete/Murcia and Galera lineage are morphologically similar, they clearly represent distinct genetic lineages. The noteworthy separation of the Galera lineage enables us to conclude that this lineage must be considered as a new full species.     

Phylogeography of mitochondrial haplogroup D1: An early spread of subhaplogroup D1j from Central Argentina

We analyzed the patterns of variation of haplogroup D1 in central Argentina, including new data and published information from other populations of South America. Almost 28% (107/388) of the individuals sampled in the region belong to haplogroup D1, whereas more than 52% of them correspond to the recently described subhaplogroup D1j (Bodner et al.: Genome Res 22 (2012) 811–820), defined by the presence of additional transitions at np T152C–C16242T–T16311C to the nodal D1 motif. This lineage was found at high frequencies across a wide territory with marked geographical–ecological differences. Additionally, 12 individuals present the mutation C16187T that defines the recently named subhaplogroup D1g (Bodner et al.: Genome Res 22 (2012) 811–820), previously described in populations of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Based on our results and additional data already published, we postulate that the most likely origin of subhaplogroup D1j is the region of Sierras Pampeanas, which occupies the center and part of the northwestern portion of Argentina. The extensive yet restricted geographical distribution, the relatively large internal diversity, and the absence or low incidence of D1j in other regions of South America suggest the existence of an ancient metapopulation covering the Sierras Pampeanas, being this lineage its genetic signature. Further support for a scenario of local origin for D1j in the Sierras Pampeanas stems from the fact that early derivatives from a putative ancestral lineage carrying the transitions T16311C–T152C have only been found in this region, supporting the hypothesis that it might represent an ancestral motif previous to the appearance of D1j‐specific change C16242T. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.