Discriminating the impact of recent human mediated stock transfer from historical gene flow on genetic structure of European grayling Thymallus thymallus L.

Microsatellite markers were first used to partition individuals of European grayling Thymallus thymallus , from the Danube, Rhine and Main, and Elbe drainage systems into subpopulations and to estimate individual immigrant ancestries over the last few generations. Subsequently, the studied populations were 'purged' from recent immigrants and the proportions of evolutionary lineages within the 'purged' populations were re-estimated by applying mtDNA markers. The results confirmed a high level of admixture of the divergent mtDNA lineages ( i.e. natural secondary contact) in populations sampled at the contact zones of the drainages. In addition, a substantial amount of introgression was observed for several populations that were known to be affected by stocking of European grayling from different origins.     

Absence of gene flow between diploids and hexaploids of Aster amellus at multiple spatial scales

The potential for gene exchange across ploidy levels has long been recognized, but only a few studies have explored the rate of gene flow among different cytotypes. In addition, most of the existing knowledge comes from contact zones between diploids and tetraploids. The purpose of this paper was to investigate relationships between diploid and hexaploid individuals within the Aster amellus aggregate. A. amellus is known to occur in diploid and hexaploid cytotypes in Europe, with a complex contact zone in central Europe. Patterns of genetic diversity were investigated using seven microsatellite loci at three different spatial scales: (1) in the single known mixed-ploidy population; (2) in populations at the contact zone and (3) in a wider range of populations across Europe. The results show clear separation of the cytotypes at all three spatial scales. In addition, analysis of molecular variance strongly supported a model predicting a single origin of the hexaploids, with no or very limited gene flow between the cytotypes. Some hexaploid individuals found in the mixed-ploidy population, however, fell into the diploid cluster. This could suggest recurrent polyploid formation or occasional cross-pollination between cytotypes; however, there are strong post-zygotic breeding barriers between the two cytotypes, making the latter less plausible. Overall, the results suggest that the cytotypes could represent two cryptic species. Nevertheless, their formal separation is difficult as they cannot be distinguished morphologically, occupy very similar habitat conditions and have largely overlapping distribution ranges. These results show that polyploid complexes must be treated with caution as they can hide biological diversity and can have different adaptation potentials, evolving independently.     

Étude technologique des collections lithiques de Nord-Patagonie Orientale (Argentine) pendant l’Holocène récent

The lower Colorado River is considered the geographical boundary between the Argentinean regions of Pampa and Patagonia. The aim of this study is to define the technological patterns of hunter-gatherer groups who inhabited the studied area during the Late Holocene (3000–250 BP). In order to do so, the nature and presentation of raw materials exploited is stated, and the different methods of débitage and economic analysis of the lithic assemblages are identified, within the theoretical and methodological approach of chaîne opératoire. The results allow concluding that during the Late Holocene the basis of technological knowledge is kept constant. The technological changes experienced in behavior toward the final Late Holocene (1000–250 years BP) are due to the choice among methods, materials, and types of instruments known and available, of those with proven efficacy, whose production was intensified in the last 1000 years BP. The behavioral changes linked to lithic technological system are accompanied by – or produced as a result of – reorganization of the social system as a whole.     

Analysis of a secondary contact between divergent lineages of brown trout Salmo trutta L. from Duero basin using microsatellites and mtDNA RFLPs

The analysis of 12 microsatellite loci in 16 native populations of Salmo trutta from Duero basin evidenced a strong genetic differentiation in accordance with the existence of two divergent Atlantic mtDNA lineages, Atlantic (AT) and Duero (DU). These lineages were observed spatially segregated mainly in the Lower-course and in the inner part of the basin. Unlike previous isozyme information, microsatellite data suggested a more downstream location of the sharpest genetic divergence in Duero basin and a more complex structure in the inward area. Putative hybrid populations evidenced higher Hardy–Weinberg and gametic disequilibria than pure ones (Pisuerga, Lower-course), not explained by mixture due to differential immigration pattern across the basin. Hybridization indexes suggested a bimodal pattern of hybridization and a higher weight of Pisuerga region in the genetic composition of hybrid samples in accordance with mtDNA data. The results suggested a limited introgression between AT and DU lineages. Taking into account the time of divergence between both lineages, selection and/or genetic incompatibility appeared necessary to explain the genetic structure observed and the ancient location of DU lineage restricted to this area.     

Late-glacial and Holocene climate dynamics at the steppe/forest ecotone in southernmost Patagonia, Argentina: the pollen record from a fen near Brazo Sur, Lago Argentino

We present a pollen record from a fen at the eastern shore of Brazo Sur south of Lago Argentino, Argentina (core BRS 1/06, 50°34′54″S, 72°54′52″W, 198 m a.s.l.). The coring site is located in the transition zone from humid grass steppe to Andean Nothofagus forest. With the exception of a mid-Holocene sand layer, the record covers the interval between 13,350 and 1,700 cal b.p., indicating that there could have been no recurrence of Late-glacial conditions in Brazo Sur, as has been suggested in the literature as having been contemporary with the Younger Dryas interval in the northern hemisphere. The Late-glacial and early Holocene periods at Brazo Sur are characterized by fluctuations between humid grass-dominated steppe associations and drier ones dominated by Asteraceae and Ericaceae. At the start of the Holocene, the pollen influx increased. Nothofagus dominance began by 7,700 cal b.p. probably due to increasing moisture. Present-day closed Nothofagus forest developed around 2,500 cal b.p., related to a further increase in moisture.     

Vegetation changes and human occupation in the Patagonian steppe, Argentina, during the late Holocene

Vegetation changes during the late Holocene are interpreted from four fossil pollen sequences from two caves at the Los Toldos archaeological locality, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Taphonomic processes are particularly taken into account in order to analyze the effects on the fossil pollen records of biotic factors such as human occupation and animals, and abiotic ones such as volcanic ash fall. Fossil pollen assemblages are interpreted using local modern pollen data. The main vegetation change occurred at ca. 3750 uncal b.p., when a shrub steppe of Asteraceae subf. Asteroideae with Schinus, Ephedra frustillata and a high proportion of grasses was replaced by a shrub steppe of Colliguaja integerrima and Asteraceae subf. Asteroideae. This change is synchronous with an archaeological record change and could be related either to moderate climatic variations or the effects of ash fall on the environment. Plant communities similar to the present-day ones were established in the Los Toldos area from ca. 3750 uncal b.p.     

Porcine growth hormone gene expression from viral promoters in transgenic swine

Abstract

The production of porcine growth hormone (pGH) from novel expression vectors containing the promoter/enhancer elements of the Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV) LTR or the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early gene was examined in transgenic swine. Both fusion genes resulted in elevated levels of serum pGH, elevation of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1), and a pronounced decrease in carcass fat deposition. The two viral promoter/enhancer elements were constitutively active in the transgenic swine throughout the life of the animals. In individual swine, the CMV‐pGH transgene was expressed predominantly in the pancreas while the MLV‐pGH transgene was expressed in a wide variety of tissues. These swine were infertile, had insulin resistance, and demonstrated an accelerated form of osteochondritis dissicans. Our results show that excess pGH produces a phenotype identical to that seen in swine expressing heterologous growth hormones, and provides a baseline for assessing the overall efficiency of producing transgenic swine. Furthermore, our data suggests that unregulated pGH production, even at 15 times normal levels and independent of the tissue source, has adverse effects that outweigh the desired reduction in carcass fat deposition in transgenic swine.     

DOES HYBRIDIZATION DRIVE THE TRANSITION TO ASEXUALITY IN DIPLOID BOECHERA?

Gametophytic apomixis is a common form of asexual reproduction in plants. Virtually all gametophytic apomicts are polyploids, and some view polyploidy as a prerequisite for the transition to apomixis. However, any causal link between apomixis and polyploidy is complicated by the fact that most apomictic polyploids are allopolyploids, leading some to speculate that hybridization, rather than polyploidy, enables apomixis. Diploid apomixis presents a rare opportunity to isolate the role of hybridization, and a number of diploid apomicts have been documented in the genus Boechera (Brassicaceae). Here, we present the results of a microsatellite study of 1393 morphologically and geographically diverse diploid individuals, evaluating the hypothesis that diploid Boechera apomicts are hybrids. This genus‐wide dataset was made possible by the applicability of a core set of microsatellite loci in 69 of the 70 diploid Boechera species and by our ability to successfully genotype herbarium specimens of widely varying ages. With few exceptions, diploid apomicts exhibited markedly high levels of heterozygosity resulting from the combination of disparate genomes. This strongly suggests that most apomictic diploid Boechera lineages are of hybrid origin, and that the genomic consequences of hybridization allow for the transition to gametophytic apomixis in this genus.     

Wings or winds: inferring bat migration in a stepping-stone archipelago

Eocene ocean currents and prevailing winds correlate with over-water dispersals of terrestrial mammals from Africa to Madagascar. Since the Early Miocene (about 23 Ma), these currents flowed in the reverse direction, from the Indian Ocean towards Africa. The Comoro Islands are equidistant between Africa and Madagascar and support an endemic land vertebrate fauna that shares recent ancestry predominantly with Madagascar. We examined whether gene flow in two Miniopterus bat species endemic to the Comoros and Madagascar correlates with the direction of current winds, using uni- and bi-parentally inherited markers with different evolutionary rates. Coalescence-based analyses of mitochondrial matrilines support a Pleistocene (approximately 180,000 years ago) colonization event from Madagascar west to the Comoros (distance: 300 km) in the predicted direction. However, nuclear microsatellites show that more recent gene flow is restricted to a few individuals flying against the wind, from Grande Comore to Anjouan (distance: 80 km).