Phylogenetic analysis of some Neogene phasianid genera (Aves: Phasianidae)

Phylogenetic analysis based on osteological characters of some Neogene and Recent phasianids is performed. Phylogenetic tree shows close relationships of Plioperdix with Ammoperdix and Tologuica with Excalfactoria. Chauvireria is at the base of the clade (Alectoris + (Coturnix + (Excalfactoria + Tologuica))). Palaeoperdix is relatively close to the lineage of large pheasants.     

No effect of round goby <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neogobius melanostomus</Emphasis> colonisation on young-of-the-year fish density or microhabitat use

The round goby Neogobius melanostomus has recently invaded several major freshwater systems in Europe and North America. Despite numerous studies predicting an impact on native fish assemblages, few have attempted to demonstrate it. In this case study, we monitored the effect of N. melanostomus colonisation on abundance and habitat utilisation of both young-of-the-year (YOY) native fish and YOY western tubenose goby Proterorhinus semilunaris in a typical, medium-sized European river. Colonisation by N. melanostomus had no apparent effect on either native fish abundance and species richness or P. semilunaris abundance. Moreover, after colonisation, both native fish and P. semilunaris occupied similar niches (i.e. microhabitats) to those occupied before colonisation. While niche use of YOY N. melanostomus and P. semilunaris overlapped significantly, YOY native fish utilised different habitats from the gobiids. We suggest that N. melanostomus did not compete for resources with YOY fish in our study area due to lack of niche overlap and/or surplus resources. As N. melanostomus rapidly dominated the fish assemblage at our site, we further suggest that utilisation of an empty niche, rather than competitive superiority, was the main factor facilitating its success.     

Distribution,abundance, and size structure of Amur kaluga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser dauricus</Emphasis> and Amur sturgeon <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. schrenckii</Emphasis> in the Lower Amur and Amur Estuary

Distribution, population structure, and abundance of Amur kaluga Acipenser dauricus and Amur sturgeon A. schrenckii in the Lower Amur and Amur Estuary have been considered based on the materials of two surveys performed in 2011. Both species occur along almost the entire length of the Lower Amur and in major part of the Amur Estuary. The density of their aggregations has significantly decreased in most regions of the river if compared to the 1960s. In the Amur Estuary, A. dauricus and A. schrenckii are most abundant in freshwater and light salted water bodies of its western part. In 2011, the abundance and biomass of A. dauricus and A. schrenckii in the Lower Amur and Amur Estuary was 345000 specimens and 7110 tons and 289000 specimens and 1946 tons, respectively.     

Molecular-Genetic,Karyological, and Morphological Variability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hadropareia middendorffii</Emphasis> Schmidt, 1904 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Magadanichthys skopetsi</Emphasis> (Shinohara,Nazarkin et Chereshnev, 2004) (Actinopterygii: Zoarcidae)

The suggestion that the fish specimens caught in the littoral zone off Nedorazumeniya Island, Taui Bay, Sea of Okhotsk, belong to the eelpout species Magadanichthys skopetsi [23] and Hadropareia middendorffii Schmidt, 1904 has been confirmed by the analysis of their molecular-genetic and morphological characters. Their karyotypes have been studied for the first time: M. skopetsi, 2n = 48 (2 meta-, 26 subtelo-, and 20 acrocentric chromosomes), NF = 50; H. middendorffii, 2n = 48 (2 meta-, 36 subtelo-, and 10 acrocentric chromosomes), NF = 50. As a result of a comprehensive study, the levels of interspecific differentiation of these species has been established, the degree of intraspecific variability has been determined, and the lack of the population-geographical subdivision of H. middendorffii has been shown.     

Introgression from non-native species unveils a hidden threat to the migratory Neotropical fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prochilodus hartii</Emphasis>

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, due to competition, predation, pathogen spread, and hybridization. The latter may remain undetected and impair the survival of species, due to genetic admixture and hybrid swarming (i.e., interbreeding between hybrid individuals and backcrossing with parental species). The impact of invasive species remains poorly studied in the Neotropical ichthyofauna, particularly when considering the potential for hybridization between native and introduced species. Due to fisheries importance and its commercial value, species of the Prochilodus genus have been introduced to other catchments in Brazil. Here, we evaluate the introduction of non-native Prochilodus species and the potential effect of hybridization with the native migratory fish P. hartii. To evaluate possible introgression of Prochilodus spp. to P. hartii in the Jequitinhonha river basin (JRB), we employed a morphogenetic approach, analysing 219 specimens sampled from a broad extent of the river basin. Morphological analyses using meristic characters were incongruent with molecular identification by DNA barcoding (COI) in 22.83% of the analysed specimens. Haplotypes from three non-native species (P. argenteus, P. costatus, and P. lineatus) were recovered from specimens morphologically identified as P. hartii. Hybridization between P. hartii and introduced species was confirmed using co-dominant nuclear microsatellite markers. We observed a pronounced introgression pattern in this Neotropical basin, and paradoxically, despite being one of the most abundant migratory species native to the JRB, due to ongoing levels of introgression, P. hartii’s genetic integrity and conservation might be affected.     

Length-weight and length-length relationships of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirrhinus mrigala</Emphasis> (Cyprinidae) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenentodon cancila</Emphasis> (Belonidae) from the river Ganga

Length-weight and length-length relationships are presented for two fish species collected during May 2015 to August 2016 from Narora site of the river Ganga. The parameters a and b of the length-weight relationships were estimated after the logarithmic transformation of the equation: W = aL ^b . The lengthlength relationships were also estimated using linear regressions. The coefficients of determination (R ²) values were >0.9 for both target fish species and linear regressions were highly significant (p < 0.001). Length-weight relationship indicated positive allometric growth pattern for Cirrhinus mrigala and negative allometric growth pattern for Xenentodon cancila. Length-length relationships for the selected fish species were also highly significant (R ² > 0.9, p < 0.001).     

Prospectives for genetic improvement of the inflorescences structure in oil crops of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassicaceae</Emphasis> family

When describing the role of Arabidopsis genes AP1, BP1, and TFL1, the theoretical basement of the possibility of the genetic design of agriculturally valuable inflorescence architecture of oil crops in the Brassicaceae family was proposed. The main trend is connected with avoiding uneven development of seeds. It has been demonstrated that A. thaliana bearing recessive alleles ap1-1, bp-1, and tfl1-2 forms inflorescences with new combinations of characters instead of typical for Brassicaceae.     

Centric diatom algae (Centrophyceae) of ultraoligotrophic Lake Elgygytgyn and water bodies of its basin (Chukotka,Russia)

The electron microscopy study of algae from Lake Elgygytgyn and the water bodies of its basin has revealed 21 taxa of centric diatoms of specific and intraspecific ranks. Nine new species and varieties have been found, including Aulacoseira distans var. nivaloides, A. distans var. septentrionalis, Discostella guslyakovyi, which are rare for the flora of Russia; an endemic species (?) Pliocaenicus seckinae; and six interesting forms from the genus Aulacoseira identified only to the genus. The list of Centrophyceae of Beringia has been broadened.     

New host species and new distribution areas of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmincola lavaretus</Emphasis> (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae): A parasite of coregonid fishes of Siberia

Data on the infestation of certain fish species by the parasitic copepod Salmincola lavaretus are presented for the first time. The infested fish species included Bauntovsky whitefish (Coregonus baunti), an endemic species from the Maloye and Bolshoye Kapylyushi lakes; Siberian whitefish (C. pidschian) and Siberian cisco (C. sardinella) from Bolshoye Kapylyushi Lake and Baunt Lake, which belong to the Tsypo-Tsypikan lake system (the Lena River basin, Transbaikalia); and Teletsky whitefish (C. lavaretus natio smitti) from Teletskoe Lake (the Ob River basin). Previously, S. lavaretus had been described as a parasite of Baikal omul (C. migratorius) and Baikal whitefish (C. baicalensis) from Baikal. The taxons of S. longimanus complex (S. longimanus, S. l. sibirica, S. svetlanovi, and S. lavaretus)—parasites of nasal fossae of grayling and coregonid fishes—were registered in the lakes of the Lake Baikal basin (Lake Baikal and Khovsgol Lake), the Lena River, the Yenisei and the Ob rivers (the largest rivers of the Arctic zoogeographic province), and the Kobdo River (the Western Mongolian province). It was assumed that S. longimanus complex is more widely distributed in the water bodies of the Arctic zoogeographic province of the Palearctic.     

Phylogenetic assessment and taxonomic revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mariannaea</Emphasis>

Four new species of Mariannaea were described in this paper, namely M. chlamydospora, M. cinerea, M. fusiformis, and M. lignicola. Mariannaea chlamydospora is characterized by its cream-colored, zonate colonies on PDA, smooth conidiophores, fusiform conidia, and abundant chlamydospores. Mariannaea cinerea forms grey colonies and ellipsoidal to subglobose conidia. Mariannaea fusiformis forms purple colonies and fusiform to subglobose conidia. Mariannaea lignicola has brown conidiophores and broad hyphae. The molecular phylogeny was inferred using ITS, LSU, and TUB-2 loci. The type species of Mariannaea (M. elegans) is epitypified. The variety M. elegans var. punicea is raised to species rank. Mariannaea clavispora is excluded from Mariannaea because of its cylindrical phialides, straight conidial chains and deviating phylogenetic affinity. Mariannaea nipponica did not fit well the generic concept of Mariannaea based on their morphological characters, and its generic placement remains uncertain. A key to the currently accepted 15 species of Mariannaea is provided.     

Taxonomic status and origin of some ecological forms of whitefish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coregonus lavaretus</Emphasis> (L.) from water bodies of Siberia

Molecular genetic analysis of some ecological forms of whitefish belonging to the Coregonus lavaretus (L.) complex from different water bodies of Siberia revealed a high degree of differentiation between them. On the basis of the analysis of the mitochondrial DNA protein-coding ND1 gene, it was demonstrated that the previously described ecological forms of C. anaulorum, Yenisei River whitefish, or Issatschenko’s whitefish (C. fluviatilis), and cisco-like whitefish from Lake Baunt were good biological species. Moreover, each ecological form was represented by a number of phylogenetic lineages, one of which was species-specific. The remaining lineages were characterized by the mitochondrial DNA of another whitefish species, usually, the most common in each geographic region. The results of genetic analysis demonstrated that the formation of modern ecological forms of Siberian pidschian-like whitefish was accompanied by natural introgressive hybridization. It is suggested that most of the modern pidschian-like whitefish species originated as a result of reticulate evolution.     

Phylogenetic relationships of sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottus volki</Emphasis> Taranetz, 1933 (Scorpaeniformes,Cottidae) according to the results of analysis of control region in mitochondrial DNA

Sequencing of the fragment of control region in mitochondrial DNA in sculpin Cottus volki and the comparison of obtained data with homologous nucleotide sequences in the other species from genus Cottus demonstrated that C. volki occupies the basal position in the “poecilopus” group, which includes also typical sculpin C. poecilopus Heckel, 1837 from water bodies of Europe, sculpin C. szanaga Dybowski, 1869 from the Amur River basin, and sculpin Cottus cf. poecilopus from the Lena River basin. Early separation of C. volki line from common trunk of “poecilopus” group explains the presence in C. volki of several primitive (plesiomorphic for this group) morphological characters: long interior ray of ventral fin, practically complete lateral body line, and well-developed dentition of palatine bones.     

Position of the generalized form in the phenetic diversity structure of large African barbs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Barbus intermedius</Emphasis> complex): Method of correlation pleiades

With consideration of comparative analysis of variation of craniological characters of the generalized form and of specialized morphotypes of the African barb Barbus intermedius complex from three Ethiopian rivers (the Gumara, Angereb, and Genale), it is shown that samples of generalized individuals from different water bodies differ not less and sometime more than samples of specialized morphotypes belonging to one or different flocks of forms. Analysis of correlations divides the considered characters into two pleiades. Analysis of variation of reference samples of the B. intermedius complex demonstrates that diversification of known morphotypes proceeds in both pleiades.     

Variation of stone sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracottus knerii</Emphasis> (Cottidae,Scorpaeniformes) of Baikal and waters of Baikal region

Sixteen samples of the stone sculpin Paracottus knerii from Baikal Lake, Angara River, and seven water bodies of the Baikal and Angara basins are studied. Variation of the morphometric and meristic characters is considered. It is found that the variation of a number of characters is biotopically conditioned and directed at fish adaptation to deepwater and dwelling in the conditions of rapid current. There are also the characters whose variation does not show any regularity, and it is a consequence of the discontinuity of range of the species. It is shown that the individual pairs of populations have differences in a number of characters, and these differences conform to the subspecies (CD > 1.28) and species levels (presence of hiatus). However all such pairs are connected by “ring overlaps,” thus, it is not possible to consider them as independent taxa.     

The osteology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathysphyraenops symplex</Emphasis> and the diagnosis of the Howellidae (Perciformes: Percoidei) family

The osteology is described of Bathysphyraenops simplex, and its close relationship is demonstrated with genera Howella and Pseudohowella. These three genera should be classified into separate family Howellidae characterized by the specific structure of the bones of the infraorbital series, the absence of the hyomandibular process of metapterygoideum, and the reduction of the anterior plate of hyomandibulare, the absence of contact of pterygiophores of the 1st and 2nd dorsal fins, presence in front of the second dorsal fin of a free pterygiophore having no distal element, 16 caudal vertebrae, the characteristic structure of scales, and some other characters. The osteological distinctions of Bathysphyraemops simplex from Howella sherborni found for the first time are small and the author believes that some of them may make a case of interspecies variation within these genera. The revised diagnosis of the family Howellidae is presented. The status of the fossil genera Synagropoides and Cottopsis is discussed. They may become representatives of this family.     

Characterization of invasive fish species in a river transposition region: evolutionary chromosome studies in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hoplias</Emphasis> (Characiformes,Erythrinidae)

Karyotypic analyses were performed in fishes from the genus Hoplias (H. malabaricus and H. lacerdae groups) from the São Francisco River basin (Brazil), in an impacted region by a river transposition which altered the local ecology and fish fauna. The karyotypes were investigated using chromosomal markers obtained from classic and molecular cytogenetics (Giemsa, CMA₃ and DAPI staining, C-banding, Ag-NORs, and FISH with 18S rDNA, 5S rDNA and 5SHindIII satellite DNA probes). Two karyotypic forms were found for the H. malabaricus group—karyomorph F, corresponding to the native form from the São Francisco River basin, and karyomorph A, corresponding to the invading form from the Upper Paraná River basin. Specimens from the H. lacerdae group exhibited striking chromosome differences in relation to the H. malabaricus group, thereby enabling good cytotaxonomic characterization and inferences regarding the karyotype evolution of these groups.     

Fermented Soybean Meal Increases Lactic Acid Bacteria in Gut Microbiota of Atlantic Salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis>)

The main goal of the present study was to address the effect of feeding fermented soybean meal-based diet to Atlantic salmon on gut microbiota. Further, expression of genes of interest, including cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (cath), mucin 2 (muc2), aquaporin (aqp8ab), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna), in proximal intestine of fish fed either experimental diet was analyzed. Three experimental diets, including a control fishmeal (30% FM), soybean meal (30% SBM), or fermented soybean meal diet (30% FSBM) were randomly assigned to triplicate tanks during a 50-day trial. The PCR-TTGE showed microbiota composition was influenced by experimental diets. Bands corresponding to genus Lactobacillus and Pediococcus were characteristic in fish fed the FSBM-based diet. On the other hand, bands corresponding to Isoptericola, Cellulomonas, and Clostridium sensu stricto were only observed in fish FM-based diet, while Acinetobacter and Altererythrobacter were detected in fish fed SBM-based diet. The expression of muc2 and aqp8ab were significantly greater in fish fed the FSBM-based diet compared with the control group. Our results suggest feeding FSBM to Atlantic salmon may (1) boost health and growth physiology in fish by promoting intestinal lactic acid bacteria growth, having a prebiotic-like effect, (2) promote proximal intestine health by increasing mucin production, and (3) boost intestinal trans-cellular uptake of water. Further research to better understands the effects of bioactive compounds derived from the fermentation process of plant feedstuff on gut microbiota and the effects on health and growth in fish is required.     

Morphological,distributional, and genetic characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottus pollux</Emphasis> in the Kyushu Island,Japan: indication of fluvial and amphidromous life histories within a single lineage

We evaluated the morphological, distributional, and genetic characteristics of the freshwater sculpin, Cottus pollux, in Kyushu Island, Japan. Based on pectoral fin ray number, the sculpins inhabiting 30 rivers were divided into two types [modes 13 (M13) and 15 (M15)]. We evaluated four environmental parameters: length of main river (L-MR), average gradient of main river (G-MR), distance from sampling site to river mouth (D-SM), and gradient around sampling site (G-S), and compared the two types. L-MR, D-SM, and G-S were significantly larger for the rivers that contained M13 fish than for those containing M15 fish. M13 individuals were distributed in the upstream areas of large river systems, suggesting a fluvial life history, whereas M15 individuals were distributed in the downstream areas of small river systems, indicating an amphidromous life history. We conducted phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA [788 base pair (bp)] and control regions (386 bp). Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that both M13 and M15 groups were genetically of C. pollux middle-egg type (ME). Our findings proposed the hypothesis that C. pollux ME in Kyushu Island exhibits dimorphism in both morphological and distributional traits. Additionally, haplotype distribution indicated that the fluvial M13 populations had higher genetic specificity in each river in contrast to the existence of one genetic group of amphidromous M15 individuals in Kyushu Island.