GENETIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF POPULATIONS BELONGING TO THE BULINUS TRUNCATUS/TROPICUS COMPLEX (GASTROPODA; PLANORBIDAE) IN SOUTH WESTERN ZIMBABWE

Aquatic snails from south western Zimbabwe belonging to theBulinus trunscatus/tropicus complex vary widely in shell formsuggesting that more than one taxon could be present. This possibilitywas investigated by making observations on snail samples from13 populations from the Plumtree area, in respect of allozymevariation (5 polymorphic loci), shell morphology (9 variables),copulatory organ and chromosome number. Comparative data wereobtained from snails from north western Zimbabwe identifieddefinitely as B. tropicus. Analysis of the genetic structurerevealed a high degree of polymorphism (P) ranging from 0.29–0.80among populations from Plumtree and expected heterozygosity(H_e) from 0.02–0.22. No enzymatic diagnostic loci werefound which could differentiate the different morphs or populationsand discriminant function analysis on the morphological datashowed an overlap of morphs among populations. Snails analyzedfor chromosome number were all diploid (2n = 36). Snails exposedto Schistosoma haematobium mira-cidia were all refractory. Thisinformation supports the view of a single species, B. tropicus,which is differentiated due to migration barriers and whereenvironmental variables might be implicated in the morphometricdivergence. (Received 31 July 1995; accepted 15 January 1998)     

MITOCHONDRIAL DNA AND MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF ALBINARIA POPULATIONS (GASTROPODA: CLAUSILIIDAE)

Albinaria, despite its restricted geographical distribution,exhibits an extreme degree of differentiation. The use of conventionalor numerical taxonomy has not facilitated the understandingof evolution of the genus. Twelve populations belonging to fourspecies were studied with a combined approach using mitochondrialDNA (mtDNA) and qualitative morphological data. The completemtDNA genome of A. coerulea from Amorgos island was cloned andused in mtDNA restriction site analysis of the other populations.Maximum parsimony cladistic analysis of nine populations providedtrees sharing the same basic topology. Certain restriction sitesand morphological characters appear to be species specific,while incongruity is observed at the intraspecific level. Sequencedivergence and the paleogeographic history of the area wereused for construction of an evolutionary scenario and a roughestimation of the Albinaria mtDNA clock. (Received 7 February 1994; accepted 20 July 1994)     

GEOGRAPHICAL PATTERNS OF GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION IN THE LANDSNAIL HELIX ASPERSA MuLLER (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA)

In order to investigate the initial processes responsible forthe geographical distribution of the Mediterranean landsnailHelix aspersa, populations from 64 locations in Maghreb andin Europe were studied at 17 enzyme loci by both starch andpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Allele frequencies and genotypedistributions were analysed to provide information on populationstructure and genetic differentiation among populations. Valuesof Nei's unbiased (D) and Rogers (R) genetic distances led tothe formation of two main groups, namely Europe-west Algeriaand east Maghreb (average D = 0.182). Such splitting supportedthe pattern of anatomical variation recently described. Twosamples from Morocco were excluded from these groups becauseof an average D = 0.224. Within this Moroccan entity, geneticdivergences did not distinguish the ‘giant’ snailsH. a.maxima from the brownsnails H. a. aspersa. Such biochemicalsimilarities among morphological heterogeneity throws the subspecificstatus of H. a. maxima into question. Values of fixation indicesindicated that the greatest differentiation between samplesoccurred on the Maghreb territory ( = 0.393). The patterns of population differentiation are discussed inrelation to past geological and historical events. Thus, threescenarios, not mutually exclusive, are considered: the disjunctionof populations by plate tectonics during the Tertiary, the formationof geographically isolated populations during the Pleistoceneglacial/interglacial cycle and the possibility of human introductionas early as the Neolithic period. (Received 9 December 1992; accepted 11 November 1993)     

Morphological characterization of adult Artemia (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) from different geographical origins. American populations

The morphological characterization of adult Artemia femalesbelonging to 25 different populations from all over the Americashas been accomplished. The measures of 12 different parametershave been taken from individuals of each population raised understandardized culture conditions from nauplii to adult. Theyhave been analyzed through multivariate discriminant proceduresin order to establish relationships among the different populations,as well as to have a tool to assign new sets of data for unknownpopulations to one of the groups analyzed here. We have beenable to clearly separate the populations of the two differentspecies analyzed (Artemia persimilis and Artemia franciscana).In addition, we distinguish three different clusters of populationsamong the A.franciscana populations: North American athalassicinland populations, individuals from the Caribbean coast areaand populations from the Pacific Ocean shore.     

云南桔小实蝇五个地理种群的遗传分化研究

对云南省瑞丽、景洪、化念、元江、河口的桔小实蝇5个地理种群共27个个体的线粒体细胞色素氧化酶Ⅰ(COⅠ) 基因进行了部分序列测定。序列的碱基变化中转换明显多于颠换、无碱基的插入和缺失。5个地理种群中共有27个多态位点和23种单倍型,其中2种为共享单倍型。桔小实蝇5个地理种群的Fst值在0.0364～0.1364之间(P>0.05), Nm值在3.88～13.25之间。对其所有单倍型聚类分析发现,单倍型在系统树中的分布散乱、混杂,没有显示出明显的地理分布族群。分析认为5个地理种群间已存有一定程度的遗传分化,但分化的程度还比较低。造成5个种群这种遗传分化的因素主要与地理隔离有关,而种群间低程度的遗传 分化估计与桔小实蝇在云南的发展历史及生态适应有关。     

突尼斯非洲跳鼠(Jaculus jaculus)和埃及跳鼠(J.orientalis)群体的等位酶多态及遗传分化(英文)

运用16种酶蛋白编码的23个遗传座位对突尼斯非洲跳鼠(Jaculus jaculus)和埃及跳鼠(J. orientalis)自然群体的遗传变异和分化进行了电泳分析。结果表明,与其他啮齿动物等哺乳动物的相关数据比较,发现这两个种群体的遗传变异水平较低。非洲跳鼠群体的观测杂合度 (H_obs) 为0.08—0.19,多态座位百分比(P)为26.2%—45.2%,每个座位的平均等位基因数(A)为1.1—1.4;埃及跳鼠的H_obs为0.10—0.15,P为29.3%—44.1%,A为1.1—1.7。两个种群体各自的遗传分化程度较低(非洲跳鼠和埃及跳鼠的F_st分别为0.0017和0.0019)。而两个种群体间的F_st为0.607（P<0.05）,表明两个种之间高度的遗传分化。本研究支持这两个种分类地位的合法性,并强调了地理因素（环境类型和生物气候阶段）对两个种遗传结构的影响。     

中国桔小实蝇种群的微卫星多态性分析

为了研究桔小实蝇种群的遗传结构,本文采用微卫星分子标记技术,对中国南方9省区、越南和泰国的11个桔小实蝇地理种群共224个个体的遗传多样性水平及种群遗传结构进行了研究。用9对微卫星引物共检测到48个等位基因, 平均每个微卫星位点的等位基因数为5.33个。GENEPOP分析结果表明：11个桔小实蝇种群在9个微卫星位点上的多态位点百分率平均为94.45%。种群的Nei's基因多样性指数平均为0.4371,Shannon信息指数平均为0.7870,表明桔小实蝇种群具有非常丰富的遗传多样性。Nei's遗传多样性分析发现,各地理种群间产生了一定程度的遗传分化,种群间平均遗传分化系数F_st=0.2370。种群间一定程度的遗传分化可能是由地理隔离和基因流障碍（N_em = 0.8049）所引起。UPGMA聚类分析可知, 中国的桔小实蝇地理种群可分为华南支和西南支两大分支,华南分支包括福建、台湾、广东和海南4个种群,西南分支包括四川、云南、广西、贵州和湖南5个种群。由此推测, 中国桔小实蝇种群结构的形成与演变是在地理演化与经贸交流加强这两种因素的影响下不断进行的动态过程。     

Allozyme Variation in Turkmenian Populations of Wild Barley, Hordeum spontaneum Koch.

The extent and structure of genetic variation in 720 individualsrepresenting 36 populations of wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum,from Central Asia (Turkmenistan) were determined using starchgel electrophoresis of eight water soluble leaf proteins encodedby 13 loci. The populations were grouped into seven ecogeographicregions. The study found: (a) a similar amount of within populationgenetic diversity (H_e = 0.106), but lower total genetic diversity(H_T = 0.166) to that reported for Middle East populations ofH. spontaneum; (b) of the total genetic diversity, 61% was attributableto variation within populations, 27% between populations ofa region, and 12% among regions; (c) of the 42 alleles found,11 were ubiquitous, 22 were widespread and common, three localand common and seven local and rare; (d) there was a poor correlationbetween population genetic and geographic distances; and (e)the frequencies of only a few alleles correlated significantlywith climatic or geographic parameters. The extent and structureof genetic variation of Turkmenian populations, which representthe Central Asian part of the species' range, were significantlydifferent in some important aspects from Middle Eastern andeastern Mediterranean populations. The mosaic pattern of geneticvariation found in wild barley in the Middle East is less pronouncedin populations from Central Asia where there is less geneticdifferentiation among populations and regions, and more ubiquitousor common and fewer localized alleles. Copyright 2001 Annalsof Botany Company Allozyme, Central Asia, genetic diversity, Hordeum spontaneum, wild barley     

VARIATIONS IN INFESTATIONS OF SIPHONARIA CAPENSIS AND S. CONCINNA(PULMONATA) BY LARVAL TREMATODES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

The prevalence of digenean trematode parasites in Siphonariacapensis (Pulmonata) was examined in populations from 24 sites,and in S. concinna from 10 sites along the coast of southernAfrica from 1989 to 1991. Sporocysts containing cercariae werefound in the digestive gland of both species. To date, two typesof cercaria have been isolated from S. capensis and one typefrom S. concinna, these types possibly representing three distinctspecies of trematode. In approximately 30% of parasitized S.capensis and 10% of parasitized S. concinna the digestive glandwas completely destroyed. In both species of Siphonaria therewas considerable temporal and spatial variation in parasiteprevalence. At some locations up to 40% of S. capensis wereinfected whereas at others, no parasites were found. Prevalenceof trema-todes in S. concinna rarely exceeded 12%. At severalsites the prevalence of infestation within the limpets increasedwith increasing host size. (Received 8 June 1992; accepted 6 July 1992)     

MATING SYSTEM ANALYSIS USING PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS IN THE SELF-FERTILE HERMAPHRODITE SPECIES BULINUS TRUNCATUS (GASTROPODA: PLANORBIDAE)

Uniparental reproduction in the tetraploid hermaphrodite speciesBulinus truncatus has been suggested to occur via self-fertilization,on the basis of cytological and genetic studies. However, recentanalyses of population genetic structure by protein electrophoresisindicated the occurrence of multi-banded phenotypes referredto as ‘fixed hetero-zygosity’. Although intrapopulationand geographical variation of multibanded phenotypes occur,many populations bear only one type of such patterns. This ledto the suggestion that parthenogenesis may well be the matingsyste in B. truncatus. However, such fixed heterozygosity patternsare expected in some tetraploid species in which double disomicinheritance of alleles occurs. It is therefore not possibleto determine from population genetic structure analysis alonewhether segregation occurs or not. Here, we investigate thestability of such patterns over one generation of uniparentalreproduction among four populations. We also present resultsof crossing experiments between individuals from two populations,using two diagnostic loci to analyse their offspring. Our resultsclearly indicate Mendelian segregation of alleles, and confirmsexual reproduction by self-fertilization and cross-fertilization.We interpret the multibanded patterns observed in populationsas the product of both diploid loci of the tetraploid genomewhen they are monomorphic for different alleles. Our study alsoallows us to suggest that partial selfing may be the regularmating system in B. truncatus. (Received 12 February 1992; accepted 7 September 1992)     

棉铃虫蛹和成虫形态特征的数值分析

通过对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera(Hubner)及其近缘种的蛹和成虫进行了形态特征变异的数值分析,结果表明：棉铃虫种群内个体变异较大,但种群间相对分化较小,无明显的地理分化,也没有发现棉铃虫种群有稳定变异的地理特征;但发现雄性抱器冠的长、宽、抱器瓣长宽比及抱器瓣长与冠宽比4个特征与纬度有一定的相关性,其相关系数分别为：-0.612,-0.699,0.693和0.691。尽管如此,棉铃虫还是相对比较单一的一个种,而近缘种在阳茎刺和抱器瓣的形态及阳茎端囊上的大刺数等方面有明显而稳定的差异和间断。     

Impact of Daphnia pulex on a metalimnetic microbial community

A well-structured metalimnetic community, composed mainly ofphototrophic purple bacteria, Cryptomonas, and a few speciesof ciliates and rotifers, was regularly found between 1984 and1991 in Lake Cis. These populations appeared during spring,reached high concentrations and remained in the metalimnionuntil winter mixing. We had previously postulated that thesemetalimnetic populations could persist in such high numbersbecause they were free of efficient predation, since the oxygen-sulfideinterface provided a refuge from predation. In September 1992,an abundant Daphnia pulex population developed in the lake whichresulted in drastic changes in the formerly stable community.The presence of D.pulex induced an extreme clear-water phasein the epilimnion and the metalimnetic populations were severelyreduced. Feeding experiments with Cryptomonas and heterotrophicand phototrophic bacteria as food for D.pulex resulted in clearancerates around 0.7 ml individual^–1 h^–1. The impactwas very high on the microaerophilic populations, whereas theanaerobic populations were least affected, since sulfide limitedthe vertical distribution of ^D.pulex. We conclude from thisevidence that the metalimnetic populations in previous yeanwere mostly food limited (bottom-up control) and that theirhigh abundances were in great part due to a lack of efficientpredation.     

华东地区中华蜜蜂六地理种群的遗传多样性及遗传分化

目的】利用23对微卫星标记对来自于南昌、黄山、桐庐、费县、宜兴、武夷山6个华东地区的中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana种群进行遗传多样性及遗传分化分析。【方法】通过计算多态信息含量、平均杂合度、等位基因数、遗传距离、基因流、F 统计量等参数, 评估各中蜂种群遗传多样性和各种群间遗传分化。【结果】各座位的等位基因数为5（A014）至30（AP043）。所有种群均显示较高水平的期望杂合度, 其中, 武夷山中蜂最低, 为0.4280; 南昌中蜂最高, 为0.6329。各中蜂种群间存在极显著的遗传分化, 平均分化系数(Fst)为0.344。基于Nei氏遗传距离运用NJ聚类法将6个中蜂种群划分为3类。【结论】华东6个中蜂种群的遗传多样性较高, 遗传分化显著; 分析遗传分化与地理距离的关系发现, 华东6个中蜂种群间的遗传分化与地理距离不存在显著相关。     

The Diatom Genus Tabellaria: II. Taxonomy and Morphology of the Plankton Varieties

Plankton samples of Tabellaria from all the lakes of the EnglishLake District have been examined and evidence of morphologicallydistinct populations has been found in samples from (a) a singlelake at one time, (b) different lakes, and (c) a single lakeat different times. Clone cultures have been used to study thenature of these differences. Fifteen characters have been foundto show quantitative or qualitative variation in plankton populationsof Tabellaria, and the morphological diversity of differentpopulations is largely due to different combinations of thesecharacters. All known plankton populations of Tabellaria arereferred to the species T. flocculosa.     

GENETIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN THE LAND WINKLE POMATIAS ELEGANS (MULLER) (CAENOGASTROPODA: POMATIASIDAE)

Population genetics and shell morphology have been studiedin 11 populations of the poorly colonizing land caenogastropodPomatias elegans. The total area of suitable habitats in northwestEurope is shrinking and many isolated populations are becomingvulnerable to extinction. In this study we tested whether theconcept of management units (i.e. groups of population withsignificantly different allele frequencies due to demographicindependence) is applicable to the conservation of P. elegans.F_st values indicated strong genetic differentiation and thuslittle genetic exchange between populations. Allozyme differentiationcould be explained with an isolation by distance model, whereasmorphological differentiation could not. A morphological differenceexists between sexes but not sufficient to discriminate malesand females. A Mantel test showed no significant relationshipbetween morphological distance (size corrected or not) and geneticdistance. Since allele frequencies differed even among populationsin areas where P. elegans is not threathened, we conclude thatin the case of P. elegans, defining management units with allozymesmay not be an appropriate way to select the most suitable populationsfor conservation. (Received 3 April 2000; accepted 25 August 2000)     

THE ROLE OF LYMNAEA AURICULARIA (LINNAEUS) AND LYMNAEA PEREGRA (MULLER) (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA) IN THE TRANSMISSION OF LARVAL DIGENEANS IN THE LOWER THAMES VALLEY

Eleven species of larval digeneans are reported for the firsttime in the UK from the freshwater snail Lymnaea (Radix) auricularia.The latter replaced its congener L. peregra in a gravel pitnear Wraysbury, Berkshire in the Lower Thames Valley and hostedan assemblage of larval digeneans similar to that previouslytransmitted by L peregra. The larval digeneans of L. peregrain small bodies of water in the area were also similar to thosefound in L. auriculania in the gravel pit. This replacementin the role of the host is explained on the basis of morphological,physiological and ecological similarities of the two lymnaeidspecies. (Received 19 February 1992; accepted 27 April 1992)     

Leaf morphological and genetic divergence in populations of Drimys (Winteraceae) in Chile

The genus Drimys is distributed in Chile from semi-arid zones to sub-Antarctic forests; there are three species of this tree, D. andina, D. confertifolia and D. winteri, the latter with varieties chilensis and winteri. Northern populations are found in small disjunct natural refuges, specifically mountain cloud forests and the bottom of ravines. The size and continuity of populations are greater in the south, where wetter conditions prevail. Morphological differences between populations have been observed, particularly between the northern populations of Fray Jorge and Talinay. This observation, led to the following questions: a) what is the level of morphological and genetic divergence among the populations of Drimys in Chile? and b) do the populations from Fray Jorge/Talinay, currently classified as D. winteri var. chilensis, differ genetically from the other populations of this variety? To answer these questions, we collected leaf samples from 37 populations of all Chilean Drimys, performed leaf morphology analysis and estimated genetic divergence using RAPD markers. We found a high degree of leaf morphological and genetic divergence between the populations of Fray Jorge/Talinay and the other Chilean species of Drimys. The morphological and genetic divergence among varieties of D. winteri was greater than that among the species of Drimys, which may indicate problems with their taxonomic classification.     

Natural variation in Arabidopsis lyrata vernalization requirement conferred by a FRIGIDA indel polymorphism

Species share homologous genes to a large extent, but it isnot yet known to what degree the same loci have been targetsfor natural selection in different species. Natural variationin flowering time is determined to a large degree by 2 genes,FLOWERING LOCUS C and FRIGIDA, in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here,we examine whether FRIGIDA has a role in differences in floweringtime between and within natural populations of Arabidopsis lyrata,a close outcrossing perennial relative of A. thaliana. We found2 FRIGIDA sequence variants producing potentially functionalproteins but with a length difference of 14 amino acids. Thesevariants conferred a 15-day difference in flowering time inan association experiment in 2 Scandinavian populations. Thedifference in flowering time between alleles was confirmed withtransformation to A. thaliana. Because the north European late-floweringpopulations harbor both late- and early sequence variants atintermediate frequencies and the late-flowering variant is mostfrequent in the southern early flowering European population,other genetic factors must be responsible for the floweringtime differences between the populations. The length polymorphismoccurs at high frequencies also in several North American populations.The occurrence of functional variants at intermediate frequenciesin several populations suggests that the variation may be maintainedby balancing selection. This is in contrast to A. thaliana,where independent loss-of-function mutations at the FRIGIDAgene are responsible for differences between populations andlocal adaptation.     

SEASONAL CYCLE AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE SEA HARE APLYSIA OCULIFERA IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF EILAT (AQABA), RED SEA

Populations of the sea hare, Aplysia oculifera (Adams &Reeve, 1850) (Gastropoda: Opistho-branchia), were studied inthe northern coast of the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba) between April1988 and March 1992. Recruitment occurred from December to February,synchronized with the blooming of green algae (Enteromorphaintestinalis and Ulva sp.). A single recruitment event occurredeach year, while a secondary recruitment was rarely, observedand was related to acute catastrophic disturbance of the habitat.Adult sea hares inhabited the inter- and subtidal zones fromDecember-January to April-June, feeding on E. intestinalis andUlva sp. Populations disappeared in April-June which coincidedwith disappearance of these green algae. Mean maximum body livemass of adult sea hares (MMBLM, that is the highest mean bodymass recorded at specific site within the season) ranged from0.77 to 33 g MMBLM, varied significantly among populations inhabitingthe various study sites, and was significantly and inverselycorrelated with water movement intensity. Abundance of sea haresvaried among sites and among years and was related to the amountof green algae during the recruitment season. ²Present address: Department of Biology, University of Haifaat Oranim, Tivon 36006, Israel. E-mail: plaut{at}research.haifa.ac.il (Received 29 April 1997; accepted 26 July 1997)     

Aerodynamic costs of long tails in male barn swallows Hirundo rustica and the evolution of sexual size dimorphism

Exaggerated tail feathers of birds constitute a standard exampleof evolution of extravagant characters due to sexual selection.Such secondary sexual traits are assumed to be costly to produceand maintain, and they usually are accompanied by morphologicaladaptations that tend to reduce their costs. The aerodynamiccosts for male barn swallows Hirundo rustica of having longtails were quantified using aerodynamics theory applied to morphologicaldata from seven European populations. Latitudinal differencesin tail length were positively correlated with differences inflight costs predicted by aerodynamics theory. A positive relationshipbetween aerodynamic costs of long tails and the degree of sexualsize dimorphism was found among populations. Latitudinal differencesin foraging costs may result in tail length being relativelysimilar in males and females in southern populations, whereasthe low foraging costs for males in northern populations mayallow them to cope with higher aerodynamic costs, giving riseto large sexual size dimorphism. Enlargement of wingspan inmales can alleviate but not eliminate the costs of tail exaggeration,and therefore differences in aerodynamic costs of male ornamentswere maintained among populations. Sexual size dimorphism in thebarn swallow arises as a consequence of latitudinal differencesin the advantages of sexual selection for males and the costsof long tails for males and females.