Biodiversity and seasonal variation of the cyanobacterial assemblage in a rice paddy field in Fujian, China

Cyanobacteria are one of the main components of the microbiota in rice paddy fields and significantly contribute to its fertilization. The diversity and changes of the cyanobacterial assemblage were investigated during a rice growth season and after harvest in a paddy field located in Fujian Province, China. The cyanobacterial populations were analyzed by a semi-nested PCR, followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. Twenty-four phylotypes were identified from the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles. The number of cyanobacterial phylotypes showed a seasonal variation and reached a peak in September, both in the upper (0-5 cm) and the deeper (10-15 cm) soil fractions. Some cyanobacterial sequences were only present during the rice growth season, while others were only found after harvest.     

Cr(Ⅵ)还原菌Microbacterium sp.BD6的分离鉴定及还原特性

【目的】从电镀厂下水道的淤泥中分离筛选Cr(Ⅵ)高效还原菌,并对其生长和还原特性进行研究,以期为Cr(Ⅵ)污染的生物修复提供优质的菌种资源和应用参考。【方法】采用富集培养法从淤泥中分离、筛选出Cr(Ⅵ)还原菌,通过生理生化及16S rRNA基因序列分析进行初步鉴定。采用单因素实验确定菌株的最佳培养条件和抵抗胁迫环境的能力,利用外加电子供体改善菌株的Cr(Ⅵ)还原能力,筛选出最佳电子供体研究对菌株还原的影响。【结果】经分离筛选得到1株Cr(Ⅵ)耐受还原菌,初步鉴定为微杆菌属(Microbacterium sp.),命名为BD6。菌株BD6适宜在中温、偏碱性的环境条件下生长,能耐受50.0 g/L NaCl的高盐环境。Mn^2+对菌种的生长表现出较高的抑制,Ni^2+、Zn^2+、Cd^2+的抑制作用较小,Cu^2)产生了一定的促进作用。Cr(Ⅵ)对BD6的最低抑菌浓度为1700 mg/L。添加甘油、果糖、乳糖、葡萄糖、丙酮酸钠作为电子供体促进了菌株对Cr(Ⅵ)的还原。选择甘油作为菌株还原Cr(Ⅵ)的最佳电子供体,无电子供体添加时菌株96 h内对100 mg/L Cr(Ⅵ)的还原率仅为69.63%,添加2 g/L的甘油菌株在36 h内的还原率达到了100%。通过加大甘油的添加量可以促进菌株对初始浓度较高Cr(Ⅵ)的还原,但要受到Cr(Ⅵ)的毒性限制。菌株的最适还原条件和最适生长条件吻合,在50.0 g/L NaCl的高盐条件和50 mg/L Cd^2+的毒性环境中,添加2 g/L的甘油,菌株对100 mg/L Cr(Ⅵ)的还原率分别为72 h 96.79%、54 h 99.86%。【结论】分离筛选得到的Microbacterium sp.BD6是一株潜在的可用于Cr(Ⅵ)污染生物还原修复的候选菌株。     

猪源绿色气球菌的分离鉴定与药敏特性研究

目的鉴定研究2006年和2008年本实验室分别从广东清远和广西北流两个猪场发病小猪的膝关节积液中分离到2株呈四联状或成对排列,在山羊血琼脂平板上能形成明显的α-溶血圈的G+球菌。方法采用小白鼠致病性试验、细菌常规生理生化鉴定、药敏试验、耐药基因检测及16S rRNA序列分析等方法对上述分离的2株细菌进行鉴定及药敏特性研究。结果确定这2株G+球菌为正常情况下非致病性绿色气球菌(登录号分别为:GQ161096;GQ161097)。系统发育分析表明,两分离株与绿色气球菌15MS(登录号:EU075039.1)同源性分别高达99.4%和98.7%。药敏试验及耐药基因检测发现,这2株绿色气球菌除了对新霉素、氟哌酸、恩诺沙星、菌必治和环丙沙星等5种药物呈高敏外,对先锋V等13种抗菌素均不敏感。耐药基因检测结果表明,GXBL-1可检出6个耐药基因,GDQY-1则可检出多达10个耐药基因。结论从这2株分离株耐药谱检测结果可以看出,正常菌株同样携带多重耐药基因,存在着通过质粒转座子和整合子将耐药基因转移给敏感菌,导致耐药性传播的可能,应引起足够重视。     

Molecular characterization of rhizospheric soil streptomycetes isolated from indigenous Turkish plants and their antimicrobial activity

As part of a research program whose aim is to determine the diversity of streptomycetes in order to discover new bioactive secondary metabolites, rhizosphere soils of three indigenous plants were analyzed. A total of 55 actinomycetes were isolated using three different medium from the samples. The rhizospheric soil of the plant Aethionema dumanii gave the highest number of actinomycetes, i.e., 42% versus 27% and 31% for the soils from Salvia aytachii and Achillea ketenoglui, respectively. The AIA is the most favorable medium for the isolation of the actinomycetes from different rhizospheric soils. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that while some isolates belong to different cluster groups such as Streptomyces lydicus, S. rochei, S. microflavus, S. griseoflavus, S. albidoflavus and S. violaceusniger, the majority of the sequences did not considerable clustered with the member of different Streptomyces groups. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of the crude organic and aqueous extracts of isolates were screened using a disc diffusion assay against a panel of bacteria and C. albicans. A total of 22 isolates showed antimicrobial activity. The antibacterial action of the extracts is more pronounced on Gram-positive than on Gram-negative bacteria in most cases. About 18% of the actinomycetes showed also antifungal activity. Study of the influence of two different culture media on production of bioactive molecules showed that the higher antimicrobial activity was obtained in M2 when compared to TSB. The results from this study provide evidence that the streptomycetes in the rhizosphere soils could be promising sources for antimicrobial bioactive agents.     

Phylogeny of Thalassinidea (Crustacea, Decapoda) inferred from three rDNA sequences: implications for morphological evolution and superfamily classification

The infraorder Thalassinidea is a group of cryptic marine burrowing decapods of which the higher taxonomy is often contentious. The present analysis attempts to reconstruct phylogenetic relationship among 12 of the 13 currently recognized families using partial nuclear 18S, 28S rDNA and mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences. The infraorder is divided into two distinct clades, with the first clade consisting of Thalassinidae, Laomediidae, Axianassidae and Upogebiidae, and the second clade including Axiidae, Calocarididae, Eiconaxiidae, Callianassidae, Ctenochelidae, Micheleidae, Strahlaxiidae and Callianideidae. Within the first clade, the Upogebiidae is the basal family. The Axianassidae shows low affinity to other laomediid genera indicating that it is a valid family. The interfamilial relationships are less well resolved in the second clade. The Axiidae is paraphyletic with respect to Calocarididae and Eiconaxiidae. Thus, the status of these two latter families is not supported if the currently defined Axiidae is maintained. All three families appear to be basal in the thalassinidean clade. The Micheleidae is closely related to the Callianideidae and they form a sister group to the Strahlaxiidae. The monophyletic Callianassidae aligns with the Micheleidae + Callianideidae + Strahlaxiidae clade. The relationship among the Axiidae + Calocarididae + Eiconaxiidae clade, Callianassidae + Micheleidae + Callianideidae + Strahlaxiidae clade and the Ctenochelidae cannot be resolved which might be due to a rapid radiation of the three lineages. Our results do not support the generally used classification scheme of Thalassinidea and suggest that the infraorder might be divided into two superfamilies instead of three as suggested based on larval morphology, second pereiopod morphology in adults and gastric mill structure. The two superfamilies are Thalassinoidea (i.e. Thalassinidae, Laomediidae, Upogebiidae and Axianassidae) and Callianassoidea (i.e. Axioidea + Callianassoidea, as defined in Martin and Davis (2001) but excluding Laomediidae and Upogebiidae). It also appears that gill‐cleaning adaptations are important in thalassinidean evolution while the presence of linea thalassinica is a result of parallel evolution.     

Evaluation of in vitro Cr(VI) reduction potential in cytosolic extracts of three indigenous Bacillus sp. isolated from Cr(VI) polluted industrial landfill

Three efficient Cr(VI) reducing bacterial strains were isolated from Cr(VI) polluted landfill and characterized for in vitro Cr(VI) reduction. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the newly isolated strains G1DM20, G1DM22 and G1DM64 were closely related to Bacillus cereus, Bacillus fusiformis and Bacillus sphaericus, respectively. The suspended cultures of all Bacillus sp. exhibited more than 85% reduction of 1000 microM Cr(VI) within 30 h. The suspended culture of Bacillus sp. G1DM22 exhibited an ability for continuous reduction of 100 microM Cr(VI) up to seven consecutive inputs. Assays with the permeabilized cells and cell-free extracts from each of Bacillus sp. demonstrated that the hexavalent chromate reductase activity was mainly associated with the soluble fraction of cells and expressed constitutively. The Cr(VI) reduction by the cell-free extracts of Bacillus sp. G1DM20 and G1DM22 was maximum at 30 degrees C and pH 7 whereas, Bacillus sp. G1DM64 exhibited maximum Cr(VI) reduction at pH 6. Addition of 1mM NADH enhanced the Cr(VI) reductase activity in the cell-free extracts of all three isolates. Amongst all three isolates tested, crude cell-free extracts of Bacillus sp. G1DM22 exhibited the fastest Cr(VI) reduction rate with complete reduction of 100 microM Cr(VI) within 100 min. The apparent K(m) and V(max) of the chromate reductase activity in Bacillus sp. G1DM22 were determined to be 200 microM Cr(VI) and 5.5 micromol/min/mg protein, respectively. The Cr(VI) reductase activity in cell-free extracts of all the isolates was stable in presence of different metal ions tested except Hg(2+) and Ag(+).     

基于形态特征和部分基因序列的中国蚱科四个种的分类订正

为了澄清形态相似种锯齿股蚱Tetrix dentifemura和粗体蚱T. grossus及红背悠背蚱Euparatettix erythronotus和九万山悠背蚱E. jiuwanshanensis的分类问题,我们分别从形态学分类和DNA数据对这4种蚱进行了分析。形态学特征分析结果显示：锯齿股蚱和粗体蚱形态相同之处非常多,而形态的不同之处主要表现在两者后翅的长度差异相对较大;红背悠背蚱和九万山悠背蚱在形态上共同之处很多,仅在头顶与颜面隆起的形状、触角与侧单眼着生位置以及后足股节长度等方面有微小差异。对蚱科2属4种昆虫的Cyt b,16S rRNA和18S rRNA基因部分序列进行了测定,3个片段共2 902 bp。发现蚱属的锯齿股蚱和粗体蚱的这三个基因同源序列完全一致,悠背蚱属的红背悠背蚱和九万山悠背蚱的同源序列也完全一致。结合形态学比较和基因序列分析结果,提出粗体蚱和九万山悠背蚱分别是齿股蚱和红背悠背蚱的同物异名。     

Bioreduction of Cr(VI) by alkaliphilic Bacillus subtilis and interaction of the membrane groups

Detoxification of Cr(VI) under alkaline pH requires attention due to the alkaline nature of many effluents. An alkaliphilic gram-positive Bacillus subtilis isolated from tannery effluent contaminated soil was found to grow and reduce Cr(VI) up to 100% at an alkaline pH 9. Decrease in pH to acidic range with growth of the bacterium signified the role played by metabolites (organic acids) in chromium resistance and reduction mechanism. The XPS and FT-IR spectra confirmed the reduction of Cr(VI) by bacteria into +3 oxidation state. Chromate reductase assay indicated that the reduction was mediated by constitutive membrane bound enzymes. The kinetics of Cr(VI) reduction activity derived using the monod equation proved (K_s = 0.00032) high affinity of the organism to the metal. This study thus helped to localize the reduction activity at subcellular level in a chromium resistant alkaliphilic Bacillus sp.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of thiosulfate-oxidizing bacteria from an Italian rice field soil

In rice paddy soils an active cycling of sulfur compounds takes place. To elucidate the diversity of thiosulfate-oxidizing bacteria these organisms were enriched from bulk soil and rice roots by the most probable number method in liquid medium. From the MPN enrichment cultures 21 bacterial strains were isolated on solid mineral medium, and could be further shown to produce sulfate from thiosulfate. These strains were characterized by 16S rDNA analyses. The isolates were affiliated to seven different phylogenetic groups within the alpha- and beta-subclass of Proteobacteria. Two of these phylotypes were already described as S-oxidizers in this environment (Xanthobacter sp. and Bosea sp. related strains), but five groups represented new S-oxidizers in rice field soil. These isolates were closely related to Mesorhizobium loti, to Hydrogenophaga sp., to Delftia sp., to Pandoraea sp. or showed sequence similarity to a strain of Achromobacter sp.     

Polymorphism of mtDNA regions in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations from Vojvodina (Serbia and Montenegro)

It is well known that there is heterogeneity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within and among natural populations of same species. The polymorphism level of particular regions of mtDNA gives valuable results in detection of population genetic structure. The aim of this paper was to detect polymorphism of three mtDNA regions: cytochrome oxidase I (COI), Control region, and 12S/16S rRNA, by the mtDNA RFLP-PCR method, in three Lepus europaeus populations from Vojvodina province (Serbia and Montenegro). Polymorphism was detected within the two regions, COI and Control region, while 12S/16S rRNA region was monomorphic in all 77 individuals. Eight haplotypes were detected in the brown hare population in Vojvodina, and three were unique for the Srem brown hare population.     

Heterogeneous response to biostimulation for U(VI) reduction in replicated sediment microcosms

A field-scale experiment to assess biostimulation of uranium reduction is underway at the Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research Field Research Center (FRC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. To simulate the field experiment, we established replicate batch microcosms containing well-mixed contaminated sediment from a well within the FRC treatment zone, and we added an inoculum from a pilot-scale fluidized bed reactor representing the inoculum in the field experiment. After reduction of nitrate, both sulfate and soluble U(VI) concentration decreased. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy confirmed formation of U(IV) in sediment from biostimulated microcosms, but did not detect reduction of solid-phase Fe(III). Two to three fragments dominated terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiles of the 16S rDNA gene. Comparison to a clone library indicated these fragments represented denitrifying organisms related to Acidovorax, and Acidovorax isolates from the inoculum were subsequently shown to reduce U(VI). Investigation using the T-RFLP Analysis Program (TAP T-RFLP) and chemical analyses detected the presence and activity of fermenting and sulfate-reducing bacteria after 2 weeks. These organisms likely contributed to uranium reduction. In some microcosms, soluble U(VI) concentration leveled off or rebounded, indicating microbial and/or mineralogical heterogeneity among samples. Sulfate, acetate, and ethanol were depleted only in those microcosms exhibiting a rebound in soluble U(VI). This suggests that rates of U(VI) desorption can exceed rates of U(VI) reduction when sulfate-reducing bacteria become substrate-limited. These observations underscore the importance of effective chemical delivery and the role of serial and parallel processes in uranium reduction.     

基于12S,16S和28S rRNA基因序列的中国小毛瓢虫属系统发育分析

【目的】小毛瓢虫属Scymnus Kugelann昆虫主要捕食蚜虫、蚧虫等害虫,是一类经济上重要的天敌昆虫。目前针对小毛瓢虫属的系统发育研究尚属空白,亚属之间的系统演化关系尚不明确,为了建立合理的分类系统,亟需对小毛瓢虫属的亲缘关系进行研究和探讨。【方法】以华南农业大学馆藏的小毛瓢虫属5亚属共44种为研究对象,采用PCR技术对12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因的部分序列进行扩增;运用MEGA 7.0分析了小毛瓢虫属内12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因的碱基组成,基于K2P模型计算了小毛瓢虫属44种的种间遗传距离;采用最大似然法(maximum-likelihood, ML)和贝叶斯推断法(Bayesian-inference, BI)构建该属的系统发育树。【结果】扩增获得小毛瓢虫属44种的12S rRNA基因序列平均长度为356 bp, 16S rRNA基因序列平均长度为351 bp, 28S rRNA基因序列平均长度为315 bp;序列分析表明,12S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为38.8%, 43.5%, 11.9%和5.8%, 16S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为37.6%, 40.3%, 14.4%和7.7%, 28S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为26.7%, 18.3%, 31.4%和23.5%;基于联合序列分析的种间遗传距离为0.004～0.276,平均遗传距离为0.115。系统发育分析结果表明,小毛瓢虫属为单系起源,而小毛瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Scymnus) Kugelann、毛瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Neopullus) Sasaji、小瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Pullus) Mulsant和拟小瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Parapullus) Yang均为并系起源。【结论】基于12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因序列的小毛瓢虫属系统发育分析显示传统的形态学分类体系与基于分子数据分析的结果部分不一致,这表明应该对该属内各亚属的鉴别特征进行全面检视,筛选并确立各亚属的形态指标,同时也表明该属内的亚属分类单元需重新厘定。     

Microbiome of the larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from maize plants

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is an invasive insect pest with a diverse host range threatening food security in the African continent by causing severe economic damage to staple maize crop. FAW like all other insects are associated with various microbiota that influence their several characteristics and activities. The microbiota of insects plays important roles in their growth, development and environmental adaptation to their host plants or animals and not much is known about microbiota of FAW in Nigeria. In this study, the microbial community of FAW larvae from maize plants in Nigeria was investigated using Illumina PE250 NovaSeq of 16S rRNA V3-V4 gene region. A total of 1,160,133 sequence reads that ranged from 83,794 to 145,475 were obtained. They span through 2 kingdoms: bacteria (99.59%) and archaea (0.37%), 37 phyla, 59 classes, 78 orders, 145 families and 285 genera. The dominant taxonomic group of bacteria across the larval samples were Proteobacteria (58.32%), Firmicutes (35.87%) and Bacteroidetes (4.02%). There were no significant differences in bacteria species diversity and richness among the individual fall armyworm larva and samples from different geographical regions. The relative abundance of Bacteria phyla and classes also showed no significant differences among the larval samples. Significant differences were documented in bacteria orders Acidobacteriales and Aeromonadales, family Acidobacteriaceae_ (Subgroup_1) and genera Novosphingobium and Pedobacter. The results indicate that the gut of FAW larvae harbours a diverse set of bacteria and archaea biota. Understanding their ecological and functional relevance would provide novel insight on potential approaches for their exploitation in the integrated management of FAW in the tropics.     

昆明犬肠道中乳杆菌的分离鉴定及16S rRNA同源性分析

目的 为了进一步开发动物微生态资源.方法 用生理生化表型及16SrRNA同源性分析,鉴定从昆明犬肠道内容物中分离到的7株乳杆菌,分别命名为LD1、LD2、LD3、LD4、LD5、LD6和LD7.结果 LD1、LD2、LD4为路氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus reuteri),LD3、LD5、LD6、LD7为鼠乳杆菌(Lactobacillus murinus).结论 该研究为犬用微生态制剂及益生菌的开发应用奠定基础.     

云南兰坪铅锌尾矿区可培养细菌的分离及其酶活筛选

对云南兰坪铅锌尾矿区样品中的可培养细菌进行分离及初步鉴定, 同时挖掘具有酶活性功能的菌株。

从兰坪铅锌尾矿区及周边农田采集了20份样品, 运用10种培养基进行细菌分离, 对分离菌株的16S rRNA基因测序以鉴定其分类地位, 再以平板透明圈法检测分离菌株的淀粉酶、纤维素酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性。

从20份样品中分离获得了320株细菌, 隶属于6个纲、14个目、26个科、39个属, 有5个潜在新分类单元。其中链霉菌属的菌株数最多, 高达102株, 占菌株总数的31.88%, 为优势种群; 其次为芽胞杆菌属菌株40株, 肠杆菌属菌株17株。去重后对165株菌进行酶活检测, 有41株菌具有淀粉酶活性, 占筛选菌株总数的24.70%, 主要为链霉菌属和芽胞杆菌属; 有40株菌对纤维素酶具有活性, 占筛选菌株总数的24.10%, 主要为链霉菌属和芽胞杆菌属; 有14株菌对蛋白酶具有活性, 占筛选菌株总数的8.43%, 主要为链霉菌属和芽胞杆菌属; 有12株菌对脂肪酶具有活性, 占筛选菌株总数的7.23%, 主要为链假单胞菌属。

兰坪铅锌尾矿区可培养细菌的种类丰富, 且蕴藏着大量具有酶活性的菌株。研究结果为了解兰坪铅锌尾矿细菌多样性提供了数据参考, 同时也为酶工业的研究开发提供了更多的菌种资源。

     

Molecular phylogeny of the family Tephritidae (Insecta: Diptera): New insight from combined analysis of the mitochondrial 12S, 16S,and COII genes

The phylogeny of the family Tephritidae (Diptera: Tephritidae) was reconstructed from mitochondrial 12S, 16S, and COII gene fragments using 87 species, including 79 tephritid and 8 outgroup species. Minimum evolution and Bayesian trees suggested the following phylogenetic relationships: (1) A sister group relationship between Ortalotrypeta and Tachinisca, and their basal phylogenetic position within Tephritidae; (2) a sister group relationship between the tribe Acanthonevrini and Phytalmiini; (3) monophyly of Plioreocepta, Taomyia and an undescribed new genus, and their sister group relationship with the subfamily Tephritinae; (4) a possible sister group relationship of Cephalophysa and Adramini; and (5) reconfirmation of monophyly for Trypetini, Carpomyini, Tephritinae, and Dacinae. The combination of 12S, 16S, and COII data enabled resolution of phylogenetic relationships among the higher taxa of Tephritidae.     

Isolation of Laribacter hongkongensis from Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) in Hangzhou, China

Aims: Laribacter hongkongensis is well adapted to diverse freshwater environments and is associated with human community‐acquired gastroenteritis and traveller’s diarrhoea. The study intended to investigate whether L. hongkongensis could be detected in Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta, a widespread aquatic bird) in Hangzhou, China. Methods and Results: A total of 176 faecal specimens from three habitats in Hangzhou were obtained for this study. L. hongkongensis was isolated from 12 (6·8%) specimens. Identification of the 12 L. hongkongensis isolates was achieved through a combination of phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Conclusions: The results illustrate that L. hongkongensis is present in the faeces of Little Egrets from three different habitats in Hangzhou, China. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests the possibility that Little Egrets serve as mechanical carriers of L. hongkongensis, thus potentially transmitting the organism between bodies of water.     

Isolation and characterization of Cr(VI) reducing Cellulomonas spp. from subsurface soils: implications for long-term chromate reduction

Microbial enrichments from Cr(VI) contaminated and uncontaminated US Department of Energy Hanford Site sediments produced Cr(VI) reducing consortia when grown in the presence of Cr(VI) with acetate, D-xylose or glycerol as a carbon and energy source. Eight of the nine isolates from the consortia were Gram positive and four of these were identified by 16S rRNA sequence homology and membrane fatty acid composition as belonging to the genus Cellulomonas. Two strains, ES6 and WS01, were further examined for their ability to reduce Cr(VI) under growth and non-growth conditions. During fermentative growth on D-xylose, ES6 and WS01 decreased aqueous Cr(VI) concentrations from 0.04 mM Cr(VI) to below the detection limit (0.002 mM Cr(VI)) in less than three days and retained their ability to reduce Cr(VI) even after four months of incubation. Washed ES6 and WS01 cells also reduced Cr(VI) under non-growth conditions for over four months, both with and without the presence of an exogenous electron donor. K-edge XANES spectroscopy confirmed the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The ability to reduce Cr(VI) after growth had stopped and in the absence of an external electron donor, suggests that stimulation of these types of organisms may lead to effective long-term, in situ passive reactive barriers for Cr(VI) removal. Our results indicate that Cr(VI) reduction by indigenous Cellulomonas spp. may be a potential method of in situ bioremediation of Cr(VI) contaminated sediment and groundwater.     

Complex estimates of evolutionary relationships in Tarentola mauritanica (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) derived from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) sequences were analysed within Tarentola mauritanica and other selected species of Tarentola. Several highly genetically distinct lineages occur in North Africa, revealing phylogroups in southern and central Morocco, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. A single haplotype characterizes populations across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Menorca, Crete, and Tunisia raising the possibility of an anthropogenic introduction followed by rapid population expansion throughout southern Europe. T. mauritanica is paraphyletic with respect to T. angustimentalis, a Canary islands endemic. The high genetic diversity observed across North Africa suggests T. mauritanica may represent a species complex.