Bottlenecks drive temporal and spatial genetic changes in alpine caddisfly metapopulations

Background

Extinction and re-colonisation of local populations is common in ephemeral habitats such as temporary streams. In most cases, such population turnover leads to reduced genetic diversity within populations and increased genetic differentiation among populations due to stochastic founder events, genetic drift, and bottlenecks associated with re-colonisation. Here, we examined the spatio-temporal genetic structure of 8 alpine caddisfly populations inhabiting permanent and temporary streams from four valleys in two regions of the Swiss Alps in years before and after a major stream drying event, the European heat wave in summer 2003.

Results

We found that population turnover after 2003 led to a loss of allelic richness and gene diversity but not to significant changes in observed heterozygosity. Within all valleys, permanent and temporary streams in any given year were not differentiated, suggesting considerable gene flow and admixture between streams with differing hydroperiods. Large changes in allele frequencies after 2003 resulted in a substantial increase in genetic differentiation among valleys within one to two years (1-2 generations) driven primarily by drift and immigration. Signatures of genetic bottlenecks were detected in all 8 populations after 2003 using the M-ratio method, but in no populations when using a heterozygosity excess method, indicating differential sensitivity of bottleneck detection methods.

Conclusions

We conclude that genetic differentiation among A. uncatus populations changed markedly both temporally and spatially in response to the extreme climate event in 2003. Our results highlight the magnitude of temporal population genetic changes in response to extreme events. More specifically, our results show that extreme events can cause rapid genetic divergence in metapopulations. Further studies are needed to determine if recovery from this perturbation through gradual mixing of diverged populations by migration and gene flow leads to the pre-climate event state, or whether the observed changes represent a new genetic equilibrium.     

In vitro organogenesis and plant regeneration of Thymus serpyllum L.: an important aromatic medicinal plant

An efficient in vitro propagation system has been developed for the rapid micropropagation of Thymus serpyllum L. (Banajwain), an aromatic medicinal herb from nodal explant on MS medium. Phenolic leaching and high rate of contamination was the most significant problem in establishing in vitro culture of Thymus serpyllum which was overcome by preparing explants in an antioxidant ascorbic acid (1000 ppm) at 6°C for 45 min and addition of the same antioxidant (50 mgl⁻¹) to the MS medium. The frequency of shoot production was influenced by different cytokinins (Kn, BAP, and Kn + BAP) and 95.56% shoot induction was observed when MS medium was supplemented with 1.0 + 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (Kn + BAP). The maximum average number of shoots 16.93 ± 2.15 and average length (3.98 ± 0.55) was recorded when MS medium have 0.5 + 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (Kn + BAP). The in vitro regenerated microshoots were rooted on MS and half strength MS medium and there was significant difference in root induction on both media under the influence of auxins (IAA, IBA, and NAA). The maximum average number (11.67 ± 3.03) and average root length (3.88 ± 0.71) was reported in half MS medium having 1.0 mgl⁻¹ IBA. The complete regenerated plantlets were acclimatized under growth chamber before transferring to the earthen pots and showed 90% survival.

Graphical abstract

     

Breeding system, colony and population structure in the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina

Weaver ants ( Oecophylla smaragdina ) are dominant ants in open forests from India, Australia, China and Southeast Asia, whose leaf nests are held together with larval silk. The species, together with its sole congener O. longinoda , has been important in research on biological control, communication, territoriality and colony integration. Over most of the range, only one queen has been found per colony, but the occurrence of several queens per nest has been reported for the Australian Northern Territory. The number of males mating with each queen is little known. Here we report on the colony structure of O. smaragdina using published and new microsatellite markers. Worker genotype arrays reflect the occurrence of habitual polygyny (more than one queen per colony) in 18 colonies from Darwin, Northern Australia, with up to five queens inferred per colony. Monogyny (one queen per colony) with occasional polygyny was inferred for 14 colonies from Queensland, Australia, and 20 colonies from Java, Indonesia. Direct genotyping of the sperm carried by 77 Queensland queens and worker genotypic arrays of established colonies yielded similar results, indicating that less than half of the queens mate only once and some mate up to five times. Worker genotype arrays indicated that queens from Java and the Northern Territory also often mate with more than one male, but less often than those from Queensland. A strong isolation-by-distance effect was found for Queensland samples. The variation uncovered means that O. smaragdina is a more versatile study system than previously supposed.     

Carbon Balance in Forest Ecosystems of Southern Part of Moscow Region under a Rising Aridity of Climate

This study estimates carbon balance in a mixed mature forest on sod-podzolic sandy-loamy soil (Albeluvisols sandy, the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve) and in a secondary deciduous forest at the Experimental Field Station of the Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences (gray forest loamy soil, Luvisols loamy). CO₂ emissions from soils have been continuously measured every week since 1998. Net primary production was estimated in 2000–2014 by remote sensing using the normalized difference vegetation index. Long-term weather monitoring has revealed a distinctive trend toward increasing aridity of climate in the southern part of Moscow region in the observation period (1998–2014). Based on long-term ground-based and satellite monitoring data, this study shows that in the growing season, mixed and deciduous forests of the southern part of Moscow region are the sink of carbon with a mean flux of 41–112 g C m^–2, depending on the contribution of root respiration. Taking into account the CO₂ emissions from soils during the cold season, the forests are very likely to function as sources of atmospheric carbon at an amount of 30–100 g C m^–2 yr^–1, sometimes reaching very significant values of C flux (170–300 g C m^–2 yr^–1). In mature forest ecosystems, a significant influence on the quantitative estimate of the C balance is hampered by the CO₂ emission activity from coarse woody debris, which can reach up to 14% of the total losses of C during the decomposition of soil organic matter in the mixed forest, which turns it into a persistent source of CO₂ to the atmosphere. It is shown that the sink function of the forest ecosystems was more pronounced in dry years, whereas the excessive wetness diminishes their sink potential, turning the forests into sources of carbon dioxide.     

Behavioral effects of L-tryptophan and p-chlorophenylalanine after adrenalectomy or dexamethasone administration in rats

Effects of acute administration of L-tryptophan (L-TRP. 250.0 mg/kg, i.p.) on active avoidance conditioning and "open-field" behavior were studied in male rats after adrenalectomy of dexamethasone administration. L-TRP inhibited the acquisition and reproduction of active avoidance reaction in adrenalectomized and dexamethasone-treated rats. Moreover, L-TRP decreased horizontal locomotor activity and grooming behavior in the "open field" on adrenalectomized rats. On the contrary, p-CPA restored the active avoidance conditioning in adrenalectomized rats and rats with excess of glucocorticoids. Also, p-CPA increased the total locomotor activity and grooming behavior in the "open field" in adrenalectomized rats, but decreased horizontal locomotor activity and enhanced emotional reaction in dexamethasone-treated rats in the "open field".     

Cholinergic modulation of anaphylactic shock: plasma proteins influence

Cholinergic drugs can modulate anaphylactic shock and change lymphocyte functions. Plasma proteins modulate effects of muscarinic antagonists during anaphylactic shock. The present investigation was carried out to study the antianaphylactic activity of methacine (antagonist at muscarinic receptors) in combination with neostigmine (anticholinesterase drug). However, it is not known whether plasma proteins-albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) - modify the effects of cholinergic drugs like methacine, serotonin (5-HT) level in the lymphoid organs and quantity of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in the spleen of guinea pigs during experimental anaphylactic shock. It was shown that administration of methacine with neostigmine (40 min and 15 min prior to shock induction, accordingly) at the pathochemical stage revokes shock development. By blocking cholinesterase endogenous acetylcholine is increased and methacine blocks muscarinic receptors and therewith unwanted side effects in the airways (bronchoconstriction) and heart (bradycardia). Administration of the combination of methacine with neostigmine at the immunological stage (guinea pig sensitization) does not affect the course of anaphylactic shock. Administration of methacine with IgG at the pathochemical stage of shock significantly decreases shock intensity, while administration of methacine with CRP or albumin has no influence on the shock. Administration of IgG or CRP (not albumin) at the immunological stage of shock and albumin or IgG (not CRP) at the pathochemical stage leads to reduction of the anaphylactic reaction. Application of methacine with neostigmine or IgG (effective combinations of drugs) results in normalization of antibody response in the spleen and 5-HT level in the lymphoid organs. Administration of methacine with CRP or albumin (ineffective combinations of drugs) leads to increase of antibody response in the spleen and 5-HT level in the lymphoid organs. Administration of hexamethonium or aceclidine aggravated anaphylactic shock reaction. Thus, the combination of methacine with neostigmine can regulate the pathochemical stage of shock and the 5-HT release. At the pathochemical stage of shock IgG increases the antianaphylactic activity of methacine, but albumin and CRP abolish it.