Chromosomal location of 18S and 5S rDNA sites in Triportheus fish species (Characiformes, Characidae)

The location of 18S and 5S rDNA sites was determined in eight species and populations of the fish genus Triportheus by using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The males and females of all species had 2n = 52 chromosomes and a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system. A single 18S rDNA site that was roughly equivalent to an Ag-NOR was detected on the short arms of a submetacentric pair in nearly all species, and up to two additional sites were also observed in some species. In addition, another 18S rDNA cluster was identified in a distal region on the long arms of the W chromosome; this finding corroborated previous evidence that this cluster would be a shared feature amongst Triportheus species. In T. angulatus, a heterozygotic paracentric inversion involving the short arms of one homolog of a metacentric pair was associated with NORs. The 5S rDNA sites were located on the short arms of a single submetacentric chromosomal pair, close to the centromeres, except in T. auritus, which had up to ten 5S rDNA sites. The 18S and 5S rDNA sites were co-localized and adjacent on the short arms of a chromosomal pair in two populations of T. nematurus. Although all Triportheus species have a similar karyotypic macrostructure, the results of this work show that in some species ribosomal genes may serve as species-specific markers when used in conjunction with other putatively synapomorphic features.     

Heteromorphic sex chromosomes in the ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius

Specimens from two freshwater populations of the ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius in Poland showed morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes. A heteromorphic pair of chromosomes appeared only in male diploid cells. The Y chromosome was the largest chromosome in the P. pungitius karyotype.     

High diversity of centric fusions with monobrachial homology in an area of chromosomal polymorphism of Mus musculus domesticus

One of the simplest models of chromosomal speciation is speciation by monobrachial centric fusion. This model is based on the assumption that a sterility barrier can develop between populations, in which fixed centric fusions show monobrachial homology, i.e. share only one chromosome arm. However, studies aimed at delineating intermediate stages of transition to reproductive isolation are lacking. In this paper, we describe a new area of chromosomal polymorphism in the house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus Schwarz and Schwarx, 1943, in Sicily (Italy). We trapped 79 mice at eighteen localities in an area of approximately 500 Km² surrounding the largest active European volcano, Mount Etna. Combining G‐banding and chromosome painting we identified twelve different Robertsonian (Rb) metacentrics. Considering the high number of Rb fusions, some of them shared with other documented areas, the presently studied area of chromosomal polymorphism is very likely to represent a mixture of allochthonous and autochthonous Rb fusions. The Rb(9.16) is the most widespread metacentric (overall frequency 0.80). Two Rb metacentrics, Rb(4.10) and Rb(5.6), have similar overall frequency, 0.29 and 0.37, respectively, and are narrowly co‐distributed in ten populations. Nine fusions – Rb(2.13), Rb(1.3), Rb(12.17), Rb(8.17), Rb(2.14), Rb(10.14), Rb(11.17), Rb(3.15), and Rb(11.14) – show a low frequency (0.04–0.01) and mostly non‐overlapping localization, but each of them shares monobrachial homology with at least one other metacentric. The overall geographical distribution of different Rb fusions seems to match an early stage of race formation. The eventual role of the presently studied hybrid zone in the context of chromosomal speciation by monobrachial centric fusions is discussed. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 722–731.     

Chromosomes of Asian cyprinid fishes: Variable karyotype patterns and evolutionary trends in the genus Osteochilus (Cyprinidae, Labeoninae, “Osteochilini”)

The Cyprinidae family is a highly diversified but demonstrably monophyletic lineage of cypriniform fishes. Among them, the genus Osteochilus contains 35 recognized valid species distributed from India, throughout Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesian archipelago to southern China. In this study, karyotypes and other chromosomal characteristics of five Osteochilus species occurring in Thailand, namely O. lini, O. melanopleura, O. microcephalus, O. vittatus and O. waandersii were examined using conventional and molecular cytogenetic protocols. Our results showed they possessed diploid chromosome number (2n) invariably 2n = 50, but the ratio of uni- and bi-armed chromosomes was highly variable among their karyotypes, indicating extensive chromosomal rearrangements. Only one chromosome pair bearing 5S rDNA sites occurred in most species, except O. melanopleura, where two sites were detected. In contrast, only one chromosomal pair bearing 18S rDNA sites were observed among their karyotypes, but in different positions. These cytogenetic patterns indicated that the cytogenomic divergence patterns of these Osteochilus species were largely corresponding to the inferred phylogenetic tree. Similarly, different patterns of the distributions of rDNAs and microsatellites across genomes of examined species as well as their different karyotype structures indicated significant evolutionary differentiation of Osteochilus genomes.     

A remarkable autosomal heteromorphism in Pseudoryzomys simplex 2n = 56; FN = 54–55 (Rodentia,Sigmodontinae)

Pseudoryzomys simplex, the false rice rat, is a monotypic genus of the Oryzomyini tribe (Sigmodontinae) distributed in part of Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Its diploid number has been described as 56 acrocentric chromosomes decreasing in size and no karyotype figure has been depicted. Herein, we present karyotypic data on P. simplex, including chromosome banding and molecular fluorescent in situ hybridization using telomeric sequences and the whole X-chromosome of its sister clade Holochilus brasiliensis (HBR) as probes. A case of remarkable autosomal heteromorphism due to the presence of a whole heterochromatic arm leading to the variability of FN is reported, as well as the occurrence of regions of homology between the X and Y chromosomes (pseudoautosomal regions) after chromosome painting with the HBR X probe on P. simplex metaphases.     

Occurrence of B chromosomes in Tetragonisca Latreille, 1811 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini): A new contribution to the cytotaxonomy of the genus

Tetragonisca angustula and Tetragonisca fiebrigi have recently been listed as valid species. This study aimed to cytogenetically investigate both species, emphasizing the new registry of B chromosomes in the tribe Meliponini. We analyzed colonies of T. angustula and T. fiebrigi collected at Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso, Brazil, through conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding, and base-specific fluorochrome staining (CMA(3)/DAPI). T. angustula showed 2n = 34 chromosomes in females and n = 17 in males, with karyotype formula 2K = 34A(M). T. fiebrigi showed numeric variation, with chromosome number varying from 2n = 34 to 2n = 36 in females and from n = 17 to n = 18 in males, with karyotype formula 2K = 32A(M)+2A(Mc) and 2K = 32A(M)+2A(Mc) + 1 or 2 B-chromosomes. The B chromosomes are heterochromatic. In T. fiebrigi, the CMA(3)/DAPI staining revealed four chromosomes with a CMA(3) positive band. All individuals from the same colony showed the same number of B chromosomes. T. angustula and T. fiebrigi showed karyotype divergence, principally due to the presence of B chromosomes, which are found only in T. fiebrigi. Our data corroborate the status of valid species for both T. angustula and T. fiebrigi, as recently proposed.     

Exploring phylogeography and species limits in the Altai vole (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Natural hybridization between species is not a rare event. In arvicoline rodents, hybridization is known to occur in the wild and/or in captivity. In the Microtus arvalis group, cytogenetic studies revealed that there were two distinct chromosomal forms (2n = 46 but a different fundamental number of autosomes). These forms have been attributed to two cryptic species: the common (arvalis) and Altai (obscurus) voles. Recently, individuals with intermediate karyotypes (F₁ and backcrosses) were discovered in central European Russia, and, for this reason, other studies have regarded obscurus and arvalis as conspecific. In the present study, to address the question of the species limits in the Altai vole and to infer its evolutionary history, a phylogeographical analysis combined with multivariate morphometric methods and original chromosome data was performed. Two obscurus lineages were identified: the Sino‐Russian and South Caucasian lineages. Both lineages are characterized by low genetic diversity, resulting, in the former, from a past bottleneck event caused by encroaching periglacial areas and, in the latter, from recent rapid population divergence. Introgressive hybridization between the Altai and common voles appears to be the result of a secondary contact following the Last Glacial Maximum in central European Russia. Despite the fact that speciation is an ongoing process in most arvicoline species, the common and Altai voles are genetically divergent, morphologically and karyologically distinct, and exhibit contrasting evolutionary histories. For all these reasons, they should be ranked as species: M. arvalis and M. obscurus. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Influenza della temperatura sullo sviluppo della “Dicranophora fulva„ Schröter

Abstract

Karyotype features and microsporogenesis of Tripogandra diuretica (Mart.) Handlos and Tripogandra glandulosa (Seub.) Rohw. from 15 NE Argentina accessions are analysed via classical cytogenetics, CMA/DA/DAPI and Ag-NOR. The karyotype of T. glandulosa (2n = 2x = 16; 2m + 6sm + 8st) is bimodal (A ₂ = 0.37; R = 2.65) and asymmetrical (A ₁ = 0.63; i = 26.06; r > 2 = 0.88) (3B-Stebbins) with a genome size of 33.28 μm; two pairs are satellited, CMA+ and NOR-actives. Another four CMA+ loci and DAPI+ universal centromeric heterochromatin occur. Microsporogenesis is normal (pollen viability short stamens = 97.8%; large = 96.7%), meiotic behaviour is regular and chromosomes pair as 8II. The karyotype of T. diuretica (2n = 8x = 64; 8m + 24sm + 32st) is bimodal (A ₂ = 0.27; R = 2.54) and asymmetrical (A ₁ = 0.60; i = 27.32; r > 2 = 0.88) (3B-Stebbins); additionally, two pairs are satellited. Microsporogenesis is normal (short stamens = 77.8%; large = 68.5%), except for micronuclei and low pollen viability in some accessions. Meiotic behaviour is regular with 32II, acting as a cytological diploid, however the arrangement of the haploid karyotype suggests that T. diuretica, which also exhibits a reduction of the genome size (18.58 μm), constitutes an auto-octoploid taxa. Additionally, both species share cytological features common to karyotype orthoselection.     

Karyotypes of Cerastoderma glaucum (Bivalvia) from Baltic and Mediterranean populations

Chromosomes of C. glaucum from Baltic (Gdansk Bay) and Mediterranean (Thau lagoon, Sète) populations were studied using karyometric analysis and silver-staining. The karyotype of the Gdansk population consists of three metacentric, ten submetacentric and six subtelocentric chromosome pairs. The karyotype of the Thau population shows four metacentric, nine submetacentric and six subtelocentric pairs. Nucleolus organizer regions were found terminally on the second largest submetacentric chromosome pair of the Gdansk population and on the second largest metacentric chromosome pair of the Thau population. This suggests a cytotaxomomic difference between these two geographically isolated populations. Striking differences exist between C. glaucum and C. edule karyotypes, probably resulting from a long divergence time.