Cryptic Speciation in the Genus Cryptoglena (Euglenaceae) Revealed by Nuclear and Plastid SSU and LSU rRNA Gene

The photosynthetic euglenoid genus Cryptoglena is differentiated from other euglenoid genera by having a longitudinal sulcus, one chloroplast, two large trough‐shaped paramylon plates positioned between the chloroplast and pellicle, and lack of metaboly. The genus contains only two species. To understand genetic diversity and taxonomy of Cryptoglena species, we analyzed molecular and morphological data from 25 strains. A combined data set of nuclear SSU and LSU and plastid SSU and LSU rRNA genes was analyzed using Bayesian, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and distance (neighbor joining) methods. Although morphological data of all strains showed no significant species‐specific pattern, molecular data segregated the taxa into five clades, two of which represented previously known species: C. skujae and C. pigra, and three of which were designated as the new species, C. soropigra, C. similis, and C. longisulca. Each species had unique molecular signatures that could be found in the plastid SSU rRNA Helix P23_1 and LSU rRNA H2 domain. The genetic similarity of intraspecies based on nr SSU rDNA ranged from 97.8% to 100% and interspecies ranged from 95.3% to 98.9%. Therefore, we propose three new species based on specific molecular signatures and gene divergence of the nr SSU rDNA sequences.     

Natural history and behaviour of Dunatothrips aneurae Mound (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), a phyllode‐gluing thrips with facultative pleometrosis

Thrips of the genus Dunatothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) construct domiciles by tying phyllodes of Australian Acacia trees together with silk‐like glue. Females often co‐found domiciles (pleometrosis), an apparently cooperative behaviour that potentially provides insights into social evolution. However, little is known about their basic natural history, limiting the scope for testable predictions. Here, we address this crucial prerequisite step by investigating some key outstanding questions in the most common species, D. aneurae, on its host, Acacia aneura. We detail distribution in space and time, mating, dispersal, domicile building and defence. Dunatothrips aneurae was distributed in loosely reproductively synchronized patches, and tended to prefer east‐facing, terminal phyllodes on thin‐phyllode A. aneura varieties. Mature domiciles contained middens, concentrated areas of waste, suggesting active maintenance of domiciles and the potential for the division of labour. We observed inbreeding and outbreeding. Dunatothrips aneurae males engaged in short, truncated matings with sisters before dispersing locally, mating with females in nearby immature domiciles; longer distance dispersal, although it must happen, is still undocumented. Males and females mated multiply. Lone females required male presence to initiate domiciles, constructed them without male help and lost wings on nesting by abscission. Silk production occurred well before egg laying. Aggression or defence appeared to be entirely absent. Taken together, these observations suggest that research into co‐founding behaviour should focus on: (1) local crowding; (2) lack of aggression; and (3) potential division of labour with respect to egg production, silk production and domicile maintenance. These results should provide a springboard for questions on the potential evolution of cooperation in this species. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 802‐816.     

Increased presence of the thermophilic mosquitoes and potential vectors Anopheles hyrcanus (Pallas 1771) and Culex modestus Ficalbi 1889 in Central Europe’s lower Dyje River basin (South Moravia,Czech Republic)

The presence of the thermophilic species Anopheles hyrcanus in the lower Dyje River basin has been regularly monitored since 2008. Mosquito trapping has been conducted mainly in summer using EVS traps with CO₂ as attractant. Anopheles hyrcanus and Culex modestus were studied in a group of ponds near the Czech–Austrian border. At the Sedlec location, occurrence of An. hyrcanus was low during 2008–2011, with around 1–9 individuals/trap/collection day. At the Lednice location on the edge of Mlýnský Pond, the first capture of An. hyrcanus occurred in 2010. In 2013, there was a sudden increase in the An. hyrcanus mosquito at all monitored locations. The largest presence was recorded at Sedlec and reached 524.4 individuals/trap/collection day. Culex modestus was one of the predominant species throughout the period. At Sedlec, the smallest finding was in 2009 (at 9.6 individuals) while the greatest was in 2010 (at 988.6 individuals/trap/collection day). At Lednice, the smallest finding was in 2011 (at 56.3 individuals) while the largest was in 2013 (at 3850 individuals/trap/collection day).     

Effet du climat et de l’exposition sur la dynamique des populations de la cochenille violette,Parlatoria oleae Colvée (Hemiptera : Diaspididae), en conditions arides

Résumé

Ce travail a pour objectif l’étude de quelques aspects bio-écologiques de la cochenille violette, Parlatoria oleae Colvée 1880, bio-agresseur des cultures de l’Olivier en régions arides. Le suivi du cycle biologique ainsi que la démo-écologie de ce ravageur ont été réalisés grâce à des dénombrements périodiques des populations sur les différents organes de l’arbre (méthodes de Vasseur &; Schvester) de décembre 2010 à décembre 2011 dans la région d’Ain Touta (nord-est algérien). L’espèce y a montré deux générations par an : une génération printanière se développant entre avril et juillet et une génération automnale évoluant entre août et octobre. La ponte débuta en avril et s’échelonna jusqu‘à la fin septembre. L’exposition nord est la plus favorable à cette diaspine qui y trouve des conditions microclimatiques optimales pour son développement. La ponte moyenne est de 8 à 9 ?ufs par femelle. L’analyse statistique de l’effet des conditions climatiques étudiées (températures minimale, maximale et moyenne ; précipitations, gelée et indice d’aridité De Martone) sur les effectifs des différents stades, montre une grande variabilité d’un stade à un autre. L’analyse statistique établie révèle également que les effectifs de l’espèce présentent des variations très hautement significatives selon l’orientation dans l’arbre d’olive colonisé.     

Evolutionary history of alpine and subalpine Daphnia in western North America

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Higher β‐ and γ‐diversity at species and genetic levels in headwaters than in mid‐order streams in Hydropsyche (Trichoptera)

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Aquatic grazers reduce the establishment and growth of riparian plants along an environmental gradient

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One-dimensional TRFLP-SSCP is an effective DNA fingerprinting strategy for soil Archaea that is able to simultaneously differentiate broad taxonomic clades based on terminal fragment length polymorphisms and closely related sequences based on single stranded conformation polymorphisms

DNA fingerprinting methods provide a means to rapidly compare microbial assemblages from environmental samples without the need to first cultivate species in the laboratory. The profiles generated by these techniques are able to identify statistically significant temporal and spatial patterns, correlations to environmental gradients, and biological variability to estimate the number of replicates for clone libraries or next generation sequencing (NGS) surveys. Here we describe an improved DNA fingerprinting technique that combines terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms (TRFLP) and single stranded conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) so that both can be used to profile a sample simultaneously rather than requiring two sequential steps as in traditional two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. For the purpose of profiling Archaeal 16S rRNA genes from soil, the dynamic range of this combined 1-D TRFLP-SSCP approach was superior to TRFLP and SSCP. 1-D TRFLP-SSCP was able to distinguish broad taxonomic clades with genetic distances greater than 10%, such as Euryarchaeota and the Thaumarchaeal clades g_Ca. Nitrososphaera (formerly 1.1b) and o_NRP-J (formerly 1.1c) better than SSCP. In addition, 1-D TRFLP-SSCP was able to simultaneously distinguish closely related clades within a genus such as s_SCA1145 and s_SCA1170 better than TRFLP. We also tested the utility of 1-D TRFLP-SSCP fingerprinting of environmental assemblages by comparing this method to the generation of a 16S rRNA clone library of soil Archaea from a restored Tallgrass prairie. This study shows 1-D TRFLP-SSCP fingerprinting provides a rapid and phylogenetically informative screen of Archaeal 16S rRNA genes in soil samples.     

Fifty years of Bird Study

Capsule Field ornithology is alive and well, and in the future can contribute much more in Britain and elsewhere.

Aims To review the progress of field ornithology in Britain in the context of Bird Study and the British Trust for Ornithology.

Methods An overview was taken of the main subject areas published in Bird Study to characterize progress over 50 years. Some quantification of data on the main bird organizations was performed.

ResultsKnowledge of status and trends of British birds has moved from the qualitative to generally well detailed quantitative over the past 50 years. Causes of distribution and changes are increasingly well understood in terms of habitat and of population processes. Behaviour and ecology have grown to be separate disciplines in their own right although birds have been major subjects of study within them. Migration studies have lagged somewhat in Britain but advanced elsewhere in recent decades. Amongst the main bird organizations, the BTO still has a growing membership, that of the RSPB has reached an astonishing level but may be nearing a plateau while the BOU's membership is clearly in decline.

Conclusions Field ornithology has made a large contribution to the environmental debate and the future is set for further integration across disciplines in answering large-scale questions. Great public interest has supported the growth of ornithology with a big switch from amateur to professional workers. There is a major challenge to exploit the value of birds in promoting interest in the environment and delivering sound facts to support the biodiversity debate elsewhere on Earth. Fifty years of history in Britain indicate what is possible.