Regional Genetic Structure in the Aquatic Macrophyte Ruppia cirrhosa Suggests Dispersal by Waterbirds

The evolutionary history of the genus Ruppia has been shaped by hybridization, polyploidisation and vicariance that have resulted in a problematic taxonomy. Recent studies provided insight into species circumscription, organelle takeover by hybridization, and revealed the importance of verifying species identification to avoid distorting effects of mixing different species, when estimating population connectivity. In the present study, we use microsatellite markers to determine population diversity and connectivity patterns in Ruppia cirrhosa including two spatial scales: (1) from the Atlantic Iberian coastline in Portugal to the Siculo-Tunisian Strait in Sicily and (2) within the Iberian Peninsula comprising the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition. The higher diversity in the Mediterranean Sea suggests that populations have had longer persistence there, suggesting a possible origin and/or refugial area for the species. The high genotypic diversities highlight the importance of sexual reproduction for survival and maintenance of populations. Results revealed a regional population structure matching a continent-island model, with strong genetic isolation and low gene flow between populations. This population structure could be maintained by waterbirds, acting as occasional dispersal vectors. This information elucidates ecological strategies of brackish plant species in coastal lagoons, suggesting mechanisms used by this species to colonize new isolated habitats and dominate brackish aquatic macrophyte systems, yet maintaining strong genetic structure suggestive of very low dispersal.Fundacao para a Cincia e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) [PTDC/MAR/119363/2010, BIODIVERSA/0004/2015, UID/Multi/04326/2013]Pew FoundationSENECA FoundationMurcia Government, Spain [11881/PI/09]FCT Investigator Programme-Career Development [IF/00998/2014]Spanish Ministry of Education [AP2008-01209]European Community [00399/2012]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In-Situ-Sanierung kohlenwasserstoffbelasteter Boeden. Bd. 2 Teilprojekt: Mikrobiologische Untersuchungen zum Kohlenwasserstoffabbau. Abschlussbericht

One aim of the subproject at the department of microbiology was to identify microorganisms capable of degrading components of soil pollutants typically emitted by gas works. Binuclear, trinuclear, and tetranuclear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were used as test substances, namely naphthaliene, phenanthrene, fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene. The results show that there are numerous and diverse competent microbial species in the soil of the gas works premises in the east of Karlsruhe. Of the 23 soil samples examined 20 contained PAH degrading microorganisms. Of the 355 isolates tested individually 168 degraded naphthalene, 34 enthracene, 37 fluorene, 25 fluoranthene, and 5 pyrene. Competent pure and mixed cultures were isolated for each of the model substances used. This shows that the antochtonous populations have adapted to the conditions after the accident and that the soil contains PAH degrading microorganisms (70% of isolates in a sample). The PAH degrading bacteria belong to different species: many were identified as pseudomonas sp., but alcaligues sp., acinetobacter sp. and myobacterium sp. were also found. (orig./EF)Ein Schwerpunkt des Teilprojektes am Lehrstuhl fuer Mikrobiologie war die Erfassung der Mikroorganismen, die Komponenten von gaswerksspezifischen Bodenkontaminationen abbauen koennen. Als Leitsubstanzen wurden die 2-, 3-, und 4-kernigen polyzyklischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAK) Naphthalin, Phenanthren, Fluoren, Anthracen, Fluoranthen und Pyren ausgewaehlt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen deutlich die hohe Anzahl und Diversitaet kompetenter Mikroorganismen im Boden des ehemaligen Gaswerksgelaendes Karlsruhe-Ost. Insgesamt wurden in 20 von 23 untersuchten Bodenproben PAK-verwertende Mikroorganismen nachgewiesen. Von 355 einzeln getesteten Isolaten verwerteten 168 Naphthalin, 163 Phenanthren, 34 Anthracen, 37 Fluoren, 25 Fluoranthen und 5 Pyren. Fuer jede verwendete Modellsubstanz wurden kompetente Misch- und Reinkulturen isoliert. Dies zeigte, dass sich die autochthonen Populationen an den Schadensfall angepasst haben und PAK-verwertende Mikroorganismen im Boden vorhanden waren (bis zu 70% aller Isolate einer Probe). Die PAK-verwertenden Bakterien gehoerten zu verschiedenen Gattungen: viele wurden als Pseudomonas sp. identifiziert, aber auch Alcaligenes sp., Acinetobacter sp. und Mycobacterium sp. wurden nachgewiesen. (orig./EF)Available from TIB Hannover: F94B0522+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Clonal architecture in an intertidal bed of the dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltii in the Northern Wadden Sea: persistence through extreme physical perturbation and the importance of a seed bank

Genotypic structure and temporal dynamics of the dwarf seagrass, Zostera noltii, were studied in an intertidal meadow that has persisted since prior to 1936 near the Wadden Sea island of Sylt. Samples were collected from two 10 × 10 m plots separated by 250 m from May 2002 to June 2005 and from four 1 × 1 m plots from June 2003 to September 2004. All the samples were genotyped with nine microsatellite loci. No genotypes were shared between the plots separated by 250 m. Genetic diversity was higher in the Wadden Sea than in the other regions of its geographic range. The average clone size (genets) (SD) in the two plots was 1.38 (0.26) and 1.46 (0.4) m², respectively, with a range up to 9 m² and <20% persisted for >4 years. A high genetic and genotypic diversity was maintained by annual recruitment of seedlings despite a dramatic decrease in ramet density that coincided with the severe heat stress event of 2003. Fine-scale (1 m²) analysis suggested that extensive loss of seagrass cover precluded space competition among the genets, while a persistent seed bank prevented local extinction. Long-term persistence of Z. noltii meadows in the intertidal Wadden Sea was achieved by high genet turnover and frequent seedling recruitment from a seed bank, in contrast to the low diversity observed in large and long-living clones of Z. noltii and other seagrasses in subtidal habitats

Data from: O father where art thou? Paternity analyses in a natural population of the haploid-diploid seaweed Chrondrus crispus

The link between life history traits and mating systems in diploid organisms has been extensively addressed in the literature, whereas the degree of selfing and/or inbreeding in natural populations of haploid–diploid organisms, in which haploid gametophytes alternate with diploid sporophytes, has been rarely measured. Dioecy has often been used as a proxy for the mating system in these organisms. Yet, dioecy does not prevent the fusion of gametes from male and female gametophytes originating from the same sporophyte. This is likely a common occurrence when spores from the same parent are dispersed in clumps and recruit together. This pattern of clumped spore dispersal has been hypothesized to explain significant heterozygote deficiency in the dioecious haploid–diploid seaweed Chondrus crispus. Fronds and cystocarps (structures in which zygotes are mitotically amplified) were sampled in two 25 m2 plots located within a high and a low intertidal zone and genotyped at 5 polymorphic microsatellite loci in order to explore the mating system directly using paternity analyses. Multiple males sired cystocarps on each female, but only one of the 423 paternal genotypes corresponded to a field-sampled gametophyte. Nevertheless, larger kinship coefficients were detected between males siring cystocarps on the same female in comparison with males in the entire population, confirming restricted spermatial and clumped spore dispersal. Such dispersal mechanisms may be a mode of reproductive assurance due to nonmotile gametes associated with putatively reduced effects of inbreeding depression because of the free-living haploid stage in C. crispus