Correlation between acoustic divergence and phylogenetic distance in soniferous European gobiids (Gobiidae; Gobius lineage)

In fish, species identity can be encoded by sounds, which have been thoroughly investigated in European gobiids (Gobiidae, Gobius lineage). Recent evolutionary studies suggest that deterministic and/or stochastic forces could generate acoustic differences among related animal species, though this has not been investigated in any teleost group to date. In the present comparative study, we analysed the sounds from nine soniferous gobiids and quantitatively assessed their acoustic variability. Our interspecific acoustic study, incorporating for the first time the representative acoustic signals from the majority of soniferous gobiids, suggested that their sounds are truly species-specific (92% of sounds correctly classified into exact species) and each taxon possesses a unique set of spectro-temporal variables. In addition, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships from a concatenated molecular dataset consisting of multiple molecular markers to track the evolution of acoustic signals in soniferous gobiids. The results of this study indicated that the genus Padogobius is polyphyletic, since P. nigricans was nested within the Ponto-Caspian clade, while the congeneric P. bonelli turned out to be a sister taxon to the remaining investigated soniferous species. Lastly, by extracting the acoustic and genetic distance matrices, sound variability and genetic distance were correlated for the first time to assess whether sound evolution follows a similar phylogenetic pattern. The positive correlation between the sound variability and genetic distance obtained here emphasizes that certain acoustic features from representative sounds could carry the phylogenetic signal in soniferous gobiids. Our study was the first attempt to evaluate the mutual relationship between acoustic variation and genetic divergence in any teleost fish

Social and musical structure of the klapa singing style, Dalmatia and Vancouver

This study examines both the social and musical characteristics of klapa singing. Comparative analysis of the klapa in Dalmatia, its place of origin, and the klapa in Vancouver is the focus. The field work for this project took place on two occasions: during the regular practices of klapa "Zvonimir", and in a series of individual interviews. The interviews were with the oldest member and one of the organisers of the klapa "Zvonimir", Jozo Cvitanovic. A traditional folk klapa was, and to an extent still is, an informal group of friends, usually brought together by similar interests, age group or occupations. Festival klapa, on the other hand, is a formally organized group with regular rehearsals and performances, whose members, as a rule, are people of various occupations and diverse musical tastes. Socially and musically, klapa singing has always been progressive for its time, which is surely the reason why this folk tradition has remained successful for such a long period.Arts, Faculty ofMusic, School ofGraduat

Quantification of intrahost genetic diversity of Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV-1) infecting Atlantic and Chinook salmon

The decline in populations of wild Pacific salmon is of great concern given their importance to Indigenous Peoples of Canada, Pacific Northwest ecosystems, and commercial fisheries. Contagious diseases may contribute to these losses. Piscine orthoreovirus 1 (PRV-1) is a pathogen recently linked to Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (HSMI) in farmed British Columbian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and jaundice/anemia in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Characterizing the genetic diversity of PRV-1 is foundational to understanding its relationship with salmon disease. PRV-1 is an RNA virus, and as such undergoes error-prone replication that leads to high mutation rates and pathogenic capacity. Reoviruses (respiratory enteric orphan viruses) are intermittently associated with diseases in a broad number of hosts including reptiles, birds, and humans, where their ability to trigger targeted host immune response is being exploited for oncolytics. While genetic differences in the majority proportion of a viral population infecting an individual host are captured at the consensus level, it is possible that minority mutations with equal or greater epidemiological effects can remain undetected. For this reason, it is important to quantify not only the genetic diversity of viral populations across hosts, but also within hosts. This study analyzes sequences of 102 samples from various PRV-1 positive tissues and blood of BC Atlantic, Chinook, and coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) salmon spanning 7 years and 43 geographical locations, using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatic approaches. Results demonstrate intrahost viral genetic variation with the majority of mutations being nonsynonymous. Analysis of within-host genetic diversity revealed significant differences in the genome segments S1 and L2 encoding the cytotoxic protein and capping enzyme, respectively. Together, within and among host analysis showed loci with increased genetic diversity in the cytotoxic and attachment encoding segments. Additionally, a preliminary connection between patterns of elevated within host genetic diversity and persistent HSMI was observed, that could serve as an indicator of disease. Analysis among hosts also revealed a genetically distinct PRV-1 variant circulating in wild Columbia River Chinook salmon. The results presented in this thesis provide an example of how and why considering different scales of reovirus genetic diversity can inform host health.Science, Faculty ofMicrobiology and Immunology, Department ofGraduat

Ancient connections among the European rivers and watersheds revealed from the evolutionary history of the genus Telestes (Actinopterygii; Cypriniformes)

In order to better understand the complex geologic history of the Mediterranean area, we have analysed evolutionary history, phylogeographic structure and molecular diversity of freshwater fishes belonging to the genus Telestes. As primary freshwater fishes distributed largely in the Mediterranean basin, this genus represents a suitable model system for investigating the historical biogeography of freshwater drainage systems in southern Europe. In this investigation we have included samples representing all Telestes species and based our analyses on one mitochondrial and one nuclear gene. We have investigated phylogenetic structure inside the genus Telestes, estimated divergence times, reconstructed ancestral distribution ranges and described intraspecific molecular diversity. Diversification of Telestes started in the Early Miocene, when the ancestors of T. souffia, lineage comprising T. croaticus and T. fontinalis, and the one comprising T. pleurobipunctatus and T. beoticus got isolated. The remaining species are genetically more closely related and form a common cluster in the recovered phylogenetic trees. Complex geological history of southern Europe, including formation of continental bridges, fragmentation of landmass, closing of the sea corridor, local tectonic activities, led to complicated biogeographical pattern of this genus, caused by multiple colonization events and passovers between ancient rivers and water basins. Especially pronounced diversity of Telestes found in the Adriatic watershed in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a consequence of a triple colonization of this area by different lineages, which led to an existence of genetically distinct species in neighboring areas. Significant intraspecific structuring is present in T. souffia, T. muticellus, T. croaticus and T. pleurobipunctatus. Besides in well-structured species, elevated levels of genetic polymorphism were found inside T. turskyi and T. ukliva, as a consequence of their old origin and unconstrained evolutionary history.This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (project GA15-19382S). IB received support from the SYNTHESYS Programme project CZ-TAF-4228 at the National Museum Prague, financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 "Capacities" Programme. RS also received support from the SYNTHESYS Programme project ES-TAF-1187 at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 "Structuring the European Research Area" Programme.Peer reviewe