19 research outputs found
Population structure and diversity of an invasive pine needle pathogen reflects anthropogenic activity
Dothistroma septosporum is a haploid fungal pathogen that causes a serious needle
blight disease of pines, particularly as an invasive alien species on Pinus radiata
in the Southern Hemisphere. During the course of the last two decades,
the pathogen has also incited unexpected epidemics on native and non-native
pine hosts in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the biology and ecology of
the pathogen has been well documented, there is a distinct lack of knowledge
regarding its movement or genetic diversity in many of the countries where it
is found. In this study we determined the global population diversity and structure
of 458 isolates of D. septosporum from 14 countries on six continents using
microsatellite markers. Populations of the pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere,
where pines are native, displayed high genetic diversities and included
both mating types. Most of the populations from Europe showed evidence for
random mating, little population differentiation and gene flow between countries.
Populations in North America (USA) and Asia (Bhutan) were genetically
distinct but migration between these continents and Europe was evident. In the
Southern Hemisphere, the population structure and diversity of D. septosporum
reflected the anthropogenic history of the introduction and establishment of
plantation forestry, particularly with Pinus radiata. Three introductory lineages
in the Southern Hemisphere were observed. Countries in Africa, that have had
the longest history of pine introductions, displayed the greatest diversity in the
pathogen population, indicating multiple introductions. More recent introductions
have occurred separately in South America and Australasia where the
pathogen population is currently reproducing clonally due to the presence of
only one mating type.The Department
of Science and Technology (DST)/National
Research Foundation (NRF), the Tree
Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP),
the Claude Leon Foundation and the THRIP
initiative of the Department of Trade and
Industry, South Africa.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.comjournal/10.1002/(ISSN)2045-7758am201
Three Decades of Subterranean Acoustic Communication Studies
The subterranean environment has strongly influenced the evolution of the sensory biology of subterranean rodents. While dark and monotonous tunnels have led to reductions in the visual capabilities of some species, other senses appear to be highly developed in contrast. Among them, the emission of acoustic and seismic signals plays a major role in communication and alertness of subterranean mammals. In this chapter, the ecological and evolutionary conditions that influence the characteristics of vibrational communication in subterranean rodents are reviewed. First, the characteristics of rodents’ burrows and how they dictate the methods used to study subterranean communication are discussed. Second, the properties and roles of vocalizations and seismic signals in subterranean species are examined, including the main hypotheses about the evolution of these signals. Third, what is understood about social and vocal complexity in subterranean rodents is summarized and the similarities and differences in the vocal repertoires of social and solitary groups are analyzed. The chapter ends with a short summary and a consideration of future challenges in the field of subterranean acoustic communication in rodents.Fil: Schleich, Cristian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Francescoli Gilardini, Gabriel Enrique. Universidad de la República; Urugua