A phylogeny of the tinamous (Aves: Palaeognathiformes) based on integumentary characters

A cladistic analysis of the tinamous, including the 47 currently recognized species and some distinct subspecies, was conducted based on 80 integumentary characters from adult and natal plumage, ramphoteca (corneum sheath of bill), and podoteca (horny scales of legs). For the adult plumage (50 characters), we studied feather pigmentation patterns from different pterylae (feather tracts). A criterion of overlap of basic pigmentation elements was used to assign costs to the transformation between the states in most of these characters in such a way that transformations between more similar conditions were less costly. The consensus tree was almost fully resolved, and about 50% of its groups were relatively well supported. Because the only outgroup that could be used provided a poor root, two possible rootings of the ingroup subtree were considered; in both cases, only one of the two traditional subfamilies (the steppe tinamous) was recovered, and the other (the forest tinamous) appeared as paraphyletic. The results of the present analysis are compared with those from an osteological data set, using a strict supertree technique. The combined tree has a large number of nodes, indicating a high degree of congruence between the two data sets.Fil: Bertelli, Sara Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Goloboff, Pablo Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentin

On the use of integumentary characters in bird phylogeny: the case of Tinamus osgoodi (Palaeognathae: Tinamidae) and plumage charcater coding

Los caracteres tegumentarios raramente han sido incluidos en Ornitología Sistemática, a pesar de que la mayoría de los caracteres utilizados para diferenciar especies son de plumaje, ranfoteca (cubierta córnea del pico y narinas) y podoteca (escamas de las patas), y de que muchos de estos caracteres contribuyen a las diagnosis tradicionales de los grandes grupos de Órdenes. Varios estudios recientes han utilizado caracteres tegumentarios en un contexto cladístico, en particular, una filogenia comprensiva de perdices que incluyó a los 9 géneros, todas las 47 especies actualmente reconocidas, y algunas de las subpecies claramente definidas. En este trabajo re-evaluamos la posición en dicha filogenia de la especie oscura Tinamus osgoodi. En análisis previos, esta perdiz selvática había sido recuperada junto a las especies de Crypturellus, que también tienen plumaje de colores oscuros. Todas estas especies son posiblemente melánicas, o presentan un patrón de coloración de plumaje que afecta a muchos pterylae a la vez. Discutimos la dependencia de algunos caracteres del plumaje de perdices, y re-analizamos la matriz de datos tegumentaria recodificando dichos caracteres en las especies oscuras. Utilizando pesos implicados para la reconstrucción filogenética, recuperamos la mayoría de los agrupamientos esperados, incluyendo a Tinamus osgoodi como un miembro de su género. Es interesante destacar que la posición de dicha especie no influyó en las especies oscuras de Crypturellus, las cuales podrían haber sido afectadas por el mismo esquema de codificación, y sin embargo, se agruparon junto a sus congéneres, indicando que la interacción con otros caracteres jugó un papel crucial en la recuperación de estos taxa en sus respectivos géneros. Finalmente, comentamos sobre el uso de caracteres tegumentarios y la incidencia de su codificación en Ornitología SistemáticaIntegumentary characters have rarely been included in Systematic Ornithology in spite of the fact that most characters used to differentiate species are of plumage, ramphoteca (corneous sheath of the bill and nares) and podoteca (horny scales of the legs), and many such characters contribute to higher-order groupings of traditional diagnosis. Several recent studies have used integumentary characters in a cladistic context, particularly a comprehensive phylogeny of tinamous that included the 9 genera, all 47 currently recognized species, and some distinct subspecies. Here we re-evaluate the position in that phylogeny of the uniformly dark species Tinamus osgoodi. This forest tinamou was recovered in the previous analysis as closely related to species of Crypturellus that also exhibited dark plumage coloration. All these species are possibly melanic, or alternatively, exhibit a plumage coloration pattern affecting many pterylae at once. We discuss the nonindependence of some plumage characters of tinamous, and re-analize the integumentary data set by re-coding these characters for the dark species. Using implied-weights for phylogeny reconstruction, we recover most of the expected groupings, including Tinamus osgoodi as one member of its genus. Interestingly this position did not influence the dark Crypturellus species, which could have been affected by the same coding scheme but instead grouped together with their congeners, indicating that interaction with other characters played a crucial role in the recovery of these taxa in their respective genera. Finally, we comment on the usefulness of integumentary characters and the incidence of their coding in Systematic OrnithologyFil: Bertelli, Sara Beatriz. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; Argentin

Pleistocene extinction and geographic singularity explain differences in global felid ensemble structure

Extant felids are hyper-carnivorous predators that originated in Asia c. 11 Mya and diversified in 8 distinct lineages, with 41 species surviving to the Recent. These species occupy almost every terrestrial habitat available in the four continental land masses they occupy and exhibit morphological and behavioral specializations to various locomotor styles and hunting modes. Today, distinct felid ensembles inhabit each continent and major biogeographic region. How the differential structuring of these ensembles was generated, and which evolutionary processes shaped these differences across ensembles, are key emerging questions. Using multivariate statistics, we analyzed a large dataset of 31 cranial and 92 postcranial linear variables describing shape and functional proxies of the entire skeleton of extant felids. We statistically demonstrate the existence of nine felid morphotypes at the global scale, whose occurrence is characteristic of different continental or biogeographic ensembles. Phylogenetically explicit analyses show that morphotypes from different felid lineages converged in different continents, but still ensembles remain distinct due to the fact that various morphotypes are missing in several of those ensembles. However, fossil evidence suggests that most of these missing morphotypes were represented by species from those territories that went extinct during the Quaternary. Furthermore, reconstructing the hypothetical felid ensembles before Pleistocene extinctions rendered the continental felid faunas remarkably more similar to each other than they presently are, leaving their remaining, relatively minor differences to outstanding geographic singularities of each continental land mass.Fil: Morales, Miriam Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentin

Ecomorphology of the African felid ensemble: the role of the skull and postcranium in determining species segregation and assembling history

Morphology of extant felids is regarded as highly conservative. Most previous studies have focussed on skull morphology, so a vacuum exists about morphofunctional variation in postcranium and its role in structuring ensembles of felids in different continents. The African felid ensemble is particularly rich in ecologically specialized felids. We studied the ecomorphology of this ensemble using 31 cranial and 93 postcranial morphometric variables measured in 49 specimens of all 10 African species. We took a multivariate approach controlling for phylogeny, with and without body size correction. Postcranial and skull + postcranial analyses (but not skull-only analyses) allowed for a complete segregation of species in morphospace. Morphofunctional factors segregating species included body size, bite force, zeugopodial lengths and osteological features related to parasagittal leg movement. A general gradient of bodily proportions was recovered: lightly built, long-legged felids with small heads and weak bite forces vs. the opposite. Three loose groups were recognized: small terrestrial felids, mid-to-large sized scansorial felids and specialized Acinonyx jubatus and Leptailurus serval. As predicted from a previous study, the assembling of the African felid ensemble during the Plio-Pleistocene occurred by the arrival of distinct felid lineages that occupied then vacant areas of morphospace, later diversifying in the continent.Fil: Morales, Miriam Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; Argentin

Aerodynamic reconstruction of the primitive fossil bat Onychonycteris finneyi (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight. One of the oldest bats known from a complete skeleton is Onychonycteris finneyi from the Early Eocene (Green River Formation, Wyoming, 52.5 Ma). Estimated to weigh approximately 40 g, Onychonycteris exhibits the most primitive combination of characters thus far known for bats. Here, we reconstructed the aerofoil of the two known specimens, calculated basic aerodynamic variables and compared them with those of extant bats and gliding mammals. Onychonycteris appears in the edges of the morphospace for bats, underscoring the primitive conformation of its flight apparatus. Low aerodynamic efficiency is inferred for this extinct species as compared to any extant bat. When we estimated aerofoil variables in a model of Onychonycteris excluding the handwing, it closely approached the morphospace of extant gliding mammals. Addition of a handwing to the model lacking this structure results in a 2.3-fold increase in aspect ratio and a 28% decrease in wing loading, thus greatly enhancing aerodynamics. In the context of these models, the rapid evolution of the chiropteran handwing via genetically mediated developmental changes appears to have been a key transformation in the hypothesized transition from gliding to flapping in early bats.Fil: Amador, Lucila Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Simmons, Nancy B.. American Museum of Natural History; Estados UnidosFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. American Museum of Natural History; Estados Unido

Evolution of pollination by frugivorous birds in Neotropical Myrtaceae

Bird pollination is relatively common in the tropics, and especially in the Americas. In the predominantly Neotropical tribe Myrteae (Myrtaceae), species of two genera, Acca and Myrrhinium, offer fleshy, sugary petals to the consumption of birds that otherwise eat fruits, thus pollinating the plants in an unusual plant-animal interaction. The phylogenetic position of these genera has been problematic, and therefore, so was the understanding of the evolution of this interaction. Here we include new sequences of Myrrhinium atropurpureum in a comprehensive molecular phylogeny based on a balanced sample of two plastid and two nuclear markers, with the aim of providing the historical framework of pollination by frugivorous birds in Myrteae. We developed 13 flower and inflorescence characters that comprehensively depict the macroscopic morphological components of this interaction. Bayesian and parsimony phylogenies concur in placing both Acca and Myrrhinium in a clade with Psidium species; with Myrrhinium sister to Psidium. Mapping of morphological characters indicated some degree of convergence (e.g., fleshy petals, purplish display) but also considerable divergence in key characters that point to rather opposing pollination strategies and also different degrees of specialization in Acca versus Myrrhinium. Pollination by frugivorous birds represents a special case of mutualism that highlights the evolutionary complexities of plant-animal interactions.Fil: Nadra, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Aagesen, Lone. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentin

Evolucion de la masa corporal en la filogenia de paleognatas actuales y fósiles

Palaeognathae es el clado basalde Neornithes, que incluye alas neotropicales Tinamidae o perdices, las ratites (las actualeskiwis, emúes, avestruces, casuares y ñandúes, y las recientementeextintas moas y aves elefantes), y otras aves fósiles comoLithornis,Palaeotisy Diogenornisdel Eoceno temprano (~55 millones de años). El tamaño corporal enel grupo varía desde grandes aves como la extinta Aepyornismaximus con un pesoestimado de 409 kgs a la perdiz enana Taoniscusnanus de 45 gramos. Eneste trabajo reconstruimos la evolución del tamaño corporal de laspaleognatas en base a la optimización de datos de masa corporalcuidadosamente curados de taxa actuales y fósiles. La estimaciónmás reciente del tamaño corporal del ancestro de paleognatas fue de 3,5-5 kgs y ese valor se hereda en el ancestro de Tinamidae. Encontraste, nuestra estimación de esta masa corporal ancestral esmayor, con numerosos cambios en los linajes de ratites y una fuertereducción en el linaje de Tinamidae.Fil: Bertelli, Sara Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaXIII Reunion Argentina de Cladistica y BiogeografíaSan Miguel de TucumanArgentinaFundación Miguel LilloUniversidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturale

Each flying fox on its own branch:a phylogenetic tree for Pteropus and related genera (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Pteropodidae is a diverse Old World family of non-echolocating, frugivorous and nectarivorous bats that includes the flying foxes (genus Pteropus) and allied genera. The subfamily Pteropodinae includes the largest living bats and is distributed across an immense geographic range from islands in East Africa to the Cook Islands of Polynesia. These bats are keystone species in their ecosystems and some carry zoonotic diseases that are increasingly a focus of interest in biomedical research. Here we present a comprehensive phylogeny for pteropodines focused on Pteropus. The analyses included 50 of the 63 species of Pteropus and 11 species from 7 related genera. We obtained sequences of the cytochrome b and the 12S rRNA mitochondrial genes for all species and sequences of the nuclear RAG1, vWF, and BRCA1 genes for a subsample of taxa. Some of the sequences of Pteropus were obtained from skin biopsies of museum specimens including that of an extinct species, P. tokudae. The resulting trees recovered Pteropus as monophyletic, although further work is needed to determine whether P. personatus belongs in the genus. Monophyly of the majority of traditionally-recognized Pteropus species groups was rejected, but statistical support was strong for several clades on which we based a new classification of the Pteropus species into 13 species groups. Other noteworthy results emerged regarding species status of several problematic taxa, including recognition of P. capistratus and P. ennisae as distinct species, paraphyly of the P. hypomelanus complex, and conspecific status of P. pelewensis pelewensis and P. p. yapensis. Relationships among the pteropodine genera were not completely resolved with the current dataset. Divergence time analysis suggests that Pteropus originated in the Miocene and that two independent bursts of diversification occurred in the Pleistocene in different regions of the Indo-Pacific realm.Fil: Cunha Almeida, Francisca. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Simmons, Nancy B.. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados UnidosFil: Helgen, Kristofer M.. National Museum of Natural History; Estados Unido

Nuevos registros del raro Histiotus magellanicus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) y otros murciélagos de Patagonia Central, Argentina

Histiotus magellanicus (Philippi, 1866) is a poorly known Patagonian bat. Here we report on nine newly captured specimens and one unpublished locality from museum specimen that significantly improve our knowledge of this species' distribution, by incorporating two Argentine provinces and reducing the distributional gap between northern and southern historical records. The new records confirm H. magellanicus as a Subantarctic Forests endemic. In addition, we report new specimens and localities from four poorly known Patagonian bats for Chubut province: Histiotus macrotus, Myotis chiloensis, Lasiurus varius (Vespertilionidae) and Tadarida brasiliensis (Molossidae).Histiotus magellanicus (Philippi, 1866) es un murciélago patagónico muy pobremente conocido. Aquí reportamos nueve especímenes recientemente capturados y un espécimen de colección cuya localidad no había sido reportada hasta el momento. Las localidades aportadas mejoran considerablemente nuestro conocimiento de su distribución, incorporando a ella dos nuevas provincias argentinas y reduciendo considerablemente el vacío de datos entre los registros históricos del norte y sur de Patagonia. Los nuevos registros confirman a H. magellanicus como especie endémica de la ecorregión del Bosque Subantártico. Adicionalmente reportamos especímenes y localidades nuevos para la provincia de Chubut representando cuatro especies patagónicas pobremente conocidas: Histiotus macrotus, Myotis chiloensis, Lasiurus varius (Vespertilionidae) y Tadarida brasiliensis (Molossidae).Fil: Giménez, Analía Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Schiaffini, Mauro Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; ArgentinaFil: Martin, Gabriel Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; Argentin

Biomimetic hydroxyapatite nanocrystals are an active carrier for Salmonella bacteriophages

open access articlePurpose: The use of bacteriophages represents a valid alternative to conventional antimicrobial treatments, overcoming the widespread bacterial antibiotic resistance phenomenon. In this work, we evaluated whether biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals are able to enhance some properties of bacteriophages. The final goal of this study was to demonstrate that biomimetic HA nanocrystals can be used for bacteriophage delivery in the context of bacterial infections, and contribute – at the same time – to enhance some of the biological properties of the same bacteriophages such as stability, preservation, antimicrobial activity, and so on. Materials and methods: Phage isolation and characterization were carried out by using Mitomycin C and following double-layer agar technique. The biomimetic HA water suspension was synthesized in order to obtain nanocrystals with plate-like morphology and nanometric dimensions. The interaction of phages with the HA was investigated by dynamic light scattering and Zeta potential analyses. The cytotoxicity and intracellular killing activities of the phage–HA complex were evaluated in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. The bacterial inhibition capacity of the complex was assessed on chicken minced meat samples infected with Salmonella Rissen. Results: Our data highlighted that the biomimetic HA nanocrystal–bacteriophage complex was more stable and more effective than phages alone in all tested experimental conditions. Conclusion: Our results evidenced the important contribution of biomimetic HA nanocrystals: they act as an excellent carrier for bacteriophage delivery and enhance its biological characteristics. This study confirmed the significant role of the mineral HA when it is complexed with biological entities like bacteriophages, as it has been shown for molecules such as lactoferrin