Phyletic relations within Synocheta Legrand, 1946 section (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) of the Balkan Peninsula

Aktuelna sistematika sekcije Synocheta na gotovo svim nivoima ne odražava realne filetičke  veze.  Neobična distribucija, nejasni diferencijalni  karakteri familije Styloniscidae  i njene veze sa familijom Trichoniscidae su problematični. Kriterijumi podele Trichoniscidae na podfamilije su nejasni, nedosledni i često neprimenljivi.  Otuda ne čudi krajnje uprošćena podela koja ne oslikava realne filetičke odnose unutar grupe, koji su znatno kompleksniji.  Od 593 vrste Synocheta, trećina (većinom  endemita), naseljava Balkan, što nameće  ovo područje  kao  jedan od centara diverzifikacije  i  diverziteta  grupe,  i čini  ga idealnim za sagledavanje  realnih  filetičkih  odnosa.  Ovo  je  definisalo  glavne  ciljeve  naše  studije:  što potpunije  sagledavanje  faune  balkanskih  Synocheta  kroz  taksonomsku  obradu;  utvrđivanje filetičkih veza  na osnovu kompleksa relevantnih karaktera uporednim analizama, sa težištem na konzervativnijim karakterima, što do sada nije učinjeno.  Konstatovali smo u balkanskoj fauni iz familije Styloniscidae 4 roda sa 15 vrsta, od toga 3 roda i 4 vrste su nove za nauku; iz familije Trichoniscidae 33 roda sa 176 vrsta, od toga 1 novi rod i 18 novih vrsta. Od tog broja 27 rodova i 161 vrsta Synocheta je endemično za Balkan.  Kod Styloniscidae smo utvrdili znatno veći diverzitet i heterogenost od onoga što je bilo  do  sada  poznato,  što  ukazuje  na  moguće  poreklo  ove  grupe  sa  prostora  severne Gondvane (delom inkorporirane u prostore Balkana), zajedničko sa familijom  Trichoniscidae. Rekonstruisali  smo  najznačajnije  momente  u  filogeniji  Trichoniscidae:  vrlo  rano razviće  konglobacije,  uz  masivan  integument  i  razvijenu  ornamentiku  kao  adaptacije; prelazak  na  zaštitu  stereotaksacijom;  evolucija  ka  aktivnijoj  zaštiti  i  gubitku  „oklopa”  što dovodi do velike adaptivne radijacije. Pri tome smo pokazali da su karakteri koji su smatrani izvedenim osobinama zapravo pleziomorfni. Predstavili smo osnovne  evolutivne tokove u familiji  Trichoniscidae, kao  i filetičke  veze  koje  proizilaze  iz  ove  studije:  Haplophthalminae  su  stara  grupa  koja  poseduje  niz pleziomorfnih karaktera; Buddelndiellinae su stara grupa sa znatno bližim filetičkim vezama sa  Haplophthalminae;  Thaumatoniscellinae  imaju  vrlo  davno  zajedničko  poreklo  sa Haplophthalminae; Trichoniscinae su mlađa, parafiletička grupa, a mnoge linije su nezavisno evoluirale od podfamilije Haplophthalminae.  Ovom  studijom  smo  u  nekim  segmentima  dokazali  dijametralno  suprotne,  znatno kompleksnije filetičke veze unutar Synocheta u odnosu na do sada prezentovane.Current  systematic  Synocheta  section  at  almost  all  levels  fails  to  reflect  the  real phyletic  relations.  Unusual  distribution  and  vague  differential  characters  of  Styloniscidae family  and  its  relationships  with  the  Trichoniscidae  family  are  problematic.  The  division criteria  for  forming  Trichoniscidae  subfamilies  are  unclear,  inconsistent  and  often unenforceable. Hence, the extremely simplified division that does not reflect the real phyletic relations within the group, which are much more complex, is not surprising. Of  593  Synocheta  species,  one  third  (mostly  endemic)  inhabit  the  Balkans,  which imposes this area as one of the centers of diversification and diversity of the group, and makes it ideal for the analysis of real phyletic relations. This defined the  main goals of our study: as complete assessment of the fauna of the Balkan Synocheta as achievable through taxonomic treatment; determining phyletic relations through comparative analyses based on the complex of relevant characters, with the emphasis on the more conservative ones, which has not been accomplished thus far. In  the  Balkan  fauna  of  the  Styloniscidae  family,  4  genera  with  15  species  were identified, of which 3 genera and 4 species are new to science; similarly, the 33 genera  with 176 species from the family Trichoniscidae found in Balkan fauna included one new genus and 18  new  species.  Of  that  number,  27  genera  and  161  Synocheta  species  are  endemic  to  the Balkans. In  Styloniscidae,  we  found  much  greater  diversity  and  heterogeneity  than  was previously established, which indicates that these groups possibly originate from the  northern Gondwana (partly incorporated into the Balkans area), in common with  Trichoniscidae family. We reconstructed the most important moments in the Trichoniscidae philogeny: early development  of  conglobation,  with  massive  integument  and  developed   rnamentation  as adaptations;  transition  into  protection  via  stereotaxation;  evolution  toward  more  active protection  and  loss  of  "armor",  which  leads  to  extensive  adaptive  radiation.  In  addition,  we have shown that the characters that were previously considered derived properties are actually plesiomorphic. We have presented the basic evolutionary trends in Trichoniscidae family, as well as phyletic relations arising from this study: Haplophthalminae are the ancient group  ossessing a wide range of plesiomorphic characters; Buddelndiellinae are the ancient  group with a much VI closer phyletic relations to Haplophthalminae; Thaumatoniscellinae share a common, and very distant, origin  with  Haplophthalminae; Trichoniscinae are a  younger paraphyletic  group and many  lines have evolved independently of the Haplophthalminae subfamily. In  this  study,  in  some  segments,  we  have  demonstrated  substantially  more  complex phyletic  relations  within  Synocheta,  diametrically  opposed  to  the  previously  presented findings

Phyletic relations within Synocheta Legrand, 1946 section (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) of the Balkan Peninsula

Aktuelna sistematika sekcije Synocheta na gotovo svim nivoima ne odražava realne filetičke  veze.  Neobična distribucija, nejasni diferencijalni  karakteri familije Styloniscidae  i njene veze sa familijom Trichoniscidae su problematični. Kriterijumi podele Trichoniscidae na podfamilije su nejasni, nedosledni i često neprimenljivi.  Otuda ne čudi krajnje uprošćena podela koja ne oslikava realne filetičke odnose unutar grupe, koji su znatno kompleksniji.  Od 593 vrste Synocheta, trećina (većinom  endemita), naseljava Balkan, što nameće  ovo područje  kao  jedan od centara diverzifikacije  i  diverziteta  grupe,  i čini  ga idealnim za sagledavanje  realnih  filetičkih  odnosa.  Ovo  je  definisalo  glavne  ciljeve  naše  studije:  što potpunije  sagledavanje  faune  balkanskih  Synocheta  kroz  taksonomsku  obradu;  utvrđivanje filetičkih veza  na osnovu kompleksa relevantnih karaktera uporednim analizama, sa težištem na konzervativnijim karakterima, što do sada nije učinjeno.  Konstatovali smo u balkanskoj fauni iz familije Styloniscidae 4 roda sa 15 vrsta, od toga 3 roda i 4 vrste su nove za nauku; iz familije Trichoniscidae 33 roda sa 176 vrsta, od toga 1 novi rod i 18 novih vrsta. Od tog broja 27 rodova i 161 vrsta Synocheta je endemično za Balkan.  Kod Styloniscidae smo utvrdili znatno veći diverzitet i heterogenost od onoga što je bilo  do  sada  poznato,  što  ukazuje  na  moguće  poreklo  ove  grupe  sa  prostora  severne Gondvane (delom inkorporirane u prostore Balkana), zajedničko sa familijom  Trichoniscidae. Rekonstruisali  smo  najznačajnije  momente  u  filogeniji  Trichoniscidae:  vrlo  rano razviće  konglobacije,  uz  masivan  integument  i  razvijenu  ornamentiku  kao  adaptacije; prelazak  na  zaštitu  stereotaksacijom;  evolucija  ka  aktivnijoj  zaštiti  i  gubitku  „oklopa”  što dovodi do velike adaptivne radijacije. Pri tome smo pokazali da su karakteri koji su smatrani izvedenim osobinama zapravo pleziomorfni. Predstavili smo osnovne  evolutivne tokove u familiji  Trichoniscidae, kao  i filetičke  veze  koje  proizilaze  iz  ove  studije:  Haplophthalminae  su  stara  grupa  koja  poseduje  niz pleziomorfnih karaktera; Buddelndiellinae su stara grupa sa znatno bližim filetičkim vezama sa  Haplophthalminae;  Thaumatoniscellinae  imaju  vrlo  davno  zajedničko  poreklo  sa Haplophthalminae; Trichoniscinae su mlađa, parafiletička grupa, a mnoge linije su nezavisno evoluirale od podfamilije Haplophthalminae.  Ovom  studijom  smo  u  nekim  segmentima  dokazali  dijametralno  suprotne,  znatno kompleksnije filetičke veze unutar Synocheta u odnosu na do sada prezentovane.Current  systematic  Synocheta  section  at  almost  all  levels  fails  to  reflect  the  real phyletic  relations.  Unusual  distribution  and  vague  differential  characters  of  Styloniscidae family  and  its  relationships  with  the  Trichoniscidae  family  are  problematic.  The  division criteria  for  forming  Trichoniscidae  subfamilies  are  unclear,  inconsistent  and  often unenforceable. Hence, the extremely simplified division that does not reflect the real phyletic relations within the group, which are much more complex, is not surprising. Of  593  Synocheta  species,  one  third  (mostly  endemic)  inhabit  the  Balkans,  which imposes this area as one of the centers of diversification and diversity of the group, and makes it ideal for the analysis of real phyletic relations. This defined the  main goals of our study: as complete assessment of the fauna of the Balkan Synocheta as achievable through taxonomic treatment; determining phyletic relations through comparative analyses based on the complex of relevant characters, with the emphasis on the more conservative ones, which has not been accomplished thus far. In  the  Balkan  fauna  of  the  Styloniscidae  family,  4  genera  with  15  species  were identified, of which 3 genera and 4 species are new to science; similarly, the 33 genera  with 176 species from the family Trichoniscidae found in Balkan fauna included one new genus and 18  new  species.  Of  that  number,  27  genera  and  161  Synocheta  species  are  endemic  to  the Balkans. In  Styloniscidae,  we  found  much  greater  diversity  and  heterogeneity  than  was previously established, which indicates that these groups possibly originate from the  northern Gondwana (partly incorporated into the Balkans area), in common with  Trichoniscidae family. We reconstructed the most important moments in the Trichoniscidae philogeny: early development  of  conglobation,  with  massive  integument  and  developed   rnamentation  as adaptations;  transition  into  protection  via  stereotaxation;  evolution  toward  more  active protection  and  loss  of  "armor",  which  leads  to  extensive  adaptive  radiation.  In  addition,  we have shown that the characters that were previously considered derived properties are actually plesiomorphic. We have presented the basic evolutionary trends in Trichoniscidae family, as well as phyletic relations arising from this study: Haplophthalminae are the ancient group  ossessing a wide range of plesiomorphic characters; Buddelndiellinae are the ancient  group with a much VI closer phyletic relations to Haplophthalminae; Thaumatoniscellinae share a common, and very distant, origin  with  Haplophthalminae; Trichoniscinae are a  younger paraphyletic  group and many  lines have evolved independently of the Haplophthalminae subfamily. In  this  study,  in  some  segments,  we  have  demonstrated  substantially  more  complex phyletic  relations  within  Synocheta,  diametrically  opposed  to  the  previously  presented findings

Nova troglobiontska vrsta Alpioniscus (Illyrionethes) iapodicus n. sp. (Crustacea: Oniscidea: Trichoniscidae) iz Like (Hrvatska)

Alpioniscus (Illyrionethes) iapodicus n. sp. is described and illustrated. Representing the 14th nominal species of the subgenus Illyrionethes from the Dinaric karst, it is a troglobiotic species collected from the caves in the central part of the Lika region, Croatia. The new species belongs to the strasseri group. Morphological characters differentiating A. iapodicus from other strasseri group representatives are discussed.U radu se opisuje i ilustrira nova vrsta Alpioniscus (Illyrionethes) iapodicus n. sp. Radi se o troglobiontnoj vrsti prikupljenoj u špiljama središnjeg dijela Like, i predstavlja četrnaestu nominalnu vrstu podroda Illyrionethes iz Dinarskog krša. Nova vrsta pripada grupi strasseri. Raspravlja se o morfološkim obilježjima koji razlikuju A. iapodicus od ostalih predstavnika te grupe

In vitro Radioprotective Activity of the Bryozoan Hyalinella punctata

The objective of the present study was in vitro evaluation of radioprotective activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata on cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes after irradiation with 2 gy of Co-60 gamma-rays. Since its water extract at concentration 0.001 mg/mL reduced the incidence of radiation-induced micronuclei for almost 30 %, it could be considered as a promising source of new natural products with the aforementined activity. Both the content of sulphur (1.17%) determined by gravimetric method and infrared absorption frequences (76 % similarity with those of bacitracin) of the investigated extract indicate the presence of organic sulphur compound(s) such as cyclic peptides and polypeptides which might be responsible for the observed radioprotectio

A new amphibious species of the subterranean genus Bureschia Verhoeff, 1926 (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Trichoniscidae) from Serbia

Bureschia serbica sp. nov., is described from a cave in the Stara Planina Mt in Serbia as a second species in the genus. It is a troglobite amphibious species, predominantly aquatic like the nominal species of the genus, Bureschia bulgarica. The new species is adapted to amphibious life in running groundwater, unlike the nominal one that lives in subterranean lakes and ponds. Body structure changes, most noticeable the significant changes in the structure of the mouthparts, as a result of preadaptation in aquatic and amphibious Synocheta, are discussed

FIGURES 16–17. Mladenoniscus belavodae n. g., n in Mladenoniscus belavodae n. g., n. sp., a troglobitic oniscid (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Trichoniscidae) from Macedonia

FIGURES 16–17. Mladenoniscus belavodae n. g., n. sp. 16, Details of the integument ornamentic. 17, Paratype male, propodus and dactylus of pereopod 7

An insight into antimicrobial activity of the freshwater bryozoan Pectinatella magnifica

The antimicrobial activity of five crude extracts of the freshwater bryozoan Pectinatella magnifica (Leidy, 1851) was evaluated in vitro for the first time. P. magnifica acetone extract exhibited the highest antibacterial activity (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) 0.004-0.350mg/mL and MBC 0.007-0.500mg/mL), while its methanol extract showed the most promising antifungal activity (MIC 0.03-0.12mg/mL and MFC 0.06-0.25mg/mL). Furthermore, at a concentration of 0.25 MIC, the methanol extract reduced biofilm formation of the bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in a considerable extent (59.14%). FTIR spectra of the most active extracts indicate the presence of carbonyl compounds, long-chain alcohols and/or sterols. According to the experimental data obtained, P. magnifica methanol extract may be considered as a good resource of novel natural products with potent antibiofilm activity against the bacterium well known for its resistance. [GRAPHCIS]

In vitro antibiofilm activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata: a case study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

The antibiofilm and possible antiquorum sensing effects against the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 of five crude extracts of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata (Hancock, 1850) were evaluated in vitro for the first time. H. punctata ethyl acetate extract (HpEtAc) exhibited the highest antibiofilm activity reducing the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa PAO1 in the range of 80.63-88.13%. While all tested extracts reduced the twitching motility of the aforementioned bacterial strain, HpEtAc showed to be the most effective. Finally, at a concentration of 0.5 MIC, the same extract mostly inhibited the production of pyocyanin by P. aeruginosa PAO1 (71.53%). In comparison both with the positive controls used (streptomycin and ampicillin, 67.13 and 69.77%, respectively), HpEtAc was found to inhibit pyocyanin in a higher extent. An extensive chemical characterisation of this particular extract may result in isolation and identification of novel lead compounds targeting P. aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen. [GRAPHCIS]

In vitro Radioprotective Activity of the Bryozoan Hyalinella punctata

The objective of the present study was in vitro evaluation of radioprotective activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata on cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes after irradiation with 2 gy of Co-60 gamma-rays. Since its water extract at concentration 0.001 mg/mL reduced the incidence of radiation-induced micronuclei for almost 30 %, it could be considered as a promising source of new natural products with the aforementined activity. Both the content of sulphur (1.17%) determined by gravimetric method and infrared absorption frequences (76 % similarity with those of bacitracin) of the investigated extract indicate the presence of organic sulphur compound(s) such as cyclic peptides and polypeptides which might be responsible for the observed radioprotectio

Antimicrobial activity of the freshwater bryozoan hyalinella punctata (Hancock, 1850)

The antimicrobial activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata (Hancock, 1850) was tested by microdilution method against eight bacteria and eight fungi for the first time. All five crude extracts (hexane, acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol and water) showed good antibacterial and antifungal potential in vitro wherein the acetone extract was the most active (MICs 0.50-7.00 mu g/ml and MBCs 2.50-10.00 mu g/ml)