120 research outputs found
<i>Orchis longicornu</i> Poiret in Sardinia: genetic, morphological and chorological data
Data are given on the genetic structure, morphology and chorology of the Long-Spurred
orchid, Orchis longicornu Poiret (1789) from Sardinia and the occurrence in this island of the
morphologically similar Orchis morio L. (1753), often recorded for Sardinia, is investigated. The
genetic analysis of 27 enzyme lo ci in population samples from locations where both species had
been recorded showed that: (i) in the population samples from Sardinia the polymorphic loci are
in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; (ii) these samples are genetically poorly differentiated from each
other (average Nei's D = 0.01): less than 2% of the overall genetic variation observed is
attributable to differences between populations (GST = 0.015); (iii) a high rate of gene flow was
estimated between Sardinian populations: Nm ≈ 4, possibly owing to seed dispersal by wind; (iv)
when Sardinian samples are compared with O. morio from continental Italy, significant differences in genetic variation were observed: average He = 0.16 in the former, 0.12 in thc latter; (v)
the genetic distance found between Sardinian populations and those of O. morio from continental
ltaly is relatively high: average Nei's D = 0.18, average Rogers' D = 0.22; (vi) highly
significant differences in allele frequencies were found at a number of loci (Mdh-2, Sod-3, Pgm-1,
Gpi-1, Gpi-2) between populations from Sardinia and continental Italy, each giving a probability
of correct identification that varies from 0.90 to 1 (diagnostic loci). These findings provide
evidence that O. morio is not present in the material genetically analyzed from Sardinia, which
includes a single species, apparently corresponding to O. longicornu. The slight heterogeneity
observed at some loci in the Sardinian population samples can be attributed in some cases (e.g.
Mdh-1, Adh, Est-6) to local differences, possibly adaptive; in others (e.g. Pgm-1 and Gpi-l) to
genetic drift effects. The hypothesis that some alleles (Gpi-1100, Dia107, NADHdh-296) found in
O. morio and recorded at low frequency in a few Sardinian populations reflect palaeointrogressive
phenomena (owing to sporadical immigrant individuals of O. morio having diluted their
genes in O. longicornu genome through multiple generations of backcrosses) is not sufficiently
supported by the available data. The genetic data are in agreement with the results from
morphological studies. These involved the examination of about 1500 specimens (both alive and
dried) from all over Sardinia, and their comparison with herbarium specimens of O. longicornu
from patria typica (Algeria) and of O. morio from continental Italy. The typification of O.
longicornu is given. The specimens from Sardinia correspond well, on a morphological basis, to
the Algerian ones and therefore were all assigned to O. longicornu. Several characters were
considered, differentiating O. longicornu from O. morio both in fresh and dried specimens.
However, some of them, currently used in diagnostic keys, show much overlap between the two
species. This explains the quotations of O. morio from Sardinia, that appear to be misidentifications of O. longicornu. A description of O. longicornu from Sardinia is provided, and its
distribution in the island is defined, on the basis of (i) a critical revision of literature rccords, and
(ii) the examination of fresh and dried Sardinian specimens. O. longicornu is shown to be
widespread throughout Sardinia, living in many different habitats from 0 to 1500 m a.s.l
Natural hybridization and introgression between the Long-Spurred orchid, <i>Orchis longicornu</i> Poiret and the Green-Winged orchid, <i>O. morio</i> L. (Orchidaceae) in Corsica
Genetic studies have revealed in Southern Corsica, near Bonifacio,
not only the existence of sporadic F1 hybrids between Orchis
longicornu Poiret and O. morio L., but of a hybrid zone
where both parental taxa are more or less introgressed. Our data
indicate complete interfertility between the two taxa, which
should therefore be considered as subspecies of the same biological
species
Genetic evidence of two sibling species within the Contracoecum ogmorhini Johnson & Mawson 1941 complex (Nematoda; Anisakidae) from otariid seals in boreal and austral regions
Genetic variation of Contracaecum ogmorhini (sensu lato) populations from different otariid seals of the northern
and southern hemisphere was studied on the basis of 18 enzyme loci as well as preliminary sequence analysis of
the mitochondrial cyt b gene (260 bp). Samples were collected from Zalophus californianus in the boreal region
and from Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, A. pusillus doriferus and A. australis from the austral region. Marked
genetic heterogeneity was found between C. ogmorhini (sensu lato) samples from the boreal and austral region,
respectively. Two loci (Mdh-2 and NADHdh) showed fixed differences and a further three loci (Iddh, Mdh-1 and
6Pgdh) were highly differentiated between boreal and austral samples. Their average genetic distance was DNei =
0.36 at isozyme level. At mitochondrial DNA level, an average proportion of nucleotide substitution of 3.7% was
observed. These findings support the existence of two distinct sibling species, for which the names C. ogmorhini
(sensu stricto) and C. margolisi n. sp., respectively, for the austral and boreal taxon, are proposed. A description
for C. margolisi n. sp. is provided. No diagnostic morphological characters have so far been detected; on the other hand, two enzyme loci, Mdh-2 and NADHdh, fully diagnostic between the two species, can be used for the routine identification of males, females and larval stages. Mirounga leonina was found to host C. ogmorhini (s.s.) inmixed infections with C. osculatum (s.l.) (of which C. ogmorhini (s.l.) was in the past considered to be a synonym)
and C. miroungae; no hybrid genotypes were found,confirming the reproductive isolation of these three anisakid species. The hosts and geographical range so far recorded for C. margolisi n. sp. and C. ogmorhini (s.s.) are given
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