Comparative phylogeography of five neotropical feline taxa (Jaguar, Panthera onca; Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi; Ocelote, Leopardus pardalis; Margay, Leopardus wiedii and the complex of little spotted cat species; Felidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) by mitochondrial DNA analysis

Los estudios con ADN para las especies de felinos silvestres del Neotrópico se han basado en números reducidos de muestras y de marcadores moleculares, en áreas geográficas específicas y en la mayoría de los casos, con muestras de animales con orígenes geográficos inciertos. En este trabajo, se analizaron la filogeografía, sistemática molecular y algunas características de la evolución genética de cinco especies de felinos neotropicales (Panthera onca, Puma yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii y Leopardus tigrinus), mediante las secuencias de tres genes mitocondriales: ATP8, 16S rRNA y NADH5 y mitogenomas para un número significativo de muestras obtenidas directamente de la naturaleza. Mediante el análisis de diversidad genética, se encontró que, para las cinco especies, los niveles son elevados. En cuatro especies, el número de acervos genéticos es menor que el de las subespecies morfológicas consideradas por los zoólogos excepto para el tigrillo. Se confirmó a L. guttulus como especie y se revela la existencia de dos posibles especies de tigrillos para Colombia y Ecuador. Los análisis bayesiano y distribución mismatch mostraron evidencias de que las cuatro especies de mayor porte y el complejo de especies de tigrillos, pasaron por expansiones poblacionales durante el pleistoceno lo cual significa que los mismos procesos afectaron la evolución genética de estos organismos. Además, se demuestra que el análisis de un gran número de ejemplares con la mayor diversificación geográfica posible, es necesario para detectar agrupaciones regionales de trascendencia sistemática (por ejemplo, por debajo del nivel de especie), aunque el número de marcadores sea bajo.Vicerrectoría de investigaciones de la Pontificia Universidad JaverianaThe DNA’s studies for Neotropical wild cat species have been traditionally based on a reduced number of samples and molecular markers as well as in restricted geographical areas and, in many cases, with animals whose geographical origins are uncertain. This work analyzed the phylogeography, the molecular systematics and some traits of the evolutionary genetics of five Neotropical cat species (Panthera onca, Puma yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii and Leopardus tigrinus), by means of three mitochondrial genes (ATP8, 16S rRNA and NADH5) and by mitogenomes for large simple sizes directly coming from wild. The genetic diversity analyses yielded high levels for all the species studied. In four of these species, the significant number of gene pools were lower than the putative morphological subspecies traditionally recognized, with the exception of the tigrina. In this case, our study detected the posible existence of different species within the traditional tigrina. L. guttulus was confirmed in southern-eastern Brazil and several different species were detected in Colombia and Ecuador. The Bayesian and mismatch procedures showed evidences that all the species analyzed crossed by population expansions during the Pleistocene, which agrees quite well with the possibility that the same Pleistocene events affected in a similar way all these species. Furthermore, it was shown that large simple sizes with very diversified geographical origins are needed to detect some regional clusters of relevant systematic meaning, although the number of molecular markers should be limited.Doctor en Ciencias BiológicasDoctorad

Morphological and Genetics Support for a Hitherto Undescribed Spotted Cat Species (Genus <i>Leopardus</i>; Felidae, Carnivora) from the Southern Colombian Andes

In 1989, a skin of a small spotted cat, from the Galeras Volcano in southern Colombia (Nariño Department), was donated to the Instituto Alexander von Humboldt (identification, ID 5857) at Villa de Leyva (Boyacá Department, Colombia). Although originally classified as Leopardus tigrinus, its distinctiveness merits a new taxonomic designation. The skin is distinct from all known L. tigrinus holotypes as well as from other Leopardus species. Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes from 44 felid specimens (including 18 L. tigrinus and all the current known species of the genus Leopardus), the mtND5 gene from 84 felid specimens (including 30 L. tigrinus and all the species of the genus Leopardus), and six nuclear DNA microsatellites (113 felid specimens of all the current known species of the genus Leopardus) indicate that this specimen does not belong to any previously recognized Leopardus taxon. The mtND5 gene suggests this new lineage (the Nariño cat as we name it) is a sister taxon of Leopardus colocola. The mitogenomic and nuclear DNA microsatellite analyses suggest that this new lineage is the sister taxon to a clade formed by Central American and trans-Andean L. tigrinus + (Leopardus geoffroyi + Leopardus guigna). The temporal split between the ancestor of this new possible species and the most recent ancestor within Leopardus was dated to 1.2–1.9 million years ago. We consider that this new unique lineage is a new species, and we propose the scientific name Leopardus narinensis

Small spotted bodies with multiple specific mitochondrial DNAs: existence of diverse and differentiated tigrina lineages or species (<i>Leopardus</i> spp: Felidae, Mammalia) throughout Latin America

<p>We analysed two sets of mitochondrial (mt) DNA data from tigrinas (traditionally, <i>Leopardus tigrinus</i>) we sampled in Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwestern and northeastern Argentina and southern Brazil. Additionally, the analysis included some GenBank sequences from southern, central and northeastern Brazil. The first mt set (mt <i>ATP8</i>+mt <i>16S rRNA</i> with 41 tigrina) revealed the existence of seven different tigrina-like haplogroups. They could represent, at least, 4–6 different tigrina species following the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC). In the second mt set (mitogenomics with 18 tigrinas), we detected six different tigrina-like haplogroups. They could represent 4–5 different tigrina species – including a possible full new species, which has gone previously unnoticed to the world of science both morphologic and molecularly. Coat patterns of several of these different tigrinas support the molecular differences. We also detected intense hybridization in many Andean tigrina with margays (<i>Leopardus wiedii</i>) and ocelots (<i>Leopardus pardalis</i>) as well as hybridization of one Bolivian tigrina with <i>Leopardus geoffroyi</i>. Similar hybridization was found for many of the southern Brazilian tigrina (<i>Leopardus guttulus</i>). All of the temporal split estimates for these tigrina haplogroups, together with those of the <i>Leopardus</i> species recognized to date, began in the late Pliocene but mostly occurred during the Pleistocene. In agreement with the existence of multiple species within the traditional <i>L. tigrinus</i> species, we detected strong and significant spatial structure in the two mt data sets. There were clear circular clines. A major part of the analyses detected more genetic resemblance between the Central American + trans Andean Colombian and Ecuadorian tigrina (<i>L. oncilla</i>) with the most geographically distant tigrina from central and southern Brazil (<i>L. guttulus</i>; pure individuals not hybridized with <i>L. geoffroyi</i>). In comparison, the Andean tigrina taxa had intermediate geographical origins but were highly genetically differentiated both from the Central American + trans Andean Colombian-Ecuadorian tigrina and from the central and southern Brazilian tigrina.</p

Homeosis and delayed floral meristem termination could account for abnormal flowers in cultivars of Delphinium and Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae)

Floral mutants display various deviant phenotypes and, as such, they are appropriate material with which to address the origin and the building of morphological variation. To identify the pivotal developmental stages at which floral variation may originate and to infer the putative associated genetic causes, we studied abnormal flowers in nine cultivars of Aquilegia and Delphinium of Ranunculaceae, a family displaying a high range of floral diversity. Wild-type flowers of the two genera are pentamerous and spurred, but they differ in their overall symmetry (actinomorphy vs. zygomorphy). Floral morphology of their cultivars at different developmental stages up to anthesis was observed, and the putative identity of the perianth organs and vascularization was inferred. Our results show that in the floral mutants in both genera, phyllotaxis was generally conserved, whereas floral organization, vascularization and symmetry were modified. Most of the morphological and anatomical deviations impacted the perianth, including organ number, identity and (spur) elaboration, and also led to the formation of mosaic organs. We hypothesized that the phenotypes of floral mutants in Aquilegia and Delphinium result from genetic alterations affecting frontiers between sets of organs of different identity, homeosis and length of floral meristem activity

THE TURKISH ENDEMIC PSEUDODELPHINIUM TURCICUM (RANUNCULACEAE): AN UNUSUAL POPULATION OF DELPHINIUM WITH PELORIC FLOWERS THAT HAS PERSISTED IN THE WILD FOR 20 YEARS

Premise of research. The Turkish endemic Pseudodelphinium turcicum (Ranunculaceae) was described by Vural et al. (2012) based on a single population found in the salt lake basin of Tuz Golu, Konya Province. Although the authors noticed morphological similarities between the plants and Delphinium or Garidella, they highlighted unusual features, which led them to describe a new genus consisting of a single species, P. turcicum. The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological particularities and evolution of Pseudodelphinium. Methodology. We carried out morphological, anatomical, and palynological studies on individuals of P. turcicum. We also conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis to identify the closest relatives of this species. Pivotal results. This combination of approaches shows that the species belongs in the group of Mediterranean species in Delphinium subg. Delphinium. Based on our sampling, P. turcicum is more precisely sister to the Turkish endemic Delphinium venulosum. The perianth of P. turcicum flowers consists of tepals that are, anatomically speaking, similar to the sepals of Delphinium. A second type of perianth organs was evidenced. They are located between the tepals and the stamens, and their development is arrested at an early stage, therefore being comparable to the ventral petals of Delphinium flowers. The pollen of P. turcicum is heteromorphic. Conclusions. We conclude that the population of P. turcicum is an unusual population of Delphinium presenting peloric flowers (through ventralization) that has been maintained in the wild for at least two decades. We provide hypotheses concerning the identity of the floral organs, as well as an explanation for the origin of the particular floral morphology

Floral Organogenesis and Morphogenesis of Staphisagria (Ranunculaceae): Implications for the Evolution of Synorganized Floral Structures in Delphinieae

Premise of research. Floral synorganization is a structural feature of many speciose angiosperm taxa and is considered a morphological innovation paving the way for evolutionary diversification. Staphisagria is sister to the remaining Delphinieae, the only lineage of Ranunculaceae characterized by zygomorphic flowers. We aim at providing a description of floral organogenesis and morphogenesis in both Staphisagria species, presenting the disparity of Delphinieae hyperorgans in a phylogenetic framework, and proposing a scenario of likely developmental pathways underlying the different types of hyperorgans in Delphinieae. Methodology. We carried out morphological, anatomical, and developmental studies on flowers of S. macrosperma and S. picta. Pivotal results. Synorganization is complex in Staphisagria and Delphinieae as a whole and involves flower dorsoventralization, the nesting of spurs, the postgenital fusion of petals, and the formation of a shared cavity. From a choripetalous ancestor, late and partial postgenital fusion among dorsal petals evolved once or twice in the tribe. Conclusions. The Delphinieae flower includes nested spurs and nested floral parlors. These key innovations, unique in angiosperms, probably led to the diversification of this species-rich tribe in the Northern Hemisphere. The lengths of the inner (nectariferous) spurs and the nested floral parlors determine the range of pollinators able to collect nectar. These traits could be used to revise the circumscription of taxonomic groups within the tribe and should be taken into account when examining the possible coevolution between Delphinieae flowers and their pollinators. Integrating this new knowledge about the hyperorgan will be essential for future research in taxonomy, evo-devo, and pollination ecology in Delphinieae