Remarkable fly (Diptera) diversity in a patch of Costa Rican cloud forest : Why inventory is a vital science

Study of all flies (Diptera) collected for one year from a four-hectare (150 x 266 meter) patch of cloud forest at 1,600 meters above sea level at Zurqui de Moravia, San Jose Province, Costa Rica (hereafter referred to as Zurqui), revealed an astounding 4,332 species. This amounts to more than half the number of named species of flies for all of Central America. Specimens were collected with two Malaise traps running continuously and with a wide array of supplementary collecting methods for three days of each month. All morphospecies from all 73 families recorded were fully curated by technicians before submission to an international team of 59 taxonomic experts for identification. Overall, a Malaise trap on the forest edge captured 1,988 species or 51% of all collected dipteran taxa (other than of Phoridae, subsampled only from this and one other Malaise trap). A Malaise trap in the forest sampled 906 species. Of other sampling methods, the combination of four other Malaise traps and an intercept trap, aerial/hand collecting, 10 emergence traps, and four CDC light traps added the greatest number of species to our inventory. This complement of sampling methods was an effective combination for retrieving substantial numbers of species of Diptera. Comparison of select sampling methods (considering 3,487 species of non-phorid Diptera) provided further details regarding how many species were sampled by various methods. Comparison of species numbers from each of two permanent Malaise traps from Zurqui with those of single Malaise traps at each of Tapanti and Las Alturas, 40 and 180 km distant from Zurqui respectively, suggested significant species turnover. Comparison of the greater number of species collected in all traps from Zurqui did not markedly change the degree of similarity between the three sites, although the actual number of species shared did increase. Comparisons of the total number of named and unnamed species of Diptera from four hectares at Zurqui is equivalent to 51% of all flies named from Central America, greater than all the named fly fauna of Colombia, equivalent to 14% of named Neotropical species and equal to about 2.7% of all named Diptera worldwide. Clearly the number of species of Diptera in tropical regions has been severely underestimated and the actual number may surpass the number of species of Coleoptera. Various published extrapolations from limited data to estimate total numbers of species of larger taxonomic categories (e.g., Hexapoda, Arthropoda, Eukaryota, etc.) are highly questionable, and certainly will remain uncertain until we have more exhaustive surveys of all and diverse taxa (like Diptera) from multiple tropical sites. Morphological characterization of species in inventories provides identifications placed in the context of taxonomy, phylogeny, form, and ecology. DNA barcoding species is a valuable tool to estimate species numbers but used alone fails to provide a broader context for the species identified.Peer reviewe

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site

Peer reviewe

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site

Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on limited sampling

Taxonomy and phylogeny of piophilidae (diptera)

The worldwide generic classification of Piophilidae (Diptera) is tested using a morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis, and the Nearctic species of the family are revised. The taxonomic revision includes geographic distributions, capture notes, species descriptions and an identification key to the 43 Nearctic species. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, 20 genera are recognized in the family. Five genera are synonymized: Neopiophila McAlpine, Boreopiophila Frey and Parapiophila McAlpine with Arctopiophila Duda; Neottiophilum Frauenfeld with Mycetaulus Loew; and Stearibia Lioy with Prochyliza Walker. One new Holarctic genus, Borealicola, is described, and a second new genus, not described in this thesis, is recognized for the Australian species Protopiophila vitrea McAlpine. Four new species are described: Arctopiophila mcalpinei, A. variefrontis, Borealicola madaros, and B. skevingtoni. Eighteen new combinations are proposed: Arctopiophila atrifrons (Melander & Spuler), A. baechlii (Merz), A. dudai (Frey), A. flavipes (Zetterstedt), A. kugluktuk (Rochefort & Wheeler), A. lonchaeoides (Zetterstedt), A. nigritellus (Melander), A. nitidissima (Melander & Spuler), A. pectiniventris (Duda), A. penicillata (Steyskal), A. setaluna (McAlpine), A. tomentosa (Frey), A. vulgaris (Fallén), A. xanthostoma (Melander & Spuler), Borealicola fulviceps (Holmgren), B. pseudovulgaris (Ozerov), Mycetaulus praeustum (Meigen) and Prochyliza nigriceps (Meigen).La classification mondiale des genres appartenant à la famille des Piophilidae (Diptère) est examinée à l'aide d'une analyse phylogénique incluant des caractères morphologiques et moléculaires, et les espèces Néarctique de la famille sont révisées. Cette dernière inclus des distributions géographiques, des notes sur les méthodes de captures, des descriptions d'espèces et d'une clé d'identification des 43 espèces Néarctique. Suite à l'analyse phylogénique mondiale, 20 genres sont reconnus dans la famille. Cinq genre sont devenus des synonymes: Neopiophila McAlpine, Boreopiophila Frey et Parapiophila McAlpine avec Arctopiophila Duda; Neottiophilum Frauenfeld avec Mycetaulus Loew; et Stearibia Lioy avec Prochyliza Walker. Un nouveau genre Holarctique, Borealicola, est décrit, et un second nouveau genre, non décrit dans cette thèse, est reconnu pour l'espèce Australienne Protopiophila vitrea McAlpine. Quatre nouvelles espèces sont décrites: Arctopiophila mcalpinei, A. variefrontis, Borealicola madaros, et B. skevingtoni. Il y a, de plus, dix-huit nouvelles combinaisons: Arctopiophila atrifrons (Melander & Spuler), A. baechlii (Merz), A. dudai (Frey), A. flavipes (Zetterstedt), A. kugluktuk (Rochefort & Wheeler), A. lonchaeoides (Zetterstedt), A. nigritellus (Melander), A. nitidissima (Melander & Spuler), A. pectiniventris (Duda), A. penicillata (Steyskal), A. setaluna (McAlpine), A. tomentosa (Frey), A. vulgaris (Fallén), A. xanthostoma (Melander & Spuler), Borealicola fulviceps (Holmgren), B. pseudovulgaris (Ozerov), Mycetaulus praeustum (Meigen) et Prochyliza nigriceps (Meigen)

Diversity of Piophilidae (Diptera) in northern Canada and description of a new Holarctic species of Parapiophila McAlpine

Rochefort, Sabrina, Wheeler, Terry A. (2015): Diversity of Piophilidae (Diptera) in northern Canada and description of a new Holarctic species of Parapiophila McAlpine. Zootaxa 3925 (2): 229-240, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3925.2.

Excessive self-grooming of Shank3 mutant mice is associated with gene dysregulation and imbalance between the striosome and matrix compartments in the striatum

Abstract Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterised by atypical social communication and stereotyped behaviours. Mutations in the gene encoding the synaptic scaffolding protein SHANK3 are detected in 1-2% of patients with ASD and intellectual disability (ID), but the mechanisms underpinning the symptoms remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized the behaviour of Shank3 mutant mice deleted for exon 11 ( Shank3 Δ11/Δ11 ) from three to twelve months of age. We observed decreased locomotor activity, increased stereotyped self-grooming and atypical socio-sexual interaction compared to wild-type littermates. We then used RNAseq on four brain regions of the same animals to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG). DEGs were identified mainly in the striatum and were associated with synaptic transmission (e.g. Grm2 , Dlgap1 ), G-protein-signalling pathways (e.g. Gnal , Prkcg1 , and Camk2g ), as well as excitation/inhibition balance (e.g. Gad2 ). Downregulated and upregulated genes were respectively enriched in the gene clusters of medium-sized spiny neurons expressing the dopamine 1 (D1-MSN) and the dopamine 2 receptor (D2-MSN). Moreover, expression of DEGs reported as striosome markers within the striatum ( Cnr1 , Gnal1 , Gad2 , and Drd4 ) were positively correlated with excessive self-grooming. Finally, we showed that the striosome compartment of Shank3 Δ11/Δ11 mice was enlarged and displayed higher expression of GAD65 compared to wild-type mice. Altogether, these results shed light on a possible role of the striosomes/matrix imbalance in excessive self-grooming in Shank3 Δ11/Δ11 mice. Such striatal alterations could be present in a subgroup of patients with ASD and ID and could open the way to new therapeutic approaches

Deleterious mutations in the essential mRNA metabolism factor, hGle1, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

International audienceAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective death of motor neurons. Causative mutations in the global RNA-processing proteins TDP-43 and FUS among others, as well as their aggregation in ALS patients, have identified defects in RNA metabolism as an important feature in this disease. Lethal congenital contracture syndrome 1 and lethal arthrogryposis with anterior horn cell disease are autosomal recessive fetal motor neuron diseases that are caused by mutations in another global RNA-processing protein, hGle1. In this study, we carried out the first screening of GLE1 in ALS patients (173 familial and 760 sporadic) and identified 2 deleterious mutations (1 splice site and 1 nonsense mutation) and 1 missense mutation. Functional analysis of the deleterious mutants revealed them to be unable to rescue motor neuron pathology in zebrafish morphants lacking Gle1. Furthermore, in HeLa cells, both mutations caused a depletion of hGle1 at the nuclear pore where it carries out an essential role in nuclear export of mRNA. These results suggest a haploinsufficiency mechanism and point to a causative role for GLE1 mutations in ALS patients. This further supports the involvement of global defects in RNA metabolism in ALS

Excessive self-grooming, gene dysregulation and imbalance between the striosome and matrix compartments in the striatum of Shank3 mutant mice

International audienceAutism is characterized by atypical social communication and stereotyped behaviors. Mutations in the gene encoding the synaptic scaffolding protein SHANK3 are detected in 1–2% of patients with autism and intellectual disability, but the mechanisms underpinning the symptoms remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized the behavior of Shank3 Δ11/Δ11 mice from 3 to 12 months of age. We observed decreased locomotor activity, increased stereotyped self-grooming and modification of socio-sexual interaction compared to wild-type littermates. We then used RNAseq on four brain regions of the same animals to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). DEGs were identified mainly in the striatum and were associated with synaptic transmission (e.g., Grm2, Dlgap1 ), G-protein-signaling pathways (e.g., Gnal , Prkcg1 , and Camk2g ), as well as excitation/inhibition balance (e.g., Gad2 ). Downregulated and upregulated genes were enriched in the gene clusters of medium-sized spiny neurons expressing the dopamine 1 (D1-MSN) and the dopamine 2 receptor (D2-MSN), respectively. Several DEGs ( Cnr1 , Gnal , Gad2 , and Drd4 ) were reported as striosome markers. By studying the distribution of the glutamate decarboxylase GAD65, encoded by Gad2 , we showed that the striosome compartment of Shank3 Δ11/Δ11 mice was enlarged and displayed much higher expression of GAD65 compared to wild-type mice. Altogether, these results indicate altered gene expression in the striatum of Shank3 -deficient mice and strongly suggest, for the first time, that the excessive self-grooming of these mice is related to an imbalance in the striatal striosome and matrix compartments