27 research outputs found
A study of osteological and molecular differences in populations of Aphanius fasciatus Nardo 1827, from the Central Mediterranean (Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae)
Nine populations of Aphanius fasciatus Nardo,
1827 from the central Mediterranean were analysed by
examining the mitochondrial control region and the morphology
of the bony elements of the skull and vertebral
column, to study the degree of intraspecific differentiation
of A. fasciatus considering the level of isolation of the
different populations and the palaeogeographic history of
the central Mediterranean area. Both the molecular and
morphological analyses differentiate between the populations,
even if the topologies of the two trees are different.
Molecular and osteological investigations have consistently
demonstrated a well-supported differentiation of the
south-eastern Sicilian populations both within the same
group (Tigano et al. in Ital J Zool 71:1124–1133, 2004a;
Tigano et al. in Abstract volume XI European Congress of
Ichthyology, Tallin, Estonia, 2004b), and from the populations
from western Sicily, Tunisia and the island of Malta.
The molecular results show that the nine populations are
characterised by haplotypes that are well defined in relation
to a probably limited gene flow; while, as regards the
morphological data the differentiation found could be
explained in terms of the geographic isolation of the various
populations, although the influence of environmental
factors, which differ greatly between the various sites
where the populations live, cannot be ruled out.peer-reviewe
Genetic hypervariability of a Northeastern Atlantic venomous rockfish
Background: Understanding the interplay between climate and current and historical factors shaping genetic diversity is pivotal to infer changes in marine species range and communities’ composition. A hylogeographical break between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean has been documented for several marine organisms, translating into limited dispersal between the two basins.
Methods: In this study, we screened the intraspecific diversity of 150 individuals of the Madeira rockfish (Scorpaena maderensis) across its distributional range (seven sampling locations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins) using the mitochondrial control region and the nuclear S7 first intron.
Results: The present work is the most comprehensive study done for this species, yielding no genetic structure across sampled locations and no detectable Atlantic-Mediterranean break in connectivity. Our results reveal deep and hyper-diverse bush-like genealogies with large numbers of singletons and very few shared haplotypes. The genetic hyper-diversity found for the Madeira rockfish is relatively uncommon in rocky coastal species, whose dispersal capability is limited by local oceanographic patterns. The effect of climate warming on the distribution of the species is discussed.MARE/UIDB/MAR/04292/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Body shape variation and colour change during growth in a protogynous fish
Protogynous sequential hermaphroditism is very common in marine fish. Despite a large number of studies on various aspects of sequential hermaphroditism in fish, the relationship between body shape and colour during growth in dichromatic species has not been assessed. Using geometric morphometrics, the present study explores the relationship between growth, body shape and colouration in Coris julis (L. 1758), a small protogynous labrid species with distinct colour phases. Results show that body shape change during growth is independent of change in colour phase, a result which can be explained by the biology of the species and by the social control of sex change. Also, during growth the body grows deeper and the head has a steeper profile. It is hypothesized that a deeper body and a steeper profile might have a function in agonistic interactions between terminal phase males and that the marked chromatic difference between colour phases allows the lack of strict interdependence of body shape and colour during growth
Atlantic-Mediterranean and within-Mediterranean molecular variation in Coris julis (L. 1758) (Teleostei, Labridae)
Sequence variation in the mitochondrial control region was studied in the Mediterranean rainbow wrasse (Coris julis), a species with pronounced pelagic larval phase inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent coastal eastern Atlantic Ocean. A total of 309 specimens from 19 sampling sites were analysed with the aim of elucidating patterns of molecular variation between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean as well as within the Mediterranean Sea. Phylogeographic analyses revealed a pronounced structuring into a Mediterranean and an Atlantic group. Samples from a site at the Moroccan Mediterranean coast in the Alboran Sea showed intermediate frequencies of “Mediterranean” and “Atlantic” haplotypes. We recognised a departure from molecular neutrality and a star-like genealogy for samples from the Mediterranean Sea, which we propose to have happened due to a recent demographic expansion. The results are discussed in the light of previous studies on molecular variation in fish species between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and within the Mediterranean
From Fish Eggs to Fish Name: Caviar Species Discrimination by COIBar-RFLP, an Efficient Molecular Approach to Detect Fraud in the Caviar Trade
The demand for caviar is growing as is its price on the market. Due to the decline of true
caviar production from sturgeons, eggs from other fish species and other animals have been used as
substitutes for caviar. The labels on these products should indicate the species from which the eggs
were derived, but the label can be misleading in some cases. In this context, species identification
using DNA analysis is crucial for traceability and authentication of caviar products. In this work,
we applied the COIBar-RFLP procedure to obtain species-specific endonuclease restriction patterns
useful to discriminate “caviar” species. The tested caviar products were identified as originating
from eight species: Acipenser transmontanus, A. gueldenstaedtii, A. stellatus, A. baerii, Mallotus villosus,
Huso huso, Cyclopterus lumpus and Eumicrotremus orbis. The results demonstrated that 14% of the
caviar products examined have a label that does not indicate the species from which the eggs were
originated. The MboI restriction enzyme produced specific profiles discriminating the eight species,
confirming that the COIBar-RFLP is a useful approach for routine screening of seafood products due
to its ease and rapid execution, as the results of screening can be obtained within 7 h, by-passing the
need for sequencing
Phylogeographical relationships of Sicilian brown trout and the effects of genetic introgression on morphospace occupation
Free to read on publisher website Genetic introgression of aquaculture stocks in local forms is well documented in many fish species but their evolutionary consequences for the local populations have not been thoroughly explored. Due to its wide geographical range, the existence of many locally adapted forms and the frequent occurrence of introgression of aquaculture stocks in local forms, brown trout represents the ideal system to study the effects of such introgressions. Here, we focus on a group of rivers and streams in Sicily (Italy), and, by using molecular tools, we show that autochthonous populations are probably derived from the Southern Atlantic clade, which is present in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa. Three out of the four studied rivers reveal signs of genetic introgression of domestic stocks. Finally, by using advanced geometric morphometric analyses, we show that genetic introgression produces a higher degree of morphological variability relative to that observed in non-introgressed populations
Transposable Elements and Stress in Vertebrates: An Overview
none5Since their identification as genomic regulatory elements, Transposable Elements (TEs)
were considered, at first, molecular parasites and later as an important source of genetic diversity
and regulatory innovations. In vertebrates in particular, TEs have been recognized as playing an
important role in major evolutionary transitions and biodiversity. Moreover, in the last decade, a
significant number of papers has been published highlighting a correlation between TE activity and
exposition to environmental stresses and dietary factors. In this review we present an overview of the
impact of TEs in vertebrate genomes, report the silencing mechanisms adopted by host genomes to
regulate TE activity, and finally we explore the effects of environmental and dietary factor exposures
on TE activity in mammals, which is the most studied group among vertebrates. The studies here
reported evidence that several factors can induce changes in the epigenetic status of TEs and silencing
mechanisms leading to their activation with consequent effects on the host genome. The study
of TE can represent a future challenge for research for developing effective markers able to detect
precocious epigenetic changes and prevent human diseases.nonePappalardo, Anna Maria; Ferrito, Venera; Biscotti, Maria Assunta; Canapa, Adriana; Capriglione, TeresaPappalardo, Anna Maria; Ferrito, Venera; Biscotti, Maria Assunta; Canapa, Adriana; Capriglione, Teres
The African Striped Grunt, <i>Parapristipoma octolineatum</i> (Valenciennes, 1833), in the Mediterranean Sea: The Third Record with Biological and Ecological Notes, and Identification Key for Haemulidae Recorded in the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea biodiversity is undergoing a rapid reshaping due to different factors, many of which are directly related to human activities (e.g., pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing and introduction of non-indigenous species). In this context, climate changes, and in particular water warming, are the main factors that favor the arrival and subsequent spread of thermophilic species, regardless of their area of origin (e.g., Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean). In this research, we report the third and eastern-most well-documented record of the thermophilic species Parapristipoma octolineatum (Valenciennes, 1833) in the Mediterranean Sea, providing new morphological, genetic, ecological and biological data on this rare species in the basin. The integrative taxonomical approach was robust and unambiguously identified the species as P. octolineatum. The specimen was a large-sized female in maturation. The first high-quality photographic illustrations of otoliths were provided. Recent direct observations of fishermen in the area suggested a species abundance increase. However, data from the Mediterranean Sea remain scarce and further efforts are needed to better understand the abundance and distribution of this species. Modified keys for a rapid color pattern-based determination of all Haemulidae species recorded in the Mediterranean Sea to date are also provided. Finally, the potential further expansion under the future prediction of climate changes of this Atlantic origin fish in the Mediterranean Sea is discussed