Variation of 15 nuclear allozyme genes and a 708 bp fragment of DNA sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were surveyed in a population of a hoverfly species, Merodon desuturinus Vujić, Šimić & Radenković, 1995 (Diptera, Syrphidae), endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. Based on phylogeography and taxonomy, Merodon desuturinus is of special interest from a biogeographical and conservation perspective. Characterization and determination of genetic relationships between M. desuturinus and taxa of the M. aureus, M. avidus, and M. ruficornis groups on the Balkan Peninsula were estimated based on molecular markers (allozymes and COI sequences). We observed that the mean number of alleles per allozyme locus was 1.1, frequency of polymorphic loci 0.067, and heterozygotes were absent. Our results showed an extremely low genetic variability in the M. desuturinus population sampled. We suggest that this taxon calls for a conservation management plan, as it is likely a vulnerable and threatened taxon, an endemic, spatially divided species and represents a unique genetic unit on the Balkan Peninsula.
We examined the phylogeography and the variation of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) of the Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis (Cobbold, 1875) in two geographic localities in the Russian southern Far East and compared them with those from different geographical regions (China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam). The Russian samples differed from those of the other regions in haplotype frequencies, haplotype and nucleotide diversities, and AT/GC ratios. Only 4 of the 18 haplotypes were common to Russian and Chinese samples, and two haplotypes were common to Russia and other regions. The intraspecific genetic distances ranged from 0 to 1.58% for the entire dataset studied and from 0 to 1.25% among the samples from Russia. Phylogenetic trees revealed no significant genealogical clades of samples corresponding to sampling localities and no strong isolation by distance was estimated with Mantel test. Neutrality test analysis suggested a relatively recent population expansion for C. sinensis, whereas goodness-of-fit tests indicated deviation from the strict model of uniform expansion. Therefore, the sequences of the mtDNA cox1 gene provide useful genetic markers for evaluating intraspecific diversity and generating phylogeographic reconstructions for this fish-borne trematode.
Phylogeography, genetic diversity, and demography of central European populations of two flightless xerothermic weevils, Polydrusus inustus and Centricnemus leucogrammus, were studied based on the polymorphism of three mtDNA genes (COII, CytB, and ND1). Results indicate that these xerothermic beetles may have different origins. P. inustus is a recent migrant as the parthenogenetic form has a low level of genetic diversity and lacks a geographic population structure. This is probably a result of a recent (before the end of last glaciation) expansion and/or present dispersal mediated by humans. On the other hand, C. leucogrammus appears to be a relic species as the populations of this species are much more genetically diverse (six distinct clades) and some of the populations are allopatric and others sympatric. They probably diverged and expanded during the last few glaciations. Genetic discontinuities were detected among localities that are now separated by gaps in the distribution. Boundaries (mountains or farmland) separate the populations into three groups: (1) Moravia and Slovakia, (2) the lower Vistula Valley in northern Poland and (3) south-eastern Poland together with western Ukraine. Evidence for recent gene flow was found only among populations from south-eastern Poland and western Ukraine, and between these two groups. One population from northern Poland was surprisingly related to populations in southern Poland, which may be due to extinction of intermediate populations.
Two species of the genus Gryllus occur in Europe: G. campestris and G. bimaculatus. The first is widely distributed in the north-western Palaearctic, while the second, G. bimaculatus, occurs predominantly in the Mediterranean area. There is a visible pattern in the distribution of G. campestris, the insect being rare and threatened in the western part of its range, whereas it is still abundant in the east. Despite the fact that this species is commonly used in laboratory experiments, its natural populations are poorly characterised. In the present study, we analysed cricket populations from the lower Oder and Vistula River valleys in Poland. Based on the phylogeny of the mtDNA cytochrome b fragment, we found that 17% of the individuals studied had a G. bimaculatus-like mtDNA haplotype. Analyses of 11 autosomal microsatellite loci failed to reveal any clear genetic differentiation between individuals assigned to these two clades. This suggests, along with the spatial distribution of G. bimaculatus-like haplotypes, successful interbreeding of G. bimaculatus with native populations of G. campestris. However, both the nuclear data and additional analyses of two X-chromosome-linked microsatellite loci revealed incomplete introgression. Human-mediated introgression seems to be the most plausible explanation of the observed genotypic pattern such that caution needs to be taken in conservation efforts carried out in the western part of the species' range., Hanna Panagiotopoulou, Mateusz Baca, Katarzyna Baca, Paweł Sienkiewicz, Piotr Ślipiński, Michał Żmihorski., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In this paper I review genetic studies of black grouse to date. The topics cover different areas such as reproductive biology, mating system and, more recently, conservation genetics. The accumulated evidence shows that in the western part of the range of the species, populations are genetically differentiated. Furthermore, small and isolated populations have lost genetic variation due to increased levels of inbreeding and genetic drift. So far the vast majority of studies have been based on microsatellites. More recent investigations have employed sequence data as well as methods to study quantitative trait variation. These latter studies may aid in resolving the issue of whether local populations show any evidence of being adapted to local conditions. This is an important consideration in conservation biology since it determines the extent to which populations are interchangeable and which populations should be used for restocking if such are considered of value.
Mice belonging to the Mus musculus species complex from the north-eastern Iranian Plateau (Khorasan province) have been genetically characterised for allozymic variation, mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome type and compared with samples from other geographic regions. The present study shows the existence of a transition zone between pure M. m. musculus in the North and animals related to M. m. castaneus in the South. The origin of this transition (primary or secondary contact) and the various biogeographic scenarios about its origin are discussed in the light of these new data sets. The possible role of the Harirud valley in the geographic connection between Central Asia and the Middle East is discussed.
Genetic variation among populations of commensal house mice was studied across the territories of the Czech and Slovak Republics and in some adjacent areas of Germany. We used six diagnostic allozyme loci (Es-2, Gpd-1, Idh-1, Mpi, Np, Sod-1) and the following molecular markers: B1 insertion in the Btk gene (X chromosome), Zfy2 18-bp deletion (Y chromosome), BamH I restriction site in the mt-Nd1 gene (mtDNA) and Hba-4ps 16-bp insertion (diagnosing the presence of t haplotypes). In total, 544 individuals taken from 49 localities were examined. Almost the entire territories of the Czech Republic and Slovakia were found to be occupied by Mus musculus, the only exception being the westernmost parts of the Czech Republic, where M. musculus meets the range of M. domesticus and forms a narrow belt of hybrid populations. Despite this, domesticus-type alleles of some allozyme markers (notably Es-2) were also found at sites well within the range of M. musculus, either tens or hundreds of kilometres behind the hybrid zone. This provides evidence of either: (1) introgression of some markers into the species’ genome due to free gene flow through the zone, or (2) human-mediated long-distance migrations, or (3) incomplete lineage sorting. Conversely, variants of molecular markers typical for M. domesticus in Btk, Zfy2 and mt-Nd1were only found in the westernmost populations studied. t haplotypes were quite frequent in some populations, irrespective of whether M. domesticus, M. musculus or their hybrids, yet no t/t homozygotes were found. The mean frequency of t/+ heterozygotes found within the study populations was 13%.
Species-level problems in the Aphis (Bursaphis) complex are reconsidered based on the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 gene together with morphological and ecological data. This indicates that the American species A. oenotherae is a complex of four species (A. oenotherae, A. holoenotherae, A. costalis and A. neomexicana) and the taxonomic status of the species couples A. varians - A. manitobensis and A. epilobii - A. grossulariae require further clarification. Aphis sp. (USA: California, Oregon) of Blackman & Eastop (2006, p. 415) deserves the status of a species provided there is information on its host association and life cycle. Partial cox1 sequences might be misleading when used as standard DNA barcodes of aphid species of the subgenus Bursaphis. and Rimantas Rakauskas, Jurga Turčinavičienė, Jekaterina Bašilova.
Crested newts (Triturus cristatus superspecies) are a group of closely related species with parapatric distributions that are likely to interbreed where their ranges meet. Coexistence of three species of the complex (Triturus cristatus, T. dobrogicus and T. carnifex) has been recently confirmed in central Europe. In this study we aim to elucidate the distribution of crested newts in contact zones in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and determine the extent of hybridization and introgression using nuclear (microsatellites and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA, RAPD) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. Nuclear markers reveal hybrid zones between T. cristatus and T. dobrogicus at the foothills of the Carpathians in southern Slovakia, and between T. cristatus and T. carnifex in the southern parts of the Czech Republic. Analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences reveals T. cristatus and T. dobrogicus-specific haplotypes in contact zones in southern Slovakia. Surprisingly, most T. carnifex and individuals with mixed ancestry between T. carnifex and T. cristatus possess haplotypes specific for T. dobrogicus, most likely as a result of historical mtDNA introgression. Only one T. carnifex-specific haplotype carried by a single specimen is found in the Czech Republic. Our study shows that genetic structure of central European populations of crested newts is complex and influenced by historical and contemporary hybridization.
A sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) gene in Russian and Turkish maize-associated populations of Ostrinia nubilalis and a Slovenian population of O. nubilalis probably infesting maize revealed little diversity. This lack of diversity may have resulted from bottleneck event(s) when the maize-associated population of O. nubilalis expanded from small population(s) in association with the cultivation of maize in Europe ca. 500 years ago. In the genealogy of COII genes obtained in the present and previous studies, Eurasian samples were substantially differentiated from North American samples. Since the North American population of O. nubilalis came from Europe, our finding suggests that there is geographical differentiation in European maize-associated O. nubilalis, and that maize-associated populations of O. nubilalis expanded multiple times in Europe. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis of the COII gene did not support that O. nubilalis and O. furnacalis are the closest relatives within the O. furnacalis species group.