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Females of several vertebrate species selectively mate with males on the basis of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. As androgen-mediated maternal effects have long-lasting consequences for the adult phenotype, both mating and reproductive success may depend on the combined effect of MHC genotype and exposure to androgens during early ontogeny. We studied how MHC-based mate choice in ring-necked pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus) was influenced by an experimental in ovo testosterone (T) increase. There was no conclusive evidence of in ovo T treatment differentially affecting mate choice in relation to MHC genotype. However, females avoided mating with males with a wholly different MHC genotype compared with males sharing at least one MHC allele. Females also tended to avoid mating with MHC-identical males, though not significantly so. These findings suggest that female pheasants preferred males with intermediate MHC dissimilarity. Male MHC heterozygosity or diversity did not predict the expression of ornaments or male dominance rank. Thus, MHC-based mating preferences in the ring-necked pheasant do not seem to be mediated by ornaments' expression and may have evolved mainly to reduce the costs of high heterozygosity at MHC loci for the progeny, such as increased risk of autoimmune diseases or disruption of coadapted gene pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A phylogeographic analysis of the widely distributed marine wood-boring isopod Sphaeroma terebrans Bate 1866 was carried out to test for potential genetic differentiation and geographical structure. The species spends its entire life cycle in mangrove roots and is characterized by low active dispersal ability and no early dispersal stages. As the species has a mainly circumtropical distribution, long-range dispersal mechanisms, such as rafting on floating wood, could have played important roles in the distribution of the species throughout the world. However, as high genetic diversity and very low gene flow levels have been found among very close localities, physical barriers related to changes in coastal topography could have contributed to the contemporary genetic structure. Mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and nuclear (Histone3) sequences were analysed from 13 populations of S. terebrans. High levels of genetic population differentiation (Φst =0.84) were observed among the 13 populations analysed and they were not explainable by an isolation by distance model (Mantel test: p>0.13). Four major lineages were recognized by phylogenetic and spatial genetic analyses. One lineage (Clade D), highly divergent from the others, was only found in one of the two populations from Mahè (Seychelles Is.) and it shows morphological affinities with South Asian populations. The other 12 populations are represented by three haplogroups. Clades B and C are not highly differentiated from each other, but both of them appear very distant from Clade A, probably representing a different species with significant departure from neutrality, as suggested by Mismatch distribution, Tajima''s and Fu''s Fs tests. Contrary to expectation, the cosmopolitian S. terebrans seems to comprise more than one species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Urban habitats are increasing worldwide and represent new potential environments for many species of animals, in particular birds. As a result of contact with humans, urban wildlife can experience ecological and ethological modifications, mainly regarding parental and feeding behaviour. One of the most common birds in urban landscapes is the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos L., which is widespread in temperate regions. This study aimed to characterize two Italian populations of mallards living in a metropolitan area, from both an ecological and a genetic point of view. Field surveys were carried out for 27 consecutive months along two rivers, focusing on the biological cycle and reproductive behaviour of the mallard. The ecological results were integrated with molecular data, obtained by the analysis of 10 microsatellites, genotyped in the two urban, in a wild and in a captive-bred population. No significant changes in eco-ethological features of the mallards living in the urban area were observed, whereas the urban populations were genetically differentiated from the wild and the bred ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insight regarding the genetic origin and composition of the studied population of the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is likely to provide general and critical information for the appropriate management and possible conservation of the species. The reintroduced population of red-legged partridges living in Pianosa Island (National Park Tuscany Archipelago) has proven to be sustainable: captive-bred individuals, morphologically assigned to the taxonA. rufa, were released to the island approximately 20 years ago, establishing an apparently well-adapted population. We have investigated this population by means of 10 microsatellite loci in order to shed light on its genetic structure. Considering thatA. rufais known to crossbreed withA. chukar, the Pianosa Island population was compared at the molecular level with a red-legged partridge breeding stock (Aulla, MS) as well as with a population of pureA. chukar. Our results indicate that the red-legged partridge population from Pianosa, morphologically identified asA. rufa, is actually partly introgressed withA. chukar, questioning its genetic purity and the possible use of this population as a starting stock for future reintroductions elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco is one of the regions of the world where many interesting discoveries have recently been made in the field of stygobiology, particularly concerning the cirolanid isopod fauna. One of the most interesting, variable and wide spread of these taxa is the perimediterranean stygobitic genus Typhlocirolana Racovitza, 1905, which has colonized the continental groundwater of Israel, Sicily, Spain, the Balearic Islands, Algeria and Morocco with several species. More populations have recently been found in Morocco, in some southern regions around Agadir, in High Atlas valleys near Marrakech and in the northeastern part of the country close to Oujda. The populations of these zones are not yet described and are the subject of this molecular analysis, together with other already designated species. To investigate the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the Typhlocirolana populations inhabiting the western Mediterranean basin, we analysed DNA sequences from the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA genes. The molecular data were also used to infer the mechanisms driving the evolution of this thalassoid limnostygobitic cirolanid taxon, considered a good paleogeographic indicator because of its poor dispersion abilities. Vicariance because of paleogeographic events in the western Mediterranean basin played a prime evolutionary role in the Cirolanidae, as already suggested by morphological and ecological studies. Application of a molecular clock provided a time framework of the microevolutionary events occurring in Typhlocirolana populations over the last 40 myr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variability was analysed in two common breeds of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L. 1758) by means of cross-species amplifications of microsatellite loci: 154 chicken, Gallus gallus and 32 turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, primers were tested for amplification of pheasant DNA. Thirty-six primers (25 specific for chicken and 11 for turkey) amplified pheasant DNA. Fifteen markers yielded specific products and were tested for polymorphism. Eight of them (55%) were polymorphic, with an average polymorphism of two alleles per locus. Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were sequenced; repeats were found in 11 of the 15 markers, although only two loci showed the same repeat and could be homologous to chicken ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper redescribes the classical taxon Amerus troisi (Berlese, 1883) on the basis of topotypical material. A new species, Amerus cuspidatus , characterized by short interlamellar setae and a distinct rostral morphology, is also described. In spite of overlapping biogeographical distributions, biochemical analysis indicates that the two Amerus species are clearly differentiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of trace elements in ecotoxicological investigations is a well-known issue when monitoring polluted areas such as commercial harbors. Copper represents one of the most common metal contaminants, often detected in these areas as it is widely employed in various fields and has many sources of inflow in the marine environment. Pachygrapsus marmoratus is a widespread intertidal crab species that has been extensively studied in ecology, ethology and population genetics. Ecotoxicological studies have also been performed, exclusively on the adult stage. In the present study we investigated the mortality and biochemical (oxidative stress and neurotoxicity) responses of P. marmoratus larvae exposure to environmental relevant concentration of copper. Results showed dose-dependent responses in terms of larval mortality, with a calculated LC 50 value of 0.5 mg/L of Cu2+. The LC 50 concentration was used as the starting point for subsequent biochemical response evaluation. Results also demonstrated dose-dependent activation of antioxidant systems assuming a compensatory antioxidant activity to prevent higher cellular damage when larvae were exposed to the highest concentrations of copper. Moreover, a significant enhancement of neurotransmitter activities was observed, assuming a possible direct interaction of copper with the enzymes or an increase of free copper ion aliquot into the cells. Unlabelled Image • Dose dependent responses of larval mortality after both 24- and 48-h copper exposure • Dose dependent activation of antioxidant system of P. marmoratus larvae after copper exposure • Dose dependent variation in cholinesterase activities after copper exposure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of freshwater invertebrates to agricultural pollutants is supposed to increase with rising temperature due to global warming. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of temperature on the lethal toxicity of ammonia-N, the herbicide Imazamox and the mixture of the two chemicals, in the adults and the juveniles of a population of the copepod Eucyclops serrulatus. This is a widely distributed species found in surface waters, in transitional habitats between surface water and groundwater, and in genuine groundwater environments. We tested the sensitivity by short-term bioassays (96 h) at 15°C and 18°C, respectively. Our results highlighted the following: (1) increasing temperature affected the sensitivity of the adults to ammonia-N and of the juveniles to the mixture, all of which were more sensitive to its detrimental effects at 18°C; (2) the juvenile stages were more sensitive than the adults to all toxicants, and (3) for all combinations of chemicals and temperatures, the effects were synergistic and approximately one order of magnitude greater than those expected according to a concentration addition model when comparing the LC50 for each chemical in the mixture with the LC50s of chemicals individually assayed. Overall, in a context of global change, ammonia-N and mixtures of agricultural pollutants may affect the survival rate of species that spend a part or the whole life-cycle in the hyporheic habitat, with detrimental effects to biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by the hyporheic biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced metabolic rates of groundwater taxa, compared to those of surface water species, have long been inferred to be an adaptive trait where there is a low and discontinuous food supply and unpredictable shifts between hypoxic and normoxic conditions. However, there have been neither measurements of the respiratory rate of groundwater copepods nor a comparison of rates between closely related groundwater and surface water species., We measured the metabolic rates of two species of Cyclopoida: Cyclopidae, the stygobiotic (hypogean) copepod Diacyclops belgicus and the epigean Eucyclops serrulatus, which co-occur in the same alluvial aquifer. We expected the metabolic rate of the hypogean to be lower than that of the epigean species, irrespective of the ontogenetic stage, which would be consistent with the hypothesis that there is a generally lower metabolic rate in groundwater species., The metabolic rate of D. belgicus was significantly lower than that of the epigean E. serrulatus irrespective of the ontogenetic stage. We found an allometric relationship between oxygen consumption and body mass for E. serrulatus, an isometric one for D. belgicus juveniles and a rate of oxygen consumption that apparently does not change systematically with body mass for D. belgicus adults., The low metabolic rate of D. belgicus may be advantageous in oligotrophic groundwater habitats, where large fluctuations in oxygen availability occur. However, these physiological adaptations can put hypogean species at risk of replacement by more metabolically active epigean taxa, whenever the availability of organic matter increases, as happens with organic pollution. Moreover, the low metabolic rate of the hypogean species may entail an inability to cope with toxicants, rendering them more sensitive to pollutants. A higher metabolic rate in juvenile D. belgicus compared to that of adults allows copepodids to mature quickly when food is briefly abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous results provided evidence that Cratylia mollis seed lectin (Cramoll 1,4) promotes Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes death by necrosis via a mechanism involving plasma membrane permeabilization to Ca2+ and mitochondrial dysfunction due to matrix Ca2+ overload. In order to investigate the mechanism of Ca2+-induced mitochondrial impairment, experiments were performed analyzing the effects of this lectin on T. cruzi mitochondrial fraction and in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM), as a control. Confocal microscopy of T. cruzi whole cell revealed that Cramoll 1,4 binding to the plasma membrane glycoconjugates is followed by its internalization and binding to the mitochondrion. Electrical membrane potential (∆Ψm) of T. cruzi mitochondrial fraction suspended in a reaction medium containing 10 μM Ca2+ was significantly decreased by 50 μg/ml Cramoll 1,4 via a mechanism insensitive to cyclosporine A (CsA, membrane permeability transition (MPT) inhibitor), but sensitive to catalase or 125 mM glucose. In RLM suspended in a medium containing 10 μM Ca2+ this lectin, at 50 μg/ml, induced increase in the rate of hydrogen peroxide release, mitochondrial swelling, and ∆Ψm disruption. All these mitochondrial alterations were sensitive to CsA, catalase, and EGTA. These results indicate that Cramoll 1, 4 leads to inner mitochondrial membrane permeabilization through Ca2+ dependent mechanisms in both mitochondria. The sensitivity to CsA in RLM characterizes this lectin as a MPT inducer and the lack of CsA effect identifies a CsA-insensitive MPT in T. cruzi mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on marine community dynamics and population structures are limited by the lack of exhaustive knowledge on the larval dispersal component of connectivity. Genetic data represents a powerful tool in understanding such processes in the marine realm. When dealing with dispersion and connectivity in marine ecosystems, many evidences show patterns of genetic structure that cannot be explained by any clear geographic trend and may show temporal instability. This scenario is usually referred to as chaotic genetic patchiness, whose driving mechanisms are recognized to be selection, temporal shifts in local population dynamics, sweepstakes reproductive success and collective dispersal. In this study we focused on the marbled crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus that inhabits the rocky shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and East Atlantic Ocean, and disperses through planktonic larvae for about 1 month. P. marmoratus exhibits unexpectedly low connectivity levels at local scale, although well-defined phylogeographic patterns across the species' distribution range were described. This has been explained as an effect of subtle geographic barriers or due to sweepstake reproductive success. In order to verify a chaotic genetic patchiness scenario, and to explore mechanisms underlying it, we planned our investigation within the Ligurian Sea, an isolated basin of the western Mediterranean Sea, and we genotyped 321 individuals at 11 microsatellite loci. Results: We recorded genetic heterogeneity among our Ligurian Sea samples with the occurrence of genetic clusters not matching the original populations and a slight inter-population divergence, with the geographically most distant populations being the genetically most similar ones. Moreover, individuals from each site were assigned to all the genetic clusters. We also recorded evidences of self-recruitment and a higher than expected within-site kinship. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that the chaotic genetic patchiness we found in P. marmoratus Ligurian Sea populations is the result of a combination of differences in reproductive success, en masse larval dispersion and local larval retention. This study defines P. marmoratus as an example of marine spawner whose genetic pool is not homogenous at population level, but rather split in a chaotic mosaic of slightly differentiated genetic patches derived from complex and dynamic ecological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]