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The Zagros Mountains, characterized by complex topography and three large drainage systems, harbor the endemic freshwater crab Potamon persicum in Iran. Our study delves into the evolutionary history of P. persicum , utilizing two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker. We collected 214 specimens from 24 localities, identifying 21 haplotypes grouped into two major evolutionary lineages. Substantial differentiation exists between drainage systems and lineages. Historical demographic analysis revealed a significant decrease in population size during the late Holocene, accompanied by a recent population bottleneck. Species distribution modeling has revealed eastward shifts in suitable habitats between the last glacial maximum and the present day. Following the last glacial maximum, habitat fragmentation occurred, resulting in the establishment of small populations. These smaller populations are more vulnerable to climatic and geological events, thereby limiting gene flow and accelerating genetic differentiation within species. Historical biogeographic analysis traced the origin of P. persicum to the western Zagros Mountains, with major genetic divergence occurring during the Pleistocene. Our genetic analyses suggest that P. persicum may have shown a genetic pattern similar to a classical ring species before the Pleistocene. The Namak Lake sub-basin could have served as a contact zone where populations did not interbreed but were connected through gene flow in a geographic ring. Currently, genetic separation is evident between basins, indicating that P. persicum in the Zagros Mountains is not a contemporary ring species. Also, our biogeographical analysis estimated that range evolution may have been driven initially by dispersal, and only during the late Pleistocene by vicariance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purging plug refractories in China typically contain around 3 mass % of super-fine chromium oxide in the matrix in order to improve the performance of the purging plugs, primarily, slag corrosion and wear resistance. Alternatives to chromium oxide containing refractories have gained interest due to health concerns related to the formation of soluble chromium compounds over long storage periods of refractory wastes. Super-ground reactive alumina can replace chromium oxide in purging plug refractories and this paper discussed the new reactive alumina E-SY 88 in comparison to chromium oxide in a typical purging plug castable. The mixing behaviour, wet castable properties, as well as cured, dried, and fired properties at different temperatures up to 1 600 °C were compared. In addition, the hot modulus of rupture, creep behaviour, thermal shock resistance and slag corrosion resistance were tested. The microstructure after slag corrosion was investigated by SEM. The results prove that E-SY 88 is an economically viable technical alternative to chromium oxide in purging plug refractories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the present study, the evolutionary relationship within a clade of mountain clade of freshwater crabs (Potamonautes) was examined using mtDNA sequence data for species from the Cape Fold Mountain (CFM) and Great Escarpment (Drakensberg Mountain range). We undertook phylogenetic analyses, divergence time estimation, and an ancestral area reconstruction to explore the period of cladogenesis and understand the biogeographic history in this high‐altitude clade. Furthermore, we applied four species delimitation methods using ASAP, bPTP, bGMYC, and STACEY on the latter clade. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses retrieved a monophyletic freshwater crab clade comprised of two major sister clades, one comprised of the Cape Fold (clade A) and two comprised of Drakensberg Mountains (clade B) species. Divergence time estimation indicated that the two clades underwent Mio/Pliocene cladogenesis. Within the CFM clade (A), P. amathole (Amathola Mountains) was sister to P. parvispina (Cederberg and Kouebokkeveld Mountains) and the latter species were sister to P. parvicorpus (Cape Peninsula, Jonkershoek, and Helderberg Mountains) sister to P. tuerkayi (Overberg Mountains) and P. brincki (Hottentots Holland Mountains). Within the Drakensberg Mountain clade (B), we observed in situ diversification. Specimens from the southcentral Drakensberg Mountains (Dargle Forest, Injasuti, Karkloof, and Impendle) represent a new undescribed lineage Potamonautes sp. nov. 1. The second clade from the northern Drakensberg, representing P. clarus, was sister to a central Drakensberg Mountain clade that comprised P. depressus that was in turn sister to P. baziya from the Eastern Cape Province. The application of species delimitation methods generally overestimated the number of species. The biogeographic analyses indicated that the Eastern Cape Province is the most likely ancestral range area. Ecological niche modelling of representative species in clades A (Cape Fold Mountains) and B (Drakensberg Mountains) demonstrated that temperature and rainfall were the major abiotic drivers that differentiated the two clades. Our data favours the mountain gradient speciation hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular escalation in complexity in early bilaterian evolution correlates with a strong increase in the number of microRNAs (1,2). To explore the link between the birth of ancient microRNAs and body plan evolution, we set out to determine the ancient sites of activity of conserved bilaterian microRNA families in a comparative approach. We reason that any specific localization shared between protostomes and deuterostomes (the two major superphyla of bilaterian animals) should probably reflect an ancient specificity of that microRNA in their last common ancestor. Here, we investigate the expression of conserved bilaterian microRNAs in Platynereis dumerilii, a protostome retaining ancestral bilaterian features (3,4), in Capitella, another marine annelid, in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus, a deuterostome, and in sea anemone Nematostella, representing an out group to the bilaterians. Our comparative data indicate that the oldest known animal microRNA, miR-100, and the related miR-125 and let-7 were initially active in neurosecretory cells located around the mouth. Other sets of ancient microRNAs were first present in locomotor ciliated cells, specific brain centres, or, more broadly, one of four major organ systems: central nervous system, sensory tissue, musculature and gut. These findings reveal that microRNA evolution and the establishment of tissue identities were closely coupled in bilaterian evolution. Also, they outline a minimum set of cell types and tissues that existed in the protostome-deuterostome ancestor., Deep sequencing of Platynereis small RNAs identified 34 microRNA families common to protostomes and deuterostomes (Supplementary Fig. 1, Supplementary Table 1), in accordance with recent studies (2). To investigate the [...]

Plants are the main source of folate in human diets, but many fruits, tubers, and seeds are poor in this vitamin, and folate deficiency is a worldwide problem. Plants synthesize folate from pteridine, p-aminobenzoate (PABA), and glutamate moieties. Pteridine synthesis capacity is known to drop in ripening tomato fruit; therefore, we countered this decline by fruit-specific overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase I, the first enzyme of pteridine synthesis. We used a synthetic gene based on mammalian GTP cyclohydrolase I, because this enzyme is predicted to escape feedback control in planta. This engineering maneuver raised fruit pteridine content by 3- to 140-fold and fruit folate content by an average of 2-fold among 12 independent transformants, relative to vector-alone controls. Most of the folate increase was contributed by 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate polyglutamates and 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate polyglutamates, which were also major forms of folate in control fruit. The accumulated pteridines included neopterin, monapterin, and hydroxyrnethylpterin; their reduced forms, which are folate biosynthesis intermediates; and pteridine glycosides not previously found in plants. Engineered fruit with intermediate levels of pteridine overproduction attained the highest folate levels. PABA pools were severely depleted in engineered fruit that were high in folate, and supplying such fruit with PABA by means of the fruit stalk increased their folate content by up to 10-fold. These results demonstrate that engineering a moderate increase in pteridine production can significantly enhance the folate content in food plants and that boosting the PABA supply can produce further gains.

Abstract Background In many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract not only females but also predators. Females are, therefore, predicted to avoid such conspicuous males under predation risk. The present study was designed to investigate predator-induced changes of female mating preferences in Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana). Males of this species show a pronounced polymorphism in body size and coloration, and females prefer large, colorful males in the absence of predators. Results In dichotomous choice tests predator-naïve (lab-reared) females altered their initial preference for larger males in the presence of the cichlid Cichlasoma salvini, a natural predator of P. mexicana, and preferred small males instead. This effect was considerably weaker when females were confronted visually with the non-piscivorous cichlid Vieja bifasciata or the introduced non-piscivorous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In contrast, predator experienced (wild-caught) females did not respond to the same extent to the presence of a predator, most likely due to a learned ability to evaluate their predators' motivation to prey. Conclusions Our study highlights that (a) predatory fish can have a profound influence on the expression of mating preferences of their prey (thus potentially affecting the strength of sexual selection), and females may alter their mate choice behavior strategically to reduce their own exposure to predators. (b) Prey species can evolve visual predator recognition mechanisms and alter their mate choice only when a natural predator is present. (c) Finally, experiential effects can play an important role, and prey species may learn to evaluate the motivational state of their predators.

Abstract Background Using a functional genomics approach we addressed the impact of folate overproduction on metabolite formation and gene expression in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. We focused specifically on the mechanism that reduces growth rates in folate-overproducing cells. Results Metabolite formation and gene expression were determined in a folate-overproducing- and wild-type strain. Differential metabolomics analysis of intracellular metabolite pools indicated that the pool sizes of 18 metabolites differed significantly between these strains. The gene expression profile was determined for both strains in pH-regulated chemostat culture and batch culture. Apart from the expected overexpression of the 6 genes of the folate gene cluster, no other genes were found to be differentially expressed both in continuous and batch cultures. The discrepancy between the low transcriptome and metabolome response and the 25% growth rate reduction of the folate overproducing strain was further investigated. Folate production per se could be ruled out as a contributing factor, since in the absence of folate production the growth rate of the overproducer was also reduced by 25%. The higher metabolic costs for DNA and RNA biosynthesis in the folate overproducing strain were also ruled out. However, it was demonstrated that folate-specific mRNAs and proteins constitute 8% and 4% of the total mRNA and protein pool, respectively. Conclusion Folate overproduction leads to very little change in metabolite levels or overall transcript profile, while at the same time the growth rate is reduced drastically. This shows that Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 is unable to respond to this growth rate reduction, most likely because the growth-related transcripts and proteins are diluted by the enormous amount of gratuitous folate-related transcripts and proteins.

Abstract Background The faunal and floral relationship of northward-drifting India with its neighboring continents is of general biogeographic interest as an important driver of regional biodiversity. However, direct biogeographic connectivity of India and Southeast Asia during the Cenozoic remains largely unexplored. We investigate timing, direction and mechanisms of faunal exchange between India and Southeast Asia, based on a molecular phylogeny, molecular clock-derived time estimates and biogeographic reconstructions of the Asian freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae. Results Although the Gecarcinucidae are not an element of an ancient Gondwana fauna, their subfamily Gecarcinucinae, and probably also the Liotelphusinae, evolved on the Indian Subcontinent and subsequently dispersed to Southeast Asia. Estimated by a model testing approach, this dispersal event took place during the Middle Eocene, and thus before the final collision of India and the Tibet-part of Eurasia. Conclusions We postulate that the India and Southeast Asia were close enough for exchange of freshwater organisms during the Middle Eocene, before the final Indian-Eurasian collision. Our data support geological models that assume the Indian plate having tracked along Southeast Asia during its move northwards.

The article discusses a study which performed systematic biogeographical analysis of the genus Polypedates. Topics covered include the impact of climate fluctuations on species diversification within the genus Polypedates, its geographical range evolution from the Oligocene to present, and the recent introduction of Polypedates leucomystax to the Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.

The exchange of biotas between Eurasia and North America across the Bering land bridge had a major impact on ecosystems of both continents throughout the Cenozoic. This exchange has received particular attention regarding placental mammals dispersing into the Americas, including humans after the last glacial period, and also as an explanation for the disjunct distribution of related seed plants in eastern Asia and eastern North America. Here, we investigate bi-directional dispersal across the Bering land bridge from estimates of dispersal events based on time-calibrated phylogenies of a broad range of plant, fungus and animal taxa. We reveal a long-lasting phase of asymmetrical biotic interchange, with a peak of dispersal from Asia into North America during the late Oligocene warming (26–24 Ma), when dispersal in the opposite direction was greatly decreased. Influx from North America into Asia was lower than in the opposite direction throughout the Cenozoic, but with peak rates of dispersal at the end of the Eocene (40–34 Ma) and again in the early to middle Miocene (16–14 Ma). The strong association between dispersal patterns and environmental changes suggests that plants, fungi and animals have likely dispersed from stable to perturbed environments of North America and Eurasia throughout the Cenozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the impact of climatic fluctuations on the phylogeographic structure of the common slug eating snake (Duberria lutrix lutrix) throughout its distribution in South Africa. The evolutionary history within the taxon was examined using partial DNA sequence data for two mitochondrial genes (ND4 + cyt b) in combination with a nuclear locus (SPTBN1). Phylogenetic relationships were investigated for both the combined mtDNA and total evidence DNA sequence data. In addition, population and demographic analyses together with divergence time estimations were conducted on the combined mtDNA data. Topologies derived from the combined mtDNA analyses and the total evidence analyses were congruent and retrieved five statistically well-supported clades, suggesting that Duberria l. lutrix represents a species complex. The five clades were generally allopatric, separated by altitudinal barriers and characterised by the absence of shared mtDNA haplotypes suggesting long term isolation. Divergence time estimations indicate that the diversification within the D. l. lutrix species complex occurred during the Plio/Pleistocene as a result of climatic fluctuations and habitat shifts for the species. A taxonomic revision of the D. l. lutrix species complex may be required to delineate possible species boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent to which males exert mate choice (mate choosiness) depends on various environmental factors associated with the costs of mate acquisition and mate quality assessment, and the risk of remaining unmated. When low population densities translate into low mate encounter rates, this should result in reduced mate choosiness. In a system with overall high mating costs for males (due to precopulatory mate guarding, called amplexus), we investigated amplexus re-establishment after separating mating pairs and presenting focal males with a novel, size-matched female. Male Gammarus roeselii from a low-density (LD) population spent significantly less time until amplexus re-establishment than males from a high-density (HD) site, suggesting reduced choosiness in LD males. We experimentally ruled out alternative explanations such as differences in locomotor activity or mate finding abilities. To further demonstrate independent evolutionary trajectories of our study populations, we examined divergence in morphology and found males to differ in several traits involved in mate assessment and mate guarding. Together, we report phenotypic divergence in behavioural and morphological traits that is probably driven by contrasting selective regimes arising from different population densities. Our study exemplifies how population parameters contribute to phenotypic diversification of sexually selected traits during local adaptation along ecological gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of freshwater crab, Himalayapotamon robertsianum sp. nov. from Punjab province of Pakistan, based on morphological characters of the carapace and the first gonopod. The new species demarcates the westernmost distribution limit of the genus. Additionally, we analysed partial sequences of the 16S rRNA locus for some species of the genus Himalayapotamon (p-distances, Bayesian phylogenetical inference), indicating that Himalayapotamon separates into an eastern and a western clade. Based on these results, we propose a biogeographical scenario that can explain the occurrence of the genera Himalayapotamon and Potamon within the same river system: we assume an ancestral widespread distribution of Himalayapotamon in the palaeo-Ganges. When drainage rearrangement diverted the western tributaries of the Ganges into the Indus since the latest Miocene, Himalayapotamon diverged into two clades. Consequently, the western clade is now sharing the Indus drainage with Potamon. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:80B52E6C-0120-4669-A6B0-9F0DA5918EE3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the colonization history and phylogeographic structure of the two endemic freshwater crab species ( Potamonautes margaritarius and P. principe ) inhabiting the volcanic islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, respectively, using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. All samples were sequenced for the mtDNA COI locus and used in the phylogeographic analyses, while a single specimen per lineage was sequenced for the two remaining loci (16S rRNA and histone 3) and used in the phylogenetic reconstruction. Phylogenetic results reveal that P. principe diverged early within a clade of East/Southern African Potamonautes during the Miocene, while P. margaritarius diverged between the Late Eocene to Early Miocene. Furthermore, the two species are not sister taxa and are distantly related. These results corroborate previously hypothesised independent transoceanic dispersal events that resulted in the establishment of the endemic freshwater crab fauna of the two islands. Within P. margaritarius, we observed two reciprocally monophyletic clades on São Tomé Island. Clade one occurred in the southeast and southwest of the island, while clade two occurred in the northeast and the northwest; the divergence between the latter two clades was estimated to be of Pleistocene age. The two clades within P. margartarius are genetically highly structured and characterised by the absence of shared maternal haplotypes, suggesting possible speciation within P. margartarius . In contrast P. principe exhibits a shallow population genetic structure. Possible mechanisms of colonization and cladogenesis in the two freshwater crabs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies detected an influence of urban characteristics on song traits in passerine birds, that is, song adjustments to ambient noise in urban areas. Several studies already described the effect of weather conditions on the behavior of birds, but not the effect on song traits. We investigate, if song trait variability changes along a continuous urbanity gradient in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. We examined, for the first time on a larger scale, the influence of weather on song parameters. We made song recordings of three common passerine species: the blue and great tit ( Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Parus major Linnaeus, 1758) and the European blackbird ( Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758). We measured different song traits and performed statistical analyses and modeling on a variety of variables-among them urbanity and weather parameters. Remarkably, we found only few cases of a significant influence of urbanity parameters on song traits. The influence of weather parameters (air pressure, atmospheric humidity, air and soil temperatures) on song traits was highly significant. Birds in Frankfurt face high noise pollution and might show different adaptations to high noise levels. The song trait variability of the investigated species is affected more by weather conditions than by urban characteristics in Frankfurt. However, the three species react differently to specific weather parameters. Smaller species seem to be more affected by weather than larger species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speciation and biogeographical patterning in the velvet worm Opisthopatus cinctipes was examined under a null hypothesis that numerous discrete lineages are nested within the species. A total of 184 O. cinctipes specimens, together with a single specimen of each of the two congeneric point endemic sister species ( O. roseus and O. herbertorum), were collected throughout the forest archipelago in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. All specimens were sequenced for two partial mitochondrial DNA loci ( COI and 12S rRNA), while a single specimen from each locality was sequenced for the nuclear 18S rRNA locus. Evolutionary relationships were assessed using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inferences, while divergence time estimations were conducted using BEAST. A Bayesian species delimitation approach was undertaken to explore the number of possible novel lineages nested within Opisthopatus, while population genetic structure was examined for the COI locus using ARLEQUIN. Phylogenetic results revealed that O. cinctipes is a species complex comprising seven geographically discrete and statistically well-supported clades. An independent statistical approach to species delimitations circumscribed ca. 67 species. Results from divergence time estimation and rate constancy tests revealed near constant net diversification occurring throughout the Eocene and Oligocene with subdivision of ranges during the Miocene. Gross morphological characters such as leg pair number within O. cinctipes were invariant, while dorsal and ventral integument colour was highly polymorphic. However, scanning electron microscopy revealed considerable differences both between and within clades. The caveats associated with both morphological and algorithmic delineation of species boundaries are discussed. The five novel Opisthopatus species are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African bovids are a famous example of a taxonomic group in which the correlated evolution of body size, feeding mode, gregariousness, and social organization in relation to the preferred habitat type has been investigated. A continuum has been described ranging from small-bodied, sedentary, solitary or socially monogamous, forest- or bush-dwelling, browsing species that seek shelter from predation in dense vegetation, to large-bodied, migratory, highly gregarious, grazing taxa inhabiting open savannahs and relying on flight or group-defense behaviors when facing predators. Here, we examined a geographically widespread clade within the Bovidae (the genus Gazella ) that shows minimal interspecific variation in body size and asked if we could still uncover correlated changes of key ecological and behavioral traits during repeated transitions from open-land to mountain-dwelling. Our study used a multi-locus phylogeny (based on sequence variation of Cyt b and six nuclear intron markers) of all extant members of the genus Gazella to infer evolutionary patterns of key ecological and behavioral traits and to estimate ancestral character states using Bayesian inference. At the base of the Gazella -phylogeny, open plains were inferred as the most likely habitat type, and three independent transitions toward mountain-dwelling were uncovered. Those shifts coincided with shifts from migratory to sedentary lifestyles. Character estimation for group size was largely congruent with movement patterns in that species forming large groups tended to be migratory, while small group size was correlated with a sedentary lifestyle. Evolutionary patterns of two other conspicuous traits (twinning ability vs . exclusive singleton births and hornless vs . horned females) did not follow this trend in the Gazella -phylogeny. Furthermore, we inferred the genus Gazella to have emerged in the Late Miocene to Pliocene (10–3 Mya), and estimating ancestral ranges based on a Dispersal–Extinction–Cladogenesis model found the Middle East to be the most likely origin of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a synopsis of ~ 60 million years of life history in Neotropical lowlands, based on a comprehensive survey of the Cenozoic deposits along the Quebrada Cachiyacu near Contamana in Peruvian Amazonia. The 34 fossil-bearing localities identified have yielded a diversity of fossil remains, including vertebrates, mollusks, arthropods, plant fossils, and microorganisms, ranging from the early Paleocene to the late Miocene–?Pliocene (> 20 successive levels). This Cenozoic series includes the base of the Huchpayacu Formation (Fm.; early Paleocene; lacustrine/fluvial environments; charophyte-dominated assemblage), the Pozo Fm. (middle + ?late Eocene; marine then freshwater environments; most diversified biomes), and complete sections for the Chambira Fm. (late Oligocene–late early Miocene; freshwater environments; vertebrate-dominated faunas), the Pebas Fm. (late early to early late Miocene; freshwater environments with an increasing marine influence; excellent fossil record), and Ipururo Fm. (late Miocene–?Pliocene; fully fluvial environments; virtually no fossils preserved). At least 485 fossil species are recognized in the Contamana area (~ 250 ‘plants’, ~ 212 animals, and 23 foraminifera). Based on taxonomic lists from each stratigraphic interval, high-level taxonomic diversity remained fairly constant throughout the middle Eocene–Miocene interval (8-12 classes), ordinal diversity fluctuated to a greater degree, and family/species diversity generally declined, with a drastic drop in the early Miocene. The Paleocene–?Pliocene fossil assemblages from Contamana attest at least to four biogeographic histories inherited from ( i ) Mesozoic Gondwanan times, ( ii ) the Panamerican realm prior to ( iii ) the time of South America’s Cenozoic “splendid isolation”, and ( iv ) Neotropical ecosystems in the Americas. No direct evidence of any North American terrestrial immigrant has yet been recognized in the Miocene record at Contamana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For refractory application inert alumina fillers frequently are mixed with calcium aluminate cements to improve particle packaging and to reduce the demand of water for low-cement castables. This finally results in decreased porosity and higher strength. Investigations by isothermal heat flow calorimetry show that the presence of alumina filler material with high specific surface area leads to a shortening of the induction period of calcium aluminate cement hydration. The study also demonstrates that the specific surface area of the chosen alumina filler changes the starting point of the main hydration reaction and in consequence the setting time of the calcium aluminate cement mixture is strongly influenced. During the dormant period the heat flow of calcium aluminate cement hydration with coarse alumina filler material of lower specific surface area is characterised by negative values. By addition of filler with higher specific surface area, the surface available for heterogeneous nucleation can be increased. Owing to more available surfaces the critical energy barrier for stable nuclei formation can be reduced. This results in a positive heat flow during the dormant period and a shift of the main reaction to earlier points in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]