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Lake level fluctuations synchronize genetic divergences of cichlid fishes in African Lakes
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Water level fluctuations are important modulators of speciation processes in tropical lakes, in that they temporarily form or break down barriers to gene flow among adjacent populations and/or incipient species. Time estimates of the most recent major lowstands of the three African Great Lakes are thus crucial to infer the relative timescales of explosive speciation events in cichlid species flocks. Our approach combines geological evidence with genetic divergence data of cichlid fishes from the three Great East African Lakes derived from the fastest-evolving mtDNA segment. Thereby, we show for each of the three lakes that individuals sampled from several populations which are currently isolated by long geographic distances and/or deep water form clusters of equally closely related haplotypes. The distribution of identical or equally closely related haplotypes in a lake basin allows delineation of the extent of lake level fluctuations. Our data suggest that the same climatic phenomenon synchronized the onset of genetic divergence of lineages in all three species flocks, such that their most recent evolutionary history seems to be linked to the same external modulators of adaptive radiation. A calibration of the molecular clock of the control region was elaborated by gauging the age of the Lake Malawi species flock through the divergence among the utaka-cichlid and the mbuna-cichlid lineages to minimally 570,000 years and maximally 1 Myr. This suggests that the low-lake-level period which established the observed patterns of genetic relatedness dates back less than 57,000 years, probably even to 17,000-12,400 years ago, when Lake Victoria dried up and Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika were also low. A rapid rise of all three lakes about 11,000 years ago established the large-scale population subdivisions observed today. Over that period of time, a multitude of species originated in Lakes Malawi and Victoria with an impressive degree of morphological and ecological differentiation, whereas the Tanganyikan taxa that were exposed to the same habitat changes hardly diverged ecologically and morphologically. Our findings also show that patterns of genetic divergences of stenotopic organisms provide valuable feedback on geological and sedimentological time estimates for lake level changes.
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Microsatellite data reveals weak population substructuring in Copadichromis sp. `virginalis kajose', a demersal cichlid from Lake Malawi, Africa
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Small but significant differences were found in allele frequencies among five populations (overall F ST estimate (θ)=0.004, P=0.006; overall R ST estimate (RHO)=0.019, P<0.00001) of the demersal cichlid Copadichromis sp. `virginalis kajose', collected from five locations in Lake Malawi. Pairwise F ST estimates revealed significant differences between the most southerly population (Cape Maclear), and the three most northerly populations (Mbamba Bay, Metangula and Chilola). Pairwise R ST estimates also revealed significant differences between some populations, but no geographical pattern was discernible. There was no evidence of isolation by distance using either the shortest straight-line distance between samples, or the distance around the shoreline following a 50 m depth contour. F ST, estimates were considerably lower than found in previous studies on the mbuna (rock-dwelling species), but higher than those found in a study of three pelagic cichlid species from Lake Malawi. Substructuring in C. sp. `virginalis kajose' appears to be on a similar scale to the Atlantic cod. © 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.
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Post-mortem findings and causes of death of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded from 1990 to 2000 along the coastlines of Belgium and Northern France
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Between the years 1990 and 2000, an attempt was made to determine the causes of death of 55 harbour porpoises stranded along the Belgian and northern French coasts. From 1990 to 1996, only five carcasses were collected as against seven in 1997, eight in 1998, 27 in 1999 and eight in 2000. The sex ratio was normal and most of the animals were juvenile. The most common findings were emaciation, severe parasitosis and pneumonia. A few cases of fishing net entanglement were observed. The main microscopical lesions were acute pneumonia, massive lung oedema, enteritis, hepatitis and gastritis. Encephalitis was observed in six cases. No evidence of morbillivirus infection was detected. Pneumonia was associated with bacteria or parasites, or both. The causes of death and the lesions were similar to those previously reported in other countries bordering the North Sea. The cause of the increased numbers of carcasses in 1999 was unclear but did not include viral epizootics or net entanglement. A temporary increase in the porpoise population in the southern North Sea may have been responsible. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Restoration of tropical peat swamp rotifer communities after perturbation: An experimental study of recovery of rotifers from the resting egg bank
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In order to assess the recovery potential of tropical freshwater communities after disturbance, we performed an experimental study on the effects of exposure conditions and durations of storage on hatching of rotifer resting eggs in sediment. Well-mixed surface sediment samples from Mai Khao peat swamp on Phuket Island, Thailand, were stored under three conditions (cold -4°C & dark: CD; ambient -32-42°C & dark: AD; and ambient & daylight conditions: AL), for different periods of time (1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months). The number of species hatching from the sediment was significantly affected by treatment for both short- (1-6 months) and long-term (6-20 months) exposure. Significant effects of short- and long-term exposure within treatments were also present. Both factors interacted significantly. Regarding numbers of specimens hatching, no short-term effects of differences in treatment condition were found, but increasing the duration did have an effect. Significant effects of treatment occurred after 6 months, in addition to prolonged effects of duration. Again, both factors interacted significantly. These experiments indicate that exposure time has a strong impact on the viability of resting eggs, whereas, an effect of exposure condition appears only after 6 months. So, recovery of rotifer communities from resident sediment egg banks in disturbed peat swamps can only be effectively attained when restoration occurs within a relatively short period after perturbation. © Springer 2005.
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New metallothionein mRNAs in Gobio gobio reveal at least three gene duplication events in cyprinid metallothionein evolution
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This paper reports the identification and analysis of the primary structure of three novel metallothionein cDNA sequences in the gudgeon, Gobio gobio (Cyprinidae). Two different 180 bp coding regions were identified, resulting in two MT isoforms differing in one amino acid. The primary structure of the amino acid sequence was compared to other cyprinid MT sequences. Furthermore, two differently sized cDNAs were discovered in one of the two transcripts. We present a phylogenetic comparison of our sequences to other, previously published cyprinid MT gene sequences. Our analysis reveals an unexpected complexity in cyprinid MT evolution, with at least three gene duplication events. Differences and homologies between the evolution of cyprinid MT genes are compared to other teleost families. Finally, possible implications for metallothionein classification are discussed. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Paracrenhydrosoma oceaniae sp. nov. (Copepoda: Harpacticoida), from Kongsfjorden, Northwest Svalbard (Arctic)
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Both sexes of a new species of Cletodidae belonging to the Acrenhydrosoma-lineage are described from material collected at Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) and attributed to the genus Paracrenhydrosoma Gee, 1999. Paracrenhydrosoma oceaniae sp. nov. is easily distinguished from its congeners by the reduced setal formula of the natatorial legs, lacking the inner subdistal seta on segment 3 of legs 3 and 4. Several other characteristics viz. antennular and antennal armature, and the free leg 5 exopodite in both sexes, are indications of its basal position in the genus.
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Taxonomy and systematics in biodiversity research
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Rotifers from Kalasin Province, Northeast Thailand, with notes on new and rare species
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We report on a survey of rotifers from 30 habitats in Kalasin Province, Northeast Thailand, collected during Dec. 2001. One hundred and fifty species were identified. One of them, Lecane lungae sp. nov. is new to science, and two, L. opias (Harring and Myers), and L. stichoclysta Segers are new to the Oriental region and Thailand; the record of L. stichoclysta is the second record ever of the species after its description from Nigeria (Africa). In addition, we illustrate a remarkable morphological variant of Keratella cochlearis. These records, together with the new occurrences of other endemic rotifer species illustrate the remarkable diversity of the Thai rotifer fauna, and add to our knowledge of rotifer chorology.
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The future of freshwater biodiversity research: An introduction to the target review
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Tale of a sleeping beauty: A new and easily cultured model organism for experimental studies on bdelloid rotifers
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We present the description of a new species of bdelloid rotifer, Adineta ricciae n. sp., which emerged from dry mud of Ryan's billabong, Victoria, Australia. Its conspicuous frontal eyes easily diagnose the species; it differs from A. oculata (Milne) by the position of the eyes and its general habitus. The animal came to our attention because it is exceptionally easy to culture, so that the species already is being used in diverse experimental studies utilising bdelloid rotifers as model organisms. © Springer 2005.
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