@article{BiancoKetmaier2014, author = {Bianco, Pier Giorgio and Ketmaier, Valerio}, title = {A revision of the Rutilus complex from Mediterranean Europe with description of a new genus, Sarmarutilus, and a new species, Rutilus stoumboudae (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)}, series = {Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists}, volume = {3841}, journal = {Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists}, number = {3}, publisher = {Magnolia Press}, address = {Auckland}, issn = {1175-5326}, pages = {379 -- 402}, year = {2014}, abstract = {By combining morphology, ecology, biology, and biogeography with the available molecular (sequence variation of the entire mitochondrial cytochrome b gene; cyt-b) and karyology data, the taxonomy of several species of the Rutilus complex inhabiting southern Europe is revised. Rutilus stoumboudae, new species, is described from Lake Volvi, Greece. It differs from Rutilus rutilus in possessing more total GR and less branched rays in both dorsal and anal fins and in its placement in the cyt-b based phylogeny of the genus. The resurrected genus Leucos Heckel, 1843 (type species Leucos aula, Bonaparte, 1841), which according to molecular data diverged from Rutilus more than 5 million years ago, during the Messinian salinity crisis, includes five species of small size, without spinous tubercles on scales and head in reproductive males, pharyngeal teeth formula 5-5, and all show a preference for still waters. Leucos aula is the Italian species endemic in the Padany-Venetian district: L. basak is widespread in Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM); L. albus, recently described from Lake Skadar, Montenegro, is also found in rivers Moraca and Zeta (Montenegro). L. albus differs from L. basak, its closest relative, in having more scales on the LL and less anal-fin rays; L. panosi is endemic to the western-Greece district, and L. ylikiensis is endemic to lakes Yliki and Paralimni in eastern Greece (introduced in Lake Volvi). Among the nominal species examined, Rutilus karamani, R. ohridanus, R. prespensis and R. prespensis vukovici are all junior synonyms of Leucos basak. Rutilus vegariticus is definitively regarded as junior synonym for R. rutilus. Sarmarutilus n.gen. is a monotypic genus, with Sarmarutilus rubilio as the type species. According to phylogenetic data, Sarmarutilus rubilio is basal to a cluster of species that includes Leucos basak, L. albus, L. aula, L. panosi and L. ylikiensis. Sarmarutilus possibly evolved in pre-Messinian time, in the Lago Mare, entered the Mediterranean area during the Messinian Lago Mare phase of the Mediterranean Sea and survived only in the Tuscany-Latium district. This genus differs from Leucos in having large pearl organs on the central part of head and body scales in mature males and for the habitat preference, being a riverine-adapted species. It differs from Rutilus in pharyngeal teeth formula (5-5 in Sarmarutilus and 6-5 in Rutilus), size (small in Sarmarutilus and large in Rutilus) and for the preferential habitat (riverine vs. still water). Finally, lectotypes for Leucos basak, Leucos aula, and Sarmarutilus rubilio are designated.}, language = {en} } @article{SalaBozanoKetmaierMariani2009, author = {Sala-Bozano, Maria and Ketmaier, Valerio and Mariani, Stefano}, title = {Contrasting signals from multiple markers illuminate population connectivity in a marine fish}, issn = {0962-1083}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04404.x}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Recent advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have helped to unveil striking and previously unrecognized patterns of geographic genetic structure in marine populations. Largely driven by the pressing needs of fisheries management and conservation, studies on marine fish populations have played a pivotal role in testing the efficiency of a range of approaches to explore connectivity and dispersal at sea. Here, we employed nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers and parasitic infestations to examine the nature and patterns of population structure in a warm-temperate coastal marine teleost across major putative biogeographic barriers in the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean. We detected deep genetic divergence between mitochondrial lineages, likely caused by dramatic climatic and geological transformations before and during the Pleistocene. Such long-diverged lineages later came into secondary contact and can now be found in sympatry. More importantly, microsatellite data revealed that these lineages, after millions of years of independent evolution, now interbreed extensively. By combining genetic and parasite data, we were able to identify at least five independent demographic units. While the different genetic and parasite-based methods produce notably contrasting signals and may complicate the reconstruction of connectivity dynamics, we show that by tailoring the correct interpretation to each of the descriptors used, it is possible to achieve a deeper understanding of the micro-evolutionary process and, consequently, resolve population structure.}, language = {en} } @article{NahavandiKetmaierPlathetal.2013, author = {Nahavandi, Nahid and Ketmaier, Valerio and Plath, Martin and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Diversification of Ponto-Caspian aquatic fauna - morphology and molecules retrieve congruent evolutionary relationships in Pontogammarus maeoticus (Amphipoda: Pontogammaridae)}, series = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {69}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {San Diego}, issn = {1055-7903}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2013.05.021}, pages = {1063 -- 1076}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The geological history of the Ponto-Caspian region, with alternating cycles of isolation and reconnection among the three main basins (Black and Azov Seas, and the more distant Caspian Sea) as well as between them and the Mediterranean Sea, profoundly affected the diversification of its aquatic fauna, leading to a high degree of endemism. Two alternative hypotheses on the origin of this amazing biodiversity have been proposed, corresponding to phases of allopatric separation of aquatic fauna among sea basins: a Late Miocene origin (10-6 MYA) vs. a more recent Pleistocene ancestry (<2 MYA). Both hypotheses support a vicariant origin of (1) Black + Azov Sea lineages on the one hand, and (2) Caspian Sea lineages on the other. Here, we present a study on the Ponto-Caspian endemic amphipod Pontogammarus maeoticus. We assessed patterns of divergence based on (a) two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene, and (b) a morphometric analysis of 23 morphological traits in 16 populations from South and West Caspian Sea, South Azov Sea and North-West Black Sea. Genetic data indicate a long and independent evolutionary history, dating back from the late Miocene to early Pleistocene (6.6-1.6 MYA), for an unexpected, major split between (i) a Black Sea clade and (ii) a well-supported clade grouping individuals from the Caspian and Azov Seas. Absence of shared haplotypes argues against either recent or human-mediated exchanges between Caspian and Azov Seas. A mismatch distribution analysis supports more stable population demography in the Caspian than in the Black Sea populations. Morphological divergence largely followed patterns of genetic divergence: our analyses grouped samples according to the basin of origin and corroborated the close phylogenetic affinity between Caspian and Azov Sea lineages. Altogether, our results highlight the necessity of careful (group-specific) evaluation of evolutionary trajectories in marine taxa that should certainly not be inferred from the current geographical proximity of sea basins alone. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{FeulnerKirschbaumSchugardtetal.2006, author = {Feulner, Philine G. D. and Kirschbaum, Frank and Schugardt, Christian and Ketmaier, Valerio and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Electrophysiological and molecular genetic evidence for sympatrically occuring cryptic species in African weakly electric fishes (Teleostei : Mormyridae : Campylomormyrus)}, issn = {1055-7903}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2005.09.008}, year = {2006}, abstract = {For two sympatric species of African weakly electric fish, Campylomormyrus tamandua and Campylomormyrus numenius, we monitored ontogenetic differentiation in electric organ discharge (EOD) and established a molecular phylogeny, based on 2222 bp from cytochrome b, the S7 ribosomal protein gene, and four flanking regions of unlinked microsatellite loci. In C tamandua, there is one common EOD type, regardless of age and sex, whereas in C numenius we were able to identify three different male adult EOD waveform types, which emerged from a single common EOD observed in juveniles. Two of these EOD types formed well supported clades in our phylogenetic analysis. In an independent line of evidence, we were able to affirm the classification into three groups by microsatellite data. The correct assignment and the high pairwise FST values support our hypothesis that these groups are reproductively isolated. We propose that in C numenius there are cryptic species, hidden behind similar and, at least as juveniles, identical morphs.}, language = {en} } @article{ApioKabasaKetmaieretal.2010, author = {Apio, Ann and Kabasa, John David and Ketmaier, Valerio and Schroeder, Christoph and Plath, Martin and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Female philopatry and male dispersal in a cryptic, bush-dwelling antelope : a combined molecular and behavioural approach}, issn = {0952-8369}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00654.x}, year = {2010}, abstract = {In most mammals, females are philopatric while males disperse in order to avoid inbreeding. We investigated social structure in a solitary ungulate, the bushbuck Tragelaphus sylvaticus in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda by combining behavioural and molecular data. We correlated spatial and social vicinity of individual females with a relatedness score obtained from mitochondrial DNA analysis. Presumed clan members shared the same haplotype, showed more socio-positive interactions and had a common home range. Males had a higher haplotype diversity than females. All this suggests the presence of a matrilineal structure in the study population. Moreover, we tested natal dispersal distances between male and female yearlings and used control region sequences to confirm that females remain in their natal breeding areas whereas males disperse. In microsatellite analysis, males showed a higher genetic variability than females. The impoverished genetic variability of females at both molecular marker sets is consistent with a philopatric and matrilineal structure, while the higher degree of genetic variability of males is congruent with a higher dispersal rate expected in this sex. Evidence even for male long-distance dispersal is brought about by one male carrying a haplotype of a different subspecies, previously not described to occur in this area.}, language = {en} } @article{PavesiTiedemannDeMatthaeisetal.2013, author = {Pavesi, Laura and Tiedemann, Ralph and De Matthaeis, Elvira and Ketmaier, Valerio}, title = {Genetic connectivity between land and sea - the case of the beachflea Orchestia montagui (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae) in the Mediterranean Sea}, series = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, number = {4-5}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1742-9994}, doi = {10.1186/1742-9994-10-21}, pages = {19}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Introduction: We examined patterns of genetic divergence in 26 Mediterranean populations of the semi-terrestrial beachflea Orchestia montagui using mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I), microsatellite (eight loci) and allozymic data. The species typically forms large populations within heaps of dead seagrass leaves stranded on beaches at the waterfront. We adopted a hierarchical geographic sampling to unravel population structure in a species living at the sea-land transition and, hence, likely subjected to dramatically contrasting forces. Results: Mitochondrial DNA showed historical phylogeographic breaks among Adriatic, Ionian and the remaining basins (Tyrrhenian, Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea) likely caused by the geological and climatic changes of the Pleistocene. Microsatellites (and to a lesser extent allozymes) detected a further subdivision between and within the Western Mediterranean and the Tyrrhenian Sea due to present-day processes. A pattern of isolation by distance was not detected in any of the analyzed data set. Conclusions: We conclude that the population structure of O. montagui is the result of the interplay of two contrasting forces that act on the species population genetic structure. On one hand, the species semi-terrestrial life style would tend to determine the onset of local differences. On the other hand, these differences are partially counter-balanced by passive movements of migrants via rafting on heaps of dead seagrass leaves across sites by sea surface currents. Approximate Bayesian Computations support dispersal at sea as prevalent over terrestrial regionalism.}, language = {en} } @article{PavesiTiedemannDeMatthaeisetal.2013, author = {Pavesi, Laura and Tiedemann, Ralph and DeMatthaeis, Elvira and Ketmaier, Valerio}, title = {Genetic connectivity between land and sea: the case of the beachflea Orchestia montagui (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae) in the Mediterranean Sea}, issn = {1742-9994}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{SbragagliaLamannaMatetal.2015, author = {Sbragaglia, Valerio and Lamanna, Francesco and Mat, Audrey M. and Rotllant, Guiomar and Joly, Silvia and Ketmaier, Valerio and de la Iglesia, Horacio O. and Aguzzi, Jacopo}, title = {Identification, Characterization, and Diel Pattern of Expression of Canonical Clock Genes in Nephrops norvegicus (Crustacea: Decapoda) Eyestalk}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {10}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {11}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0141893}, pages = {17}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, is a burrowing decapod with a rhythmic burrow emergence (24 h) governed by the circadian system. It is an important resource for European fisheries and its behavior deeply affects its availability. The current knowledge of Nephrops circadian biology is phenomenological as it is currently the case for almost all crustaceans. In attempt to elucidate the putative molecular mechanisms underlying circadian gene regulation in Nephrops, we used a transcriptomics approach on cDNA extracted from the eyestalk, a structure playing a crucial role in controlling behavior of decapods. We studied 14 male lobsters under 12-12 light-darkness blue light cycle. We used the Hiseq 2000 Illumina platform to sequence two eyestalk libraries (under light and darkness conditions) obtaining about 90 millions 100-bp paired-end reads. Trinity was used for the de novo reconstruction of transcriptomes; the size at which half of all assembled bases reside in contigs (N50) was equal to 1796 (light) and 2055 (darkness). We found a list of candidate clock genes and focused our attention on canonical ones: timeless, period, clock and bmal1. The cloning of assembled fragments validated Trinity outputs. The putative Nephrops clock genes showed high levels of identity (blastx on NCBI) with known crustacean clock gene homologs such as Eurydice pulchra (period: 47\%, timeless: 59\%, bmal1: 79\%) and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (clock: 100\%). We also found a vertebrate-like cryptochrome 2. RT-qPCR showed that only timeless had a robust diel pattern of expression. Our data are in accordance with the current knowledge of the crustacean circadian clock, reinforcing the idea that the molecular clockwork of this group shows some differences with the established model in Drosophila melanogaster.}, language = {en} } @article{SbragagliaLamannaMatetal.2015, author = {Sbragaglia, Valerio and Lamanna, Francesco and Mat, Audrey M. and Rotllant, Guiomar and Joly, Silvia and Ketmaier, Valerio and de la Iglesia, Horacio O. and Aguzzi, Jacopo}, title = {Identification, Characterization, and Diel Pattern of Expression of Canonical Clock Genes in Nephrops norvegicus (Crustacea: Decapoda) Eyestalk}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {10}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {11}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, address = {Lawrence}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0141893}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, is a burrowing decapod with a rhythmic burrow emergence (24 h) governed by the circadian system. It is an important resource for European fisheries and its behavior deeply affects its availability. The current knowledge of Nephrops circadian biology is phenomenological as it is currently the case for almost all crustaceans. In attempt to elucidate the putative molecular mechanisms underlying circadian gene regulation in Nephrops, we used a transcriptomics approach on cDNA extracted from the eyestalk, a structure playing a crucial role in controlling behavior of decapods. We studied 14 male lobsters under 12-12 light-darkness blue light cycle. We used the Hiseq 2000 Illumina platform to sequence two eyestalk libraries (under light and darkness conditions) obtaining about 90 millions 100-bp paired-end reads. Trinity was used for the de novo reconstruction of transcriptomes; the size at which half of all assembled bases reside in contigs (N50) was equal to 1796 (light) and 2055 (darkness). We found a list of candidate clock genes and focused our attention on canonical ones: timeless, period, clock and bmal1. The cloning of assembled fragments validated Trinity outputs. The putative Nephrops clock genes showed high levels of identity (blastx on NCBI) with known crustacean clock gene homologs such as Eurydice pulchra (period: 47\%, timeless: 59\%, bmal1: 79\%) and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (clock: 100\%). We also found a vertebrate-like cryptochrome 2. RT-qPCR showed that only timeless had a robust diel pattern of expression. Our data are in accordance with the current knowledge of the crustacean circadian clock, reinforcing the idea that the molecular clockwork of this group shows some differences with the established model in Drosophila melanogaster.}, language = {en} } @article{ZarattiniMuraKetmaier2013, author = {Zarattini, Paola and Mura, Graziella and Ketmaier, Valerio}, title = {Intra-specific variability in the thirteen known populations of the fairy shrimp Chirocephalus ruffoi (Crustacea: Anostraca) - resting egg morphometrics and mitochondrial DNA reveal decoupled patterns of deep divergence}, series = {Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica}, volume = {713}, journal = {Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0018-8158}, doi = {10.1007/s10750-013-1487-8}, pages = {19 -- 34}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Chirocephalus ruffoi is a fairy shrimp endemic to the Italian peninsula, where it is known only from thirteen high mountain locations. Twelve of these are in the Northern Apennines while the thirteenth is about 700 km away in the Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy). We quantified degree of genetic divergence within the species by sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA encoding for Cytochrome Oxidase I. We then combined genetic data with the re-analysis of two different datasets on the morphometrics of the resting eggs (cysts) produced by the species as an adaptation to survive seasonal droughts. Genetic data revealed profound divergence; we identified four clusters of haplotypes within the species phylogeography, three in the Northern Apennines and one in the Calabrian Apennines with most of the genetic variation (a parts per thousand 70\%) being apportioned among haplogroups. We found high variability in cyst morphometrics, especially in cyst size and height of the spines ornamenting the surface. Genetic and morphometric data are decoupled suggesting that cyst morphology is either under selection or a plastic trait. We, therefore, caution against using cyst morphology for taxonomic purposes in anostracans.}, language = {en} }