@article{DolgenerFreudenbergerSchlucketal.2014, author = {Dolgener, N. and Freudenberger, L. and Schluck, M. and Schneeweiss, N. and Ibisch, P. L. and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Environmental niche factor analysis (ENFA) relates environmental parameters to abundance and genetic diversity in an endangered amphibian, the fire-bellied-toad (Bombina bombina)}, series = {Conservation genetics}, volume = {15}, journal = {Conservation genetics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1566-0621}, doi = {10.1007/s10592-013-0517-4}, pages = {11 -- 21}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Increasing attempts are made to understand the factors responsible for both the demographic and genetic depletion in amphibian populations. Landscape genetics aims at a spatially explicit correlation of genetic population parameters to landscape features. Using data from the endangered fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina in Brandenburg (Northeastern Germany), we performed an environmental niche factor analysis (ENFA), relating demographic (abundance) and genetic (diversity at 17 microsatellite loci and partial sequences of the mitochondrial control region in 434 individuals from 16 populations) parameters to ecological and anthropogenic variables such as temperature, precipitation, soil wetness, water runoff, vegetation density, and road/traffic impact. We found significant correlations between road disturbance and observed heterozygosity and between soil wetness and mitochondrial diversity. As the influences of the environmental variables can differ between different indicators for genetic diversity, population size and abundance data, our ENFA-based landscape genetics approach allows us to put various aspects of long- versus short term effective population size and genetic connectivity into an ecological and spatially explicit context, enabling potentially even forecast assessment under future environmental scenarios.}, language = {en} } @article{DolgenerFreudenbergerSchneeweissetal.2014, author = {Dolgener, Nicola and Freudenberger, L. and Schneeweiss, N. and Ibisch, P. L. and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Projecting current and potential future distribution of the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina under climate change in north-eastern Germany}, series = {Regional environmental change}, volume = {14}, journal = {Regional environmental change}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {1436-3798}, doi = {10.1007/s10113-013-0468-9}, pages = {1063 -- 1072}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Environmental change is likely to have a strong impact on biodiversity, and many species may shift their distribution in response. In this study, we aimed at projecting the availability of suitable habitat for an endangered amphibian species, the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina, in Brandenburg (north-eastern Germany). We modelled a potential habitat distribution map based on (1) a database with 10,581 presence records for Bombina from the years 1990 to 2009, (2) current estimates for ecogeographical variables (EGVs) and (3) the future projection of these EGVs according to the statistical regional model, respectively, the soil and water integrated model, applying the maximum entropy approach (Maxent). By comparing current and potential future distributions, we evaluated the projected change in distribution of suitable habitats and identified the environmental variables most associated with habitat suitability that turned out to be climatic variables related to the hydrological cycle. Under the applied scenario, our results indicate increasing habitat suitability in many areas and an extended range of suitable habitats. However, even if the environmental conditions in Brandenburg may change as predicted, it is questionable whether the Fire-bellied toad will truly benefit, as dispersal abilities of amphibian species are limited and strongly influenced by anthropogenic disturbances, that is, intensive agriculture, habitat destruction and fragmentation. Furthermore, agronomic pressure is likely to increase on productive areas with fertile soils and high water retention capacities, indeed those areas suitable for B. bombina. All these changes may affect temporary pond hydrology as well as the reproductive success and breeding phenology of toads.}, language = {en} } @article{DolgenerSchroederSchneeweissetal.2012, author = {Dolgener, Nicola and Schr{\"o}der, Christiane and Schneeweiss, N. and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Genetic population structure of the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina in an area of high population density implications for conservation}, series = {Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica}, volume = {689}, journal = {Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0018-8158}, doi = {10.1007/s10750-012-1016-1}, pages = {111 -- 120}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In this study, we report the genetic population structure of the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina in Brandenburg (East Germany) in the context of conservation. We analysed 298 samples originating from 11 populations in Brandenburg using mitochondrial control region sequences and six polymorphic microsatellite loci. For comparison, we included one population each from Poland and Ukraine into our analysis. Within Brandenburg, we detected a moderate variability in the mitochondrial control region (19 different haplotypes) and at microsatellite loci (9-12 alleles per locus). These polymorphisms revealed a clear population structure among toads in Brandenburg, despite a relatively high overall population density and the moderate size of single populations (100-2000 individuals). The overall genetic population structure is consistent with a postglacial colonization from South East-Europe and a subsequent population expansion. Based on genetic connectivity, we infer Management Units (MUs) as targets for conservation. Our genetic survey identified MUs, within which human infrastructure is currently preventing any genetic exchange. We also detect an unintentional translocation from South East to North West Brandenburg, presumably in the course of fish stocking activities. Provided suitable conservation measures are taken, Brandenburg should continue to harbor large populations of this critically endangered species.}, language = {en} } @article{DominguezTiedemannReboredaetal.2017, author = {Dominguez, Marisol and Tiedemann, Ralph and Reboreda, Juan C. and Segura, Luciano and Tittarelli, Fabian and Mahler, Bettina}, title = {Genetic structure reveals management units for the yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata), endangered by habitat loss and illegal trapping}, series = {Conservation genetics}, volume = {18}, journal = {Conservation genetics}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1566-0621}, doi = {10.1007/s10592-017-0964-4}, pages = {1131 -- 1140}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @article{EppKruseKathetal.2018, author = {Epp, Laura Saskia and Kruse, Stefan and Kath, Nadja J. and Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie and Tiedemann, Ralph and Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna and Herzschuh, Ulrike}, title = {Temporal and spatial patterns of mitochondrial haplotype and species distributions in Siberian larches inferred from ancient environmental DNA and modeling}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-35550-w}, pages = {9}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Changes in species' distributions are classically projected based on their climate envelopes. For Siberian forests, which have a tremendous significance for vegetation-climate feedbacks, this implies future shifts of each of the forest-forming larch (Larix) species to the north-east. However, in addition to abiotic factors, reliable projections must assess the role of historical biogeography and biotic interactions. Here, we use sedimentary ancient DNA and individual-based modelling to investigate the distribution of larch species and mitochondrial haplotypes through space and time across the treeline ecotone on the southern Taymyr peninsula, which at the same time presents a boundary area of two larch species. We find spatial and temporal patterns, which suggest that forest density is the most influential driver determining the precise distribution of species and mitochondrial haplotypes. This suggests a strong influence of competition on the species' range shifts. These findings imply possible climate change outcomes that are directly opposed to projections based purely on climate envelopes. Investigations of such fine-scale processes of biodiversity change through time are possible using paleoenvironmental DNA, which is available much more readily than visible fossils and can provide information at a level of resolution that is not reached in classical palaeoecology.}, language = {en} } @misc{EppKruseKathetal.2018, author = {Epp, Laura Saskia and Kruse, Stefan and Kath, Nadja J. and Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie and Tiedemann, Ralph and Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna and Herzschuh, Ulrike}, title = {Temporal and spatial patterns of mitochondrial haplotype and species distributions in Siberian larches inferred from ancient environmental DNA and modeling}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {1052}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-46835}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-468352}, pages = {11}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Changes in species' distributions are classically projected based on their climate envelopes. For Siberian forests, which have a tremendous significance for vegetation-climate feedbacks, this implies future shifts of each of the forest-forming larch (Larix) species to the north-east. However, in addition to abiotic factors, reliable projections must assess the role of historical biogeography and biotic interactions. Here, we use sedimentary ancient DNA and individual-based modelling to investigate the distribution of larch species and mitochondrial haplotypes through space and time across the treeline ecotone on the southern Taymyr peninsula, which at the same time presents a boundary area of two larch species. We find spatial and temporal patterns, which suggest that forest density is the most influential driver determining the precise distribution of species and mitochondrial haplotypes. This suggests a strong influence of competition on the species' range shifts. These findings imply possible climate change outcomes that are directly opposed to projections based purely on climate envelopes. Investigations of such fine-scale processes of biodiversity change through time are possible using paleoenvironmental DNA, which is available much more readily than visible fossils and can provide information at a level of resolution that is not reached in classical palaeoecology.}, language = {en} } @article{EppStoofTrauthetal.2010, author = {Epp, Laura Saskia and Stoof, Kathleen R. and Trauth, Martin H. and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Historical genetics on a sediment core from a Kenyan lake : intraspecific genotype turnover in a tropical rotifer is related to past environmental changes}, issn = {0921-2728}, doi = {10.1007/s10933-009-9379-7}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Using molecular genetic methods and an ancient DNA approach, we studied population and species succession of rotifers of the genus Brachionus in the Kenyan alkaline-saline crater lake Sonachi since the beginning of the 19th century as well as distribution of Brachionus haplotypes in recent and historic sediments of other lakes of the East African Rift System. The sediment core record of Lake Sonachi displays haplotypes of a distinct evolutionary lineage in all increments. Populations were dominated by a single mitochondrial haplotype for a period of 150 years, and two putatively intraspecific turnovers in dominance occurred. Both changes are concordant with major environmental perturbations documented by a profound visible change in sediment composition of the core. The first change was very abrupt and occurred after the deposition of volcanic ash at the beginning of the 19th century. The second change coincides with a major lake level lowstand during the 1940s. It was preceded by a period of successively declining lake level, in which two other haplotypes appeared in the lake. One of these putatively belongs to another species documented in historical and recent Kenyan lake sediments. The analysis of plankton population dynamics through historical time can reveal patterns of population persistence and turnover in relation to environmental changes.}, 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{FeulnerKirschbaumTiedemann2005, author = {Feulner, Philine g. d. and Kirschbaum, Frank and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Eighteen microsatellite loci for endemic African weakly electric fish (Campylomormyrus, Mormyridae) and their cross species applicability among related taxa}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We describe isolation and characterization of the first microsatellite loci specifically developed for African weakly electric fish (Mormyridae), for the genus Campylomormyrus. Seventeen of our 18 loci are polymorphic within the Campylomormyrus numenius species complex. The polymorphic loci showed four to 15 alleles per locus, an expected heterozygosity between 0.46 and 0.94, and an observed heterozygosity between 0.31 and 1.00. Most primers also yield reproducible results in several other mormyrid species. These loci comprise a set of molecular markers for various applications, from moderately polymorphic loci suitable for population studies to highly polymorphic loci for pedigree analysis in mormyrids}, language = {en} } @article{FeulnerPlathEngelmannetal.2009, author = {Feulner, Philine G. D. and Plath, Martin and Engelmann, Jacob and Kirschbaum, Frank and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Electrifying love : electric fish use species-specific discharge for mate recognition}, issn = {1744-9561}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2008.0566}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Mate choice is mediated by a range of sensory cues, and assortative mating based on these cues can drive reproductive isolation among diverging populations. A specific feature of mormyrid fish, the electric organ discharge (EOD), is used for electrolocation and intraspecific communication. We hypothesized that the EOD also facilitates assortative mating and ultimately promotes prezygotic reproductive isolation in African weakly electric fishes. Our behavioural experiments using live males as well as EOD playback demonstrated that female mate recognition is influenced by EOD signals and that females are attracted to EOD characteristics of conspecific males. The dual function of the EOD for both foraging and social communication (including mate recognition leading to assortative mating) underlines the importance of electric signal differentiation for the divergence of African weakly electric fishes. Thus, the EOD provides an intriguing mechanism promoting trophic divergence and reproductive isolation between two closely related Campylomormyrus species occurring in sympatry in the lower Congo rapids.}, language = {en} } @article{FiorentinoManganelliGiustietal.2013, author = {Fiorentino, V. and Manganelli, Giuseppe and Giusti, Folco and Tiedemann, Ralph and Ketmaier, Valerino}, title = {A question of time the land snail Murella muralis (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) reveals constraints on past ecological speciation}, series = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0962-1083}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12107}, pages = {170 -- 186}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The lively debate about speciation currently focuses on the relative importance of factors driving population differentiation. While many studies are increasingly producing results on the importance of selection, little is known about the interaction between drift and selection. Moreover, there is still little knowledge on the spatial-temporal scales at which speciation occurs, that is, arrangement of habitat patches, abruptness of habitat transitions, climate and habitat changes interacting with selective forces. To investigate these questions, we quantified variation on a fine geographical scale analysing morphological (shell) and genetic data sets coupled with environmental data in the land snail Murella muralis, endemic to the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) and eight nuclear microsatellite loci showed that genetic variation is highly structured at a very fine spatial scale by local palaeogeographical events and historical population dynamics. Molecular clock estimates, calibrated here specifically for Tyrrhenian land snails, provided a framework of palaeogeographical events responsible for the observed geographical variations and migration routes. Finally, we showed for the first time well-documented lines of evidence of selection in the past, which explains divergence of land snail shell shapes. We suggest that time and palaeogeographical history acted as constraints in the progress along the ecological speciation continuum. Our study shows that testing for correlation among palaeogeography, morphology and genetic data on a fine geographical scale provides information fundamental for a detailed understanding of ecological speciation processes.}, language = {en} } @article{FoersterAsratRamseyetal.2022, author = {Foerster, Verena and Asrat, Asfawossen and Ramsey, Christopher Bronk and Brown, Erik T. and Chapot, Melissa S. and Deino, Alan and D{\"u}sing, Walter and Grove, Matthew and Hahn, Annette and Junginger, Annett and Kaboth-Bahr, Stefanie and Lane, Christine S. and Opitz, Stephan and Noren, Anders and Roberts, Helen M. and Stockhecke, Mona and Tiedemann, Ralph and Vidal, Celine M. and Vogelsang, Ralf and Cohen, Andrew S. and Lamb, Henry F. and Schaebitz, Frank and Trauth, Martin H.}, title = {Pleistocene climate variability in eastern Africa influenced hominin evolution}, series = {Nature geoscience}, volume = {15}, journal = {Nature geoscience}, number = {10}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {1752-0894}, doi = {10.1038/s41561-022-01032-y}, pages = {805 -- 811}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Despite more than half a century of hominin fossil discoveries in eastern Africa, the regional environmental context of hominin evolution and dispersal is not well established due to the lack of continuous palaeoenvironmental records from one of the proven habitats of early human populations, particularly for the Pleistocene epoch. Here we present a 620,000-year environmental record from Chew Bahir, southern Ethiopia, which is proximal to key fossil sites. Our record documents the potential influence of different episodes of climatic variability on hominin biological and cultural transformation. The appearance of high anatomical diversity in hominin groups coincides with long-lasting and relatively stable humid conditions from similar to 620,000 to 275,000 years bp (episodes 1-6), interrupted by several abrupt and extreme hydroclimate perturbations. A pattern of pronounced climatic cyclicity transformed habitats during episodes 7-9 (similar to 275,000-60,000 years bp), a crucial phase encompassing the gradual transition from Acheulean to Middle Stone Age technologies, the emergence of Homo sapiens in eastern Africa and key human social and cultural innovations. Those accumulative innovations plus the alignment of humid pulses between northeastern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean during high-frequency climate oscillations of episodes 10-12 (similar to 60,000-10,000 years bp) could have facilitated the global dispersal of H. sapiens.}, language = {en} } @article{GessnerArndtTiedemannetal.2006, author = {Gessner, J{\"o}rn and Arndt, Gerd-Michael and Tiedemann, Ralph and Bartel, Ryszard and Kirschbaum, Frank}, title = {Remediation measures for the Baltic sturgeon: status review and perspectives}, series = {Journal of applied ichthyology}, volume = {22}, journal = {Journal of applied ichthyology}, number = {S1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0175-8659}, doi = {10.1111/j.1439-0426.2007.00925.x}, pages = {23 -- 31}, year = {2006}, abstract = {More than one century ago, sturgeons were prevalent species in the fish communities of all major German rivers both in the North and the Baltic seas drainages. Since then, the populations declined rapidly due to river damming, overfishing and pollution. The last sturgeon catches in the Baltic drainage system occurred during the late 1960ies. Only a few individual captures have been reported during the last 30 years with the most recent records in the Lake Ladoga ( Russia), where the last confirmed catch was recorded in 1984, and a single individual caught off Estonia in 1996. Today, sturgeons are considered missing or extinct in German waters. First attempts for remediation of the species were undertaken in the mid 1990ies. Subsequently, phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of the species were carried out using mtDNA, microsatellites, and nuclear markers ( SNPs). These genetic analyses using recent and historic material have proven the existence of two different species in the Baltic Sea in what was previously considered to represent the European Atlantic sturgeon only. In the Baltic Sea, the American Atlantic sturgeon ( A. oxyrinchus) succeeded to colonize this brackish water system during the Middle Ages. In the North Sea, the European Atlantic sturgeon ( A. sturio) is considered to be the endemic species. These results led to the separation of the remediation activities in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea tributaries. Further studies on the mechanism that lead to the extinction of A. sturio in Germany and the subsequent succession of the A. oxyrinchus mtDNA haplotype are currently been carried out. Broodstock development using the northernmost populations of A. oxyrinchus is currently under way. As a further prerequisite to re-introduce this species into the Baltic, the evaluation of the status of critical habitats for the early life stages of the American Atlantic sturgeon in the River Odra has been performed in collaboration with the Institute for Inland Fisheries of Poland. Alternative fisheries techniques, based on the data of by-catch of exotic sturgeons in the fishery, are presently developed in close cooperation with the fishery to reduce fisheries related mortality in juvenile sturgeons upon release. Monitoring of habitat utilization and migration characteristics of juvenile fish upon experimental release will have to be carried out shortly, using acoustic telemetry, with the aim to follow the fate of the released fish and to determine the best time-size-release-window for future release programmes.}, language = {en} } @article{GirndtRieschSchroederetal.2012, author = {Girndt, Antje and Riesch, R{\"u}diger and Schr{\"o}der, Christiane and Sehlupp, Ingo and Plath, Martin and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Multiple paternity in different populations of the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna}, series = {Animal biology}, volume = {62}, journal = {Animal biology}, number = {3}, publisher = {Brill}, address = {Leiden}, issn = {1570-7555}, doi = {10.1163/157075611X618192}, pages = {245 -- 262}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Rates of multiple paternities were investigated in the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna), using eight microsatellite loci. Genotyping was performed for offspring and mothers in 40 broods from four allopatric populations from the south-eastern U.S.A. along a geographic stretch of 1200 km in west-east direction and approximately 200 km from north to south. No significant differences regarding rates of multiple paternities were found between populations despite sample populations stemming from ecologically divergent habitats. Even the most conservative statistical approach revealed a minimum of 70\% of the broods being sired by at least two males, with an average of 1.80-2.95 putative fathers per brood. Within broods, one male typically sired far more offspring than would be expected under an assumed equal probability of all detected males siring offspring.}, language = {en} } @article{GroblerHartlGrobleretal.2005, author = {Grobler, J. P. and Hartl, G. B. and Grobler, N. and Kotze, A. and Botha, K. and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {The genetic status of an isolated black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) population from the Abe Bailey Nature Reserve, South Africa : Microsatellite data on a putative past hybridization with blue wildebeest (C-taurinus)}, issn = {1616-5047}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The present study aimed at assessing genetic purity of black wildebeest (Connochoetes gnou) at Abe Bailey Nature Reserve, Gauteng Province, South Africa, using a multitocus microsatellite approach. Five loci were studied in black and blue (C. taurinus) wildebeest, the latter being a closely related species and known to produce hybrids with the morphologically very similar black wildebeest. In fact, the entire national black wildebeest population of South Africa potentially contains a significant proportion of introgressed blue wildebeest genes. In our case, eight out of 39 alleles were unique to black and 22 to blue wildebeest, with nine alleles shared between pure populations of the two species in Line with their taxonomic proximity. A possible Limited past introgression of blue wildebeest genes into the Abe Bailey population, corresponding to documents on population history, was only supported by the presence of a single allele otherwise exclusively found in samples of four pure blue but not in samples of two pure black wildebeest control populations. However, an assignment test and coefficients of population divergence did not support an extended introgression of C. taurinus alleles into the C. gnou population under study. Average heterozygosity at Abe Bailey proved to be intermediate between black and blue wildebeest, the tatter species generally harbouring more genetic variation than the former owing to larger population sizes and the absence of population bottlenecks in historical times. The implications of our data are discussed with reference to the persistence of introgressed genes and the conservation of pure black wildebeest gene pools}, language = {en} } @article{GrossClausWohlseinetal.2020, author = {Gross, Stephanie and Claus, Philip and Wohlsein, Peter and Kesselring, Tina and Lakemeyer, Jan and Reckendorf, Anja and Roller, Marco and Tiedemann, Ralph and Siebert, Ursula}, title = {Indication of lethal interactions between a solitary bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the German Baltic Sea}, series = {BMC zoology}, volume = {5}, journal = {BMC zoology}, number = {1}, publisher = {BMC}, address = {London}, issn = {2056-3132}, doi = {10.1186/s40850-020-00061-7}, pages = {9}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Aggressive interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) have been reported in different parts of the world since the late 1990s. In the Baltic Sea, harbor porpoises are the only native cetacean species, while bottlenose dolphins may appear there temporarily. In the fall of 2016, a solitary male photo-identified bottlenose dolphin stayed in the German Baltic Sea of Schleswig-Holstein for 3 months. During that time, the necropsies of the stranded harbor porpoises revealed types of trauma of varying degrees in six animals, which is unusual in this area. The purpose of this study was to determine if the appearance of the bottlenose dolphin could be linked to the trauma of the harbor porpoise carcasses. Results Pathological findings in these animals included subcutaneous, thoracic and abdominal hemorrhages, multiple, mainly bilateral, rib fractures, and one instance of lung laceration. These findings correspond with the previously reported dolphin-caused injuries in other regions. Moreover, public sighting reports showed a spatial and temporal correlation between the appearance of the dolphin and the stranding of fatally injured harbor porpoises. Conclusion Despite the fact that no attack has been witnessed in German waters to date, our findings indicate the first record of lethal interactions between a bottlenose dolphin and harbor porpoises in the German Baltic Sea. Furthermore, to our knowledge, this is the first report of porpoise aggression by a socially isolated bottlenose dolphin.}, language = {en} } @article{HartmannHelmNickeletal.2012, author = {Hartmann, Stefanie and Helm, Conrad and Nickel, Birgit and Meyer, Matthias and Struck, Torsten H. and Tiedemann, Ralph and Selbig, Joachim and Bleidorn, Christoph}, title = {Exploiting gene families for phylogenomic analysis of myzostomid transcriptome data}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {1}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0029843}, pages = {8}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: In trying to understand the evolutionary relationships of organisms, the current flood of sequence data offers great opportunities, but also reveals new challenges with regard to data quality, the selection of data for subsequent analysis, and the automation of steps that were once done manually for single-gene analyses. Even though genome or transcriptome data is available for representatives of most bilaterian phyla, some enigmatic taxa still have an uncertain position in the animal tree of life. This is especially true for myzostomids, a group of symbiotic ( or parasitic) protostomes that are either placed with annelids or flatworms. Methodology: Based on similarity criteria, Illumina-based transcriptome sequences of one myzostomid were compared to protein sequences of one additional myzostomid and 29 reference metazoa and clustered into gene families. These families were then used to investigate the phylogenetic position of Myzostomida using different approaches: Alignments of 989 sequence families were concatenated, and the resulting superalignment was analyzed under a Maximum Likelihood criterion. We also used all 1,878 gene trees with at least one myzostomid sequence for a supertree approach: the individual gene trees were computed and then reconciled into a species tree using gene tree parsimony. Conclusions: Superalignments require strictly orthologous genes, and both the gene selection and the widely varying amount of data available for different taxa in our dataset may cause anomalous placements and low bootstrap support. In contrast, gene tree parsimony is designed to accommodate multilocus gene families and therefore allows a much more comprehensive data set to be analyzed. Results of this supertree approach showed a well-resolved phylogeny, in which myzostomids were part of the annelid radiation, and major bilaterian taxa were found to be monophyletic.}, language = {en} } @article{HillLeowBleidornetal.2013, author = {Hill, Natascha and Leow, Alexander and Bleidorn, Christoph and Groth, Detlef and Tiedemann, Ralph and Selbig, Joachim and Hartmann, Stefanie}, title = {Analysis of phylogenetic signal in protostomial intron patterns using Mutual Information}, series = {Theory in biosciences}, volume = {132}, journal = {Theory in biosciences}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1431-7613}, doi = {10.1007/s12064-012-0173-0}, pages = {93 -- 104}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Many deep evolutionary divergences still remain unresolved, such as those among major taxa of the Lophotrochozoa. As alternative phylogenetic markers, the intron-exon structure of eukaryotic genomes and the patterns of absence and presence of spliceosomal introns appear to be promising. However, given the potential homoplasy of intron presence, the phylogenetic analysis of this data using standard evolutionary approaches has remained a challenge. Here, we used Mutual Information (MI) to estimate the phylogeny of Protostomia using gene structure data, and we compared these results with those obtained with Dollo Parsimony. Using full genome sequences from nine Metazoa, we identified 447 groups of orthologous sequences with 21,732 introns in 4,870 unique intron positions. We determined the shared absence and presence of introns in the corresponding sequence alignments and have made this data available in "IntronBase", a web-accessible and downloadable SQLite database. Our results obtained using Dollo Parsimony are obviously misled through systematic errors that arise from multiple intron loss events, but extensive filtering of data improved the quality of the estimated phylogenies. Mutual Information, in contrast, performs better with larger datasets, but at the same time it requires a complete data set, which is difficult to obtain for orthologs from a large number of taxa. Nevertheless, Mutual Information-based distances proved to be useful in analyzing this kind of data, also because the estimation of MI-based distances is independent of evolutionary models and therefore no pre-definitions of ancestral and derived character states are necessary.}, language = {en} } @article{KetmaierMarroneAlfonsoetal.2012, author = {Ketmaier, Valerio and Marrone, Federico and Alfonso, Giuseppe and Paulus, Kirsten B. and Wiemann, Annika and Tiedemann, Ralph and Mura, Graziella}, title = {Mitochondrial DNA regionalism and historical demography in the extant populations of chirocephalus kerkyrensis (Branchiopoda: Anostraca)}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {2}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0030082}, pages = {11}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: Mediterranean temporary water bodies are important reservoirs of biodiversity and host a unique assemblage of diapausing aquatic invertebrates. These environments are currently vanishing because of increasing human pressure. Chirocephalus kerkyrensis is a fairy shrimp typical of temporary water bodies in Mediterranean plain forests and has undergone a substantial decline in number of populations in recent years due to habitat loss. We assessed patterns of genetic connectivity and phylogeographic history in the seven extant populations of the species from Albania, Corfu Is. (Greece), Southern and Central Italy. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed sequence variation at two mitochondrial DNA genes (Cytochrome Oxidase I and 16s rRNA) in all the known populations of C. kerkyrensis. We used multiple phylogenetic, phylogeographic and coalescence-based approaches to assess connectivity and historical demography across the whole distribution range of the species. C. kerkyrensis is genetically subdivided into three main mitochondrial lineages; two of them are geographically localized (Corfu Is. and Central Italy) and one encompasses a wide geographic area (Albania and Southern Italy). Most of the detected genetic variation (approximate to 81\%) is apportioned among the aforementioned lineages. Conclusions/Significance: Multiple analyses of mismatch distributions consistently supported both past demographic and spatial expansions with the former predating the latter; demographic expansions were consistently placed during interglacial warm phases of the Pleistocene while spatial expansions were restricted to cold periods. Coalescence methods revealed a scenario of past isolation with low levels of gene flow in line with what is already known for other co-distributed fairy shrimps and suggest drift as the prevailing force in promoting local divergence. We recommend that these evolutionary trajectories should be taken in proper consideration in any effort aimed at protecting Mediterranean temporary water bodies.}, language = {en} } @article{KiemelDeCahsanParaskevopoulouetal.2022, author = {Kiemel, Katrin and De Cahsan, Binia and Paraskevopoulou, Sofia and Weithoff, Guntram and Tiedemann, Ralph}, title = {Mitochondrial genomes of the freshwater monogonont rotifer Brachionus fernandoi and of two additional B. calyciflorus sensu stricto lineages from Germany and the USA (Rotifera, Brachionidae)}, series = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B-Resources}, volume = {7}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B-Resources}, number = {4}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {2380-2359}, doi = {10.1080/23802359.2022.2060765}, pages = {646 -- 648}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The Brachionus calyciflorus species complex was recently subdivided into four species, but genetic resources to resolve phylogenetic relationships within this complex are still lacking. We provide two complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes from B. calyciflorus sensu stricto (Germany, USA) and the mt coding sequences (cds) from a German B. fernandoi. Phylogenetic analysis placed our B. calyciflorus sensu stricto strains close to the published genomes of B. calyciflorus, forming the putative sister species to B. fernandoi. Global representatives of B. calyciflorus sensu stricto (i.e. Europe, USA, and China) are genetically closer related to each other than to B. fernandoi (average pairwise nucleotide diversity 0.079 intraspecific vs. 0.254 interspecific).}, language = {en} }