TY - JOUR A1 - Beisner, Beatrix E. A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Gasol, Josep M. T1 - A guide to methods for estimating phago-mixotrophy in nanophytoplankton JF - Journal of plankton research N2 - Growing attention to phytoplankton mixotrophy as a trophic strategy has led to significant revisions of traditional pelagic food web models and ecosystem functioning. Although some empirical estimates of mixotrophy do exist, a much broader set of in situ measurements are required to (i) identify which organisms are acting as mixotrophs in real time and to (ii) assess the contribution of their heterotrophy to biogeochemical cycling. Estimates are needed through time and across space to evaluate which environmental conditions or habitats favour mixotrophy: conditions still largely unknown. We review methodologies currently available to plankton ecologists to undertake estimates of plankton mixotrophy, in particular nanophytoplankton phago-mixotrophy. Methods are based largely on fluorescent or isotopic tracers, but also take advantage of genomics to identify phylotypes and function. We also suggest novel methods on the cusp of use for phago-mixotrophy assessment, including single-cell measurements improving our capacity to estimate mixotrophic activity and rates in wild plankton communities down to the single-cell level. Future methods will benefit from advances in nanotechnology, micromanipulation and microscopy combined with stable isotope and genomic methodologies. Improved estimates of mixotrophy will enable more reliable models to predict changes in food web structure and biogeochemical flows in a rapidly changing world. KW - flow cytometry KW - phagotrophy KW - phytoplankton KW - methods KW - fluorescence KW - microscopy KW - FISH KW - isotopic methods KW - phylotypes KW - carbon flows KW - gene sequencing Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbz008 SN - 0142-7873 SN - 1464-3774 VL - 41 IS - 2 SP - 77 EP - 89 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hornych, Ondrej A1 - Ekrt, Libor A1 - Riedel, Felix A1 - Koutecky, Petr A1 - Košnar, Jiří T1 - Asymmetric hybridization in Central European populations of the Dryopteris carthusiana group JF - America Journal of Botany N2 - Premise Hybridization is a key process in plant speciation. Despite its importance, there is no detailed study of hybridization rates in fern populations. A proper estimate of hybridization rates is needed to understand factors regulating hybridization. Methods We studied hybridization in the European Dryopteris carthusiana group, represented by one diploid and two tetraploid species and their hybrids. We sampled 100 individuals per population in 40 mixed populations of the D. carthusiana group across Europe. All plants were identified by measuring genome size (DAPI staining) using flow cytometry. To determine the maternal parentage of hybrids, we sequenced the chloroplast region trnL-trnF of all taxa involved. Results We found hybrids in 85% of populations. Triploid D. xambroseae occurred in every population that included both parent species and is most abundant when the parent species are equally abundant. By contrast, tetraploid D. xdeweveri was rare (15 individuals total) and triploid D. xsarvelae was absent. The parentage of hybrid taxa is asymmetric. Despite expectations from previous studies, tetraploid D. dilatata is the predominant male parent of its triploid hybrid. Conclusions This is a thorough investigation of hybridization rates in natural populations of ferns. Hybridization rates differ greatly even among closely related fern taxa. In contrast to angiosperms, our data suggest that hybridization rates are highest in balanced parent populations and support the notion that some ferns possess very weak barriers to hybridization. Our results from sequencing cpDNA challenge established notions about the correlation of ploidy level and mating tendencies. KW - antheridiogens KW - Dryopteridaceae KW - ferns KW - flow cytometry KW - hybridization rate KW - interspecific hybridization KW - polyploidy KW - reproductive isolation KW - speciation KW - trnL-trnF Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1369 SN - 0002-9122 SN - 1537-2197 VL - 106 IS - 11 SP - 1477 EP - 1486 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER -