TY - JOUR A1 - Zhu, Fangjun A1 - Schlupp, Ingo A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Sequence Evolution and Expression of the Androgen Receptor and Other Pathway-Related Genes in a Unisexual Fish, the Amazon Molly, Poecilia formosa, and Its Bisexual Ancestors JF - PLoS one N2 - The all-female Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) originated from a single hybridization of two bisexual ancestors, Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana) and sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna). As a gynogenetic species, the Amazon molly needs to copulate with a heterospecific male, but the genetic information of the sperm-donor does not contribute to the next generation, as the sperm only acts as the trigger for the diploid eggs’ embryogenesis. Here, we study the sequence evolution and gene expression of the duplicated genes coding for androgen receptors (ars) and other pathway-related genes, i.e., the estrogen receptors (ers) and cytochrome P450, family19, subfamily A, aromatase genes (cyp19as), in the Amazon molly, in comparison to its bisexual ancestors. Mollies possess–as most other teleost fish—two copies of the ar, er, and cyp19a genes, i.e., arα/arβ, erα/erβ1, and cyp19a1 (also referred as cyp19a1a)/cyp19a2 (also referred to as cyp19a1b), respectively. Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among the ancestral bisexual species were generally predicted not to alter protein function. Some derived substitutions in the P. mexicana and one in P. formosa are predicted to impact protein function. We also describe the gene expression pattern of the ars and pathway-related genes in various tissues (i.e., brain, gill, and ovary) and provide SNP markers for allele specific expression research. As a general tendency, the levels of gene expression were lowest in gill and highest in ovarian tissues, while expression levels in the brain were intermediate in most cases. Expression levels in P. formosa were conserved where expression did not differ between the two bisexual ancestors. In those cases where gene expression levels significantly differed between the bisexual species, P. formosa expression was always comparable to the higher expression level among the two ancestors. Interestingly, erβ1 was expressed neither in brain nor in gill in the analyzed three molly species, which implies a more important role of erα in the estradiol synthesis pathway in these tissues. Furthermore, our data suggest that interactions of steroid-signaling pathway genes differ across tissues, in particular the interactions of ars and cyp19as. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156209 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 11 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhu, Fangjun A1 - Schlupp, Ingo A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Allele-specific expression at the androgen receptor alpha gene in a hybrid unisexual fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) JF - PLoS one N2 - The all-female Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) is the result of a hybridization of the Atlantic molly (P. mexicana) and the sailfin molly (P. latipinna) approximately 120,000 years ago. As a gynogenetic species, P. formosa needs to copulate with heterospecific males including males from one of its bisexual ancestral species. However, the sperm only triggers embryo genesis of the diploid eggs. The genetic information of the sperm donor typically will not contribute to the next generation of P. formosa. Hence, P. formosa possesses generally one allele from each of its ancestral species at any genetic locus. This raises the question whether both ancestral alleles are equally expressed in P. formosa. Allele-specific expression (ASE) has been previously assessed in various organisms, e.g., human and fish, and ASE was found to be important in the context of phenotypic variability and disease. In this study, we utilized Real-Time PCR techniques to estimate ASE of the androgen receptor alpha (ara) gene in several distinct tissues of Amazon mollies. We found an allelic bias favoring the maternal ancestor (P. mexicana) allele in ovarian tissue. This allelic bias was not observed in the gill or the brain tissue. Sequencing of the promoter regions of both alleles revealed an association between an Indel in a known CpG island and differential expression. Future studies may reveal whether our observed cis-regulatory divergence is caused by an ovary-specific trans-regulatory element, preferentially activating the allele of the maternal ancestor. Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186411 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 12 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Marrone, F. A1 - Havenstein, Katja A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Ketmaier, V. T1 - Identification and characterization of five polymorphic microsatellite loci in the freshwater copepod Hemidiaptomus gurneyi (Copepoda: Calanoida: Diaptomidae) JF - The Italian journal of zoology N2 - Hemidiaptomus diaptomid copepods are known to be excellent biological indicators for the highly biodiverse crustacean communities inhabiting Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTPs), an endangered inland water habitat whose conservation is considered a priority according to the "Habitat Directive" of the European Union. This study reports on the characterization of five polymorphic microsatellite loci in Hemidiaptomus gurneyi, to be used as markers for fine-scale studies on the population genetic structure and metapopulation dynamics of a typical and obligate MTP dweller. The five selected loci proved to be polymorphic in the species, with three to five polymorphic loci per studied population. Overall, mean heterozygosity scored for all loci and populations was lower than that reported for the few other diaptomid species for which microsatellite loci have been to date described; this is possibly due to the intrinsically fragmented and isolated peculiar habitat inhabited by the species. Furthermore, the presence of indels within the flanking regions of selected loci was scored. This study, albeit confirming the technical difficulties in finding proper microsatellite markers in copepods, provides for the first time a set of useful polymorphic microsatellite loci for a Hemidiaptomus species, thus allowing the realization of fine-scale phylogeographic and population genetics studies of this flagship crustacean taxon for MTPs. KW - Mediterranean temporary ponds KW - diaptomid copepods KW - SSRs Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1126363 SN - 1125-0003 SN - 1748-5851 VL - 83 SP - 146 EP - 150 PB - Springer CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Valente, Luis A1 - Illera, Juan Carlos A1 - Havenstein, Katja A1 - Pallien, Tamara A1 - Etienne, Rampal S. A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Equilibrium Bird Species Diversity in Atlantic Islands JF - Current biology Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.053 SN - 0960-9822 SN - 1879-0445 VL - 27 SP - 1660 EP - + PB - Cell Press CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schnitzler, Joseph G. A1 - Reckendorf, Anja A1 - Pinzone, Marianna A1 - Autenrieth, Marijke A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Covaci, Adrian A1 - Malarvannan, Govindan A1 - Ruser, Andreas A1 - Das, Krishna A1 - Siebert, Ursula T1 - Supporting evidence for PCB pollution threatening global killer whale population JF - Aquatic Toxicology N2 - A recent Science report predicted the global killer whale population to collapse due to PCB pollution. Here we present empirical evidence, which supports and extends the reports’ statement. In 2016, a neonate male killer whale stranded on the German island of Sylt. Neonatal attributes indicated an age of at least 3 days. The stomach contained ∼20 mL milk residue and no pathologies explaining the cause of death could be detected. Blubber samples presenting low lipid concentrations were analysed for persistent organic pollutants. Skin samples were collected for genotyping of the mitochondrial control region. The blubber PCB concentrations were very high [SPCBs, 225 mg/kg lipid weight (lw)], largely exceeding the PCB toxicity thresholds reported for the onset of immunosuppression [9 mg/kg lw ∑PCB] and for severe reproductive impairment [41 mg/kg lw ∑PCB] reported for marine mammals. Additionally, this individual showed equally high concentrations in p,p’-DDE [226 mg/kg lw], PBDEs [5 mg/kg lw] and liver mercury levels [1.1 μg/g dry weight dw]. These results suggest a high placental transfer of pollutants from mother to foetus. Consequently, blubber and plasma PCB concentrations and calf mortality rates are both high in primiparous females. With such high pollutant levels, this neonate had poor prerequisites for survival. The neonate belonged to Ecotype I (generalist feeder) and carried the mitochondrial haplotype 35 present in about 16% of the North Atlantic killer whale from or close to the North Sea. The relevance of this data becomes apparent in the UK West Coast Community, the UK's only residentorca population, which is currently composed of only eight individuals (each four males and females) and no calves have been reported over the last 19 years.Despite worldwide regulations, PCBs persist in the environment and remain a severe concern for killer whale populations, placing calves at high risk due to the mother-offspring PCB-transfer resulting in a high toxicological burden of the neonates. KW - Killer whale KW - PCB KW - DDT KW - PBDE KW - Mercury KW - North Sea Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.11.008 SN - 0166-445X SN - 1879-1514 VL - 206 SP - 102 EP - 104 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Romero-Mujalli, Daniel A1 - Rochow, Markus A1 - Kahl, Sandra M. A1 - Paraskevopoulou, Sofia A1 - Folkertsma, Remco A1 - Jeltsch, Florian A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Adaptive and nonadaptive plasticity in changing environments: Implications for sexual species with different life history strategies JF - Ecology and Evolution N2 - Populations adapt to novel environmental conditions by genetic changes or phenotypic plasticity. Plastic responses are generally faster and can buffer fitness losses under variable conditions. Plasticity is typically modeled as random noise and linear reaction norms that assume simple one-to- one genotype–phenotype maps and no limits to the phenotypic response. Most studies on plasticity have focused on its effect on population viability. However, it is not clear, whether the advantage of plasticity depends solely on environmental fluctuations or also on the genetic and demographic properties (life histories) of populations. Here we present an individual-based model and study the relative importance of adaptive and nonadaptive plasticity for populations of sexual species with different life histories experiencing directional stochastic climate change. Environmental fluctuations were simulated using differentially autocorrelated climatic stochasticity or noise color, and scenarios of directiona climate change. Nonadaptive plasticity was simulated as a random environmental effect on trait development, while adaptive plasticity as a linear, saturating, or sinusoidal reaction norm. The last two imposed limits to the plastic response and emphasized flexible interactions of the genotype with the environment. Interestingly, this assumption led to (a) smaller phenotypic than genotypic variance in the population (many-to- one genotype–phenotype map) and the coexistence of polymorphisms, and (b) the maintenance of higher genetic variation—compared to linear reaction norms and genetic determinism—even when the population was exposed to a constant environment for several generations. Limits to plasticity led to genetic accommodation, when costs were negligible, and to the appearance of cryptic variation when limits were exceeded. We found that adaptive plasticity promoted population persistence under red environmental noise and was particularly important for life histories with low fecundity. Populations produing more offspring could cope with environmental fluctuations solely by genetic changes or random plasticity, unless environmental change was too fast. KW - developmental canalization KW - environmental change KW - genetic accommodation KW - Individual-based models KW - limits KW - many-to-one genotype–phenotype map KW - noise color KW - phenotypic plasticity KW - reaction norms KW - stochastic fluctuations Y1 - 2020 SN - 2045-7758 VL - 11 IS - 11 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CY - New Jersey ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Senczuk, Gabriele A1 - Havenstein, Katja A1 - Milana, Valentina A1 - Ripa, Chiara A1 - De Simone, Emanuela A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Castiglia, Riccardo T1 - Spotlight on islands BT - on the origin and diversification of an ancient lineage of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus in the western Pontine Islands JF - Scientific reports N2 - Groups of proximate continental islands may conceal more tangled phylogeographic patterns than oceanic archipelagos as a consequence of repeated sea level changes, which allow populations to experience gene flow during periods of low sea level stands and isolation by vicariant mechanisms during periods of high sea level stands. Here, we describe for the first time an ancient and diverging lineage of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus from the western Pontine Islands. We used nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences of 156 individuals with the aim of unraveling their phylogenetic position, while microsatellite loci were used to test several a priori insular biogeographic models of migration with empirical data. Our results suggest that the western Pontine populations colonized the islands early during their Pliocene volcanic formation, while populations from the eastern Pontine Islands seem to have been introduced recently. The inter-island genetic makeup indicates an important role of historical migration, probably due to glacial land bridges connecting islands followed by a recent vicariant mechanism of isolation. Moreover, the most supported migration model predicted higher gene flow among islands which are geographically arranged in parallel. Considering the threatened status of small insular endemic populations, we suggest this new evolutionarily independent unit be given priority in conservation efforts. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33326-w SN - 2045-2322 VL - 8 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Cahsan, Binia De A1 - Westbury, Michael V. A1 - Paraskevopoulou, Sofia A1 - Drews, Hauke A1 - Ott, Moritz A1 - Gollmann, Günter A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Genomic consequences of human-mediated translocations in margin populations of an endangered amphibian JF - Evolutionary Applications N2 - Due to their isolated and often fragmented nature, range margin populations are especially vulnerable to rapid environmental change. To maintain genetic diversity and adaptive potential, gene flow from disjunct populations might therefore be crucial to their survival. Translocations are often proposed as a mitigation strategy to increase genetic diversity in threatened populations. However, this also includes the risk of losing locally adapted alleles through genetic swamping. Human-mediated translocations of southern lineage specimens into northern German populations of the endangered European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) provide an unexpected experimental set-up to test the genetic consequences of an intraspecific introgression from central population individuals into populations at the species range margin. Here, we utilize complete mitochondrial genomes and transcriptome nuclear data to reveal the full genetic extent of this translocation and the consequences it may have for these populations. We uncover signs of introgression in four out of the five northern populations investigated, including a number of introgressed alleles ubiquitous in all recipient populations, suggesting a possible adaptive advantage. Introgressed alleles dominate at the MTCH2 locus, associated with obesity/fat tissue in humans, and the DSP locus, essential for the proper development of epidermal skin in amphibians. Furthermore, we found loci where local alleles were retained in the introgressed populations, suggesting their relevance for local adaptation. Finally, comparisons of genetic diversity between introgressed and nonintrogressed northern German populations revealed an increase in genetic diversity in all German individuals belonging to introgressed populations, supporting the idea of a beneficial transfer of genetic variation from Austria into North Germany. KW - adaptive introgression KW - admixture KW - Bombina bombina KW - genetic rescue KW - mitogenomes KW - transcriptomics Y1 - 2020 SN - 1752-4563 VL - 14 IS - 6 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CY - New Jersey ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Paraskevopoulou, Sofia A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Weithoff, Guntram T1 - Differential response to heat stress among evolutionary lineages of an aquatic invertebrate species complex JF - Biology letters N2 - Under global warming scenarios, rising temperatures can constitute heat stress to which species may respond differentially. Within a described species, knowledge on cryptic diversity is of further relevance, as different lineages/cryptic species may respond differentially to environmental change. The Brachionus calyciflorus species complex (Rotifera), which was recently described using integrative taxonomy, is an essential component of aquatic ecosystems. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these (formerly cryptic) species differ in their heat tolerance. We assigned 47 clones with nuclear ITS1 (nuITS1) and mitochondrial COI (mtCOI) markers to evolutionary lineages, now named B. calyciflorus sensu stricto (s.s.) and B. fernandoi. We selected 15 representative clones and assessed their heat tolerance as a bi-dimensional phenotypic trait affected by both the intensity and duration of heat stress. We found two distinct groups, with B. calyciflorus s.s. clones having higher heat tolerance than the novel species B. fernandoi. This apparent temperature specialization among former cryptic species underscores the necessity of a sound species delimitation and assignment, when organismal responses to environmental changes are investigated. KW - Brachionus calyciflorus KW - critical thermal maximum KW - cryptic species KW - ecological speciation KW - rotifers KW - heat tolerance Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0498 SN - 1744-9561 SN - 1744-957X VL - 14 IS - 11 PB - Royal Society CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reckendorf, Anja A1 - Ludes-Wehrmeister, Eva A1 - Wohlsein, Peter A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Siebert, U. A1 - Lehnert, Kristina T1 - First record of Halocercus sp (Pseudaliidae) lungworm infections in two stranded neonatal orcas (Orcinus orca) JF - Parasitology N2 - Orca (Orcinus orca) strandings are rare and post-mortem examinations on fresh individuals are scarce. Thus, little is known about their parasitological fauna, prevalence of infections, associated pathology and the impact on their health. During post-mortem examinations of two male neonatal orcas stranded in Germany and Norway, lungworm infections were found within the bronchi of both individuals. The nematodes were identified as Halocercus sp. (Pseudaliidae), which have been described in the respiratory tract of multiple odontocete species, but not yet in orcas. The life cycle and transmission pathways of some pseudaliid nematodes are incompletely understood. Lungworm infections in neonatal cetaceans are an unusual finding and thus seem to be an indicator for direct mother-to-calf transmission (transplacental or transmammary) of Halocercus sp. nematodes in orcas. KW - Cetaceans KW - endoparasites KW - killer whale KW - life cycle KW - nematodes KW - vertical transmission Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182018000586 SN - 0031-1820 SN - 1469-8161 VL - 145 IS - 12 SP - 1553 EP - 1557 PB - Cambridge Univ. Press CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lah, Ljerka A1 - Trense, Daronja A1 - Benke, Harald A1 - Berggren, Per A1 - Gunnlaugsson, Þorvaldur A1 - Lockyer, Christina A1 - Öztürk, Ayaka A1 - Öztürk, Bayram A1 - Pawliczka, Iwona A1 - Roos, Anna A1 - Siebert, Ursula A1 - Skóra, Krzysztof A1 - Víkingsson, Gísli A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Spatially Explicit Analysis of Genome-Wide SNPs Detects Subtle Population Structure in a Mobile Marine Mammal, the Harbor Porpoise JF - PLoS one N2 - The population structure of the highly mobile marine mammal, the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), in the Atlantic shelf waters follows a pattern of significant isolation-by-distance. The population structure of harbor porpoises from the Baltic Sea, which is connected with the North Sea through a series of basins separated by shallow underwater ridges, however, is more complex. Here, we investigated the population differentiation of harbor porpoises in European Seas with a special focus on the Baltic Sea and adjacent waters, using a population genomics approach. We used 2872 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), derived from double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq), as well as 13 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial haplotypes for the same set of individuals. Spatial principal components analysis (sPCA), and Bayesian clustering on a subset of SNPs suggest three main groupings at the level of all studied regions: the Black Sea, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, we observed a distinct separation of the North Sea harbor porpoises from the Baltic Sea populations, and identified splits between porpoise populations within the Baltic Sea. We observed a notable distinction between the Belt Sea and the Inner Baltic Sea sub-regions. Improved delineation of harbor porpoise population assignments for the Baltic based on genomic evidence is important for conservation management of this endangered cetacean in threatened habitats, particularly in the Baltic Sea proper. In addition, we show that SNPs outperform microsatellite markers and demonstrate the utility of RAD-tags from a relatively small, opportunistically sampled cetacean sample set for population diversity and divergence analysis. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162792 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 11 IS - 10 PB - PLoS CY - Lawrence, Kan. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Steph, Silke A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Prange, Matthias A1 - Groeneveld, Jürgen A1 - Schulz, Michael Karl A1 - Timmermann, Axel A1 - Nürnberg, Dirk A1 - Rühlemann, Carsten A1 - Saukel, Cornelia A1 - Haug, Gerald H. T1 - Early Pliocene increase in thermohaline overturning : a precondition for the development of the modern equatorial Pacific cold tongue N2 - Unraveling the processes responsible for Earth's climate transition from an "El Nino-like state" during the warm early Pliocene into a modern-like "La Nina-dominated state" currently challenges the scientific community. Recently, the Pliocene climate switch has been linked to oceanic thermocline shoaling at similar to 3 million years ago along with Earth's final transition into a bipolar icehouse world. Here we present Pliocene proxy data and climate model results, which suggest an earlier timing of the Pliocene climate switch and a different chain of forcing mechanisms. We show that the increase in North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation between 4.8 and 4.0 million years ago, initiated by the progressive closure of the Central American Seaway, triggered overall shoaling of the tropical thermocline. This preconditioned the turnaround from a warm eastern equatorial Pacific to the modern equatorial cold tongue state about 1 million years earlier than previously assumed. Since similar to 3.6-3.5 million years ago, the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation resulted in a strengthening of the trade winds, thereby amplifying upwelling and biogenic productivity at low latitudes. Y1 - 2010 UR - http://www.agu.org/journals/pa/ U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2008pa001645 SN - 0883-8305 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Silva-Iturriza, Adriana A1 - Ketmaier, Valerio A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Mitochondrial DNA suggests multiple colonizations of central Philippine islands (Boracay, Negros) by the sedentary Philippine bulbul Hypsipetes philippinus guimarasensis (Aves) N2 - In this study, we have used fragments of three mitochondrial genes (Control Region, CR; transfer RNA for methionine, tRNA-Met; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, ND2 for a total of 1066 bp) to reconstruct the phylogeographic history of the endemic Philippine bulbul (Hypsipetes philippinus) at the scale of the central area of the Philippine archipelago. The study includes two of the five recognized subspecies (guimarasensis and mindorensis), 7 populations and 58 individuals. Multiple phylogenetic and network analyses support the existence of two reciprocally monophyletic maternal lineages corresponding to the two named subspecies. Molecular clock estimates indicate that the split between the two subspecies is consistent with the Pleistocene geological history of the archipelago. Patterns of relationships within guimarasensis are biogeographically less clear. Here, a combination of vicariance and dispersal needs to be invoked to reconcile the molecular data with the geographical origin of samples. In particular, the two islands Boracay and Negros host mitochondrial lineages that do not form monophyletic clusters. Our genetic data suggest multiple independent colonization events for these locations. Y1 - 2010 UR - http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/issn?DESCRIPTOR=PRINTISSN&VALUE=0947-5745 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.2010.00566.x SN - 0947-5745 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stuckas, H A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Eight new microsatellite loci for the critically endangered fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina and their cross- species applicability among anurans N2 - We describe eight new microsatellite loci for the critically endangered fire-bellied toad, Bombina bombina. Seven of them are polymorphic with two to seven alleles per locus, an expected heterozygosity between 0.41 and 0.8, and an observed heterozygosity between 0.27 and 0.7. The yield of new loci was relatively low, presumably due to mildly repetitive sequence motifs in microsatellite flanking regions. As typical for anurans, cross-species amplification was limited (here, to congeners Bombina orientalis and Bombina variegata). Combining these new loci with those already available provides a reasonable number of loci for population studies and pedigree analysis in Bombina Y1 - 2006 UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-8286.2005.01171.x/pdf U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-8286.2005.01171.x ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ketmaier, Valerio A1 - Marrone, Federico A1 - Alfonso, Giuseppe A1 - Paulus, Kirsten B. A1 - Wiemann, Annika A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph A1 - Mura, Graziella T1 - Mitochondrial DNA regionalism and historical demography in the extant populations of chirocephalus kerkyrensis (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) JF - PLoS one N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030082 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 7 IS - 2 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Silva-Iturriza, Adriana A1 - Ketmaier, Valerio A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Profound population structure in the Philippine Bulbul Hypsipetes philippinus (Pycnonotidae, Ayes) is not reflected in its Haemoproteus haemosporidian parasite JF - Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics and infectious diseases (MEEGID) N2 - In this study we used molecular markers to screen for the occurrence and prevalence of the three most common haemosporidian genera (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon) in blood samples of the Philippine Bulbul (Hypsipetes philippinus), a thrush-size passerine bird endemic to the Philippine Archipelago. We then used molecular data to ask whether the phylogeographic patterns in this insular host-parasite system might follow similar evolutionary trajectories or not. We took advantage of a previous study describing the pattern of genetic structuring in the Philippine Bulbul across the Central Philippine Archipelago (6 islands, 7 populations and 58 individuals; three mitochondrial DNA genes). The very same birds were here screened for the occurrence of parasites by species-specific PCR assays of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (471 base pairs). Twenty-eight out of the 58 analysed birds had Haemoproteus (48%) infections while just 2% of the birds were infected with either Leucocytozoon or Plasmodium. Sixteen of the 28 birds carrying Haemoproteus had multiple infections. The phylogeography of the Philippine Bulbul mostly reflects the geographical origin of samples and it is consistent with the occurrence of two different subspecies on (1) Semirara and (2) Carabao, Boracay, North Gigante, Panay, and Negros, respectively. Haemoproteus phylogeography shows very little geographical structure, suggesting extensive gene flow among locations. While movements of birds among islands seem very sporadic, we found co-occurring evolutionary divergent parasite lineages. We conclude that historical processes have played a major role in shaping the host phylogeography, while they have left no signature in that of the parasites. Here ongoing population processes, possibly multiple reinvasions mediated by other hosts, are predominant. KW - Haemoproteus KW - Hypsipetes philippinus KW - Comparative phylogeography KW - mtDNA Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2011.10.024 SN - 1567-1348 VL - 12 IS - 1 SP - 127 EP - 136 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie A1 - Epp, Laura Saskia A1 - Trauth, Martin H. A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Hidden diversity in diatoms of Kenyan Lake Naivasha a genetic approach detects temporal variation JF - Molecular ecology N2 - This study provides insights into the morphological and genetic diversity in diatoms occurring in core sediments from tropical lakes in Kenya. We developed a genetic survey technique specific for diatoms utilizing a short region (7667 bp) of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit (rbcL) gene as genetic barcode. Our analyses (i) validated the use of rbcL as a barcoding marker for diatoms, applied to sediment samples, (ii) showed a significant correlation between the results obtained by morphological and molecular data and (iii) indicated temporal variation in diatom assemblages on the inter- and intra-specific level. Diatom assemblages from a short core from Lake Naivasha show a drastic shift over the last 200 years, as littoral species (e.g. Navicula) are replaced by more planktonic ones (e.g. Aulacoseira). Within that same period, we detected periodic changes in the respective frequencies of distinct haplotype groups of Navicula, which coincide with wet and dry periods of Lake Naivasha between 1820 and 1938 AD. Our genetic analyses on historical lake sediments revealed inter- and intra-specific variation in diatoms, which is partially hidden behind single morphotypes. The occurrence of particular genetic lineages is probably correlated with environmental factors. KW - diatoms KW - DNA barcoding KW - historical DNA KW - intra-specific variation KW - rbcL KW - tropical lake sediments Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05412.x SN - 0962-1083 VL - 21 IS - 8 SP - 1918 EP - 1930 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dolgener, Nicola A1 - Schröder, Christiane A1 - Schneeweiss, N. A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Genetic population structure of the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina in an area of high population density implications for conservation JF - Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica N2 - 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. KW - Conservation genetics KW - Fire-bellied toad KW - Fragmentation KW - Mitochondrial DNA KW - Microsatellites KW - Translocation Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1016-1 SN - 0018-8158 VL - 689 IS - 1 SP - 111 EP - 120 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sammler, Svenja A1 - Havenstein, Katja A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Fourteen new microsatellite markers for the Visayan tarictic hornbill (Penelopides panini) and their cross-species applicability among other endangered Philippine hornbills JF - Conservation genetics resources N2 - Fourteen microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized for the endangered Visayan tarictic hornbill (Penelopides panini, Aves: Bucerotidae). In an analysis of 76 individuals, the number of alleles per locus varied from one to 12. Expected and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.87 and from 0.00 to 0.89, respectively. All primers also amplify microsatellite loci in Luzon tarictic hornbill (Penelopides manillae), Mindanao tarictic hornbill (Penelopides affinis), the critically endangered Walden's hornbill (Aceros waldeni) and the near-threatened writhed hornbill (Aceros leucocephalus). Two loci which are monomorphic in P. panini were found polymorphic in at least one of the other species. These 14 new microsatellite markers specifically developed for two genera of Philippine hornbills, in combination with those already available for the hornbill genera Buceros and Bucorvus, comprise a reasonable number of loci to genetically analyse wild and captive populations of these and probably other related, often endangered hornbills. KW - Aceros KW - Bucerotidae KW - Cross-species amplification KW - Microsatellites KW - Penelopides Philippine hornbills Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-011-9567-4 SN - 1877-7252 VL - 4 IS - 2 SP - 435 EP - 438 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Girndt, Antje A1 - Riesch, Rüdiger A1 - Schröder, Christiane A1 - Sehlupp, Ingo A1 - Plath, Martin A1 - Tiedemann, Ralph T1 - Multiple paternity in different populations of the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna JF - Animal biology N2 - 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. KW - Promiscuity KW - mate choice KW - multiple paternity KW - sperm competition KW - Poeciliidae Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1163/157075611X618192 SN - 1570-7555 VL - 62 IS - 3 SP - 245 EP - 262 PB - Brill CY - Leiden ER -