External Morphological Traits Research Articles

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic review of the family Pomacentridae from Korea

A total of eight genera and 21 species of the family Pomacentridae have been reported in Korea, but the classification is uncertain. Therefore, this study aims to clarify molecular phylogeny and classification of eight genera and 17 species of the family Pomacentridae from Korea based on mtDNA sequences (16S rRNA 473 bp), nDNA sequences (RAG1 812 bp) and morphological traits. Molecular phylogenetic trees (ML, and BI) showed that four groups (Chrominae, Glyphisodontinae, Pomacentrinae, and Microspathodontinae) were largely formed, and monophyletic relationship was observed four groups. Each subfamily is divided by the number of spiniform procurrent caudal rays, the shape and rows of the teeth, and the margin of suborbital and preopercle. Each genus is divided by the number of dorsal fin spines and anal fin soft rays, the shape and rows of the teeth, and body coloration. Through an extensive examination of pomacentrids specimens loaned from museum or universities, it is believed that Chromis analis, Neopomacentrus violascens and Pomacentrus chrysurus are not distributed in Korea in spite of their previous records. Finally, we provide key to the species of the family Pomacentridae from Korea.

Potential Contribution of Ancient Introgression to the Evolution of a Derived Reproductive Strategy in Ricefishes.

Transitions from no parental care to extensive care are costly and involve major changes in life history, behavior, and morphology. Nevertheless, in Sulawesi ricefishes, pelvic brooding evolved from transfer brooding in two distantly related lineages within the genera Adrianichthys and Oryzias, respectively. Females of pelvic brooding species carry their eggs attached to their belly until the fry hatches. Despite their phylogenetic distance, both pelvic brooding lineages share a set of external morphological traits. A recent study found no direct gene flow between pelvic brooding lineages, suggesting independent evolution of the derived reproductive strategy. Convergent evolution can, however, also rely on repeated sorting of preexisting variation of an admixed ancestral population, especially when subjected to similar external selection pressures. We thus used a multispecies coalescent model and D-statistics to identify gene-tree-species-tree incongruencies, to evaluate the evolution of pelvic brooding with respect to interspecific gene flow not only between pelvic brooding lineages but also between pelvic brooding lineages and other Sulawesi ricefish lineages. We found a general network-like evolution in Sulawesi ricefishes, and as previously reported, we detected no gene flow between the pelvic brooding lineages. Instead, we found hybridization between the ancestor of pelvic brooding Oryzias and the common ancestor of the Oryzias species from the Lake Poso area. We further detected signs of introgression within the confidence interval of a quantitative trait locus associated with pelvic brooding in O. eversi. Our results hint toward a contribution of ancient standing genetic variation to the evolution of pelvic brooding in Oryzias.

Systematic Revision of Thomasomys cinereus (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador, With Descriptions of Three New Species

Thomasomys cinereus is the type species of Thomasomys, type genus of the sigmodontine tribe Thomasomyini. As currently recognized, Thomasomys includes 48 species, all of which are endemic to humid montane or premontane forests in the tropical Andes. Although it has been suggested that T. cinereus is a species complex, this hypothesis has yet to be critically evaluated. Herein we provide a revision of the species based on a qualitative assessment of external, craniodental, and soft morphological traits; morphometric analyses; a phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome b gene sequences; species delimitation methods; and first-hand examination of type material. Our analyses of genetic data recovered four distinct clades within T. cinereus, one corresponding to T. cinereus sensu stricto (restricted to the montane forests delimited by the Río Marañón, Río Huancabamba, and Río Tablachaca in Cajamarca department, Peru) and three new species: Thomasomys lojapiuranus, sp. nov., from the montane forests of Piura department, Peru, and Loja province, Ecuador; T. shallqukucha, sp. nov., restricted to the Kañaris montane forests in the Peruvian department of Lambayeque; and T. pagaibambensis, sp. nov., restricted to the montane forests of Pagaibamba in Cajamarca department, Peru. These species can be distinguished by several discrete morphological traits of the skull, dentition, mandible, stomach, palatal rugae, and glans penis. Genetic distances among these taxa range from 5.06%–7.65% at the cytochrome b locus, and delimitation analyses based on cytochrome b sequence data support their recognition as distinct species. Our results suggest the existence of previously unsuspected dispersal barriers in the Andes of northern Peru, and they confirm that the Río Marañón is a formidable barrier that limits the distribution of species of Thomasomys as well as other sigmodontine rodents.

Tribal assignment of the genus Eumera Staudinger, 1892, using multi-gene analysis, with description of a new species from Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae).

The geometrid moth genus Eumera Staudinger, 1892 consists of five yellow-orange-pinkish species distributed in the western Palearctic, with uncertain tribal classification within the geometrid subfamily Ennominae. In this study, we explored the phylogenetic position of the genus Eumera. Therefore, a concatenated dataset was analyzed, which includes one mitochondrial and up to ten protein-coding genetic markers per taxa. Moreover, we compared some external and internal morphological traits to other closely related genera. Our phylogenetic inference and comparative morphology suggested that Eumera should be included in the tribe Prosopolophini. In addition, a new species, Eumera rajaeii sp. nov. Wanke & Shirvani is described from southern Iran, and diagnosed by molecular data and morphological features. The distribution of the Iranian species is shown on a map. We illustrate external characters and male genitalia of three closely related Eumera species.

Carpological Analysis of Two Endemic Italian Species: Pimpinella anisoides and Pimpinella gussonei (Apiaceae).

This study aims to clarify the taxonomic doubts, which have varied over the centuries, on the only two endemic species of the genus Pimpinella growing in Italy: P. anisoides and P. gussonei. For this purpose, the main carpological characters of the two species were examined, analyzing the external morphological traits and their cross-sections. Fourteen morphological traits were identified, obtaining datasets for the two groups using 40 mericarps (20 per species). The obtained measurements were subjected to statistical analysis (MANOVA and PCA). Our results highlight that at least 10 of the 14 morphological traits analyzed support the distinction between P. anisoides and P. gussonei. In particular, the following carpological characters are very significant ways to distinguish between the two species: monocarp width and length (Mw, Ml), monocarp length from base to maximum width (Mm), stylopodium width and length (Sw, Sl), length/width ratio (l/w) and cross-section area (CSa). In particular, the fruit of P. anisoides is larger (Mw 1.61 ± 0.10 mm) than that of P. gussonei (Mw 1.27 ± 0.13 mm), the mericarps of the first species are longer (Ml 3.14 ± 0.32 vs. 2.26 ± 0.18 mm) and the cross-section area (CSa) of P. gussonei is larger (0.92 ± 0.19 mm) than that of P. anisoides (0.69 ± 0.12 mm). The results also highlight the importance of the morphological traits of the carpological structures for the specific discrimination of similar species. The findings of this study contribute to an evaluation of the taxonomic significance of this species within the genus Pimpinella, and also provide valuable information for the conservation of these two endemic species.

Allopatric speciation, niche conservatism and gradual phenotypic change in the evolution of European green lizards

AbstractAimThe contributions of historical biogeography, morphology and climatic niche evolution in shaping species diversification have been typically examined separately. To fill this gap, we assessed the relative role of geologic history, environment and phenotypic trait evolution in lineage diversification of green lizards in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot.LocationEurasia and North Africa.TaxonGreen lizards (genera Timon and Lacerta).MethodsFor all green lizard lineages, we characterized distributional ranges and external morphological traits across discrete biogeographical areas, occupied macro‐habitats and climatic niches using environmental variables that represent average and extreme climatic conditions. To assess the contribution of geographical factors in shaping diversity patterns, we evaluated the fit of 24 biogeographical models. We used BAMM and estimated phylogenetic signal to assess the rates of lineage diversification and of phenotypic and climatic niche evolution, and to determine whether these processes occurred steadily or at specific time periods as a response to palaeogeological or palaeoclimatic events. Finally, we tested for associations between phenotypic traits and lineage diversification using trait‐dependent diversification analyses (QuaSSE, ES‐sim and STRAPP).ResultsBiogeographical analyses favoured a dispersal–vicariance model explaining speciation patterns in green lizards, including jump dispersal and constrained dispersal by geographical distance. Lineages accumulated gradually towards the present, with minor divergence in morphological traits and conservatism of climatic niches. In contrast, in the Lacerta agilis lineage, niche evolution may have allowed expansion towards colder environments. Morphological and climatic niche evolution were uncoupled from diversification rates.Main ConclusionsBiogeographical processes largely explain the constant lineage diversification of green lizards in the Mediterranean Basin since the Miocene, followed by gradual phenotypic divergence unrelated to cladogenesis. Climatic niche conservatism promoted the accumulation of lineages within the Mediterranean, except for L. agilis, where climatic niche evolution might underpin its range spread towards higher latitudes.

Physiological and Ecological Correlates of the Cellular and Humoral Innate Immune Responses in an Insular Desert Bat: The Fish-Eating Myotis (Myotis vivesi)

The immune response is affected by aridity, but it has been rarely examined in desert-dwelling bats. For two consecutive years, we examined the seasonal variation in the innate immune response of an insular desert bat, the fish-eating myotis (Myotis vivesi), in relation to its reproductive activity and ectoparasite load. We evaluated the reproductive activity based on external morphological traits and testosterone levels in the plasma for males and progesterone and estradiol for females. We injected phytohemagglutinin (PHA) into the footpads of the bats to estimate the innate cellular response, and we measured the bacterial killing ability (BKA) of the blood plasma to determine the innate humoral response. Both the external morphological traits and hormone levels indicate that the females were pregnant in spring and lactating in summer, and that the males were reproductively active in autumn, when mating probably occurred. The swelling response of the female and male bats was lower in spring. The BKA in the males did not vary seasonally; the BKA in the females varied seasonally but only in the first year of the study, with lower values in spring and summer. The BKA in spring was lower in the first year of the study, when the females appeared to be in early pregnancy, compared to the second year, when the females were in advanced pregnancy. The swelling increased as the body mass and body conditions of the males increased, but the BKA was not correlated with body mass or body condition in either sex. Ectoparasite abundance and prevalence did not vary among seasons. Ectoparasite abundance was not correlated with the PHA response in both sexes; it was not correlated with the BKA in females, but it was inversely correlated in males. Of the three hormones measured, only estradiol was correlated with the immune response: females with higher estradiol levels had a higher PHA response and BKA. Our findings indicate that the cellular and humoral innate immune responses of the fish-eating myotis varied throughout the year, following the seasonal reproductive pattern of the species. Our evaluation of the proximal factors affecting the expression of the immune response points to the potential immunoregulatory role of sex hormones and body mass.

A new species of Hystrignathus (Nematoda: Thelastomatoidea: Hystrignathidae) associated with the Bess Beetle Passalus Interruptus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from The Peruvian Amazonia.

Bess beetles (Passalidae) are known to maintain biological interactions with a diverse gut symbiotic community, which is far from being well described since these communities from most of the species of Passalidae have not been studied. In order to improve our knowledge of these communities, we describe a new species of Nematoda of the genus Hystrignathus (Hystrignathidae) associated with Passalus interruptus, a bess beetle species of the tribe Passalini collected in Hunuco, Peru, in the Peruvian Amazonia. Hystrignathus nunashae n. sp. is characterized by the presence of cuticular spines beginning just after the end of the first cephalic annule, a posterior cephalic ring dilated and longer than the anterior ring, as well as ornamented eggs. The new species has a didelphic-amphidelphic reproductive system, lateral alae extending from the posterior end of procorpus almost reaching the anus, and a short subulate tail. The external and internal morphological traits of the new species are described, and additionally, based on nuclear ribosomal DNA, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of the new species.

High‐throughput phenotyping for breeding targets—Current status and future directions of strawberry trait automation

Societal Impact StatementStrawberry breeders are faced with increasing demands by propagators, growers, retailers and consumers for particular agronomic traits. This and the volume of plants requiring assessment during selection constrain breeders to rapid and qualitative rating methods. High‐throughput systems for assessing these traits automatically could indicate which families, or individual genotypes, should be singled out for further, more thorough evaluation, thus significantly increasing the selection intensity and accuracy. This review assesses the current status of and future potential for automated phenotyping in strawberry crops, highlighting key advances and the gaps which need to be addressed to facilitate the development of such technology.SummaryAutomated image‐based phenotyping has become widely accepted in crop phenotyping, particularly in cereal crops, yet few traits used by breeders in the strawberry industry have been automated. Early phenotypic assessment remains largely qualitative in this area since the manual phenotyping process is laborious and domain experts are constrained by time. Precision agriculture, facilitated by robotic technologies, is increasing in the strawberry industry, and the development of quantitative automated phenotyping methods is essential to ensure that breeding programs remain economically competitive. In this review, we investigate the external morphological traits relevant to the breeding of strawberries that have been automated and assess the potential for automation of traits that are still evaluated manually, highlighting challenges and limitations of the approaches used, particularly when applying high‐throughput strawberry phenotyping in real‐world environmental conditions.

Stripes Matter: Integrative Systematics of Coryphellina rubrolineata Species Complex (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from Vietnam

Coryphellina rubrolineata (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia: Flabellinidae) was believed to be a widespread tropical species demonstrating high diversity in external and internal morphological traits. In this paper, we perform an integrative analysis of the C. rubrolineata species complex based on samples collected in Vietnam waters, combined with available data from other localities of the Indo-West Pacific. The methods of the study include morphological analysis of external and internal traits using light and scanning electron microscopy and the molecular analysis of four markers (COI, 16S, H3, and 28S). The phylogenetic hypothesis was performed using Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches, and the species delimitation analyses included ASAP, GMYC, and bPTP. Our results support the validity of the genus Coryphellina as a distinct taxon and confirm that Coryphellina rubrolineata is restricted to the type locality and adjacent waters, while in the Indo-West Pacific, it represents a complex of pseudocryptic species. Based on our integrative analysis, we describe four new species: Coryphellina pseudolotos sp. nov., Coryphellina pannae sp. nov., Coryphellina flamma sp. nov., and Coryphellina aurora sp. nov. For the first time, Coryphellina lotos is reported in Vietnam waters. All five species differ in combination of coloration and other external traits and show minor differences in internal morphology.

Seasonal semen quality of a local and commercial taurine cattle breeds, raised in a subtropical climate: Relationship between external morphology of the animals and climate

Livestock production is considered an important factor influencing global warming; however, climate change has also been considered one of the major factors affecting livestock production and reproduction. The present study was carried out in the Southern region of Brazil and aimed to assess the seasonal influence of climatic factors and external morphology of the animals on the semen quality. Three ejaculates were obtained from each bull (Crioulo Lageano and Angus) in summer and winter seasons. Motile cells, sperm vigor, sperm concentration, sperm membrane status, and sperm abnormalities were analyzed in fresh and post-thawed semen. In addition, the sperm kinetics using CASA was assessed on post-thawed semen. Environmental data such as air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), mean radiant temperature (MRT) and temperature-humidity index (THI) were measured. Furthermore, body and testicular metrics, as well as hair coat characteristics, were recorded in each season on all bulls. Environmental traits differed significantly between seasons. Results of the PLS regression and Spearman's correlations confirmed a negative relationship between climatic variables and sperm traits in both seasons. Semen quality between breeds and seasons was similar, satisfactory, and heat stress was not sufficient to impair spermatozoa viability. External morphological traits were considered non-important in the final model. The findings of this study suggest that AT, MRT, and THI were the most important factors that could affect seminal characteristics of bulls raised in a subtropical climate.

A microCT-based atlas of the central nervous system and midgut in sea spiders (Pycnogonida) sheds first light on evolutionary trends at the family level

BackgroundPycnogonida (sea spiders) is the sister group of all other extant chelicerates (spiders, scorpions and relatives) and thus represents an important taxon to inform early chelicerate evolution. Notably, phylogenetic analyses have challenged traditional hypotheses on the relationships of the major pycnogonid lineages (families), indicating external morphological traits previously used to deduce inter-familial affinities to be highly homoplastic. This erodes some of the support for phylogenetic information content in external morphology and calls for the study of additional data classes to test and underpin in-group relationships advocated in molecular analyses. In this regard, pycnogonid internal anatomy remains largely unexplored and taxon coverage in the studies available is limited.ResultsBased on micro-computed X-ray tomography and 3D reconstruction, we created a comprehensive atlas of in-situ representations of the central nervous system and midgut layout in all pycnogonid families. Beyond that, immunolabeling for tubulin and synapsin was used to reveal selected details of ganglionic architecture. The ventral nerve cord consistently features an array of separate ganglia, but some lineages exhibit extended composite ganglia, due to neuromere fusion. Further, inter-ganglionic distances and ganglion positions relative to segment borders vary, with an anterior shift in several families. Intersegmental nerves target longitudinal muscles and are lacking if the latter are reduced. Across families, the midgut displays linear leg diverticula. In Pycnogonidae, however, complex multi-branching diverticula occur, which may be evolutionarily correlated with a reduction of the heart.ConclusionsSeveral gross neuroanatomical features are linked to external morphology, including intersegmental nerve reduction in concert with trunk segment fusion, or antero-posterior ganglion shifts in partial correlation to trunk elongation/compaction. Mapping on a recent phylogenomic phylogeny shows disjunct distributions of these traits. Other characters show no such dependency and help to underpin closer affinities in sub-branches of the pycnogonid tree, as exemplified by the tripartite subesophageal ganglion of Pycnogonidae and Rhynchothoracidae. Building on this gross anatomical atlas, future studies should now aim to leverage the full potential of neuroanatomy for phylogenetic interrogation by deciphering pycnogonid nervous system architecture in more detail, given that pioneering work on neuron subsets revealed complex character sets with unequivocal homologies across some families.

Morphological and genetic variation of black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) populations separated by rivers

Two rivers in the hot desert of northwestern México have been considered as filter barriers in the distribution of mammals: Río Conchos in Chihuahua and Río Nazas in Durango. Between both rivers, the black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus, shows significant differences in external morphological traits. We investigated if these differences are supported by phylogenetical signals and compared them with populations living at similar latitudes in the Baja California Peninsula to determine the importance of the genetic variation caused by the rivers. An external mophology, and a cranial geometric morphometric analysis were performed using the dorsal, ventral, and lateral views of the skull; and a genetic analysis of cytochrome b gene. Measurements and fur color patterns of specimens from two continental groups, north of Río Conchos (NRC) and south of Río Nazas (SRN), were compared to four groups (A-D) inhabiting different latitudes of the Baja California Peninsula (BCP). The parietal region, zygomatic arch, and auditory bullae were identified as the main cranial structures related to skull shape; however, no differences were observed in size and shape between groups. The phylogenetic reconstruction of L. californicus showed that it is a monophyletic species, with high branch support values (100). It is represented by two polyphyletic subclades, one with haplotypes of the SRN and NRC populations and the other with haplotypes of the BCP populations. The average genetic distance (p-distance) and genetic differentiation (FST) between SRN and NRC were low (0.8 % and 0.09, respectively), with higher mean values between the BCP groups (1.23 % and 0.30, respectively). The statistical parsimony network of Cyt b did not identify a clear geographic genetic structure between haplotypes of SRN and NRC and they did not share haplotypes with the BCP populations. There are neither cranial geometric morphometric nor genetic differences between L. californicus populations related to either the rios Conchos or Nazas; thus, these rivers cannot be considered geographic barriers. However, there are morphological differences between the populations in Chihuahua and Durango and the populations inhabiting Baja California Peninsula, which may be associated with evolutionary distance and local habitat characteristics.

Innovative mark-recapture experiment shows patterns of selection on transcript abundance in the wild.

A fundamental aspect of evolutionary biology is natural selection on trait variation. Classically, selection has been estimated primarily on external morphological traits such as beak size and coloration, or on easily assayable physiological traits such as heat-tolerance. As technologies and methods improved, evolutionary biologists began examining selection on molecular traits such as protein sequences and cellular processes. In a From the Cover paper in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Ahmad et al. continue this trend by estimating parasite-driven selection on the molecular trait of transcript abundance in a wild population of brown trout (Salmo trutta) by uniquely combining a mark-recapture experimental design with noninvasive RNA sampling. Using transcript abundance to estimate selection allows for many different traits (each unique gene's transcript counts) to be tested in a single experiment, providing the opportunity to examine trends in selection. Ahmad et al. find directional selection strength on transcript counts is generally low and normally distributed. Surprisingly, transcripts under nonlinear selection showed a disruptive selection bias, contradicting previous comparative studies and theoretical work. This highlights the importance of within-generation selection studies, where mechanisms may differ from longer time frames. Their paper also highlights the benefits of a cost-effective 3' RNA sequencing technique to measure gene expression.

Taxonomy of the North Moroccan and Iberian species of the subgenus Amblypteraca/ (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Pimelia/).

The subgenus Amblypteraca Mas-Peinado, Buckley, Ruiz García-París, 2018 of Pimelia Fabricius, 1775, is restricted to the southern Iberian Peninsula and western Maghreb (northern and western Morocco). The distribution of Amblypteraca throughout the African-European edges overlaps largely with the geographic range of the subgenus Amblyptera, which is sister to the clade grouping subgenera Amblypteraca and Ecphoroma Solier, 1836. Delimiting species boundaries in the speciose genus Pimelia is often challenging, and the taxonomic status of some groups within the aforementioned subgenera is still a matter of debate. Here, we aim to stabilize some of the available names in Amblypteraca, and to correct some previous misidentifications. For that purpose, we discuss the composition and taxonomic structure within Amblypteraca by (i) assessing the phylogenetic congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear markers, and (ii) examining external morphological traits in 568 Amblypteraca specimens under the light of the phylogenetic hypotheses proposed here. Based on our results, Amblypteraca consists of three species: P. rotundipennis Kraatz, 1865, P. fairmairii Kraatz, 1865 and P. chrysomeloides Pallas, 1781. Both molecular and morphological data revealed four lineages within P. chrysomeloides: P. chrysomeloides chrysomeloides, distributed on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar; P. chrysomeloides fornicata Herbst, 1799 from Portugal (Troia region); P. chrysomeloides bathyglypta Antoine, 1949, restricted to a narrow strip between Larache and Arbaoua (northern atlantic Moroccan coast), and P. chrysomeloides subris Koch, 1941 from Kenitra-La Mamora forest (Morocco). We designate a neotype of Tenebrio chrysomeloides Pallas, 1781 and propose the synonymy of P. chrysomeloides (Pallas, 1781) = P. obesa Solier, 1836 syn. n. Pimelia tristis Haag-Rutenberg, 1875, previously misidentified and included in Amblypteraca, is now transferred back to Amblyptera. Further studies with ad hoc sampling designs and analytical tools would be in need to delimit the exact geographic ranges of these taxa, and to analyse the patterns of diversity within and among species and subspecies.

Differential development times of galls induced by Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) reveal differences in susceptibility between two Eucalyptus clones.

The significance of morphological responses of hosts on susceptibility against gall-inducing insects is relatively unknown, especially in planted forests. Here, we investigate the temporal morphological responses (gall development) induced by the invasive gall wasp Leptocybe invasa and the subsequent insect development in two Eucalyptus clones. Our results identified a novel stage of gall development, not previously reported, termed here 'brownish ring'. In both hosts similar gall development stages were observed. Although L. invasa oviposited in both clones, comparison of external morphological traits of galls over time revealed a differential response in the number of galls between clones. Comparison of the developmental time of each gall and insect stage between clones suggests that plant defense mechanisms against L. invasa are activated shortly after oviposition by the wasp, yet before gall formation. Gall number is an important parameter that should be used to measure host susceptibility among Eucalyptus clones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing differential morphological responses induced by a galling insect, even before gall formation, revealing differences in susceptibility between different plant hosts. These findings provide insight into the use of early stages of gall formation by L. invasa to prevent invasion and establishment of this pest.

METHODS OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS FOR FISH SPECIES IDENTIFICATION

The growth in demand for fish products as a result of globalization of trade caused a risks and threats of selling poor-quality and falsified fish products. This has become a great problem both for supervising agencies and for consumers.Many countries have regulations on food labelling and safety. For example, in the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus and Republic of Kazakhstan has been passed the Technical Regulation of the Customs Union TR CU022/2011 “Food products in part of their labeling” that aims to prevent misinformation of consumers to ensuring realization of consumer rights to reliable information about food products, and Technical Regulation TR EAEU040/2016 “On safety of fish and fish products” requires indication of the zoological name of the species of the aquatic biological resource or the object of aquaculture.Fish species identification is traditionally carried out based on external morphological traits. However, it becomes impossible to identify species by ichthyological traits upon fish cutting, if the head and fins are removed, and the body is cut on pieces (especially, in case of fillets) and even more so upon technological processing. In this case, objective analytical methods of species identification are used, which are based on ELISA or PCR. However, DNA‑based methods have several advantages compared to ELISA methods and complement traditional morphological identification methods. This paper gives a wide overview of the most recent and used methods of fish species identification based on DNA analysis such as single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, species-specific PCR, real-time PCR, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP), DNA barcoding, Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Reproductive Isolation and Morphological Discrimination of Myotis myotis Macrocephalicus and M. Blythii s.l. (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Turkey

In order to facilitate taxonomic identification and assess reproductive isolation between Myotis myotis macrocephalicus and M. blythii s.l., at the interface between the Balkan Peninsula and Middle East, we analyzed microsatellite markers and a fragment of the mitochondrial hyper-variable control region. We also examined two external morphological traits of the sampled bats, length of upper tooth row (CM3) and forearm (FA) length, to assess the reliability of distinguishing them morphologically. Myotis blythii s.l. had higher allelic and haplotype richness than M. m. macrocephalicus, supporting the hypothesis that the former was present in Asia Minor before the arrival of M. myotis from Europe. The microsatellite markers analyses suggested that all sampled individuals were ‘pure’ forms of either species. Both species, however, shared a few mitochondrial haplotypes, which seem to document past introgression events rather than the recurrent interbreeding. Length of CM3 and FA increased with longitude in both species. A binary logistic regression model, using CM3 measurements and longitude of the sampling locality, correctly assigned 98% of genetically identified individuals. The sex-specific binary regression models, based on FA measurements and longitude were correct for 96% females and 98% males.

Udder Morphometry and Its Relationship with Intramammary Infections and Somatic Cell Count in Serrana Goats.

Simple SummaryThe present study aimed to characterize the external morphological traits of the mammary gland and their relationships with the presence of intramammary infection and the somatic cell count (SCC) of Serrana goats, Transmontano ecotype. Bifurcated pendular udders, with vertical loose teats and located close to each other, are more likely to have intramammary infection, and have the highest SCC. The udder shape, symmetry, degree of suspension and degree of separation parameters have shown to be significantly different depending on SCC.The external morphological traits of the mammary gland, and their relationships with somatic cell count (SCC) and the presence of intramammary infection (IMI), were studied in 30 Serrana goats, Transmontano ecotype. Globular-shaped udders were the most predominant, with slightly separated and symmetrical halves, presenting some degree of suspension. Funnel-shaped teats were the most prevalent shape with an opening of 120° to 160° degrees. Significant differences were observed between healthy group and the coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS)-infected group for udder cleft, teat perimeter and distance between teats parameters; and between healthy group and CNS or Staphylococcus aureus groups for degree of separation, teat shape and udder shape (p < 0.05). The udder shape, symmetry, degree of suspension and degree of separation parameters showed to be different depending on SCC (p < 0.05). The udder perimeter and udder depth traits showed differences between the lowest and the middle SCC group. We concluded that bifurcated pendular udders, with vertical loose teats and located close to each other, are more likely to have IMI, and have the highest SCC. The inclusion in breeding programs of certain mammary conformation traits would not only help to improve milk production, but would also decrease the susceptibility to IMI of the herd.

Study of some morphometric, meristic characters and length-weight relationship in wild and domestic populations of the eastern river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan, 1849) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae), in Iranian Basin of the Caspian Sea

Meristic, morphometrics characters and length-weight relationship of differences were used to estimate the variability of wild and cultivated populations of the eastern river prawn, M. nipponense in the populations of Iranian Basin of the Caspian Sea. Three samples were collected from the northern Iranian and southern of the Caspian Sea. Ten measurements made for each individual were size-standardized by allometric methods and principal component, and the resulting measurements were analyzed by cluster analysis and discriminant analysis (DA). The results of cluster analysis and DA indicated that the samples were clustered into two groups: the first group included the Caspian Sea sample; the second included the Anzali Lagoon-Aquaculture farm sample. DA tests showed that morphometric, meristic and length-weight relationship differences among the two groups were significant. At least two morphologically populations of this species in the Iranian Basin of the Caspian Sea were determined. This study also suggested that external morphological traits in M. nipponense are variable and change markedly when exposed to different environmental conditions regardless of their geographic origin and that extensive variation was present among the populations studied.