Morphometric Comparison Research Articles

Morphological and molecular genetic analysis of Synhimantus (Synhimantus) laticeps (Rudolphi, 1819) (Nematoda, Acuariidae) from the barn owl (Tyto alba) and the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in Austria

Summary In the framework of the biodiversity initiative and barcoding project “Austrian Barcode of Life” (ABOL) post mortem examinations of the gastro-intestinal tracts of different species of wild birds were carried out and several adult helminths were retrieved. In the gizzard of two barn owls (Tyto alba) and one common kestrel (Falco tinnuculus) acuariid nematodes belonging to the species Synhimantus (Synhimantus) laticeps (Rudolphi, 1819) were discovered. This report illustrates the identification of this parasitic nematode by morphometric comparison and scanning electron microscopic photographs. Furthermore, genetic identification of individual parasites based on a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA gene was carried out. This report constitutes the first COI-based DNA barcoding of S. (S.) laticeps and its first record in the barn owl (Tyto alba) in Austria.

Redescription and sexual dimorphism of Andaman leg-skate Cruriraja andamanica (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes) with comments on the zoogeography of the genus Cruriraja.

This paper redescribes sexually dimorphic Cruriraja andamanica based on five juvenile (four males, one female) and four adult specimens (three males, one female) collected from Andaman waters. Morphometric comparison of the present specimens with a female specimen collected off the coast of Tanzania reveals considerable dissimilarities between them. These findings, along with the wide geographical distance between collection locations, support a need for revision of the Tanzanian specimen, which, in all probability, represents a new species in the genus. The paper also addresses zoogeography of genus Cruriraja across the world's oceans and provides a revised key to the species.

Is phenotypic variation reflected in habitat connectivity? A morphometric comparison of two moss species from insular and continuous habitats of the Amazon Basin

The influence of habitat connectivity on dispersal limitation and genetic structure in bryophytes is relatively well researched; however, little is known as to how habitat insularity may impact phenotypic divergences on a continental scale. Here we conduct a morphometric analysis of five quantitative gametophytic traits from two Amazonian Calymperaceae (Syrrhopodon helicophyllus and Calymperes lonchophyllum) from contrasting habitats (Amazonian white-sands and terra firme forests) to test whether increased habitat insularity is correlated with greater inter-population divergence in phenotypic variation. We also test how much of the phenotypic variation among the two taxa is explained by three environmental variables (altitude, mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation). The Amazonian species endemic to continuous terra-firme forest (C. lonchophyllum) revealed greater geographic structure in phenotypic variation that that of its counterpart (S. helicophyllus) of more insular white-sands forest habitats. Furthermore, environmental variables explained more of the phenotypic variation among populations of S. helicophyllus than for those of C. lonchophyllum. We attempt to explain these patterns as a result of either historical factors, divergent adaptive reproductive strategies, phenotypic plasticity and/or differences in the spatial scales of sampling effort among the two species. Understanding the role of habitat heterogeneity on speciation processes is a priority for understanding the origin and maintenance of floristic richness in the Amazon Basin. We propose that bryophyte studies highlighting morphometric data coupled with population genetic structure would greatly contribute to our understanding of evolutionary processes in this megadiverse Biome.

Astragali of Pakicetidae and other early-to-middle Eocene archaeocetes (Mammalia, Cetacea) of Pakistan: locomotion and habitat in the initial stages of whale evolution

Richard Dehm and colleagues of the Bayerische Staatssammlung fur Palaontologie und Geologie in Munich made an important collection of early-to-middle Eocene mammals at Ganda Kas in Pakistan during the winter of 1955/56. The genera and species Ichthyolestes pinfoldi and Gandakasia potens were named from this collection. Both are now recognized as early and primitive archaeocete cetaceans. In addition, Dehm’s group collected 16 complete or partial astragali of archaeocetes that were misidentified as artiodactyls. These bring the total number of archaeocete astragali known from Ganda Kas to 28. They separate clearly into four species distinguished by size: from smallest to largest Ichthyolestes pinfoldi Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg, Pakicetus attocki (West), Gandakasia potens Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg, and Ambulocetus natans Thewissen et al. Ganda Kas artiodactyls are smaller and rare in comparison. Ichthyolestes and Pakicetus are pakicetid archaeocetes, Gandakasia is presently indeterminate to family, and Ambulocetus is an ambulocetid. Tooth size and astragalus size are highly correlated, corroborating reference of astragali to the first three archaeocete taxa based on teeth. Multivariate morphometric comparison (Auto3Dgm) shows that pakicetid astragali overlap almost completely in shape with those of early artiodactyls. Middle Eocene protocetid astragali are divergent from both. Retention of an astragalus indistinguishable from that of artiodactyls shows that pakicetids are closely related to artiodactyls phylogenetically, but does not make Ichthyolestes and Pakicetus terrestrial or cursorial. Other skeletal elements and bone microstructure indicate that pakicetids were semiaquatic like later protocetids. Tropical riverine and marginal marine facies of the Kuldana Formation are likely habitats for initial stages of the transition from terrestrial artiodactyls to semiaquatic and fully aquatic archaeocetes.

First finds of Prunus domestica L. in Italy from the Phoenician and Punic periods (6th–2nd centuries bc)

During the archaeological excavations in the Phoenician and Punic settlement of Santa Giusta (Oristano, Sardinia, Italy), dating back to the 6th–2nd centuries bc, several Prunus fruitstones (endocarps) inside amphorae were recovered. The exceptional state of preservation of the waterlogged remains allowed morphometric measurements to be done by image analysis and statistical comparisons made with modern cultivated and wild Prunus samples collected in Sardinia. Digital images of modern and archaeological Prunus fruitstones were acquired with a flatbed scanner and analysed by applying image analysis techniques to measure 26 morphometric features. By applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis, a morphometric comparison was made between the archaeological fruitstones of Prunus and the modern ones collected in Sardinia. These analyses allowed identification of 53 archaeological fruitstones as P. spinosa and 11 as P. domestica. Moreover, the archaeological samples of P. spinosa showed morphometric similarities in 92.5% of the cases with the modern P. spinosa samples currently growing near the Phoenician and Punic site. Likewise, the archaeological fruitstones identified as P. domestica showed similarities with the modern variety of P. domestica called Sanguigna di Bosa which is currently cultivated near the village of Bosa. Currently, these findings represent the first evidence of P. domestica in Italy during the Phoenician and Punic periods.

Voxel-based morphometric brain comparison between healthy subjects and major depressive disorder patients in Japanese with the s/s genotype of 5-HTTLPR

Individuals with s/s genotype of serotonin transporter gene-linked promotor region (5-HTTLPR), which appear with a high frequency in Japanese, exhibit more diagnosable depression in relation to stressful life events than those with the s/l or l/l genotype. We prospectively investigated the brain volume changes in first-episode and medication naïve major depression disorder patients (MDD) with the s/s genotype in Japanese. We assessed the differences between 27 MDD with the s/s genotype and 44 healthy subjects (HS) with the same genotype using a whole-brain voxel-by-voxel statistical analysis of MRI. Gray matter volume in a brain region with significant clusters obtained via voxel-based morphometry analysis were measured and, as an exploratory analysis, evaluated for relationships to the subcategory scores (core, sleep, activity, psychic, somatic anxiety, delusion) of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). The brain volume in the left insula lobe was significantly smaller in the MDD than in the HS. The left insula lobe volume correlated negatively with the “psychic” score of HAM-D and the SRRS. In a Japanese population with the s/s genotype, we found an atrophy of the insula in the MDD, which might be associated with “psychic” symptom and stress events.

Nitzschia austriaca Hustedt: a characteristic diatom of Hungarian inland saline waters including a morphological comparison with the type material

A detailed scanning electron microscopic investigation was carried out to clarify the taxonomic status of a small sigmoid Nitzschia species, a potential indicator of Central European soda waters. We found this taxon to be one of the dominant epiphytic diatoms collected from sodic bomb crater ponds at Apaj (Hungary). The large population allowed for a morphometric comparison based on frustule ultrastructure with the type material of the most similar species, Nitzschia austriaca Hustedt that was originally described from a soda pan in the region. The results clearly demonstrated an overlap between the Apaj population and the type material of N. austriaca (based on NMDS analysis), therefore we argue that they represent the same taxon. An emended diagnosis of N. austriaca is given. Total suspended solids and total phosphorous proved to be the most important factors predicting the occurrence of the species, with possible interactive effects of conductivity and pH. We then expanded the distribution of the species by revisiting data originating from previous large-scale surveys targeting sodic habitats in Hungary. On the basis of our results, N. austriaca is a characteristic species for Central European soda waters, including the protected astatic soda pans, indicating their typical chemical and physical characteristics.

Morphometric comparisons of draft, pony, and horse breeds

The equine gut harbours complex microbial populations which influence physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune functions, while disruption to the gut microbiota has been linked with conditions such as lameness, diabetes and obesity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the association between microbial dysbiosis, sex, age and body condition scores (BCS) of horses (Equus equus caballus) in Maiduguri and its environs. Forty horses were assessed by convenient sampling, while faecal samples were collected and analyzed to determine the microbiomes in the various age groups with variable BSC in stallions and mares. The present study revealed that there was strong and not significant association between the microbial populations in the gut of horses and the various age groups (Chi-Squared test = 11.809; df = 18; P = 0.8570). There were significant (p < 0.0001) differences in the microbiome population in the guts of the horses. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the microbiomes in the various body scores. There were significant (P < 0.047) differences in the microbiomes of the mares and stallions. E. coli had the highest burden of microbial populations with 30.38*103 ± 1.04*103 in the guts of horses in the study area, while statistically there were no differences in the populations of Corynebacterium, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in the gut of horses in the study area relative to E. coli. This study provides information on the nature of bacterial population present in horses in Maiduguri and its Environs. Therefore, further high-throughput characterization of the faecal bacteria microbiome of horses is essential to enable comparison to disease state and thus develop diagnostic tests, prophylactic measures and appropriate treatments.

Morphometric comparison of weathering features on side by side carbonate rock surfaces with different exposure ages ― A case from the Croatian coast

This study presents the comparison of morphometry of karren features developed on two rock surfaces located side by side having different exposure times. Cosmogenic 36Cl analyses were used to determine the age of a rock surface exposed after a rockslide that occurred ∼2400 years ago, whereas the rock surface not affected by the slide was exposed to weathering for a longer time period. Clint and grikes, trittkarren, rillenkarren, solution pits, and kamenitzas were measured. Comparatively less density of grikes on the surface affected by the slide made it having a fresh appearance. Most of the grikes were inherited from previous weathering stage and exposure time since the rockslide event has not been sufficient to homogenize these features between both rock surfaces. Tritkarren and rillenkarren were preferentially found on the rockslide surface indicating that their genesis is likely to occur at decadal to centennial timescale. Solution pits and kamenitzas were found on both surfaces and some of their size parameters were indistinguishable between the populations of both rock surfaces. Area and depth parameters of both forms were clearly correlated and we define a morphometric index: A/D ratio as the slope between these two parameters within each population. After an initial stage, preferential weathering occurs along the vertical axis in solution pits and laterally in kamenitzas. Thus, we suggest that the A/D ratio is related to the evolution/relative age of the karren features. Thus, under rock surfaces affected by the same weathering conditions, lower A/D ratios of solution pits and higher A/D ratios of kamenitzas indicate longer time exposed to weathering. Thus, although solution pits and kamenitzas are likely to be developed in decadal to centennial timescales, their morphology changes through time at millennial timescale and it can be tracked by morphometric analysis.

Measuring Lateral Iliac Flare by Different Methods Risks Obscuring Evolutionary Changes in the Pelvis.

The orientation and morphology of the hominin ilium is functionally important for locomotion, yet no standard method exists for quantifying its lateral flare. This lack of standardization stems from fossil preservation issues and morphological differences between hominin species. Many techniques have been developed to measure flare based on what is preserved on a single fossil, but this makes comparisons between fossil species challenging. In some cases, methods developed based on australopith morphology are not appropriate for measuring the morphology in genus Homo. Lateral iliac flare is the angle between the iliac blade and the sagittal plane, and it affects the function and efficiency of the lesser gluteal muscles. Four different methods of quantifying lateral iliac flare are reviewed here, and assessed based on how well they reflect lateral iliac flare. The data show that these metrics measure different parts of the pelvis, none measures lateral iliac flare relative to the sagittal plane, and they yield different results for which fossil hominin is the most (or least) flared. This inconsistency puts paleoanthropologists at risk of misinterpreting the functional importance of lateral iliac flare in hominin evolution. I propose two paths forward to improve our assessment of flare: first, a geometric morphometric comparison of iliac blade variation would properly assess the full three-dimensions of the ilium; second, in hominin fossils that are not complete or numerous enough to include in a geometric morphometric analysis, two-dimensional measurements may still be used to assess functional differences in the ilium provided the researcher does not claim that they measure lateral iliac flare. Anat Rec, 300:956-963, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Geometric Morphometric Comparison of Retinal Veins between Healthy Individuals and Individuals Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy

Segmentation algorithms have been investigated for the identification of ophthalmic diseases via fundus images; however, patterns of vasculature in the retina have not been assessed via geometric morphometric techniques to differentiate normal and pathologic fundus images. This study utilized the High‐Resolution Fundus Image Database to compare 15 images of healthy patients, 15 images of patients with diabetic retinopathy, and 15 images of glaucomatous patients. Retinal veins were selected for pattern analysis due to the ease of identification. Segments from the most prominent inferior and superior retinal veins traveling from the edge of the optic disk to a vertical line drawn through center of the fovea were selected for analysis. Canonical variate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the shapes of retinal vein patterns in healthy eyes, eyes with glaucoma, and eyes with diabetic retinopathy. Geometric morphometric analysis may be a useful tool in the identification of diseases from anatomical differences of blood vessels identified in fundus images.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13]

Erratum to: Morphological and genetic differentiation of cultivated Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales, Phaeophyta)

To clarify the significance of genetic resources in the marine crop Undaria pinnatifida, we investigated whether morphological features of two cultivars were genetically different from each other based on combined studies of morphological and molecular analyses. The two cultivars were produced, respectively, by self-fertilization between male and female gametophytes, which were each developed from a single zoospore from two morphologically different sporophytes cultivated in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Their sporophytes, each with the same genotype, were cultivated in an Undaria farm under the same environmental conditions and were periodically collected for morphometric comparisons. The results of this experimental cultivation demonstrate that various morphological features, such as the blade, stipe, and sporophyll shapes, and developmental processes of the divided blade and sporophyll, clearly differed between the two cultivars. Although the two cultivars showed identical haplotypes in both of the mitochondrial cox3 gene and the tatC-tLeu region, they exhibited different genotypes at the microsatellite loci. These results indicate that morphological and developmental differences were genetically controlled, in addition to phenotypic plasticity due to changes in environmental conditions. It is therefore necessary for the marine crop breeding program to collect more mature sporophytes of cultivated and wild U. pinnatifida from various regions and to establish more female and male gametophyte strains each developed from a single zoospore. The origin of U. pinnatifida cultivated in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, famous for Japanese Undaria cultivation, is also discussed.

Assessment of cardiac fibrosis: a morphometric method comparison for collagen quantification

Fibrotic remodeling of the heart is a frequent condition linked to various diseases and cardiac dysfunction. Collagen quantification is an important objective in cardiac fibrosis research; however, a variety of different histological methods are currently used that may differ in accuracy. Here, frequently applied collagen quantification techniques were compared. A porcine model of early stage heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was used as an example. Semiautomated threshold analyses were imprecise, mainly due to inclusion of noncollagen structures or failure to detect certain collagen deposits. In contrast, collagen assessment by automated image analysis and light microscopy (LM)-stereology was more sensitive. Depending on the quantification method, the amount of estimated collagen varied and influenced intergroup comparisons. PicroSirius Red, Masson's trichrome, and Azan staining protocols yielded similar results, whereas the measured collagen area increased with increasing section thickness. Whereas none of the LM-based methods showed significant differences between the groups, electron microscopy (EM)-stereology revealed a significant collagen increase between cardiomyocytes in the experimental group, but not at other localizations. In conclusion, in contrast to the staining protocol, section thickness and the quantification method being used directly influence the estimated collagen content and thus, possibly, intergroup comparisons. EM in combination with stereology is a precise and sensitive method for collagen quantification if certain prerequisites are considered. For subtle fibrotic alterations, consideration of collagen localization may be necessary. Among LM methods, LM-stereology and automated image analysis are appropriate to quantify fibrotic changes, the latter depending on careful control of algorithm and comparable section staining.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Direct comparison of frequently applied histological fibrosis assessment techniques revealed a distinct relation of measured collagen and utilized quantification method as well as section thickness. Besides electron microscopy-stereology, which was precise and sensitive, light microscopy-stereology and automated image analysis proved to be appropriate for collagen quantification. Moreover, consideration of collagen localization might be important in revealing minor fibrotic changes.

Short communication:Morphometric and meristic comparison between two similar species of Luciobarbus barbulus (Heckel, 1847) and Luciobarbus pectoralis (Heckel, 1843)

Short communication:Morphometric and meristic comparison between two similar species of Luciobarbus barbulus (Heckel, 1847) and Luciobarbus pectoralis (Heckel, 1843)

Morphological, Morphometric, and Molecular Characterization of Intraspecific Variations within Indian Populations of Meloidogyne graminicola

Fourteen populations of Meloidogyne graminicola were collected from different agroecological regions of India. Morphological and morphometrical comparisons were made for various nematode life stages. Three populations (Hisar, New Delhi, and Samastipur) were different from typical M. graminicola on the basis of the length of eggs; J2 length, a-value, hyaline tail portion; male length, distance up to excretory pore, spicule and gubernaculum lengths; female length and width, stylet length, distance up to excretory pore, EPST (distance of excretory pore from anterior end / stylet length [females]) ratio, and vulval length. Morphological and morphometrical comparison with closely related species M. graminis, M. oryzae, M. salasi, M. triticoryzae, and M. lini clustered these populations into two groups: Anand, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Jammu, Jorhat, Kalyani, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Mandya, Palampur, Vellayani grouped with M. graminicola, M. triticoryzae and M. salasi; whereas, Hisar, New Delhi, Samastipur grouped with M. oryzae and M. graminis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) suggested that in spite of morphological differences, these populations belonged to M. graminicola.

Description of Pseudacrobeles (Pseudacrobeles) curvatus sp. n. (Cephalobidae: Rhabditida) in South Korea.

Pseudacrobeles (Pseudacrobeles) curvatus sp. n. was collected from potato fields in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The new species shares morphological characters typical of the genus Pseudacrobeles, including three lateral incisures that fade posteriorly near the phasmid openings. The new species differs from other Pseudacrobeles species by its smaller body size and a comparatively shorter corpus relative to the isthmus length. In this study, we provide a comparison of morphometrics and diagnostic features of Pseudacrobeles species and molecular sequence data from the D2-D3 regions of the 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of rDNA from the new species, which can be used as molecular barcode sequences.

Chondrocranial differences in Bufotes variabilis (Anura: Bufonidae):geometric morphometric comparison with two anuran species

Few studies have focused on a detailed morphological description of the chondrocranium of bufonids. This study examines Bufotes variabilis, which is one of the widespread clades of neobatrachian anurans. We used geometric morphometrics to analyze variations of the chondrocranial shape in B. variabilis and a comparison was made with Rana macrocnemis and Hyla orientalis. Results indicated that B. variabilis is clearly different from the other species based on the presence of a bigger otic process, a more anterior position of the muscular process of the palatoquadrate, and a narrower articular process of the palatoquadrate. H. orientalis and R. macrocnemis are similar to each other by a wider articular process of the palatoquadrate, a more posterior position of the muscular process of the palatoquadrate, and a smaller and anterolateral position of the otic capsule.

Correlation Between Spinal Cord Function Assessed by Intraoperative SCEPs and Morphology of the Compressed Spinal Cord on MRI.

Retrospective study. The objective of this study was to examine whether the morphology of the compressed spinal cord reflects spinal cord dysfunction in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Segmental levels responsible for clinical symptoms in CSM are usually diagnosed by neurological examination and imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Electrophysiological examination makes it possible to assess the spinal cord function quantitatively. There are few detailed studies about correlation between intraoperative spinal cord-evoked potentials (following SCEPs) and preoperative MRI. A total of 25 CSM cases diagnosed with single intervertebral dysfunction based on preoperative neurological findings and intraoperative SCEPs were included. We recorded 3 different SCEPs and divided the cases into 2 groups: the transverse type (T-type) (n=18) that had abnormalities in all SCEPs; and the upper limbs sensory (abnormal only for MN-SCEPs) and posterolateral (abnormalities in the MN-SCEPs and Tc-SCEPs) type (US-PL-type) (n=7) that had abnormalities other than SCEPs following thoracic spinal cord stimulation. Morphometry was performed on MRI T1-weighed axial images. Clinical preoperative impairment was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedic Association score. The average Japanese Orthopedic Association score of T-type cases was 8.1 points and that of US-PL-type cases was 10.5. There were no severe cases with <7 points in the US-PL-type group, but there were 9 cases in the T-type group. By morphometric comparison, both the central and the 1/4-lateral compression ratio were significantly lower in the T-type cases. Spinal cord morphology, as observed on MRI in patients with CSM reflected spinal cord dysfunction to some extent and could become the index for functional diagnosis, but it is necessary to consider a dynamic factor.

A Comparison of Geometric Morphometrics to Linear Morphometrics in Craniofacial Surgical Planning for Apert Syndrome

A Comparison of Geometric Morphometrics to Linear Morphometrics in Craniofacial Surgical Planning for Apert Syndrome

A new species of Auriculostoma (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) from the intestine of Brycon guatemalensis (Characiformes: Bryconidae) from the Usumacinta River Basin, Mexico, based on morphology and 28S rDNA sequences, with a key to species of the genus.

We describe a new species of Auriculostoma Scholz, Aguirre-Macedo & Choudhury, 2004 based on several sources of information including morphology (light and scanning electron microscopy [SEM]), sequences of two nuclear genes, host association, and geographical distribution. Morphologically, the new species most closely resembles Auriculostoma astyanace Scholz, Aguirre-Macedo & Choudhury, 2004, but differs by having deeply lobated testes and cirrus-sac extending posteriorly to seminal receptacle level. Auriculostoma lobata n. sp. can be readily distinguished from all the other congeners by the combination of the following characters: testes located in tandem, testes deeply lobated, and larger body size. A phylogenetic analysis using 28S rDNA sequences along with those available for other allocreadiid trematodes, revealed that the new species is a sister taxon of A. astyanace, a species described from the banded astyanax, Astyanax fasciatus (Cuvier) in Nicaragua. Auriculostoma totonacapanensis Razo-Mendivil, Mendoza-Garfias, Pérez-Ponce de León & Rubio-Godoy, 2014 from the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus (De Filippi) in Mexico is the sister taxon of A. astyanace plus the new species. Genetic divergence levels for the 28S rDNA and ITS2 were estimated among the Middle-American species of Auriculostoma infecting characiforms. The validity of the new species is then established by reliable morphological differences, its host association to bryconids (Brycon guatemalensis Regan), restricted geographical distribution (Usumacinta and Lacantun River basins), and genetic divergence levels, albeit relatively low. A morphometric comparison between the new species and the other seven congeneric species was undertaken and, in addition, a taxonomic key to identify the species contained in the genus Auriculostoma, widely distributed across the Americas, is provided.