Subfamily Level Research Articles

Checklist of Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Species from Nyungwe Tropical Rain Forest, South-Western Rwanda

Tropical rain forests are inhabited by a wide range of plant and animal diversity. However, little is known about the diversity of ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species in these areas. To fill the gap, a study has been conducted in seven sites inside Nyungwe National Park, a tropical rain forest located in South-Western Rwanda. Data have been collected in October 2021 through a quick sampling using pitfall traps, arboreal traps, baiting, Winklers, and hand searching of nests in leaf-litter, soil, rotten and fallen wood, and under stones. Collected ant specimens have been identified to subfamily, genus and species levels by using the identification keys. Names of species have been confirmed after comparing the findings with the specimens housed at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (Brussels, Belgium) and at Kiko Gomez's personal collection (Barcelona, Spain). A total of 7 subfamilies, 28 genera and 74 species were sampled. The subfamily Myrmicicnae had more genera and species compared with other subfamilies. Further, 9 genera and 43 species were collected in Rwanda for the first time, while 13 species were potentially undescribed ant pecies. High number of species has been sampled in the sites located in secondary forest at Karamba (53 species) and Pindura (33 species). We recommend intensive sampling in other locations of Nyungwe tropical rainforest and in the rest of Rwanda mountain tropical rain forests to get a clear view on the diversity of ant species in Rwanda.

Mega- and macrofauna of the hydrothermally active submarine Piip Volcano (the southwestern Bering Sea)

Benthic communities of the hydrothermally active submarine Piip Volcano (55°445 N, 167°263 E, 368–495 m, the southwestern Bering Sea) were explored during the 75th and 82nd cruises of the RV Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev using the ROV Comanche 18. The Piip Volcano is the northernmost hydrothermal region in the Pacific. Macrofauna composition and community structure were investigated based on qualitative and relative abundance samples along with still images and video records. In total, 130 species of macro- and megafauna were found, of which ∼25% are new to science. Of the fauna, 9 species (7%) are obligate or potentially obligate to environments with access to reduced chemicals. These species are the bivalve Calyptogena pacifica (Vesicomyidae: Pliocardiinae), the gastropods Parvaplustrum wareni (Parvaplustridae) and Provanna sp. (Provannidae), the amphipod Onesimoides sp. (Tryphosidae), the leptostracan Nebalia piipensis (Nebaliidae), the isopod Eurycope andreyi (Munnopsidae), and the polychaetes Neosabellides uschakovi (Ampharetidae), Ophryotrocha beringiana (Dorvilleidae) and Harmothoe globosa (Polynoidae).The total species richness of the Northern and Southern summits was almost identical (90 species and 85 spp respectively), but the number of species on sites without bacterial mats on the Northern Summit (81 spp) was almost 1.5 times higher than on the Southern Summit (57 spp). At the same time the species richness was almost twice higher in habitats with bacterial mats and/or clam beds on the Southern Summit (58 spp) compared to the Northern one (32 spp). The main faunal difference was the absence of Calyptogena pacifica on the Northern Summit. The factors that may explain differences of the faunal communities of the Northern and Southern summits are discussed.The distinctive features of macro- and megafaunal communities of the Piip Volcano were the significant number of taxa, obligate for reducing habitats, of different taxonomic levels including family and subfamily levels and plentiful abundances of sedentary organisms, including the sea anemone Corallimorphus cf. pilatus, the demosponge Vulcanella koltuni, calcareous sponges and benthopelagic Trachimedusa, all of them presumably utilizing the rich food resources of reducing habitats.

Association of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory proteins with atherosclerosis index in obese male subjects.

Investigation the association of pro-inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-1β and IL- 10 expression, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 1 (ABCA1) inflammatory proteins with atherosclerosis index (homocysteine) in normal-weight and obese male subjects. 59 males including 30 obese (Body mass index (BMI) of≥30kg/m2) and 29 normal-weight (BMI of 18.5-24.9kg/m2) were joined to this study. Plasma levels of IL-1β and IL-10 (pg/mL), CRP (pg/mL), COX-2 (ng/mL), APOA1 (mg/dL), ABCA1 (ng/mL), HDL, Cholesterol, and Triglyceride (TG) (mg/dL), and homocysteine (µmol/L) was measured. Association of these biomarkers with homocysteine was determined. Obese subjects had higher serum levels of IL10, IL1β, CRP, COX-2, TG, and cholesterol concentrations (allp<0.05 except IL-10 and cholesterol) and low levels of HDL, APOA1, and ABCA1 (non-significant differences) in comparison to normal-weight group. Homocysteine levels were high in obese men with no significant differences between the two groups. In obese subjects, homocysteine had a significant inverse correlation with APOA1, ABCA1, and HDL, and a strong and moderate positive correlation was found with CRP and TG levels, respectively. High level of homocysteine and its correlation with inflammation proteins and markers in obese subjects appear to be contributed with atherosclerosis development.

Morphology and adaptation of the auricle in Soricidae (Lipotyphla)

Shrews look rather similar at first sight, but a closer look reveals many different specializations according to different lifestyles. In this study, we took a closer look on the auricle of shrews. To reveal morphological adaptations, we analysed the inclination of the outer ear in relation to the nostril-eye-line, and its visibility. We could show that not only environmental cues have an influence on the shape of the outer ear, but there exist also differences at the subfamily level. We found a clear separation between Soricinae, Myosoricinae, and Crocidurinae concerning the visibility and the inclination of the auricle. Within the limits of a subfamily the auricle is modified due to behavioural and environmental constraints. Especially within Myosoricinae adaptations to a semi-fossorial life are well visible.

Species identification and genetic relationships in the squid family Gonatidae (Teuthida, Cephalopoda) based on partial sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear genes

Abstract Squids of the family Gonatidae are key components in oceanic communities. However, issues related to correct species identification, number of species, and their genetic relatedness remain. To address these issues, sequences from three mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [CO1], 16S rRNA, and 12S rRNA) and two nuclear (18S and 28S) genes were analysed in the Gonatidae. Four of the five sequences (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 28S, and CO1) yielded rather similar patterns of genetic relationships among the species. Molecular evidence suggested intra-familial subdivision into two major groups of species having either five or seven longitudinal rows of teeth in the radula. The former group included all species of the genus Gonatus and two sister-species of Gonatopsis s. str. suggesting that all gonatid species with five rows of radular teeth represent a single taxonomic unit of a genus or subfamily level. Species with seven rows of radular teeth formed several ‘species’ clusters. Sequence analysis also addressed species identification issues in the Gonatidae. Two genetically divergent groups were found among squid which conformed to the description of Gonatus berryi. Molecular evidence suggested sister-species relationships between ‘large’ and ‘small’ forms of Boreoteuthis borealis with size-at-maturity as the only reported difference between these two cohorts. Sequence variation was observed within Gonatus pyros. Inclusion of gonatid sequences from the GenBank into the analysis suggested probable species misidentification in several cases. Combined use of several mitochondrial and nuclear sequences served as a valuable tool for species identification and provided a solid background for unravelling molecular genetic and taxonomic relationships in the Gonatidae.

Human ATP Binding Cassette Superfamily and Profiling Subfamily-Specific Motif for Classification

The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is ubiquitous in all three domains of life. The cellular and molecular functions of ABC transporters are diverse and essential to all living organisms. In human, mutations associated with ABC transporters are known to cause many genetic diseases. Although the members of ABC transporter superfamily share common sequential feature, the subfamily recognition is not a trivial task because of its domain complexity. The functional annotation begins with subfamily recognition. Here, we showed that a motif profiling provides simple and intuitive approach to recognize the subfamily level. Along with relation to the structural feature, the motif profiling approach will be a guide to annotate and understand molecular functions of subfamilies with a big superfamily

Saprophytic to Pathogenic Mycobacteria: Loss of Cytochrome P450s Vis a Vis Their Prominent Involvement in Natural Metabolite Biosynthesis

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s/CYPs) are ubiquitous enzymes with unique regio- and stereo-selective oxidation activities. Due to these properties, P450s play a key role in the biosynthesis of natural metabolites. Mycobacterial species are well-known producers of complex metabolites that help them survive in diverse ecological niches, including in the host. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of P450s and their role in natural metabolite synthesis in 2666 mycobacterial species was carried out. The study revealed the presence of 62,815 P450s that can be grouped into 182 P450 families and 345 subfamilies. Blooming (the presence of more than one copy of the same gene) and expansion (presence of the same gene in many species) were observed at the family and subfamily levels. CYP135 was the dominant family in mycobacterial species. The mycobacterial species have distinct P450 profiles, indicating that lifestyle impacts P450 content in their genome vis a vis P450s, playing a key role in organisms' adaptation. Analysis of the P450 profile revealed a gradual loss of P450s from non-pathogenic to pathogenic mycobacteria. Pathogenic mycobacteria have more P450s in biosynthetic gene clusters that produce natural metabolites. This indicates that P450s are recruited for the biosynthesis of unique metabolites, thus helping these pathogens survive in their niches. This study is the first to analyze P450s and their role in natural metabolite synthesis in many mycobacterial species.

Intraspecific variation in the mitochondrial genomes of the black carpet beetle, Attagenus unicolor japonicus Reitter (1877) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Dermestid beetles are economically important pests of various stored products but their genetic studies remain insufficient on contrary to their diversity and importance. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the black carpet beetle, Attagenus unicolor japonicus Reitter 1877, was reported and compared with the previously sequenced one. The two A. unicolor japonicus mitogenomes had an identical set of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes as well as a large non-coding control region. The new mitogenome was longer than the previous one due to its longer control region. A total of 126 variable sites were detected between the new and previous mitogenomes and most of them were found in PCGs. Synonymous mutations in PCGs frequently occurred on the third codon positions and did not change most translated amino acids. The phylogenetic results based on both the nucleotide dataset and amino acid dataset corresponded with previous molecular studies at both generic and subfamilial levels and helped to determine the correct identity of two misidentified or unidentified dermestid species from GenBank and previous studies.

T0901317, a liver X receptor agonist, ameliorates perinatal white matter injury induced by ischemia and hypoxia in neonatal rats

Perinatal white matter injury (PWMI) can lead to permanent neurological damage in preterm infants and bring a huge economic burden to their families and society. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are transcription factors that have been confirmed to mediate the myelination process under physiological conditions and are involved in regulating neurogenesis in adult animal models of acute and chronic cerebral ischemia. However, the role of LXRs in PWMI induced by both ischemic and hypoxic stimulation in the immature brain has not been reported. Herein, we investigated the role of LXRs in a neonatal rat model of white matter loss after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) injury through intraperitoneal injection of the LXR agonist T0901317 (T09) 1 day before and 15 min postinjury. The in vivo data showed that T09 treatment significantly facilitated myelination and ameliorated neurological behavior after PWMI. Moreover, T09 enhanced the proliferation of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and reduced microgliosis and astrogliosis in the microenvironment for oligodendrocytes (OLs), maintaining a healthy microenvironment for myelinating OLs. In vitro data suggested that the expression of the myelin-related genes Plp and Cnpase was increased in OLN-93 cells after T09 intervention compared with OLN-93 cells injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). In primary mixed astrocytes/microglia cells, T09 also reduced the expression of Il6, Cox2, Tnfa and Il10 that was induced by OGD. Mechanistically, the mRNA expression level and the protein level of ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (Abca1) decreased after HI injury, and the protective effect of T09 might be related to the activation of the LXRβ-ABCA1 signaling pathway. Our study revealed the protective role of LXRs in myelination and white matter homeostasis, providing a potential therapeutic option for PWMI.

Optimization of Discrete Wavelet Transform Feature Representation and Hierarchical Classification of G-Protein Coupled Receptor Using Firefly Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization

Ineffective protein feature representation poses problems in protein classification in hierarchical structures. Discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is a feature representation method which generates global and local features based on different wavelet families and decomposition levels. To represent protein sequences, the proper wavelet family and decomposition level must be selected. This paper proposed a hybrid optimization method using particle swarm optimization and the firefly algorithm (FAPSO) to choose the suitable wavelet family and decomposition level of wavelet transformation for protein feature representation. The suggested approach improved on the work of earlier researchers who, in most cases, manually selected the wavelet family and level of decomposition based solely on experience and not on data. The paper also applied the virtual class methods to overcome the error propagation problems in hierarchical classification. The effectiveness of the proposed method was tested on a G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) protein data set consisting of 5 classes at the family level, 38 classes at the subfamily level, and 87 classes at the sub-subfamily level. Based on the result obtained, the most selected wavelet family and decomposition level chosen to represent GPCR classes by FAPSO are Biorthogonal wavelets and decomposition level 1, respectively. The experimental results show that the representation of GPCR protein using the FAPSO algorithm with virtual classes can yield 97.9%, 86.9%, and 81.3% classification accuracy at the family, subfamily, and sub-subfamily levels, respectively. In conclusion, the result shows that the selection of optimized wavelet family and decomposition level by the FAPSO algorithm, and the virtual class method can be potentially used as the feature representation method and a hierarchical classification method for GPCR protein.

GPCR Protein Feature Representation using Discrete Wavelet Transform and Particle Swarm Optimisation Algorithm

Features play an important role in representing classes in the hierarchy structure, and using unsuitable features will affect classification performance. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) approach provides the ability to create the appropriate features to represent data. DWT can produce global and local features using different wavelet families and decomposition levels. These two parameters are essential to obtain a suitable representation for classes in the hierarchy structure. This study proposes using a particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm to select the suitable wavelet family and decomposition level for G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) hierarchical class representation. The results indicate that the PSO algorithm mostly selects Biorthogonal wavelets and decomposition level 2 to represent GPCR protein. Concerning the performance, the proposed method achieved an accuracy of 97.9%, 85.9%, and 77.5% at the family, subfamily, and sub-subfamily levels, respectively.

Faecal egg counts and nemabiome metabarcoding highlight the genomic complexity of equine cyathostomin communities and provide insight into their dynamics in a Scottish native pony herd

Understanding the composition of gastrointestinal nematode communities may help to mitigate or exploit parasite adaptations within their host. We have used nemabiome deep amplicon sequencing of internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) ribosomal DNA to describe the temporal and host species composition of gastrointestinal nematode communities following sampling of six Scottish ponies across 57 months. In the absence of parasite control, each horse showed seasonal trends of increases and decreases in faecal egg counts, consistent with the epidemiology of equine strongylid parasites, however, the composition of parasites within individuals changed over time. Sixteen presumptive strongylid species were identified in each of the horses, 13 of which were distributed in a complex clade together with small numbers of amplicon sequences which could not be classified beyond the Cyathostominae subfamily level. Egg shedding of seven trichostrongylid species, which had previously been identified in co-grazed Soay sheep, was identified during the early spring. Faecal egg counts and the percentage of amplicon sequences assigned to each gastrointestinal nematode species were combined to describe their relative abundance across both host and time. Significant differences in species diversity between horses and between months were observed, being greatest from March to May and least from October to December. The magnitude of the individual horse effect varied between months and, conversely, the magnitude of the seasonal effect varied between individual horses. The most abundant gastrointestinal nematode in each of the horses was Cylicostephanus longibursatus (46.6% overall), while the abundance of the other strongylid species varied between horses and relative to each other. Patent C. longibursatus infections over the winter months might represent a genetic adaptation towards longer adult worm survival, or a lower rate of developmental arrest in the autumn. This study provides insight into highly complex phylogenetic relationships between closely related cyathostomin species; and describes the dynamics of egg shedding and pasture contamination of co-infecting equine gastrointestinal nematode communities. The results could be applied to determine how climatic and management factors affect the equilibrium between hosts and their parasites, and to inform the development of sustainable gastrointestinal nematode control strategies for different host species.

Evolutionary morphology of sperm in pholcid spiders (Pholcidae, Synspermiata).

Pholcidae represent one of the largest and most diverse spider families and have been subject to various studies regarding behavior and reproductive biology. In contrast to the solid knowledge on phylogeny and general reproductive morphology, the primary male reproductive system is strongly understudied, as it has been addressed only for few species. Those studies however suggested a high diversity of sperm and seminal secretions across the family. To address this disparity and reconstruct the evolution of sperm traits, we investigate the primary male reproductive system of pholcid spiders by means of light, X-ray, and transmission electron microscopy using a comprehensive taxon sampling with 46 species from 33 genera, representing all five subfamilies. Our data show a high disparity of sperm morphology and seminal secretions within pholcids. We document several sperm characters that are unique for pholcids, such as a helical band (Pholcinae) or a lamellate posterior centriolar adjunct material (Modisiminae). Character mapping revealed several putative synapomorphies for individual taxa. With regard to sperm transfer forms, we found that synspermia occur only in the subfamily Ninetinae, whereas the other subfamilies have cleistospermia. In several species with cleistospermia, we demonstrate that spermatids remain fused until late stages of spermiogenesis before ultimately separating shortly before the coiling process. Additionally, we explored the previously hypothesized correlation between sperm size and minimum diameter of the spermophor in the male palpal organ. We show that synspermia differ strongly in size whereas cleistospermia are rather uniform, but neither transfer form is positively correlated with the diameter of the spermophor. Our data revealed a dynamic evolution of sperm characters, with convergences across all subfamilies and a high level of homoplasy. The present diversity can be related to subfamily level and allows for assignments of specific subtypes of spermatozoa. Our observations support the idea that Ninetinae are an ancestral clade within Pholcidae that have retained synspermia and that synspermia represent the ancestral sperm transfer form of Pholcidae.

A new ancient leiobunine genus and species from the Russian Northwest Caucasus (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae)

A new genus and species of harvestman belonging to the family Sclerosomatidae from the Russian Northwest Caucasus is proposed: Amilenoides caucasicus n. gen., n. sp. This species has unusual male penial characteristics, which are judged as plesiomorphic traits within subfamily Leiobuninae. The relationships on subfamily level are discussed. This new species may be a relict of early sclerosomatid evolution. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6796D1B3-46A6-486D-94BD-5F0AB1212F7D

Circular RNA circ-CD44 regulates chemotherapy resistance by targeting the miR-330-5p/ABCC1 axis in colorectal cancer cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide, ranking fourth for incidence. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to play a key role in chemotherapy resistance to CRC treatment. Therefore, the role of circ-CD44 is investigated in CRC. The expression levels of circ-CD44, miR-330-5p, and ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 1 (ABCC1) were quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. The sensitivity of CRC cells to oxaliplatin (OXA) was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT) assay. Colony-forming experiment was performed to measure the colony-forming ability of CRC cells. The apoptosis, migration, and invasion of CRC cells were determined by flow cytometry and transwell assays. A xenograft experiment was established to clarify the functional role of circ-CD44 silencing in vivo. The interactional relationship among circ-CD44, miR-330-5p, and ABCC1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The protein expression of ABCC1 was quantified by western blot assay. Circ-CD44 was obviously upregulated in OXA-resistant colorectal cancer tissues and cells. Loss-of-function experiments revealed that inhibition of circ-CD44 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion while it increased OXA sensitivity and apoptosis in OXA-resistant colorectal cancer cells, which was overturned by suppression of miR-330-5p; besides, silencing of circ-CD44 also slowed the tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, overexpression of miR-330-5p inhibited chemotherapy resistance, proliferation, migration, and invasion while it induced apoptosis by targeting ABCC1. Mechanistically, circ-CD44 functioned as a miRNA sponge for miR-330-5p to upregulate the expression of ABCC1 and regulate chemotherapy resistance in CRC cells.

Enhanced Resolution of Evolution and Phylogeny of the Moths Inferred from Nineteen Mitochondrial Genomes

The vast majority (approximately 90%) of Lepidoptera species belong to moths whose phylogeny has been widely discussed and highly controversial. For the further understanding of phylogenetic relationships of moths, nineteen nearly complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of moths involved in six major lineages were sequenced and characterized. These mitogenomes ranged from 15,177 bp (Cyclidia fractifasciata) to 15,749 bp (Ophthalmitis albosignaria) in length, comprising of the core 37 mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) + 22 tRNAs + two rRNAs) and an incomplete control region. The order and orientation of genes showed the same pattern and the gene order of trnM-trnI-trnQ showed a typical rearrangement of Lepidoptera compared with the ancestral order of trnI-trnQ-trnM. Among these 13 PCGs, ATP8 exhibited the fastest evolutionary rate, and Drepanidae showed the highest average evolutionary rate among six families involved in 66 species. The phylogenetic analyses based on the dataset of 13 PCGs suggested the relationship of (Notodontidae + (Noctuidae + Erebidae)) + (Geometridae + (Sphingidae + Drepanidae)), which suggested a slightly different pattern from previous studies. Most groups were well defined in the subfamily level except Erebidae, which was not fully consistent across bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. Several formerly unassigned tribes of Geometridae were suggested based on mitogenome sequences despite a not very strong support in partial nodes. The study of mitogenomes of these moths can provide fundamental information of mitogenome architecture, and the phylogenetic position of moths, and contributes to further phylogeographical studies and the biological control of pests.

Effects of dietary daidzein supplementation on reproductive performance, immunity, and antioxidative capacity of New Zealand White does

This study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary daidzein (DA) supplementation on reproductive functions in rabbit does. A total of 200 New Zealand White does were randomly assigned to four groups and fed a basal diet with no DA (control, CON) or the basal diet supplemented with 85 (DA85), 170 (DA170), and 340 (DA340) mg DA/kg throughout the gestation. Results showed that DA elevated individual embryo weight at 19 days of gestation. DA supplementation at 170 mg/kg also elevated the individual and litter birth weight at parturition (P < 0.05). DA supplementation at 170 and 340 mg/kg elevated the serum concentrations of estrogen and IGF-I at 19 days of gestation (P < 0.05), and elevated the concentrations of leptin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at parturition (P < 0.05). DA increased the serum concentration of IgG, but decreased the concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05). DA supplementation at 170 mg/kg increased the serum activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) at parturition (P < 0.05). Moreover, DA elevated the expression levels of critical genes related to reproductive functions such as the progesterone receptor (PGR), estrogen receptor-β (ESRRB), and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) in the uterus (P < 0.05). DA supplementation at a moderate dose (170 mg/kg) also elevated the expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 2 (NR5A2) in the placenta (P < 0.05). These results suggested that DA can improve the reproductive performance of does, which was associated with elevated serum hormones, immunity and antioxidant capacity, as well as the expression levels of critical genes related to reproductive functions.

Beak morphology and limb proportions as adaptations of hadrosaurid foraging ecology

Hadrosauridae, consisting of two subfamilies (Hadrosaurinae and Lambeosaurinae), is a successful herbivorous dinosaur group that established a high taxonomic diversity and a cosmopolitan biogeographic distribution during the Late Cretaceous. While its success is often attributed to a highly specialized oral processing system, the foraging strategy of this group remains unclear. This study focuses on two critical factors in foraging strategy, food selectivity and locomotor ecology, in these hadrosaurid subfamilies. Three-dimensional beak shapes and limb segment proportions are used as the proxies for food selectivity and locomotor ecology, respectively. The beak shape analysis demonstrates trends of anteriorly acute beaks in hadrosaurines and anteriorly wide beaks in lambeosaurines. The limb segment proportion analysis shows short proximal limb segments in hadrosaurines and long proximal limb segments in lambeosaurines. These results suggest that hadrosaurines preferred selective consumption of high-quality food with energy-inefficient locomotor ecology, while lambeosaurines preferred mass consumption of low-quality food with energy-efficient locomotion and that differences in foraging strategy might have enhanced dietary niche partitioning in the subfamily level of hadrosaurids. In addition, this study tests a relationship between limb proportions and habitat environments in hadrosaurids. We demonstrate that hadrosaurids from the coastal environments have shorter forelimbs than those from the terrestrial environment. Since short forelimbs are better suited for temporal bipedalism than long forelimbs, the limb proportion difference may indicate adaptations to different feeding heights, possibly due to different regional vegetations.

Identify and analyze the Diversity of Ant in Indonesia, Diversity of Ants at the Universitas Sumatera Utara and Diversity of Ants at The Universitas Andalas

One of the diversity of subfamily level ants is Myrmicinae. Myrmicinae are distributed throughout the world in all major habitats except ecosystem areas with low diversity indicating pressure that will affect ecosystem quality. The types of ants obtained from the location of the USU campus found 9 species consisting of 5 subfamilies as follows: Paracidris sp. Paedalgus sp. Solenopsis sp. Oligomyrmex sp. The total ant diversity index (H') on the USU campus included moderate diversity (H') 1.25, the genus with the highest distribution frequency at all research sites was Solenopsis sp, namely 50% Oligomyrmex sp, a genus with a low distribution frequency of 15%. The results of research at Andalas University, the total number of species accumulated in this study was the highest among other studies reported from Sumatra. The Quadra protocol is the standard method for rapid research of ants. Collecting the prominent number of ant species listed in this study is also effective for detecting frequent and abundant ant species. The analysis of the data obtained shows that it is possible to record more species of ants considering that field exploration continues

Phylogenomics-Based Reconstruction and Molecular Evolutionary Histories of Brassica Photoreceptor Gene Families.

Photosensory proteins known as photoreceptors (PHRs) are crucial for delineating light environments in synchronization with other environmental cues and regulating their physiological variables in plants. However, this has not been well studied in the Brassica genus, which includes several important agricultural and horticultural crops. Herein, we identified five major PHR gene families—phytochrome (PHY), cryptochrome (CRY), phototropin (PHOT), F-box containing flavin binding proteins (ZTL/FKF1/LKP2), and UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8)—genomic scales and classified them into subfamilies based on their phylogenetic clustering with Arabidopsis homologues. The molecular evolution characteristics of Brassica PHR members indicated indirect expansion and lost one to six gene copies at subfamily levels. The segmental duplication was possibly the driving force of the evolution and amplification of Brassica PHRs. Gene replication retention and gene loss events of CRY, PHY, and PHOT members found in diploid progenitors were highly conserved in their tetraploid hybrids. However, hybridization events were attributed to quantitative changes in UVR8 and ZTL/FKF1/LKP2 members. All PHR members underwent purifying selection. In addition, the transcript expression profiles of PHR genes in different tissue and in response to exogenous ABA, and abiotic stress conditions suggested their multiple biological significance. This study is helpful in understanding the molecular evolution characteristics of Brassica PHRs and lays the foundation for their functional characterization.