Abstract.A study of the relationships between 21 southern European, Moroccan and Turkish populations of the Merodon avidus species complex was carried out. Based on a parallel study of type material from several museums, documented diagnostic morphological characters, season of adult activity and geographical distribution, we justify the use of the following names for three closely related taxa in this complex: M. avidus (Rossi, 1790) , 1822) is designated here. A cluster analysis of DNA barcoding sequences clearly separated M. ibericus, but not M. avidus and M. moenium, even though the lack of shared haplotypes, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), pairwise Φ st values together with allozyme and ecological niche analyses revealed statistically significant percentage of variation among all three species in the Merodon avidus complex. Analysis of 5 diagnostic enzyme loci revealed the presence of genetic differentiation among the M. avidus/moenium complex populations investigated (F st = 0.654) and species-specific alleles were found at the AAT locus. The presence of two separate related taxa within the M. avidus/ moenium complex was further supported by an UPGMA tree based on Nei's (1978) genetic distances. The value of Nei's measure of genetic identity (I = 0.520) between two large (meta) populations of M. avidus and M. moenium suggest that these taxa are sibling species. Populations from Djerdap (Serbia) confirmed the presence of temporal divergence between these species at a locality where they occur sympatrically, while spring and autumn populations from Umag (Croatia) provide an example of morphological plasticity within the species M. avidus. Ecological niche analysis contributed to the species delimitation. Review of the available genetic and ecological data confirmed our hypothesis that the M. avidus species complex, in addition to M. ibericus Vujić nom. n. from the Iberian Peninsula, consists of two sibling species in the rest of Europe and indicated their recent speciation.
Aim We analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Balkans, including individuals from the northern Dinaric Balkans, an area that had not previously been characterized. Our aims were: (1) to reveal the level of genetic diversity and structuring and examine the demographic expansion of wild boar populations in the Balkans and Europe; (2) to examine the role of the Balkan gene pool in the post‐LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) recolonization of Europe; and (3) to elucidate the phylogenetic position of European and Balkan wild boar in a Eurasian context by comparing sequences of wild boar worldwide. Location Balkan Peninsula. Methods A fragment of the mtDNA control region (443 bp) was sequenced in 163 wild boar from the Balkans. Phylogenetic analyses, using MrBayes and network, were carried out together with 188 previously published sequences from the Balkan Peninsula. Phylogenetic analyses were also performed with an additional 876 wild boar sequences from around the world. Results Sixteen haplotypes were found in the new samples, including 11 not previously reported in the Balkans. Phylogenetic analyses based on all known Balkan haplotypes indicated the existence of population structuring, revealing two groups: Continental Balkans and South Balkans. The analysis of the complete dataset, comprising 1227 mtDNA sequences from wild boar sampled worldwide, revealed the presence of 168 different haplotypes. All Balkan haplotypes fell into the E1 haplogroup, except one sample that possessed an Asian haplotype. Within the E1 haplogroup, 50% of the haplotypes were unique to the Balkan Peninsula. Main conclusions Wild boar from the Balkans exhibited high genetic diversity. Similar phylogeographical patterns emerge in all southern European peninsulas, arising from post‐LGM expansion, and all three peninsulas played a similar role in the post‐glacial recolonization of Europe by wild boar. This supports a leading‐edge colonization hypothesis for all three peninsulas.
An integrative taxonomic approach revealed two taxa within Chrysotoxum festivum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera, Syrphidae), C. festivum A and C. festivum B. In addition to morphological differences, results also showed significant distinction in geometric morphometrics of wings and surstyli, and in DNA sequence data (nuclear ITS2 sequences) between C. festivum A, C. festivum B, and the closely related species C. elegans Loew, 1841. From examination of type material, the name C. tomentosum Giglio‐Tos, 1890 is proposed for C. festivum B, and the taxon is redefined. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London
Aims: To examine effects of various environmental factors on adsorption and inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-specific phages: d (family Podoviridae), J-1, r-1 and 001A (family Siphoviridae) and their ability to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Methods and Results: The phages examined in the study were clonally different, as revealed by RFLP. The temperature in the range 7-44°C had no influence on the adsorption of Podoviridae, but did affect Siphoviridae adsorption, particularly 001A. All phages were significantly stable at pH 5-9, and phages d and 001A even at pH 3. Most of the examined carbohydrates and exopolysaccharides of the original host efficiently inactivated phage d, while phages r-1 and J-1 were inactivated considerably only by the amino acid alanine. Silver nitrate efficiently inactivated all the phages, while Siphoviridae were more resistant to povidone-iodine. Serum of nonimmunized rats had no influence on phage inactivation and adsorption. Only phage d showed ability to effectively inhibit in vitro bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Conclusions: The examined environmental parameters can significantly influence the adsorption and viability of Ps. aeruginosa-specific phages. The phage d is a good candidate for biocontrol of Ps. aeruginosa.
The aim of the study was to screen various kinds of samples for Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific phages and to isolate and partially characterize those with broad activity spectra. The Pseudomonas specific phages were isolated using an enrichment procedure with single strains or the cocktail of P. aeruginosa strains as hosts. Using the described procedure, phages were successfully isolated only from water samples, while in soil and feces no Pseudomonas specific phages were detected. The lytic spectra of isolated phages were determined by spot method on lawns of 33 P. aeruginosa strains and five species belonging to family Enterobacteriaceae. The results showed that among isolated phages, 001A, delta, and I possessed the broad activity spectra, as were able to plaque on more than 50% of tested P. aeruginosa strains, while none of the phages were able to lyse the other tested species. Significant differences in phage activity spectra were not observed when P. aeruginosa cocktail was applied for sample enrichment. The most of the phages examined by electron microscopy belonged to family Siphoviridae, while the broad activity spectra isolates, except for 001A, possessed morphological characteristics of family Podoviridae. Digested DNA of the phages delta and I showed similar patterns, indicating the prevalence and success of this phage type in the environment.
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