Bryozoans are aquatic invertebrates that inhabit all types of aquatic ecosystems. They are small animals that form large colonies by asexual budding. Colonies can reach the size of several tens of centimeters, while individual units within a colony are the size of a few millimeters. Each individual within a colony works as a separate zooid and is genetically identical to each other individual within the same colony. Most freshwater species of bryozoans belong to the Phylactolaemata class, while several species that tolerate brackish water belong to the Gymnolaemata class. Tissue samples for this study were collected in the rivers of Adriatic and Danube basin and in the wetland areas in the continental part of Croatia (Europe). Freshwater and brackish taxons of bryozoans were genetically analyzed for the purpose of creating phylogenetic relationships between freshwater and brackish taxons of the Phylactolaemata and Gymnolaemata classes and determining the role of brackish species in colonizing freshwater and marine ecosystems. Phylogenetic relationships inferred on the genes for 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, COI, and ITS2 region confirmed Phylactolaemata bryozoans as radix bryozoan group. Phylogenetic analysis proved Phylactolaemata bryozoan's close relations with taxons from Phoronida phylum as well as the separation of the Lophopodidae family from other families within the Plumatellida genus. Comparative analysis of existing knowledge about the phylogeny of bryozoans and the expansion of known evolutionary hypotheses is proposed with the model of settlement of marine and freshwater ecosystems by the bryozoans group during their evolutionary past. In this case study, brackish bryozoan taxons represent a link for this ecological phylogenetic hypothesis. Comparison of brackish bryozoan species Lophopus crystallinus and Conopeum seurati confirmed a dual colonization of freshwater ecosystems throughout evolution of this group of animals.
The effect of quercetin was studied on the multi-eyed flatworm Polycelis felina (Daly.) in laboratory conditions. This is a very suitable test-organism available year-round in nature, easily maintained in the laboratory. The results showed that depending on the dose and recovery period quercetin caused locomotory (behavioral) changes in treated animals including aggregation in groups, resting and unsynchronized movements and twisting of particular body parts. Morphological changes in the form of depigmentation of certain body parts were the result of damage or deterioration ofreticular and parenchymal cells. Numerous basophilic bodies representing parts of damaged and decomposed cells were determined in the gastroderm between the third and seventh day after treatment. All histological preparations revealed significant deterioration of cellular material, and therefore a damaging effect of quercetin on the multi-eyed flatworm Polycelis felina (Daly.). We found an increased number of neoblasts and reticular cells on the third day after treatment, so we concluded that quercetin in the applied doses had a stimulating effect on cell division of neoblasts and reticular cells of treated flatworms.
Identification Of a rare record of Ommastrephes Bartramii (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from the eastern Adriatic Sea. Folia Biologica (Kraków) $!: 19-23. The neon flying squid Ommastrephes bartramii Lesueur, 1821 belongs to the Ommastrephidae, Cephalopoda family. The family Ommastrephidae (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) includes many commercially important species, dispersed around the world. The Ommastrephidae family is conventionally divided into three subfamilies (Illicinae, Todarodinae, and Ommastrephinae). We report a specimen of neon flying squid caught in the winter 2013 at Luka ipanska, Island of ipan, Croatia and identified at the genetic level using the standard mitochondrial COI barcode region. This record represents the first genetic identification of a neon flying squid from the Adriatic Sea.
The aim of this paper is to describe morphological characteristics of freshwater triclads in Herzegovina and to provide a key for their identification based mainly on their external morphology. Our research is based on the freshwater triclads collected at 26 sites in Herzegovina, including 10 rivers, 6 springs and 1 lake. Triclads were collected by hand and with the bait jar with a lid bearing many small perforations. Specimens were identified immediately after being collected or we transported them to the laboratory in termal containers with ice. The morphological features used for species identification in this key are: body coloration (color of the dorsal and ventral side), the size of the pharynx, the presence of tentacles and their location, number and position of the eyes in respect to each other and the body margin, and the shape of the head. Specimens were fixed using Steinmann's fluid and conserved in 70 % alcohol. Inner morphological feature, shape of a penis, was used in determination of Polycelis tenuis and Polycelis nigra.We collected a total of 11 species, belonging to 8 genera (Polycelis Ehrenberg, 1831, Crenobia Kenk, 1930, Phagocata Leidy, 1847, Planaria Mül-ler, 1776, Dendrocoelum Örsted, 1844, Schmidtea Ball, 1974, Dugesia Girard, 1850, Girardia Ball, 1974) and 3 families.The present study forms a baseline for future studies on the diversity and biogeography of Herzegovinian freshwater triclads. IntroductIonT he order Tricladida comprises the free-living flatworms. Within Tricladida, three infraorders have been recognized: Maricola (marine triclads), Paludicola (freshwater triclads), and Terricola (land triclads) (1), to which a new one, the Cavernicola was further added (2). Study based on molecular properties (3) indicates that the Terricola and Paludicola should be replaced with a clade Continenticola. This new clade comprises the families Planariidae Stimpson, 1857, Dendrocoelidae Hallez, 1892, Kenkiidae Hyman, 1937, Dugesiidae Ball, 1974 and Geoplanidae Stimpson, 1857. We based our research on freshwater triclads belonging to the families Planariidae, Dendrocoelidae and Dugesiidae.Despite some intensive studies (5-9), phylogeny, taxonomy and distribution of this group of organisms are still quite unknown and unexplained. The fauna of freshwater triclads in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not sufficiently explored. The latest surveys were conducted in the 1920s (15). So far no keys for freshwater triclads were published in this region and the aim of this paper is to remedy this. SAmplIng SIteS And methodSAltogether, 26 sites in Herzegovina were sampled, encompassing sites along the courses of rivers Neretva, Buna, Bunica, Bijela, Trebižat, Lištica, Jasenica, Radobolja, Studenčica and Crnašnica but also various habitats (springs and streams) in many of their tributaries (e.g. Crnašnica Vrilo, Crno Oko, Jasle, Arapi Vrilo, Rebrac etc.). Sampling sites, apart from spring Jasle in Masna Luka, belong to the so-called "lower Herzegovina" with an average temperature of 15 °C and an average r...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.