Article
Environmental Sciences
Manuel Vera, Enric Aparicio, Sandra Heras, Alba Abras, Adrian Casanova, Maria-Ines Roldan, Jose-Luis Garcia-Marin
Summary: The European brown trout species has been relatively unaffected in the IUCN Red List, but anthropic impacts and introgressive hybridization from non-native Atlantic stocks have greatly damaged native populations in Mediterranean rivers. Climate change is expected to worsen this situation. This study investigates the effects of hatchery releases and climatic variables on introgression in brown trout populations in a Pyrenean river. Overall, introgressive hybridization was observed in all studied sites, with larger divergence among populations at tributaries compared to the main stem. It is recommended to involve regional social groups in citizen science programs to monitor the spread of non-native phenotypes and aid in the preservation and recovery of native populations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Robert Kasprzak, Zdzislaw Zakes, Maciej Kamaszewski, Hubert Szudrowicz, Wiktoria Wiechetek, Julia Renata Janusz, Teresa Ostaszewska, Agata Korzelecka-Orkisz, Krzysztof Formicki
Summary: The conservation of brown trout populations is becoming increasingly important due to environmental degradation. This study assessed the effects of dietary immunostimulants on two morphs of brown trout and found that feeding with a diet enriched with immunostimulants for 2 weeks may enhance rearing protocols for the fish.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ensieh Habibi, Michael R. Miller, Daphne Gille, Leigh Sanders, Jeff Rodzen, Grace M. Aurniger, Molly Stephens, Amanda J. Finger
Summary: The study provides insights into the population structure and hybridization of the McCloud River Redband Trout. It identifies multiple historical lineages of MRRT and highlights the importance of core conservation populations. Furthermore, it discovers SNP markers for monitoring hybridization and genetic diversity.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Giovanna Salvatore, Valentino Palombo, Stefano Esposito, Nicolaia Iaffaldano, Mariasilvia D'Andrea
Summary: To support the management and conservation of Mediterranean trout, a reduced panel of ancestry-informative SNP markers (AIMs) was proposed and validated using a Machine Learning approach. This methodology can be used to monitor the level of introgression between native and allochthonous trout populations.
Article
Fisheries
Patrick Berrebi, Akos Horvath, Andrea Splendiani, Stefan Palm, Rafal Bernas
Summary: This study analyzed the genetic structure of 27 brown trout hatchery strains from Europe and North America, revealing the dominance of the North Atlantic lineage in European and American hatcheries, with the presence of local strains from domesticated regional wild fish. Most hatchery strains showed high to very high genetic polymorphism, likely due to genetic admixture counteracting losses of diversity from genetic drift and domestication. This study highlights the importance of identifying the genetic composition of hatchery stocks and the need for caution when stocking a common stock across a species' geographical range to avoid reducing genetic diversity and local adaptation.
Article
Forestry
Fiorella Villani, Simone Castellana, Isacco Beritognolo, Marcello Cherubini, Francesca Chiocchini, Alberto Battistelli, Claudia Mattioni
Summary: The Neapolitan alder is an endemic tree species with economic and ecological value. This study evaluated the genetic variability of its populations in southern Italy and verified its hybridization capacity. Results showed a low risk of genetic pollution from hybrid individuals to the parent species.
Article
Fisheries
Ana Almodovar, Graciela G. Nicola, Daniel Ayllon, Sheila Leal, Daniel F. Marchan, Benigno Elvira
Summary: Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in Europe is facing overfishing and climate change threats. Southernmost populations in northern Spain are important for conservation of original genetic diversity, endangered by massive stocking with non-native stocks. Historical genetic analysis showed high diversity and structure in southernmost salmon populations, providing valuable information for conservation programs.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lenka Stohlova Putnova, Radek Stohl, Martin Ernst, Katerina Svobodova
Summary: Sika deer in the Czech Republic are a highly abundant and rapidly expanding group, hybridizing with the native red deer and posing a threat to the gene pool of the red deer population. Effective game management changes are needed to prevent the widespread proliferation of sika deer and their genetic introgression into the red deer populations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meng Yue Wu, Clara Jesse Lau, Elize Ying Xin Ng, Pratibha Baveja, Chyi Yin Gwee, Keren Sadanandan, Teuku Reza Ferasyi, Haminuddin, Rezky Ramadhan, Jochen K. Menner, Frank E. Rheindt
Summary: Quantifying the magnitude of global extinction is challenging due to taxonomic limitations and difficulties in comprehensive sampling. The study focuses on a well-studied group of songbirds and reveals hidden extinction and loss of genetic diversity, highlighting the importance of reassessing extinction incidences even in well-known animal groups.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Sergi Taboada, Pilar Rios, Alex Mitchell, Alex Cranston, Kathrin Busch, Vanina Tonzo, Paco Cardenas, Francisco Sanchez, Carlos Leiva, Vasiliki Koutsouveli, Javier Cristobo, Joana R. Xavier, Ute Hentschel, Hans-Tore Rapp, Christine Morrow, Jim Drewery, Pedro E. Romero, Connie Whiting, Ana Riesgo, Maria Belen Arias
Summary: Deep-sea North Atlantic sponge grounds play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. A study on two congeneric sponge species revealed their genetic diversity, molecular connectivity patterns, and the occurrence of hybridization, highlighting the importance of next-generation techniques for conservation efforts.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Gabriela C. D. Peixoto, Maria Raquel S. Carvalho, Andrea A. Egito, Raphael S. Steinberg, Frank Angelo T. Bruneli, Marco Antonio Machado, Fernanda C. Santos, Izinara C. Rosse, Pablo Augusto S. Fonseca
Summary: The Guzera breed in Brazil has experienced genetic bottlenecks, but efforts by the scientific community and breeders have maintained high genetic diversity. The dual-purpose herds are more uniform, with beef herds preserving greater amounts of genetic diversity among groups, while the dairy herd is genetically distant from others.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diogo Freitas-Souza, Andre Batista Nobile, Fernanda Dotti do Prado, erica Alves Serrano, Felipe Pontieri Lima, Fausto Foresti, Fabio Porto-Foresti, Claudio Oliveira
Summary: Due to invasive species, aquaculture has become one of the main ways to introduce non-native fish species into the wild habitats in Brazil. The expansion of fish farming in inland areas has led to an increase in the production of hybrids. Over the past decade, there have been several cases of genetic introgression and the introduction of non-native fish species in native species. This study evaluated the reproductive continuity of a population of adult hybrid Pseudoplatystoma fish in the Mogi-Guacu River, southeastern Brazil.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Michele Di Iorio, Giusy Rusco, Stefano Esposito, Mariasilvia D'Andrea, Alessandra Roncarati, Nicolaia Iaffaldano
Summary: The Mediterranean brown trout is highly endangered due to climate and human influences, with the introduction of alien trout being a major threat to native populations. To preserve the genetic integrity of native Mediterranean trout, a conservation program has been proposed in the Molise region of Italy. This program aims to restore genetic integrity by using frozen wild breeder semen for artificial reproduction and enhance genetic diversity in progeny.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gerald Kwikiriza, Thapasya Vijayan, Papius Dias Tibihika, Manuel Curto, Gerold Winkler, Juliet Kigongo Nattabi, John Kariuki, Harald Meimberg
Summary: Despite challenges such as overfishing, climate change, and fish introductions, the study highlights the low levels of hybridization between different tilapiine species in Lake Victoria, Kenya. The research emphasizes the need for conservation measures to protect these fish populations.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Emmalyn J. Dupree, Zaen Manzoor, Shelby Alwine, Bernard S. Crimmins, Thomas M. Holsen, Costel C. Darie
Summary: This study established a lake trout protein database using proteomics approaches, providing insight into the protein profile of lake trout and enabling future research on this fish species.
Article
Entomology
Antonio Carapelli, Penelope Greenslade, Francesco Nardi, Chiara Leo, Peter Convey, Francesco Frati, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Francesco Nardi, Claudio Cucini, Chiara Leo, Francesco Frati, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli, Antonio Carapelli
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Claudio Cucini, Pietro P. Fanciulli, Francesco Frati, Peter Convey, Francesco Nardi, Antonio Carapelli
Summary: Collembola are a group of ancient and early diverging hexapods that inhabit various terrestrial habitats. The phylogenetic relationships between different orders of Collembola are still debated, despite numerous studies and the use of morphological and genetic approaches. The comparison of mitogenomes provides insights into the evolution and molecular phylogenetics of springtails, confirming the monophyly of some lineages while raising questions about others.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Claudio Cucini, Antonio Carapelli, Claudia Brunetti, Rafael Molero-Baltanas, Miquel Gaju-Ricart, Francesco Nardi
Summary: This study describes the mitochondrial genome of the silverfish Neoasterolepisma foreli, revealing its basal position within the family Lepismatidae, which contradicts previous understanding of the group.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio Carapelli, Claudio Cucini, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli, Francesco Frati, Peter Convey, Francesco Nardi
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chiara Leo, Francesco Nardi, Claudio Cucini, Francesco Frati, Peter Convey, James T. Weedon, Dick Roelofs, Antonio Carapelli
Summary: Collembola in Antarctica play a key role in soil biota globally, and their microbiomes can contribute to important metabolic functions. The diversity and richness of springtail microbiomes in Antarctica are lower compared to temperate regions, and the microbiome composition is predominantly species-specific with limited core microbiome shared across different species. Geographic origin is the prevalent driver in shaping the microbiomes of Antarctic springtails, with closer similarity between individuals from the same bioregion rather than those belonging to the same genus.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Claudio Cucini, Chiara Leo, Nicola Iannotti, Sara Boschi, Claudia Brunetti, Joan Pons, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli, Francesco Frati, Antonio Carapelli, Francesco Nardi
Summary: The use of complete mitochondrial genome data to address phylogenetic/phylogeographic issues in ecology and evolution is common, but data preparation and visualization remains a manually intensive step. EZmito is introduced as a tool aimed at automating some of these tasks, providing output in tabular format and publication-quality graphics for easy analysis.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudio Cucini, Chiara Leo, Francesco Nardi, Samuele Greco, Chiara Manfrin, Piero G. Giulianini, Antonio Carapelli
Summary: Global human activities are causing global warming, environmental changes, and biodiversity reduction. This study focuses on the transcriptome analysis of the Antarctic springtail Cryptopygus terranovus after exposure to 18 degrees C for 20 days, revealing differential gene expression pathways compared to wild specimens from the native environment.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Joan Pons, Juan Jose Ensenyat, Pere Bover, Miquel Serra, Francesco Nardi
Summary: The sequencing, annotation, and analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes play a crucial role in phylogeny and evolution research, where manual curation of annotations is necessary. Researchers have developed a python script to recreate a feature table from manually curated gene alignments, filling a gap in existing tools.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Francesco Nardi, Claudio Cucini, Elena Cardaioli, Francesco Paoli, Giuseppino Sabbatini Peverieri, Pio Federico Roversi, Francesco Frati, Antonio Carapelli
Summary: The samurai wasp Trissolcus japonicus is a parasitoid hymenopteran known as the natural enemy of Halyomorpha halys. The complete sequence of its mitochondrial genome conforms to the typical model of animal mitochondrial genomes, with gene order being identical to its congeneric Trissolcus basalis. Phylogenetic analysis confirms its placement within the Scelionidae and Telenominae groups, as the sister group of T. basalis.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Antonio Carapelli, Claudia Brunetti, Claudio Cucini, Elena Cardaioli, Abir Soltani, Moez Amri, Jouda Mediouni Ben Jemaa, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli, Francesco Nardi
Summary: The study describes the complete mitochondrial genome of the true bug Nysius cymoides and compares it phylogenetically with other species of Lygaeoidea, supporting the monophyly of all families except Rhyparochromidae. It exhibits typical molecular features observed in hexapods, including a long A + T-rich region with several repeat units.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Barbara Valle, Claudio Cucini, Francesco Nardi, Marco Caccianiga, Mauro Gobbi, Michele Di Musciano, Antonio Carapelli, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Alessia Guerrieri, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli
Summary: The new springtail species Desoria calderonis sp. nov. is strictly linked to the supraglacial stony debris of the isolated Calderone glacier in Italy. Genetic analysis has confirmed its attribution to the genus Desoria, but highlights the polyphyletic nature of the genus in its current definition. The species faces extinction threat due to ongoing climate change and the risk of the glacier disappearing completely.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Claudia Brunetti, Henk Siepel, Peter Convey, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli, Francesco Nardi, Antonio Carapelli
Summary: In the harsh Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, invertebrates are confined to sparse ice-free areas where they have survived for millions of years. Genetic differentiation among invertebrate populations is high due to limited dispersal abilities, specific habitat requirements, and geographical barriers. Mites are the most diverse invertebrate group in Antarctica, with 15 species of the Stereotydeus genus, including 7 found in Victoria Land.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudio Cucini, Francesco Nardi, Letizia Magnoni, Lorena Rebecchi, Roberto Guidetti, Peter Convey, Antonio Carapelli
Summary: This study investigated the temperature conditions experienced by microorganisms in the microhabitats along the Victoria Land coast in Antarctica. The results showed that ponds had the highest temperatures, with a significant difference compared to air temperature, due to their greater thermal capacity, which also influenced their freeze-thaw cycles and daily temperature variations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francesco Nardi, Lorenzo Lazzeri, Nicola Iannotti, Valerio Donini, Claudio Cucini, Irene Belardi, Francesco Frati, Antonio Carapelli, Francesco Ferretti
Summary: The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in various ecological processes, and research on wild animal microbiota has thrived in recent years. Microbiome composition varies across and within species due to taxonomy and environmental factors such as food availability. We investigated the gut microbiome of the grey wolf, an ecologically important predator, using amplicon sequencing in different ecological conditions in Italy. The results suggest a diet primarily consisting of wild prey and indicate potential influence of shared evolutionary history on gut microbiome composition among canids. Differences in species composition and diversity were observed among packs, supporting the role of pack identity in shaping microbiome composition.