Search Results (37)

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) exhibit vertical stratification patterns in forest environments, a fundamental ecological aspect for understanding niche occupation patterns, host-seeking behavior, and consequently arbovirus transmission mechanisms. Despite the relevance of this topic, available studies mostly focus on genera such as Aedes, Haemagogus, and Sabethes which are traditionally associated with arbovirus transmission. There are still important gaps regarding stratification and seasonality in the Mansoniini tribe, whose biology and epidemiological role remain underexplored, especially in highly biodiverse ecosystems such as the Atlantic Forest. This study evaluated the influence of seasonality and vertical stratification on the mosquito community, with a detailed focus on the Mansoniini tribe, in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Brazil, between May 2023 and December 2024. Captures were performed monthly using CDC light traps positioned at 1.5 m and 10 m heights, and specimens were morphologically identified. A total of 880 mosquitoes from nine genera and 24 species were captured, of which 91 (10.3%) belonged to the Mansoniini tribe. The most abundant species were Coquillettidia fasciolata and Mansonia titillans, recorded in both strata. Our results indicate no marked vertical segregation for the studied mosquito community in this specific location, but a strong influence of seasonality, particularly for the Mansoniini tribe, reinforcing the role of meteorological data on the population structure of these species. These site-specific findings offer a foundational ecological portrait and a robust methodological template for a neglected taxon. They generate critical, testable hypotheses about niche partitioning in fragmented forests and underscore the necessity for broader spatial replication to disentangle the relative influence of seasonal versus vertical drivers in similar ecosystems. Full article

Captive reptiles bred for economic and medicinal purposes are often susceptible to intestinal parasites that undermine their health and overall farm productivity. In many regions, their economic value largely derives from medicinal use; accordingly, they are described as reptiles with medicinally driven economic value. In this study, we applied high-throughput sequencing to characterize gut eukaryotic communities and assess parasite prevalence in tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) and Chinese blue-tailed skinks (Plestiodon chinensis). Across both host species, six pathogenic genera were identified: Cryptosporidium (P. chinensis: 57.1%, 12/21; G. gecko: 0%), Eimeria (P. chinensis: 14.3%, 3/21; G. gecko: 0%), Oswaldofilaria (P. chinensis: 0%, G. gecko: 4.8%, 1/21), Strongyloides (P. chinensis: 14.3%, 3/21; G. gecko: 19.1%, 4/21), Spironucleus (P. chinensis: 14.3%, 3/21; G. gecko: 9.5%, 2/21), Spauligodon (P. chinensis: 0%, G. gecko: 14.3%, 3/21). Among these, Cryptosporidium exhibited a striking host-specific pattern, occurring exclusively in Chinese blue-tailed skinks (Fisher’s exact test, p = 5.32 × 10⁻⁵). Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated clear host-associated segregation along PC1, which accounted for 58.2% of total variance. Furthermore, co-occurrence network analysis revealed significant positive associations (all p < 0.01) between parasites and other eukaryotes, particularly fungi and protozoa. Collectively, these findings underscore the value of high-throughput sequencing for parasite surveillance in reptile farming and point to the importance of integrated diagnostic approaches and enhanced biosecurity measures for maintaining animal health. Full article

Desert plants host specialized microbiomes that contribute to their survival under extreme conditions; yet, niche and specific microbial dynamics remain poorly understood. In this study, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the bacterial communities associated with Leptadenia pyrotechnica, which is a desert-adapted shrub. Five representative sample types were analyzed: rhizospheric soil from a non-arid adjacent location (control; S1); rhizospheric soil from the arid site (S4); and stem endosphere from the arid site (S5, S6, and S7). For each sample type, three biological replicates were collected from different healthy plants to ensure independence. Sequencing yielded high-quality datasets (89,000–134,000 reads/sample) with ASV retention ratios of 68–80%, confirming their sufficient depth for diversity profiling. Alpha diversity indices revealed a markedly greater richness in rhizospheric samples (e.g., S1 Shannon: 3.04; 530 ASVs) than in endosphere samples (Shannon < 1.0; ASVs ≤ 33), consistent with known gradients in desert plant microbiomes. Rarefaction curves confirmed the completeness of sampling. Beta diversity analyses, including PCoA and hierarchical clustering, showed clear segregation between rhizospheric and endophytic communities, indicating strong compartment-specific structuring. The rhizosphere was dominated by Actinobacteria (48%), Proteobacteria (32%), and Firmicutes (10%), whereas the stem endosphere was enriched in Proteobacteria (45%) and Actinobacteria (40%). Taxonomic profiling revealed that Bacillota and Actinomycetota dominated rhizospheric soils, including Bacillus licheniformis, while stem tissues were enriched in Cyanobacteriota and Alphaproteobacteria, suggesting host-driven filtering. Genera such as Cupriavidus, Massilia, and Noviherbaspirillum were exclusive to the rhizosphere, while Paracholeplasma appeared uniquely in stem sample S6. Archaea and rare phyla were nearly absent. The current findings indicate that L. pyrotechnica harbors distinct microbial assemblages in rhizospheric and endophytic niches, reflecting microhabitat-driven selection. These microbial communities may contribute to host resilience by harboring taxa with potential stress-tolerance traits, offering insights for microbiome-informed strategies in arid land restoration. Full article

In recent years, phylogenomic approaches have significantly deepened our understanding of moss diversity. These techniques have uncovered numerous previously overlooked species and provided greater clarity in resolving complex taxonomic relationships. In this context, the genus Rehubryum is particularly outstanding, because of its close morphological similarity to both Ulota and Atlantichella. The challenges posed by its segregation are addressed in this study, which integrates morphological and molecular data to reassess the circumscription of Rehubryum and its phylogenetic placement within the subtribe Lewinskyinae. Our results support the recognition of a new species, R. kiwi, and show that its inclusion within the genus further complicates the morphological delimitation of Rehubryum from Ulota, as both genera are distinguishable by only two consistent gametophytic characteristics: a submarginal leaf band of elongated cells, and the presence of geminate denticulations in the margins of the basal half of the leaf. Moreover, R. kiwi challenges the current morphological circumscription of Rehubryum itself, as it overlaps in key characteristics with its sister genus Atlantichella, rendering their morphological separation untenable. The striking interhemispheric disjunction between Rehubryum and Atlantichella raises new questions about long-distance dispersal and historical biogeography in mosses, despite these complexities at the generic level. Nevertheless, species-level distinctions remain well defined, especially in sporophytic traits and geographic distribution. These findings highlight the pervasive cryptic diversity within Orthotrichaceae, underscoring the need for integrative taxonomic frameworks that synthesize morphology, molecular phylogenetics, and biogeography to resolve evolutionary histories. Full article

Fruiting body formation in edible fungi is a critical development process for both scientific understanding and industrial cultivation, yet the underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. This study aimed to identify key genes regulating monokaryotic fruiting in Flammulina filiformis. A genetic segregation population was constructed through selfing purification and hybrid segregation of the FF002 strain, followed by mapping candidate genes with bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq). A 10 kb genomic region on scaffold19 was identified, pinpointing the gene FV-L110034160, which encodes a U2 snRNP complex component involved in pre-mRNA splicing. A T→G SNP located 121 bp downstream of the ATG codon caused a serine-to-alanine substitution, disrupting a conserved domain and altering fruiting phenotypes. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed conservation of this gene in fungal genera. These findings elucidate a key regulatory gene controlling monokaryotic fruiting in F. filiformis, providing novel insights into fruiting body formation mechanisms and establishing a foundation for genetic studies in other edible fungi. Full article

Athysanini is one of the largest tribes within Deltocephalinae, which is a vast cosmopolitan subfamily of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with many genera known to occur in the Neotropical realm. Peruvian forests house up to 16 genera of Athysanini and, so far, are strongly restricted to this region. In this contribution, a new species of the leafhopper genus Andanus Linnavuori, 1959, Andanus acanthophallussp. nov., is described based on pinned museum specimens. Illustrations and a diagnosis for all species to segregate them in the genus are provided. A dichotomous key to all known species and distributional notes are also given. The new species can be easily separated from others by (1) overall color light orange to stramineous, (2) the pronotum lacking marks or transverse medial bands, (3) a row of very long fine setae on the outer lateral margin of the subgenital plate, (4) apophysis of style straight without lateral projection but minute tooth on inner side, and (5) an aedeagal apex bifid with a pair of processes directed anterad and posterad. The valid status and current position of Andanus based on similarities to other Neotropical genera is discussed. Full article

The seeds of 121 species belonging to 38 genera of the subtribe Angraecinae (Orchidaceae) were studied in terms of their morphological characteristics under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study provided new data about the seed micromorphology of 17 genera and 100 species. Ten qualitative traits of the seed coat were analyzed, of which four were common for all the examined samples: elongated testa cells, anticlinal zone, curved transverse anticlinal walls, and sunken and narrow-to-not visible periclinal walls. These features are consistent with the epiphytic life-form of the genera studied. However, variation among genera was observed with reference to the seed shape, the morphology of the apical and the basal poles, the arrangement of the medial cells, the morphology of the longitudinal anticlinal walls, and the presence of testa extensions. A cluster analysis was performed, and two large groups were segregated according to the seed shape. Within a genus, all the examined species showed the same pattern of seed coat, except in Diaphananthe, Mystacidium, and Rhipidoglossum. On the other hand, the variation in the seed coat observed in Angraecum sensu lato supported its segregation into different genera. Our results perfectly fitted with recent taxonomic proposals. Full article

A compendium of the legumes of the subfamily Papilionoideae, tribes Amorpheae, Brongniarteae, and Dalbergieae in northeastern Mexico is presented for the first time, including changes in their botanical nomenclature within tribes and genera. Based on recently published studies, the taxonomic limits of several genera and new ones segregated such as Marina and Ctenodon are clarified and included. Based mainly on fieldwork over the past 40 years, as well as reviewing specimens in national and international herbaria, we show the total diversity of legumes of the subfamily Papilionoideae, tribes Amorpheae, Brongniarteae, and Dalbergieae. The three tribes include 16 genera and 75 species. Tribe Amorpheae comprises five genera (Amorpha, Dalea, Eysenhardtia, Marina, and Psorothamnus) and forty-three species; tribe Brongniartieae comprises two genera Brongniartia and Harpalyce) and eight species; and tribe Dalbergieae comprises nine genera (Aeschynomene, Amicia, Arachis, Ctneodon, Dalbergia, Diphysa, Nissolia, Stylosanthes, and Zornia) and twenty-four species. Dalea is by far the genus with the highest number of species and infraspecific categories, as well as in a number of endemisms because 17 (51%) of them are endemic to Mexico, and six of them are endemic to the northeastern part of the country. Of the 13 species of Eysenhardtia present in Mexico, 31% of them reach the northeast region and three of them are exclusive to this region. There are no species of the Brongniartieae and Dalbergieae tribes endemic to northeastern Mexico, but 10 of their species are endemic to Mexico. Full article

Moreyra and co-authors, in their recent paper published in Plants, presented a desperately needed Hyb-Seq phylogeny of the genus Cirsium sensu lato. Through their findings, they provided a critical assessment of an earlier proposal of ours to separate Cirsium sect. Eriolepis and Cirsium italicum into the genera Lophiolepis and Epitrachys, respectively. While we fully respect their right not to accept our proposal, we cannot remain silent to their arguments that not only misinterpret our findings and statements but are often in direct conflict with their own results that actually support our proposal to segregate Lophiolepis. In addition, as Moreyra and co-authors did not include Epitrachys italica (formerly Cirsium italicum) in their analyses; they have no basis for arguing in favour or against our proposal to separate it as a monotypic genus. Finally, we conclude that the genus Cirsium, as circumscribed by the above-mentioned authors (i.e., including Lophiolepis), is definitively not monophyletic. Full article

To determine the pivotal microorganisms affecting intramuscular fat (IMF) accumulation in Min pigs and to discern the extent of the influence exerted by various intestinal segments on IMF-related traits, we sequenced 16S rRNA from the contents of six intestinal segments from a high IMF group (Group H) and a low IMF group (Group L) of Min pigs weighing 90 ± 1 kg. We then compared their diversity and disparities in bacterial genera. Group H exhibited considerably higher α diversity in the jejunum and colon than Group L (p < 0.05). When 95% confidence levels were considered, the main β diversity components for the ileum, caecum, and colon within Groups H and L exhibited absolute segregation. Accordingly, 31 differentially abundant genera across Group H were pinpointed via LEfSe and the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05) and subsequently scrutinised based on their distribution and abundance across distinct intestinal segments and their correlation with IMF phenotypes. The abundances of Terrisporobacter, Acetitomaculum, Bacteroides, Fibrobacter, Treponema, Akkermansia, Blautia, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Turicibacter, Subdoligranulum, the [Eubacterium] siraeum group, and dgA 11 gut groups were positively correlated with IMF content (p < 0.05), whereas those of Bacillus, the Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Streptococcus, Roseburia, Solobacterium, Veillonella, Lactobacillus, the Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Anaerovibrio, and the Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group were negatively associated with IMF content (p < 0.05). Employing PICRUSt2 for predicting intergenic metabolic pathways that differ among intestinal microbial communities revealed that within the 95% confidence interval the colonic microbiome was enriched with the most metabolic pathways, including those related to lipid metabolism. The diversity results, bacterial genus distributions, and metabolic pathway disparities revealed the colonic segment as an influential region for IMF deposition. Full article

This paper describes a range of Paleozoic and Mesozoic mosses and assesses how far they can be referred to extant taxa at the family, ordinal, or class levels. The present study provides new data on Paleozoic mosses of the order Protosphagnales, re-evaluating affinities of some groups previously thought to be unrelated. The leaf areolation pattern, combined with the leaf costa anatomy, results in the subdivision of Protosphagnales into five separate families: Protosphagnaceae (at least six genera), Polyssaieviaceae (at least three genera), and three monogeneric families: Rhizonigeritaceae, Palaeosphagnaceae, and Servicktiaceae. We urge caution in referring Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic fossil mosses as members of Dicranidae and Bryidae, as they may belong to the extinct moss order Protosphagnales. Additional evidence supports the relation of the Permian genus Arvildia to extant Andreaeopsida. We segregate Late Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic mosses that are superficially similar to extant members of either Dicranales or Polytrichales, into the artificial informal group of Archaeodicranids, distinguishing them from ecostate Paleozoic and Mesozoic mosses, which are combined here into another artificial informal group, Bryokhutuliinids. The latter includes the genus Bryokhutuliinia, widespread in contemporary Asia, from the Middle Jurassic to the Lower Cretaceous, as well as other superficially similar ecostate plants from different regions worldwide, ranging from the Upper Palaeozoic to the Lower Cretaceous. A list of Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Eocene moss fossils suitable for age calibration in phylogenetic trees is provided. Full article

CRESS-DNA encompasses a broad spectrum of viruses documented across diverse organisms such as animals, plants, diatoms, fungi, and marine invertebrates. Despite this prevalence, the full extent of these viruses’ impact on the environment and their respective hosts remains incompletely understood. Furthermore, an increasing number of viruses within this category lack detailed characterization. This investigation focuses on unveiling and characterizing viruses affiliated with the Genomoviridae family identified in liver samples from the bat Molossus molossus. Leveraging viral metagenomics, we identified seven sequences (MmGmV-PA) featuring a circular DNA genome housing two ORFs encoding replication-associated protein (Rep) and capsid protein (Cap). Predictions based on conserved domains typical of the Genomoviridae family were established. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the segregation of these sequences into two clades aligning with the genera Gemycirculavirus (MmGmV-06-PA and MmGmV-07-PA) and Gemykibivirus (MmGmV-01-PA, MmGmV-02-PA, MmGmV-03-PA, MmGmV-05-PA, and MmGmV-09-PA). At the species level, pairwise comparisons based on complete nucleotide sequences indicated the potential existence of three novel species. In summary, our study significantly contributes to an enhanced understanding of the diversity of Genomoviridae within bat samples, shedding light on previously undiscovered viral entities and their potential ecological implications. Full article

A synoptic compendium of the legumes of the Mimosoideae clade in northeastern Mexico is presented for the first time, including changes in their botanical nomenclature and retypification of genera. Furthermore, based on new information recently published, the taxonomic limits of several new genera segregated from Acacia (Acaciella, Mariosousa, Senegalia, and Vachellia) and Prosopis (Neltuma and Strombocarpa) are clarified and included. Based on field work, collection of botanical samples over the past 30 years, and reviewing botanical materials in national and international herbaria, we have completed the diversity of legumes of the Mimosoideae clade of northeastern Mexico. Three tribes (Acacieae, Ingeae, and Mimosaeae), 22 genera, 92 species, and 19 infraspecific categories were recorded. Only the genus Painteria is endemic to Mexico. Eighty-eight species are native to Mexico, and four are exotic: Acacia salicina, Neptunia prostrata, Neltuma chilensis and Albizia lebbeck. Twenty-eight species are endemic to Mexico, nine species are endemic to northeastern Mexico, and four species are endemic to only one state in Mexico. The 22 registered genera represent 44% and 65% of the generic flora of the Mimosoideae clade for Mexico and the planet, respectively, while the 92 species registered represent 3% and 18% of the species of the clade Mimosoideae for the planet and Mexico, respectively. According to the new nomenclature of legumes, the number of genera in the Mimosoideae clade in northern Mexico has increased from 19 to 24. Full article

The floras on the highest mountains in tropical eastern Africa are among the most unique floras in the world. Despite the exceptionally high concentration of endemic species, these floras remain understudied from an evolutionary point of view. In this study, we focus on the Carduus-Cirsium group (subtribe Carduinae) to unravel the evolutionary relationships of the species endemic to the tropical Afromontane and Afroalpine floras, aiming to improve the systematics of the group. We applied the Hyb-Seq approach using the Compositae1061 probe set on 190 samples (159 species), encompassing representatives of all genera of Carduinae. We used two recently developed pipelines that enabled the processing of raw sequence reads, identification of paralogous sequences and segregation into orthologous alignments. After the implementation of a missing data filter, we retained sequences from 986 nuclear loci and 177 plastid regions. Phylogenomic analyses were conducted using both concatenated and summary-coalescence methods. The resulting phylogenies were highly resolved and revealed three distinct evolutionary lineages consisting of the African species traditionally referred to as Carduus and Cirsium. Consequently, we propose the three new genera Afrocarduus, Afrocirsium and Nuriaea; the latter did notably not belong to the Carduus-Cirsium group. We detected some incongruences between the phylogenies based on concatenation vs. coalescence and on nuclear vs. plastid datasets, likely attributable to incomplete lineage sorting and/or hybridization. Full article

This study hypothesized that geographic segregation of certain extreme natures of the same kind could be an indicator of access to new natural microbial resources. Root-layer fungi and soil properties native to well-conserved volcanic topographies from two geographically segregated ocean volcanic islands beside the Korean Peninsula were analyzed. Four segregated sampling sites that represented the ocean volcanoes’ unique natural characters (tuff layer, caldera, and two steep cliffs) were examined. A total of 1356 operational taxonomic units classified into 7 phyla and 196 genera were obtained. Soil analysis showed that the sand proportion varied from 32.0–57.4%, and silt, 39.4–64.8%. The tuff layer terrain was the only terrain classified as silt soil. Soil C_org contents ranged from 2.78–15.12%; TN, 0.159–0.843; salinity, 0.001–0.019; and pH, 5.0–7.4. The larger the island area, the less oceanic salinity inflow, but TN and C_org decreased, and pH increased. The Shannon diversity index varied from 4.81–5.23 and was higher at the larger or center of larger islands. As geographic segregation (distance) increased, the proportion of taxa commonly identified decreased. Thus, geographic isolation of certain natural features (e.g., volcanic islands) may be a preferential clue to accessing a broader range of potential microbial resources. Full article