Molecular tools, such as sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA Control Region (CR) and genotyping of highly variable nuclear microsatellites were applied to survey the genetic diversity, population structure and phylogeography of three shark species: the whale shark, Rhincodon typus; the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas; and the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. The highly migratory and pelagic whale shark exhibited the largest length variation yet reported for an elasmobranch CR (1143–1332 bp), and high haplotype (h = 0.974 ± 0.008) and nucleotide diversities(π = 0.011 ± 0.006). No geographical clustering of lineages was observed and the most common haplotype was distributed globally. The haplotype frequency, however, differed between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific populations(AMOVA, ΦST = 0.107, P < 0.001). For the bull shark, both mtDNA CR and five microsatellite loci were surveyed for animals from the Gulf of Mexico, the East coast of Florida and the Brazilian coast. Strong genetic structure was observed between theBrazilian and all northern populations for the CR (ΦST > 0.8, P < 0.001), but not for the nuclear microsatellite. The results here presented are congruent with restricted maternal gene flow between populations as a consequence of female nursery site fidelity. The philopatric tendencies as well as the relatively low levels of genetic diversity raises concerns about the conservation of this species. Finally, for the western Atlantic nurse sharks the genetic diversity estimated in a 1,166 bp fragment of the mtDNA comprising partial cytochrome b, tRNAPro, tRNAThr, and partial CR was the second smallest ever recorded for sharks (h = 0.45 ± 0.04; π = 0.0004 ± 0.0004). The data indicated moderate but significant genetic structure with the mtDNA marker (ΦST = 0.22, P<0.05) and no substantial structure in eight microsatellite loci analyzed. A population bottleneck as recent as the lower Pleistocene might have eroded the nurse shark genetic diversity and also contributed to its relatively lower population structure. The data also indicated that dispersal rather than vicariance better explains the Atlantic distribution of nurse shark, and that the Pacific nurse shark might be a cryptic sister species to Ginglymostoma cirratum.

I developed and tested a protocol for determining the sex of individual pinnipeds using the sex-chromosome specific genes ZFX and ZFY. I screened a total of 368 seals (168 crabeater, Lobodon carcinophagus; 159 Weddell, Leptonychotes weddellii; and 41 Ross, Ommatophoca rossii) of known or unknown sex and compared the molecular sex to the sex assigned at the time of collection in the Ross and Amundsen seas, Antarctica. Discrepancies ranged from 0.0% - 6.7% among species. It is unclear, however, if mis-assignment of sex occurred in situ or in the laboratory. It also is possible, however, that the assigned morphological and molecular sex both are correct, owing perhaps to developmental effects of environmental pollution. I sequenced a portion (ca 475 bp) of the mitochondrial control region of Weddell seals (N = 181); crabeater seals (N = 143); and Ross seals (N = 41). I resolved 251 haplotypes with a haplotype diversity of 0.98 to 0.99. Bayesian estimates of Θ from the program LAMARC ranged from 0.075 for Weddell seals to 0.576 for crabeater seals. I used the values of theta to estimate female effective population sizes (NEF), which were 40,700 to 63,000 for Weddell seals, 44,400 to 97,800 for Ross seals, and 358,500 to 531,900 for crabeater seals. Weddell seals and crabeater seals had significant, unimodal mean pairwise difference mismatch distributions (p = 0.56 and 0.36, respectively), suggesting that their populations expanded suddenly around 731,000 years ago (Weddell seals) and around 1.6 million years ago (crabeater seals). Both of these expansions occurred during times of intensified glaciations and may have been fostered by expanding pack ice habitat. Autosomal microsatellite based NEs were 147,850 for L. Weddellii, 344,950 for O. rossii, and 939,600 for L. carcinophagus. I screened one X-linked microsatellite (Lw18), which yielded a larger NE estimate for O. rossii than the other two species. Microsatellite NE estimates are compared with previously published mitochondrial NE estimates and this comparison indicates that the Ross seal may have a serially monogamous system of mating. I find no sign of a recent, sustained genetic bottleneck in any of the three species.

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) (hereinafter EGS) is under the Law on Nature Protection and is included as a critically endangered into the Red List of Endangered Species. In the Czech Republic, which represents the northwestern border of the species range, EGS currently occurs on 34 localities, which are relatively small and isolated from each other. The spread of this species to central Europe was connected with neolithic deforestation. Disjunctive type of distribution of EGS was caused by strong decline of its abundance during the second half of the 20th century due to changes in field management, fragmentation of landscape and other factors. It can be expected that this process left traces on the genetic structure of EGS populations. The major objective of this study was a detailed analysis of genetic variability of EGS populations in the Czech Republic and searching for corelations with available data about its biology and demography. It was used 13 microsatellite loci and in total were processed 408 samples from 27 localities in CZ and 3 samples from one Hungarian locality as an outgroup. With aid of various methods, details of substructure and diferentiation of individual populations, genetic variability, degree of inbreeding and geographic distribution of genetic variability...

The Arabidopsis arenosa species complex is closely related to the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. Distribution range of the diploid lineage covers most parts of Central and South-eastern Europe with a remarkable diversity of ecological niches from sea level to alpine peaks. There is still little known about genetic relationships among the diploid populations of A. arenosa. The evolutionary history of the diploid cytotype across its entire range was explored by using 14 nuclear microsatellite loci. Five lineages occupying biogeographically distinct regions were identified in Arabidopsis arenosa complex. These lineages were labelled as Western Carpathians, Eastern Carpathians, Pannonian Lowland, Dinaric Alps and Baltic Shore (according to geographical regions where these lineages occur). Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Primula elatior represents a promising model for addressing the role of phenotypic plasticity vs. genetic basis of traits in populations differentiated along altitudinal gradients. Phenotypic plasticity is mainly exhibited by the extensive variability of the leaves. Genetic structure of P. elatior populations has been poorly studied so far, the first insights suggested potentially large intraspecific genetic variation. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to reveal the genetic structure as well as morphological and cytological variation of P. elatior populations in the central Europe and compare those to another two intraspecific taxa from the southeastern Europe. Further, I selected three target mountain regions to address the role of altitudinal differentiation for structuring genetic diversity. Finally, I evaluated the status of the putative endemic species Primula elatior subsp. corcontica from the Krkonoše Mts. Microsatellite analyses, multivariate morphometrics and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate variation of P. elatior populations. I identified six major genetic groups by genotyping 12 nuclear microsatellite loci in the study area of central and southeastern Europe with the clear separation of subp. intricata. Focused on the central Europe, three well-defined genetic groups...

<p>A saugeye is the progeny of a female walleye (<i>Sander vitreus)</i> and male sauger (<i>Sander canadensis)</i>. In the United States, hybrid saugeyes are considered important for recreational fisheries and as a potential food source. Saugeyes grow exceptionally faster than their non-hybrid parents and are more tolerant of a broader range of water conditions. They are also of interest to anglers due to their increased growth rate and ease to catch. Rather unexpectedly, biologists have recently observed fish that they believe to be saugeye in the Fort Wayne Rivers even though only walleye have been stocked in the area. The fish in Hurshtown Reservoir are believed to be walleye and the identification of those in the Three Rivers is unknown. A potential source for saugeye in the Fort Wayne Rivers is St. Marys State Fish Hatchery in Ohio. This research aims to determine if the fish found in the Fort Wayne Rivers are walleye or saugeye using microsatellite analysis. Microsatellites at seven loci were genotyped for 20 reference walleye, sauger, and saugeye as well as 21 unknown fish caught near Fort Wayne. Of the fish caught near Fort Wayne, three are from Hurshtown Reservoir and 18 are from the Three Rivers. Assignment tests of genotypes were completed using model and non-model based cluster analysis. Genotypic variation clearly resolved the two parent species from their hybrid offspring. Sixteen of eighteen <i>Sander</i> (unknown species) caught in Fort Wayne Rivers between 2018 and 2019 were determined to be first generation saugeye. The other two were walleye found in the Maumee River downstream of Hosey Dam. The three <i>Sander</i> caught in Hurshtown Reservoir were verified to be walleye. Sauger have never been stocked in the Fort Wayne Rivers and connecting waterways. Therefore, it is not likely that the saugeye found in the analysis are from natural reproduction. It is speculated that saugeye are swimming to Fort Wayne from hatcheries within the Maumee watershed. There are many potential sources for walleye in the Fort Wayne Rivers. </p>

The world faces severe challenges in providing food security for a growing world population during climate change. This puts pressure on modern agriculture, including adapting crops to new environments and cultivation on less acreage. The tools for adapting crops exist within a species' genetic diversity.  Crop wild relatives (CWR) are wild taxa with a close genetic relationship to our crops. CWRs contain a breadth of genetic adaption for various habitats due to their wide geographical distribution. This invaluable diversity of genes is essential for improving breeding of crops and therefore needs to be sustainably conserved in situ to prevent the loss of the future crop adaptation.  Fragaria vesca appears on the list of priority CWRs for conservation within the Nordic region.  To create an efficient conservation strategy for F. vesca, knowledge about the genetic differences between populations within the Nordic region must be obtained. Therefore, this study aimed to optimise PCR protocol for 10 microsatellite primers in F. vasca. The annealing temperature was successfully optimised for all 10 primer pairs. Two of the primer pairs revealed intra-specific diversity. The study also found support for the earlier discovered genetic divergence between Icelandic and other European populations.

A growing world population means an increase in crop demand. At the same time climate change threatens food security as crops may become maladapted to a new environment. We need to adapt crops to increase crop yield and become resistant to a changed environment to meet this. Crop wild relatives (CWR), which have a genetic relatedness with our crops, will be of importance as a genetic resource for crop adaption and needs to be protected. Vaccinium myrtillus is one of the prioritized species on the Nordic countries CWR priority list. Here I report PCR protocols that can be used for amplifying microsatellites, or SSRs, within V. myrtillus for use in analyses of genetic diversity within and between populations. PCRs with varying annealing temperatures (Ta) were performed. An optimal Ta for the primer pair was found for four SSR loci, and for four SSR loci, an approved Ta was found. These eight primer pairs can be used to amplify SSRs for analyses of the genetic diversity between V. myrtillus populations. This is needed to evaluate which populations to focus on in conservation programmes to ensure a broad genetic diversity usable in crop adaptation to meet increasing crop demand and climate change.

The aim of this project was to study the population genetics of Echinostoma trivolvis, a parasitic trematode that uses multiple hosts in its lifecycle and has a significant impact on amphibian populations. Microsatellite markers were to be identified and isolated because of their highly variable nature and reported ease of use with PCR. Parasite DNA was extracted from planorbid snails from several locations within California including: Point Reyes National Seashore, Lake Tahoe, and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, parasite samples were obtained from Manitoba, Canada. Several microsatellites were identified and 29 PCR primers sets were designed, six of which were capable of amplifying consistently. Sequencing other published molecular markers, COl, NDl, and ITS, unveiled intriguing phylogenetic relationships and potential cryptic species. The echinostome population in central California, as a result of this project, may be much more diverse than has long been reported in the literature.

No description available.