Author Correction: Genomic evidence of recent hybridization between sea turtles at Abrolhos Archipelago and its association to low reproductive output.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Genomic evidence of recent hybridization between sea turtles at Abrolhos Archipelago and its association to low reproductive output.

Hybridization between sea turtle species occurs with particularly high frequency at two adjacent nesting areas in northeastern Brazil. To understand the outcomes of hybridization and their consequences for sea turtle conservation, we need to evaluate the extent of hybridization occurrence and possible deleterious effects in the hybrid progeny. Thus, we investigated the hypothesis of the existence of a new hybrid spot offshore of Brazil's northeastern coast. The Abrolhos Archipelago is surrounded by the largest and richest coral reefs in the South Atlantic and is known to be a nesting site for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). In this study, we performed a multidisciplinary investigation into levels of hybridization in sea turtles and their reproductive output in the Abrolhos beaches. Genetic data from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and six autosomal markers showed that there are first-generation hybrid females nesting in Abrolhos, resulting from crossings between hawksbill males (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerhead females, and backcrossed hatchlings from both parental species. The type and extent of hybridization were characterized using genomic data obtained with the 3RAD method, which confirmed backcrossing between F1 hybrids and loggerhead turtles. The reproductive output data of Abrolhos nests suggests a disadvantage of hybrids when compared to loggerheads. For the first time, we have shown the association between hybridization and low reproductive success, which may represent a threat to sea turtle conservation.

A hybrid-hierarchical genome assembly strategy to sequence the invasive golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei.

Background: For more than 25 years, the golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei, has aggressively invaded South American freshwaters, having travelled more than 5000 km upstream across 5 countries. Along the way, the golden mussel has outcompeted native species and economically harmed aquaculture, hydroelectric powers, and ship transit. We have sequenced the complete genome of the golden mussel to understand the molecular basis of its invasiveness and search for ways to control it. Findings: We assembled the 1.6-Gb genome into 20 548 scaffolds with an N50 length of 312 Kb using a hybrid and hierarchical assembly strategy from short and long DNA reads and transcriptomes. A total of 60 717 coding genes were inferred from a customized transcriptome-trained AUGUSTUS run. We also compared predicted protein sets with those of complete molluscan genomes, revealing an exacerbation of protein-binding domains in L. fortunei. Conclusions: We built one of the best bivalve genome assemblies available using a cost-effective approach using Illumina paired-end, mate-paired, and PacBio long reads. We expect that the continuous and careful annotation of L. fortunei's genome will contribute to the investigation of bivalve genetics, evolution, and invasiveness, as well as to the development of biotechnological tools for aquatic pest control.

Cyanobacterial diversity in the hot spring, pelagic and benthic habitats of a tropical soda lake.

Hot springs and saline-alkaline lakes of East Africa are extreme habitats regarding temperature, or salinity and pH, respectively. This study examines whether divergent habitats of Lake Bogoria, Kenya, impacts cyanobacterial community structure. Samples from the hot springs, pelagic zone and sediment were analysed by light microscopy, multilocus 454-amplicons sequencing and metagenomics to compare the cyanobacterial diversity. Most of the phylogenetic lineages of Cyanobacteria occurred exclusively in the Bogoria hot springs suggesting a high degree of endemism. The prevalent phylotypes were mainly members of the Oscillatoriales (Leptolyngbya, Spirulina, Oscillatoria-like and Planktothricoides). The Chroococcales were represented by different clades of Synechococcus but not a single phylotype clustered with any of the lineages described earlier from different continents. In contrast, we found that the pelagic zone and the sediments were inhabited by only a few taxa, dominated by Arthrospira and Anabaenopsis. Arthrospira, the main food base of Lesser Flamingo, was detected in all three habitats by amplicons pyrosequencing, indicating its resilience and key role as a primary producer. Despite the close connection between the three habitats studied, the cyanobacterial communities in the hot springs and lake differed considerably, suggesting that they are unable to adapt to the extreme conditions of the neighbouring habitat.

Evolução molecular e genética de populações do gene period e análise multilocus da introgressão em flebotomíneos neotropicais (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) / Molecular and genetic evolution of populations of the gene period and multilocus analysis of the introgression in neotropical phlebotomine (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae)

Flebotomíneos(Diptera: Psychodidae)são os únicos insetos incriminados como vetores das leishmanioses no mundo. Nesta tese, o gene period, envolvido no funcionamento do relógio biológico, foi utilizado como marcador em estudos de evolução molecular e genética de populações em flebotomíneos neotropicais.Uma análise multilocus também foi realizada para investigar a ocorrência de introgressão. Na análise da evolução molecular de period...As diferenças nestas taxas foram maiores nas seqüências que flanqueiam a região repetitiva treonina-glicina,uma região que se expandiu em Drosophila mas que permaneceu estável e curta em flebotomíneos...Foi realizada uma análise filogenética...Os resultados mostraram que apenas o subgênero Nyssomyia é bem suportado pelas análises de distância e máxima parcimônia.O agrupamento das espécies pertencentes ao subgênero Lutzomyia e ao grupo Migonei mostram valores muito baixos de bootstrap e não são inteiramente consistentes com a sistemática morfológica clássica do gênero Lutzomyia.Lutzomyia intermedia e Lutzomyia whitmani são vetores importantes da leishmaniose tegumentar no Brasil e espécies muito próximas, sendo distinguíveis apenas por pequenas diferenças morfológicas.A análise da variação molecular no gene period dessas espécies foi realizada em cinco localidades do sudeste do Brasil...As duas espécies não apresentaram diferenças fixas no fragmento estudado, e ainda mostraram um alto número de polimorfismos compartilhados comparado com polimorfismos exclusivos.Além disso, alguns haplótipos “típicos” de uma espécie foram encontrados em indivíduos da outra, sugerindo a persistência de polimorfismos antigos ou a ocorrência de introgressão. Dois testes de fluxo gênico, um baseado em desequilíbrio de ligação e uma análise do tipo MCMC baseada em coalescência, sugerem que as duas espécies podem estar trocando alelos neste locus.Essas evidências levaram ao desenvolvimento de um estudo multilocus para uma análise mais aprofundada...