Phylogenetic position of Trichomycterus astromycterus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae), an enigmatic trichomycterid from eastern Brazil, inferred from molecular data.

Recently in this journal, a new trichomycterine from eastern Brazil, Trichomycterus astromycterus, was described and considered possibly related to the Chilean Bullockia maldonadoi due to morphological similarities. Subsequently, osteological data supported T. astromycterus in the subgenus Psammocambeva of Trichomycterus, from eastern Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses, performed here, using a multigene data set for a broad trichomycterine sample, corroborate T. astromycterus as a member of Psammocambeva, reinforcing the importance of molecular data for inferring trichomycterine relationships but showing that osteological data alone may infer correctly phylogenetic placements when using broad comparative databases.

Updated checklist and DNA barcode-based species delimitations reveal taxonomic uncertainties among freshwater fishes from the mid-north-eastern Caatinga ecoregion, north-eastern Brazil.

The mid-north-eastern Caatinga is a semiarid freshwater ecoregion in North-eastern Brazil that is dominated by temporary rivers and is currently classified as one of the least ichthyologically-known ecoregions in the world. The present study aimed to provide an updated checklist of mid-north-eastern Caatinga ecoregion (MNCE) freshwater fish species and evaluate their taxonomic identity using morphology, DNA barcoding and multiple species delimitation approaches. After reviewing published studies and ichthyological collections, 119 species were identified. Among these were 94 putatively valid native and 14 non-native species, five undescribed native species, four new records for the MNCE, 11 potential cases of misidentification and 14 species listed as inquirenda. Additionally, 252 individuals from 49 species were barcoded, revealing three potential taxonomic synonyms. The combined molecular approaches estimated a total of 91 native species, although a finalized species list for the MNCE awaits additional taxonomic revisions and field surveys. This study provides the most up-to-date species checklist for the MNCE and a molecular reference database for identifying MNCE fishes with DNA barcodes. Results highlight the need to integrate traditional taxonomy with molecular approaches to correctly identify species, especially in taxonomically problematic ecoregions such as the MNCE.

Integrative taxonomy of anisakid nematodes in stranded cetaceans from Brazilian waters: an update on parasite's hosts and geographical records.

Anisakidae are represented mainly by species of Anisakis Dujardin, 1845, Pseudoterranova Krabbe, 1878, and Contracaecum Railliet and Henry, 1913. Integrative taxonomy, based on morphological and genetic approaches, can provide a precise identification of species, increasing the knowledge of their systematics, biology, and evolution. In this study, integrative taxonomy was applied in order to identify, at generic and/or specific taxonomic level, 245 anisakids from 63 cetaceans of 12 different species, which stranded in the Brazilian coast. Parasites from nine hosts were preserved by freezing and, from 54 hosts, were fixed in 70% ethanol (n = 43) or alcohol-formalin-acetic (n = 11) for a period varying from 6 to 19 years. The morphological analysis allowed the identification of 171 specimens at genus level: 120 as Anisakis sp. clade I, 47 as Anisakis sp. clade II, and four as Pseudoterranova sp. From those 15, specimens were identified at species level, seven as Anisakis typica, seven as Anisakis paggiae and one as Anisakis brevispiculata. Moreover, 74 specimens were identified as belonging to Anisakidae family. The genetic analysis based on cox2 gene allowed the identification/confirmation of Anisakis typica (n = 33), Anisakis paggiae (n = 1), and for the first time in the Brazilian coast, Anisakis brevispiculata (n = 4) and Anisakis ziphidarum (n = 1). Additionally, a probably new Anisakis species, genetically close to A. paggiae, is reported infecting a dwarf sperm whale. The results clearly indicated that the preservation of nematodes influenced significantly on the level of taxonomic definition, in both morphological and, mainly, genetic analyses. Pseudoterranova sp. was identified for the first time in the spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris. The detection of nine A. paggiae specimens, in three Kogia breviceps animals, substantiates the austral occurrence of this species. The identification of A. brevispiculata in Kogia sima and K. breviceps confirms Kogiidae whales as their most common hosts. Anisakis typica was corroborated as a generalist species, the most widely distributed in the Brazilian coast, infecting a broad variety of Delphinidae and Kogiidae, with two new geographical records in Stenella frontalis and Lagenodelphis hosei. The study showed a new scenery of parasite diversity of marine anisakids, updating the Anisakis species distribution.

Molecular identification of Trichogramma species from regions in Brazil using the sequencing of the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA / Identificação molecular de espécies de Trichogramma de regiões do Brasil utilizando o sequenciamento da região ITS2 do DNA ribossomal

The objective of this work was the identification and differentiation of Trichogramma exiguum Pinto and Platner species, T. pretiosum Riley, and T. galloi Zucchi using sequences of the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA. After extracting DNA from the studied species, a PCR reaction was performed, where the amplified samples were subjected to sequencing. The sequences obtained were submitted to a similarity search in GenBank (NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information) using the BLAST program, aiming to determine the similarity of these sequences with the species already deposited in the referenced database, and then multiple sequences were aligned using version 2.0 of the ClustalX program. According to the results of the multiple alignments of all sequences obtained, it was possible to observe the differences between the T. pretiosum, T. galloi and T. exiguum species. It was concluded that using the sequences of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA was efficient in the differentiation of the studied Trichogramma species, which suggests a strong inter-specific variation among species.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a identificação e diferenciação das espécies Trichogramma exiguum Pinto e Platner, T. pretiosum Riley e T. galloi Zucchi utilizando o sequenciamento da região ITS2 do DNA ribossomal. Após a extração do DNA das espécies estudadas, foi realizada a reação de PCR, onde as amostras amplificadas foram submetidas ao sequenciamento. As sequências obtidas foram submetidas à busca por similaridade no GenBank (NCBI National Center for Biotechnology Information) por meio do programa BLAST visando-se determinar a similaridade destas com sequências das espécies já depositadas no referido banco de dados e em seguida foi feito o alinhamento múltiplo das sequências com o auxílio do programa CLUSTALX, versão 2.0. De acordo com os resultados do alinhamento múltiplo de todas as sequências obtidas, foi possível verificar as diferenças entre as espécies de T.pretiosum, T. galloi e T. exiguum. Isto permitiu concluir que a utilização do sequenciamento da região ITS2 do DNA ribossomal foi eficiente na diferenciação das espécies de Trichogramma estudadas, o que sugere uma forte variação inter-específica entre as espécies.(AU)

Molecular identification of Trichogramma species from regions in Brazil using the sequencing of the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA / Identificação molecular de espécies de Trichogramma de regiões do Brasil utilizando o sequenciamento da região ITS2 do DNA ribossomal

The objective of this work was the identification and differentiation of Trichogramma exiguum Pinto and Platner species, T. pretiosum Riley, and T. galloi Zucchi using sequences of the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA. After extracting DNA from the studied species, a PCR reaction was performed, where the amplified samples were subjected to sequencing. The sequences obtained were submitted to a similarity search in GenBank (NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information) using the BLAST program, aiming to determine the similarity of these sequences with the species already deposited in the referenced database, and then multiple sequences were aligned using version 2.0 of the ClustalX program. According to the results of the multiple alignments of all sequences obtained, it was possible to observe the differences between the T. pretiosum, T. galloi and T. exiguum species. It was concluded that using the sequences of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA was efficient in the differentiation of the studied Trichogramma species, which suggests a strong inter-specific variation among species.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a identificação e diferenciação das espécies Trichogramma exiguum Pinto e Platner, T. pretiosum Riley e T. galloi Zucchi utilizando o sequenciamento da região ITS2 do DNA ribossomal. Após a extração do DNA das espécies estudadas, foi realizada a reação de PCR, onde as amostras amplificadas foram submetidas ao sequenciamento. As sequências obtidas foram submetidas à busca por similaridade no GenBank (NCBI – National Center for Biotechnology Information) por meio do programa BLAST visando-se determinar a similaridade destas com sequências das espécies já depositadas no referido banco de dados e em seguida foi feito o alinhamento múltiplo das sequências com o auxílio do programa CLUSTALX, versão 2.0. De acordo com os resultados do alinhamento múltiplo de todas as sequências obtidas, foi possível verificar as diferenças entre as espécies de T.pretiosum, T. galloi e T. exiguum. Isto permitiu concluir que a utilização do sequenciamento da região ITS2 do DNA ribossomal foi eficiente na diferenciação das espécies de Trichogramma estudadas, o que sugere uma forte variação inter-específica entre as espécies.

Molecular evidence for the polyphyly of Bostryx (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae) and genetic diversity of Bostryx aguilari

Bostryx is largely distributed in Andean Valleys and Lomas formations along the coast of Peru and Chile. One species, Bostryx aguilari, is restricted to Lomas formations located in the Department of Lima (Peru). The use of genetic information has become essential in phylogenetic and population studies with conservation purposes. Considering the rapid degradation of desert ecosystems, which threatens the survival of vulnerable species, the aim of this study was, first, to resolve evolutionary relationships within Bostryx and to determine the position of Bostryx within the Bulimulidae, and second, to survey the genetic diversity of Bostryx aguilari, a species considered rare. Sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear rRNA regions were obtained for 12 and 11 species of Bulimulidae, respectively, including seven species of Bostryx. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were obtained for 14 individuals (from four different populations) of Bostryx aguilari. Phylogenetic reconstructions were carried out using Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. The monophyly of Bostryx was not supported. In our results, B. solutus (type species of Bostryx) grouped only with B. aguilari, B. conspersus, B. modestus, B. scalariformis and B. sordidus, forming a monophyletic group that is strongly supported in all analyses. In case the taxonomy of Bostryx is reviewed in the future, this group should keep the generic name. Bostryx aguilari was found to have both low genetic diversity and small population size. We recommend that conservation efforts should be increased in Lomas ecosystems to ensure the survival of B. aguilari, and a large number of other rare species restricted to Lomas.

Molecular evidence for the polyphyly of Bostryx (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae) and genetic diversity of Bostryx aguilari

Bostryx is largely distributed in Andean Valleys and Lomas formations along the coast of Peru and Chile. One species, Bostryx aguilari, is restricted to Lomas formations located in the Department of Lima (Peru). The use of genetic information has become essential in phylogenetic and population studies with conservation purposes. Considering the rapid degradation of desert ecosystems, which threatens the survival of vulnerable species, the aim of this study was, first, to resolve evolutionary relationships within Bostryx and to determine the position of Bostryx within the Bulimulidae, and second, to survey the genetic diversity of Bostryx aguilari, a species considered rare. Sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear rRNA regions were obtained for 12 and 11 species of Bulimulidae, respectively, including seven species of Bostryx. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were obtained for 14 individuals (from four different populations) of Bostryx aguilari. Phylogenetic reconstructions were carried out using Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. The monophyly of Bostryx was not supported. In our results, B. solutus (type species of Bostryx) grouped only with B. aguilari, B. conspersus, B. modestus, B. scalariformis and B. sordidus, forming a monophyletic group that is strongly supported in all analyses. In case the taxonomy of Bostryx is reviewed in the future, this group should keep the generic name. Bostryx aguilari was found to have both low genetic diversity and small population size. We recommend that conservation efforts should be increased in Lomas ecosystems to ensure the survival of B. aguilari, and a large number of other rare species restricted to Lomas.(AU)

Molecular evidence for the polyphyly of Bostryx (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae) and genetic diversity of Bostryx aguilari

Bostryx is largely distributed in Andean Valleys and Lomas formations along the coast of Peru and Chile. One species, Bostryx aguilari, is restricted to Lomas formations located in the Department of Lima (Peru). The use of genetic information has become essential in phylogenetic and population studies with conservation purposes. Considering the rapid degradation of desert ecosystems, which threatens the survival of vulnerable species, the aim of this study was, first, to resolve evolutionary relationships within Bostryx and to determine the position of Bostryx within the Bulimulidae, and second, to survey the genetic diversity of Bostryx aguilari, a species considered rare. Sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear rRNA regions were obtained for 12 and 11 species of Bulimulidae, respectively, including seven species of Bostryx. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were obtained for 14 individuals (from four different populations) of Bostryx aguilari. Phylogenetic reconstructions were carried out using Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. The monophyly of Bostryx was not supported. In our results, B. solutus (type species of Bostryx) grouped only with B. aguilari, B. conspersus, B. modestus, B. scalariformis and B. sordidus, forming a monophyletic group that is strongly supported in all analyses. In case the taxonomy of Bostryx is reviewed in the future, this group should keep the generic name. Bostryx aguilari was found to have both low genetic diversity and small population size. We recommend that conservation efforts should be increased in Lomas ecosystems to ensure the survival of B. aguilari, and a large number of other rare species restricted to Lomas.