Rapid miocene-pliocene dispersal and evolution of Mediterranean rajid fauna as inferred by mitochondrial gene variation.

Rajidae (colloquially known as skates and rays) experienced multiple and parallel adaptive radiations allowing high species diversity and great differences of species composition between regional faunas. Nevertheless, they show considerable conservation of bio-ecological, morphological and reproductive traits. The evolutionary history and dispersal of North-east Atlantic and Mediterranean rajid fauna were investigated throughout the sequence analysis of the control region and 16S rDNA mitochondrial genes. Molecular estimates of divergence times indicated recent origin and rapid dispersal of the present species. Compared with the ancient origin of the family (Late Cretaceous), the present species diversity arose in a relatively narrow time-window (12 Myr) from Middle Miocene to Early Pleistocene, likely by speciation processes related to dramatic geological and climatic events in the Mediterranean. Nucleotide substitution rates and phylogenetic relationships indicated Mediterranean endemic skates derived from sister species with wider distribution during Late Pliocene-Pleistocene. Skate phylogeny and systematics obtained using mitochondrial gene variation were largely consistent with those based on morpho-anatomical data.

Studies on the intestine of Daphnidae (Crustacea, Cladocera) ultrastructure of the midgut of Daphnia magna and Daphnia obtusa.

The fine structure of midgut cells in two species of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) has unique features when it is compared to that in the midguts of other arthropods. Features which suggest that food is absorbed in digested form are: the presence of the peritrophic membrane, the glycocalyx, the almost complete absence of pinocytotic vesicles, and the large surface area of a great number of microvilli. Digested products presumably pass into the hemolymph through the network of extracellular canals and cisterns surrounding the basal ends of intestinal epithelial cells. Cells of the midgut in Cladocera differ from those of other arthropods in the simplicity of their basal plasma membranes, which are not highly folded. The small number of membrane invaginations suggests that water reabsorption is very slight, as is the usual condition in aquatic animals. The origin and evolution of peculiar structures we call "multivesicular-like bodies" have been investigated. These display a variety of different morphological features. Some contain acid phosphatase activity and are considered as specialized lysosomes.