Search results for "Branch"
showing 10 items of 1278 documents
Squamation and ecology of thelodonts
2017
Thelodonts are an enigmatic group of Paleozoic jawless vertebrates that have been well studied from taxonomical, biostratigraphic and paleogeographic points of view, although our knowledge of their ecology and mode of life is still scant. Their bodies were covered by micrometric scales whose morphology, histology and the developmental process are extremely similar to those of extant sharks. Based on these similarities and on the well-recognized relationship between squamation and ecology in sharks, here we explore the ecological diversity and lifestyles of thelodonts. For this we use classic morphometrics and discriminant analysis to characterize the squamation patterns of a significant num…
The role of spatial environmental factors as determinants of large branchiopod distribution in Tunisian temporary ponds
2016
The influence of spatial and environmental factors in explaining the structure of large branchiopod assemblages at different spatial scales is still poorly explored. We hypothesized that the extent of actual spatial connectivity, and thus the spatial distribution of a metacommunity, may depend on the environmental conditions as represented by climatic gradients and the structural characteristics of the landscape. To test this hypothesis, the distributional patterns of 14 large branchiopod species in a set of 177 temporary water bodies repeatedly sampled across Tunisia and on its main islands were analysed. Physical, chemical, morphological and climatic characteristics of the studied water b…
Bot gummosis of lemon (Citrus × limon) caused by neofusicoccum parvum
2021
Neofusicoccum parvum, in the family Botryosphaeriaceae, was identified as the causal agent of bot gummosis of lemon (Citrus × limon) trees, in the two major lemon-producing regions in Italy. Gummy cankers on trunk and scaffold branches of mature trees were the most typical disease symptoms. Neofusicoccum parvum was the sole fungus constantly and consistently isolated from the canker bark of symptomatic lemon trees. It was identified on the basis of morphological characters and the phylogenetic analysis of three loci, i.e., the internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) as well as the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) and β-tubulin (TUB2) genes. The pathogenicity o…
Bioluminescent-like squamation in the galeomorph shark Apristurus ampliceps (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)
2018
Galeomorph sharks constitute the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse superorder of living selachians. Despite comprising several typically deep-water taxa, no bioluminescent species have been reported in this group so far. Interestingly, the study of shark squamation has been revealed in recent years to be a good proxy for inferring some ecological aspects of poorly known species. In particular, the high morphological specificity of the dermal denticles and the squamation patterns of all currently-known bioluminescent sharks could constitute a potential tool for predicting bioluminescence in both fossil and living taxa. Following this idea, we provide the first evidence supporting t…
First evidence of underwater sounds emitted by the living fossils Lepidurus lubbocki and Triops cancriformis (Branchiopoda: Notostraca)
2021
Sound is the most effective means of communication in marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, no data about acoustic emissions from non-malacostracan crustaceans are currently available, so their ability to produce sounds is unknown. For the first time, this study investigated the sound produced by 2 tadpole shrimp species,Triops cancriformisandLepidurus lubbocki.L. lubbockiindividuals were collected from a natural temporary pond in Sicily (Italy), whereasT. cancriformisindividuals were obtained from eggs contained in sediment from a rock pool in Sardinia (Italy). In the laboratory, experimental tanks with the animals (one species at a time) were acoustically monitored. Both species prod…
Updated checklist and distribution of large branchiopods (Branchiopoda: Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata) in Tunisia
2016
Temporary ponds are the most peculiar and representative water bodies in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, where they often represent diversity hotspots that greatly contribute to the regional biodiversity. Being indissolubly linked to these ecosystems, the so-called “large branchiopods” are unanimously considered flagship taxa of these habitats. Nonetheless, updated and detailed information on large branchiopod faunas is still missing in many countries or regions. Based on an extensive bibliographical review and field samplings, we provide an updated and commented checklist of large branchiopods in Tunisia, one of the less investigated countries of the Maghreb as far as inland w…
New challenges in anostracan research: old issues, new perspectives and hot topics
2017
We present a summary of responses to our call among scientists working on Anostraca to commemorate the late Professor Graziella Mura, a pioneer of modern studies on this group of animals. Colleagues from all over the world promptly answered and contributed their works among which we selected the fourteen papers published in the Hydrobiologia Special Volume âNew Challenges in anostracan research: a tribute to Graziella Muraâ. Although Anostraca are widespread globally, they are among the least known taxonomic groups. Although some biogeographical data are available for some species and higher taxa, we are still far from a clear understanding of the phylogeny, ecology and biogeography of …
Chirocephalus sarpedonis sp. nov. (Branchiopoda, Anostraca, Chirocephalidae) from Turkey questions the monophyly of the traditional Chirocephalus spe…
2017
Chirocephalus sarpedonis sp. nov. (Anostraca, Chirocephalidae), collected in a temporary pond in Lycia (Turkey), is described and its affinities with the other species of the genus are investigated based on both morphology and mtDNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. Male and female morphology suggests its major affinity with the species belonging to the bairdi-group although the morphological peculiarities of the species make it difficult to ascribe C. sarpedonis sp. nov. to any of the Chirocephalus species-groups which are currently used in the systematics of the genus. Furthermore, molecular analyses based on the comparison with available Chirocephalus spp. COI sequences fail …
Epizooic ciliates (Vorticella sp.) compete for food with their host Daphnia longispina in a small polyhumic lake.
1987
Clearance rates of epizooic ciliates (Vorticella sp.) were measured together with their host, a planktonic cladoceran Daphnia longispina by using fluorescent latex beads as tracers of food. Vorticellans and their host graze on food of same size range (nanoplanktonic algae and bacteria). Individual clearance rates of Vorticella averaged 6.9 and 7.0 μl ind-1 h-1 and those of Daphnia 463 and 708 μl ind-1 h-1 for beads with diameter 2.00 and 3.92 μm. On the average, epizooic vorticellans together on the carapace of Daphnia cleared particles with rates representing 25–33% of that the host cleared, the maximum rates being 50–80%. In a steeply stratified polyhumic lake vorticellans take advantage …
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and root system functioning.
2013
International audience; The rhizosphere supports the development and activity of a huge and diversified microbial community, including microorganisms capable to promote plant growth. Among the latter, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) colonize roots of monocots and dicots, and enhance plant growth by direct and indirect mechanisms. Modification of root system architecture by PGPR implicates the production of phytohormones and other signals that lead, mostly, to enhanced lateral root branching and development of root hairs. PGPR also modify root functioning, improve plant nutrition and influence the physiology of the whole plant. Recent results provided first clues as to how PGPR s…