Within the framework of research concerning the application of techniques alternative to chemical pesticides for control of parasites, the C.R.A. Experimental Institute for Olive Growing for many years has been performing a large investigation in order to detect sources of genetic resistance in olive germplasm. In the present study we observed the behavior related to the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) infestation and Camarosporium dalmaticum infection of ten olive cultivars farmed under the same agronomic and climatic conditions in Calabria, Southern Italy. The sampling and the data collecting were carried out in three different ripening times.The drupe amount of oleuropein and cyanidine was detected by laboratory analyses in order to verify a possible correlation between these molecules and the level of infestation/infection of the above-mentioned parasites. The obtained data were submitted to analysis of variance. In relation to the fungal infection the results displayed that cvs Tonda nera dolce showed the lowest susceptibility, while the cv Giarraffa turned out to be the most susceptible. The less susceptible cultivars to the phytophagous were Tonda nera dolce and Bhardi Tirana. Since the less susceptible cultivar to olive fly attacks are the same observed in relation to the susceptibility to olive fruit rot, it is suggested a relation between the olive fly infestation and the fungal infection. It suggests the utility to achieve these results both to transfer directly to the farmers' world and to emphasize ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. 相似文献
Environmental change challenges local and global survival of populations and species. In a species-poor environment like the
Baltic Sea this is particularly critical as major ecosystem functions may be upheld by single species. A complex interplay
between demographic and genetic characteristics of species and populations determines risks of local extinction, chances of
re-establishment of lost populations, and tolerance to environmental changes by evolution of new adaptations. Recent studies
show that Baltic populations of dominant marine species are locally adapted, have lost genetic variation and are relatively
isolated. In addition, some have evolved unusually high degrees of clonality and others are representatives of endemic (unique)
evolutionary lineages. We here suggest that a consequence of local adaptation, isolation and genetic endemism is an increased
risk of failure in restoring extinct Baltic populations. Additionally, restricted availability of genetic variation owing
to lost variation and isolation may negatively impact the potential for evolutionary rescue following environmental change. 相似文献
The genetic composition and diversity of Plantago lanceolata L. populations were analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) as well as simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to test for differences in an old semi-natural grassland after five years of treatment with ambient or elevated ozone (O3) using a free-air fumigation system. Genetic diversity in populations exposed to elevated O3 was slightly higher than in populations sampled from control plots. This effect was significant for AFLP-based measures of diversity and for SSR markers based on observed heterozygosity. Also, a small but significant difference in genetic composition between O3 treatments was detected by analysis of molecular variance and redundancy analysis. The results show that micro-evolutionary processes could take place in response to long-term elevated O3 exposure in highly diverse populations of outbreeding plant species. 相似文献
While toxicological data are available for numerous chemicals from standard tests, little is known on effects of pollutants over several generations or regarding chronic effects of chemicals on genetic diversity. Within the experiments, effects of the model pollutant tributyltin (TBT) were investigated over eleven generations at a sublethal TBT concentration of 4.46 μg as Sn kg−1 sediment dw on life-cycle parameters and genetic variability of Chironomus riparius. Moreover, the adaptation potential towards TBT was determined. This experimental design enables the identification of TBT effects on life-cycle parameters and the determination of a potential extinction risk caused by chronic exposure. Furthermore, effects on the genetic structure can be determined, which are not predictable based solely on knowledge of the toxic mode of action of the chemical.
Genetic variety was determined via microsatellite analysis, measuring individual length differences of highly variable satellite DNA fragments. For the identification of changes in tolerances towards the stressor, acute and chronic toxicity experiments were conducted.
During the multi-generation study, significant effects on development and reproduction were determined. For some generations, the emergence was significantly (p < 0.05) delayed under TBT exposure. Reproduction seems to be a sensitive parameter as well, whereby females laid significantly larger egg masses (p < 0.05) in the latter generations. TBT did not affect the population growth rate nor the genetic variability, while clear deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium appeared. The study also provides strong evidence for the acquirement of a higher tolerance towards the stressor in the TBT-exposed group. 相似文献
Conserving genetic diversity requires an assessment of the distribution of genetic variants in relation to patterns of land
use and environmental variation at a regional scale. This assessment requires a novel approach to integrating and analyzing
the genetic and environmental data across spatial scales. To explore the integration of genetic data with other geospatial
data sets, we developed a GIS-based approach for examining patterns of genetic diversity for several species of salamanders
in southern Appalachians. The genetic data, from allozyme surveys in the genetics literature, were integrated into a GIS database
along with related attributes including population identifications and spatial locations. Using existing geospatial data,
we classified sample locations as being either protected from anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., National Parks, Wilderness
Areas) or as unprotected (e.g., private lands, multiple-use lands in National Forests). We used multidimensional scaling of
allelic frequencies and contributions of populations to interpopulation differences in allelic richness to determine which
populations had genetic characteristics most different from other populations in the sample. Measures of genetic differentiation
were integrated into the GIS database to facilitate spatial analysis and visualization of the indices in relation to land
use. This approach was useful for both identification of populations with components of genetic variation that were not well
represented at protected sites and for identifying areas of species distributions where more genetic sampling would be necessary
to make informed management decisions. Our approach could be readily adapted for use by managers and geneticists working with
other species and types of genetic markers. 相似文献
Carotenoid-based ornaments act as signals of quality in many animal species. In contrast to feathers, which are relatively
stable structures, carotenoid-pigmented integuments (e.g. bills, lores, tarsi) can change colour rapidly and may better reflect
changes in physiological condition. I studied the seasonal variations in plasma carotenoids in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) kept on a constant diet and free of intestinal parasites. Furthermore, I analyzed whether seasonal changes in circulating
carotenoids were mirrored by the carotenoid-based coloration of eye rings and bill of this species. Plasma carotenoids showed
seasonal variation, with higher levels coinciding with the end of the mating and the start of the laying season. Eye ring
pigmentation was related to plasma carotenoid levels, and changes in bill hue (but not changes in UV or red bill chroma) mirrored
the variation in plasma carotenoids during the breeding season. Despite the seasonal variation, individual differences in
eye ring pigmentation and bill hue, UV and red chroma were consistent throughout the breeding season. Similarly, individual
differences in eye ring pigmentation and bill hue and red chroma remained consistent between consecutive years. These results
suggest that carotenoid based integumentary colorations act as dynamic traits that accurately reflect the carotenoid-status
of individuals, thus reliably indicating consistent differences in individual quality. Furthermore, variability in signal
expression appears to have a relevant genetic/phenotypic basis independently of environmental conditions.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. 相似文献
Establishment of new groups is an important step in the life history of a social species. Fissioning is a common mode not
only in group proliferation, for instance, as a regular part of the life cycle in the honey bee, but also when multiple females
reproduce in the same group, as in multiple-queen ant societies. We studied the genetic consequences of fissioning in the
ant Proformica longiseta, based on DNA microsatellites. In P. longiseta, new nests arise by fissioning from the old ones when they grow large, and the daughter nests consist of workers and queens
or queen pupae but never both. Our results show that fissioning is not entirely random with respect to kinship. Workers tend
to segregate along kin lines, but only when the initial relatedness in the parental nests is low. Workers in a daughter nest
also tend to be associated with closely related adult queens, whereas such an association is not detected between workers
and queen pupae. Most queens and workers are carried to the daughter nest by a specialized group of transporting workers,
suggesting active kin discrimination by them. Fissioning pattern in P. longiseta is different from that found in other social insects with regular fission (e.g., the honey bee, swarm-founding wasps), where
no fissioning along kin lines has been found. It does, however, resemble fissioning in another group of social animals: primates. 相似文献
Elaborate ornamental plumage has been associated with various measures of individual quality in many species of birds. Male
plumage characteristics, which have been relatively well studied, have been shown to reflect past reproductive investment,
as well as the potential for reproductive investment in the current breeding attempt. In contrast, the signalling functions
of female traits remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plumage attributes of
breeding adult tree swallows and past reproductive investment, current reproductive investment and social mate pairing strategy.
Both males and older females possess metallic green to metallic blue iridescent plumage on their dorsal surface, making this
a suitable species for this type of investigation. We did not find any effects of past reproductive investment and success
on the plumage attributes of returning breeders. In contrast, female plumage hue covaried with fledging success, and female
plumage brightness was positively associated with mean clutch egg mass. In addition, we found that social pairs mated assortatively
with respect to plumage brightness. We argue that since plumage characteristics vary with age in both male and female tree
swallows, plumage attributes in this species are indicative of breeding experience and may be honest signals of quality. Positive
assortative pairing could be the result of mutual mate choice or intra-sexual competition for nest sites by both males and
females. 相似文献