Oana Paula Popa

Population-specific responses to an invasive species

Predicting the impacts of non-native species remains a challenge. As populations of a species are genetically and phenotypically variable, the impact of non-native species on local taxa could crucially depend on population-specific traits and adaptations of both native and non-native species. Bitterling fishes are brood parasites of unionid mussels and unionid mussels produce larvae that parasitize fishes. We used common garden experiments to measure three key elements in the bitterling–mussel association among two populations of an invasive mussel (Anodonta woodiana) and four populations of European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus). The impact of the invasive mussel varied between geographically distinct R. amarus lineages and between local populations within lineages. The capacity of parasitic larvae of the invasive mussel to exploit R. amarus was higher in a Danubian than in a Baltic R. amarus lineage and in allopatric than in sympatric R. amarus populations. Maladaptive oviposition by R. amarus into A. woodiana varied among populations, with significant population-specific consequences for R. amarus recruitment. We suggest that variation in coevolutionary states may predispose different populations to divergent responses. Given that coevolutionary relationships are ubiquitous, population-specific attributes of invasive and native populations may play a critical role in the outcome of invasion. We argue for a shift from a species-centred to population-centred perspective of the impacts of invasions.

Sinanodonta woodiana (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae): isolation and characterization of the first microsatellite markers.

Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) is a large Unionid species with a real invasion success. It colonized Europe, Central America, the Indonesian Islands and recently North America. The species life cycle involves a larval parasitic stage on freshwater fish species which contributes to the spread of the mussel. In this paper we describe, for the first time, eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for the species Sinanodonta woodiana. The genetic screening of individuals confirmed that all loci were highly polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 7 to 14 and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.650 to 0.950. These loci should prove useful to study the species population genetics which could help to infer important aspects of the invasion process.

Isolation and Characterization of New Microsatellite Markers for the Invasive Softshell Clam, Mya arenaria (L.) (Bivalvia: Myidae)

The invasive softshell clam (Mya arenaria Linnaeus, 1758) is native to the northwestern region of the Atlantic Ocean. This species has been introduced in the northeast Pacific and along the European coasts, due to intense naval transports and aquaculture, and it is now present in all the European seas. In this paper we describe seven new microsatellite loci for Mya arenaria. The isolated loci are polymorphic with a number of alleles per locus between 6 and 14. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.417 to 0.951, and from 0.643 to 0.895, with an average of 0.716 and 0.775, respectively. These microsatellite markers should be useful in analyzing this species’ genetic diversity, which could explain various processes of its invasion history.

Isolation and Characterization of the First Microsatellite Markers for the Endangered Relict Mussel Hypanis colorata (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Cardiidae)

Hypanis colorata (Eichwald, 1829) (Cardiidae: Lymnocardiinae) is a bivalve relict species with a Ponto-Caspian distribution and is under strict protection in Romania, according to national regulations. While the species is depressed in the western Black Sea lagoons from Romania and Ukraine, it is also a successful invader in the middle Dniepr and Volga regions. Establishing a conservation strategy for this species or studying its invasion process requires knowledge about the genetic structure of the species populations. We have isolated and characterized nine polymorphic microsatellite markers in H. colorata. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 28 and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.613 to 1.000. The microsatellites developed in the present study are highly polymorphic and they should be useful for the assessment of genetic variation within this species.

Molecular insights into the taxonomy of Hypanis (Bivalvia, Cardiidae, Lymnocardiinae) in the Black Sea lagoons

In this study, we used data from morphology and three DNA markers to assess the taxonomic status of the putative bivalve species Hypanis colorata and Hypanis angusticostata in a Black Sea lagoon, the Razelm Lake in Romania. The morphological data (the shape of shell ribs and the multivariate analysis of morphometric variance of three variables constructed as the ratios between the main dimensions of the shell) confirmed that the two analyzed species are distinct morphological entities. Three molecular markers, one from the nuclear genome (18S rRNA) and two from the mitochondrial genome (16S rRNA and COI), showed extremely reduced sequence divergence (0–0.1%) between the two putative species. Based on these results, we suggest that H. angusticostata and H. colorata are morphotypes of a single species.

XENODIVERSITY OF DECAPOD SPECIES (CRUSTACEEA: DECAPODA: REPTANTIA) FROM THE ROMANIAN WATERS

Xenodiversity of decapod species (Crustaceea: Decapoda: Reptantia) from the Romanian waters This paper is a synthesis of the faunistic data present in the specialized literature on the alien decapod species identified in the Romanian fauna between 1951 and 2010: Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841), Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, Hemigrapsus sanguineus (de Haan, 1835), Palaemon macrodactylus Rathbun, 1902, Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869). Xenodiversitatea speciilor de decapode (Crustacea: Decapoda: Reptantia) din apele româneşti Această lucrare reprezintă o sinteză a datelor faunistice existente până în prezent în literatura de specialitate în ce priveşte speciile de decapode străine identificate în fauna României între anii 1951 şi 2010: i Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841), Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, Hemigrapsus sanguineus (de Haan, 1835), Palaemon macrodactylus Rathbun, 1902 şi Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869). Ce travail présente une synthèse des données faunistiques de la littérature spécialisée sur les espèces allochtones décapodes identifié dans la faune de Roumanie entre 1951 et 2010: Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841), Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, Hemigrapsus sanguineus (de Haan, 1835), Palaemon macrodactylus Rathbun, 1902, Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869).

A new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Acarina, Trouessartiidae) – an integrative description (morphology and DNA barcoding data)

Abstract A new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Trouessartiidae) is described from the Large NiltavaNiltavagrandis (Blyth) (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) in Northeast India (Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Shnongrim village). Trouessartianiltavae Constantinescu, sp. n. is morphologically closely related (no phylogenetic meaning) to T.bulligera Gaud, 1968 from Clytorhynchushamlini (Mayr) (Passeriformes: Monarchidae), sharing in males a unique character within the genus, by having setae e on legs IV hemispheroid, with spine-shaped apex. Males of the new species have the prodorsal shield without ornamentation, the prohysteronotal shield and lobar shield connected, and the terminal cleft parallel sided. Females have the posterior half of the hysteronotal shield ornamented with large ovate lacunae in central area and small elliptical lacunae marginally. To the morphological description of this new feather mite species we added sequence data on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragment (COI). The phylogenetic relationships between Trouessartia species are briefly discussed.

Modelling the invasion history of Sinanodonta woodiana in Europe: Tracking the routes of a sedentary aquatic invader with mobile parasitic larvae

Understanding the invasive potential of species outside their native range is one of the most pressing questions in applied evolutionary and ecological research. Admixture of genotypes of invasive species from multiple sources has been implicated in successful invasions, by generating novel genetic combinations that facilitate rapid adaptation to new environments. Alternatively, adaptive evolution on standing genetic variation, exposed by phenotypic plasticity and selected by genetic accommodation, can facilitate invasion success. We investigated the population genetic structure of an Asian freshwater mussel with a parasitic dispersal stage, Sinanodonta woodiana, which has been present in Europe since 1979 but which has expanded rapidly in the last decade. Data from a mitochondrial marker and nuclear microsatellites have suggested that all European populations of S. woodiana originate from the River Yangtze basin in China. Only a single haplotype was detected in Europe, in contrast to substantial mitochondrial diversity in native Asian populations. Analysis of microsatellite markers indicated intensive gene flow and confirmed a lower genetic diversity of European populations compared to those from the Yangtze basin, though that difference was not large. Using an Approximate Bayesian Modelling approach, we identified two areas as the probable source of the spread of S. woodiana in Europe, which matched historical records for its establishment. Their populations originated from a single colonization event. Our data do not support alternative explanations for the rapid recent spread of S. woodiana; recent arrival of a novel (cold‐tolerant) genotype or continuous propagule pressure. Instead, in situ adaptation, facilitated by repeated admixture, appears to drive the ongoing expansion of S. woodiana. We discuss management consequences of our results.

A new feather mite species of the genus Proterothrix Gaud, 1968 (Acarina, Proctophyllodidae) from the Large Niltava, Niltava grandis (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) – an integrative description

Abstract A new species of the feather mite genus Proterothrix (Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) is described from the Large Niltava Niltava grandis (Blyth) (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) in northeast India (Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Shnongrim village). Proterothrix chachulae Constantinescu, sp. n. differs from all known species of the genus by having in males the aedeagus with bilobate tip. The morphological description is supplemented with molecular characterisation of a fragment f near the 5` terminus of the mitochondrial COI gene.

Molecular Confirmation on the Presence of Anadara Kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Arcidae) in the Black Sea / Confirmarea moleculară a prezenţei speciei Anadara Kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Arcidae) în Marea Neagră

Abstract The use of DNA barcoding in alien invasions has recently proved to be a powerful tool in delineating dispersal pathways and clarifying doubtful identifications. Morphological similarities between Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) and Anadara inaequivalvis (Bruguière, 1789) require the use of genetic markers in identifying the ark shell species that has recently invaded the Black Sea. The high genetic similarity (99.8-100%) hereby found between COI sequences obtained from the Black Sea samples and Japanese A. kagoshimensis confirms at a molecular level that the ark clam species invading the Romanian Black Sea belong to this taxon. Résumé L’utilisation des codes-barres ADN dans les invasions étrangères s’est récemment révélé être un outil puissant dans la délimitation des voies de dispersion et de clarifier des identifications douteuses. Les similitudes morphologiques entre Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) et Anadara inaequivalvis (Bruguière, 1789) exigent l’utilisation des marqueurs génétiques pour identifier l’espèce d’arcidé qui a récemment envahi la Mer Noire. La similarité génétique élevée (de 99,8 à 100%) trouvé entre les séquences COI obtenus à partir des échantillons de la Mer Noire et les japonais A. kagoshimensis confirme au niveau moléculaire que l’espèces bivalve de la Mer Noire roumaine fait partie de ce taxon. Rezumat Utilizarea tehnicii ADN barcoding în studiul speciilor invazive s-a dovedit a fi un instrument puternic în delimitarea diferitelor căi de introducere şi clarificare a unor determinări incerte. Similaritățile morfologice dintre Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) şi Anadara inaequivalvis (Bruguière, 1789) impun utilizarea markerilor genetici în identificarea taxonomică a speciei care a invadat recent Marea Neagră. Similaritatea foarte înaltă identificată între secvențele de COI obținute de la probele din Marea Neagră şi cele existente pentru A. kagoshimensis din Japonia, confirmă, la nivel molecular, că specia care a invadat sectorul românesc al Mării Negre aparține acestui taxon.