Yanjun Shen

The fish diversity in the upper reaches of the Salween River, Nujiang River, revealed by DNA barcoding.

Nujiang River (NR), an essential component of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mountains of Southwest China, possesses a characteristic fish fauna and contains endemic species. Although previous studies on fish diversity in the NR have primarily consisted of listings of the fish species observed during field collections, in our study, we DNA-barcoded 1139 specimens belonging to 46 morphologically distinct fish species distributed throughout the NR basin by employing multiple analytical approaches. According to our analyses, DNA barcoding is an efficient method for the identification of fish by the presence of barcode gaps. However, three invasive species are characterized by deep conspecific divergences, generating multiple lineages and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), implying the possibility of cryptic species. At the other end of the spectrum, ten species (from three genera) that are characterized by an overlap between their intra- and interspecific genetic distances form a single genetic cluster and share haplotypes. The neighbor-joining phenogram, Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) identified 43 putative species, while the General Mixed Yule-coalescence (GMYC) identified five more OTUs. Thus, our study established a reliable DNA barcode reference library for the fish in the NR and sheds new light on the local fish diversity.

Mitogenomic perspectives on the origin of Tibetan loaches and their adaptation to high altitude

Tibetan loaches are the largest group of Tibetan fishes and are well adapted to the Tibetan Plateau. To investigate the origin of Tibetan loaches and their adaptations to the Tibetan Plateau, we determined 32 complete mitochondrial genomes that included 29 Tibetan loach species, two Barbatula species and Schistura longus. By combining these newly determined sequences with other previously published mitochondrial genomes, we assembled a large mitogenomic data set (11,433 bp) of 96 species in the superfamily Cobitoidea, to investigate the phylogenetic status of the genus Triplophysa. The resulting phylogeny strongly supported that the genus Triplophysa forms a monophyletic group within Nemacheilidae. Our molecular dating time suggests that the lineage leading to the Tibetan loaches and other loaches diverged approximately 23.5 Ma, which falls within the period of recent major uplifts of the Tibetan Plateau in the Early Miocene. Selection analyses revealed that the mitochondrial protein-coding genes of Tibetan loaches have larger ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions than do those of non-Tibetan loaches, indicating that Tibetan loaches accumulated more nonsynonymous mutations than non-Tibetan loaches and exhibited rapid evolution. Two positively selected sites were identified in the ATP8 and ND1 genes.

DNA barcoding and evaluation of genetic diversity in Cyprinidae fish in the midstream of the Yangtze River

Abstract The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and is divided into upstream and mid‐downstream regions by the Three Gorges (the natural barriers of the Yangtze River), resulting in a complex distribution of fish. Dramatic changes to habitat environments may ultimately threaten fish survival; thus, it is necessary to evaluate the genetic diversity and propose protective measures. Species identification is the most significant task in many fields of biological research and in conservation efforts. DNA barcoding, which constitutes the analysis of a short fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence, has been widely used for species identification. In this study, we collected 561 COI barcode sequences from 35 fish from the midstream of the Yangtze River. The intraspecific distances of all species were below 2% (with the exception of Acheilognathus macropterus and Hemibarbus maculatus). Nevertheless, all species could be unambiguously identified from the trees, barcoding gaps and taxonomic resolution ratio values. Furthermore, the COI barcode diversity was found to be low (≤0.5%), with the exception of H. maculatus (0.87%), A. macropterus (2.02%) and Saurogobio dabryi (0.82%). No or few shared haplotypes were detected between the upstream and downstream populations for ten species with overall nucleotide diversities greater than 0.00%, which indicated the likelihood of significant population genetic structuring. Our analyses indicated that DNA barcoding is an effective tool for the identification of cyprinidae fish in the midstream of the Yangtze River. It is vital that some protective measures be taken immediately because of the low COI barcode diversity.

The first complete mitogenome of the South China deep-sea giant isopod Bathynomus sp (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) allows insights into the early mitogenomic evolution of isopods

Abstract In this study, the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of the South China deep‐sea giant isopod Bathynomus sp. was determined, and this study is the first to explore in detail the mt genome of a deep‐sea member of the order Isopoda. This species belongs to the genus Bathynomus, the members of which are saprophagous residents of the deep‐sea benthic environment; based on their large size, Bathynomus is included in the “supergiant group” of isopods. The mt genome of Bathynomus sp. is 14,965 bp in length and consists of 13 protein‐coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, only 18 transfer RNA genes, and a noncoding control region 362 bp in length, which is the smallest control region discovered in Isopoda to date. Although the overall genome organization is typical for metazoans, the mt genome of Bathynomus sp. shows a number of derived characters, such as an inversion of 10 genes when compared to the pancrustacean ground pattern. Rearrangements in some genes (e.g., cob, trnT, nad5, and trnF) are shared by nearly all isopod mt genomes analyzed thus far, and when compared to the putative isopod ground pattern, five rearrangements were found in Bathynomus sp. Two tRNAs exhibit modified secondary structures: The TΨC arm is absent from trnQ, and trnC lacks the DHU. Within the class Malacostraca, trnC arm loss is only found in other isopods. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Bathynomus sp. (Cymothoida) and Sphaeroma serratum (Sphaeromatidea) form a single clade, although it is unclear whether Cymothoida is monophyletic or paraphyletic. Moreover, the evolutionary rate of Bathynomus sp. (dN/dS [nonsynonymous mutational rate/synonymous mutational rate] = 0.0705) is the slowest measured to date among Cymothoida, which may be associated with its relatively constant deep‐sea environment. Overall, our results may provide useful information for understanding the evolution of deep‐sea Isopoda species.

Comparative population structure of two dominant species, Shinkaia crosnieri (Munidopsidae: Shinkaia) and Bathymodiolus platifrons (Mytilidae: Bathymodiolus), inhabiting both deep-sea vent and cold seep inferred from mitochondrial multi-genes

Abstract Deep‐sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, limited environments without sunlight, are two types of extreme habitat for marine organisms. The differences between vents and cold seeps may facilitate genetic isolation and produce population heterogeneity. However, information on such chemosynthetic fauna taxa is rare, especially regarding the population diversity of species inhabiting both vents and cold seeps. In this study, three mitochondrial DNA fragments (the cytochrome c oxidase submit I (COI), cytochrome b gene (Cytb), and 16S) were concatenated as a mitochondrial concatenated dataset (MCD) to examine the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of Shinkaia crosnieri and Bathymodiolus platifrons. The genetic diversity differences between vent and seep populations were statistically significant for S. crosnieri but not for B. platifrons. S. crosnieri showed less gene flow and higher levels of genetic differentiation between the vent and seep populations than B. platifrons. In addition, the results suggest that all the B. platifrons populations, but only the S. crosnieri vent populations, passed through a recent expansion or bottleneck. Therefore, different population distribution patterns for the two dominant species were detected; a pattern of population differentiation for S. crosnieri and a homogeneity pattern for B. platifrons. These different population distribution patterns were related to both extrinsic restrictive factors and intrinsic factors. Based on the fact that the two species were collected in almost identical or adjacent sampling sites, we speculated that the primary factors underlying the differences in the population distribution patterns were intrinsic. The historical demographics, dispersal ability, and the tolerance level of environmental heterogeneity are most likely responsible for the different distribution patterns.

Genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the Schizothorax species complex in the Lancang River (upper Mekong)

Abstract The genus Schizothorax (Cyprinidae), one of the most diverse genera of ichthyofauna of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP), is a good candidate for investigating patterns of genetic variation and evolutionary mechanisms. In this study, sequences from the mitochondrial control region, the cytochrome b gene, and two nuclear genes were used to re‐examine the genetic diversity and investigate the evolutionary history of the Schizothorax species complex inhabiting the Lancang River. Three maternal clades were detected in the Schizothorax species complex, but frequent nuclear allele sharing also occurred among the three maternal clades. A discrepancy between topologies of mitochondrial and nuclear loci might result from introgression or/and incomplete lineage sorting. The divergence of the clades of the Schizothorax species complex was closely related to the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene orogenesis of the QTP and Southwest Mountains of China. Demographic analyses indicated that the species complex subsequently persisted in situ with stable populations during Pleistocene glacial cycling, which suggested that Pleistocene climate changes did not exert a remarkable influence on the species complex. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the Schizothorax species complex in the Lancang River.

Ancient duplications and functional divergence in the interferon regulatory factors of vertebrates provide insights into the evolution of vertebrate immune systems

&NA; Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) were first discovered as transcription factors that regulate the transcription of human interferon (IFN)‐&bgr;. Increasing evidence shows that they might be important players involved in Adaptive immune system (AIS) evolution. Although numbers of IRFs have been identified in chordates, the evolutionary history and functional diversity of this gene family during the early evolution of vertebrates have remained obscure. Using IRF HMM profile and HMMER searches, we identified 148 IRFs in 11 vertebrates and 4 protochordates. For them, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships, determined the synteny conservation, investigated the profile of natural selection, and analyzed the expression patterns in four “living fossil” vertebrates: lamprey, elephant shark, coelacanth and bichir. The results from phylogeny and synteny analysis imply that vertebrate IRFs evolved from three predecessors, instead of four as suggested in a previous study, as results from an ancient duplication followed by special expansions and lost during the vertebrate evolution. The profile of natural selection and expression reveals functional dynamics during the process. Together, they suggest that the 2nd whole‐genome duplication (2WGD) provided raw materials for innovation in the IRF family, and that the birth of type‐I IFN might be an important factor inducing the establishment of IRF‐mediated immune networks. As a member involved in the AIS evolution, IRF provide insights into the process and mechanism involved in the complexity and novelties of vertebrate immune systems. Highlights148 IRFs were identified in 11 vertebrates and 4 protochordates.Analysis on the phylogeny and synteny suggested that vertebrate IRFs evolved from three predecessors instead of four.Some vertebrate IRFs bear ancient function, thus free the others from the purifying selcetion to evolved new functions.

Two Ultraviolet Radiation Datasets that Cover China

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has significant effects on ecosystems, environments, and human health, as well as atmospheric processes and climate change. Two ultraviolet radiation datasets are described in this paper. One contains hourly observations of UV radiation measured at 40 Chinese Ecosystem Research Network stations from 2005 to 2015. CUV3 broadband radiometers were used to observe the UV radiation, with an accuracy of 5%, which meets the World Meteorology Organization’s measurement standards. The extremum method was used to control the quality of the measured datasets. The other dataset contains daily cumulative UV radiation estimates that were calculated using an all-sky estimation model combined with a hybrid model. The reconstructed daily UV radiation data span from 1961 to 2014. The mean absolute bias error and root-mean-square error are smaller than 30% at most stations, and most of the mean bias error values are negative, which indicates underestimation of the UV radiation intensity. These datasets can improve our basic knowledge of the spatial and temporal variations in UV radiation. Additionally, these datasets can be used in studies of potential ozone formation and atmospheric oxidation, as well as simulations of ecological processes.摘要紫外辐射在生态系统, 大气环境, 人体健康以及气候学等研究领域有重要作用. 本论文描述了两个紫外辐射数据集. 一是中国生态系统研究网络(CERN)2005-2015年40个站点紫外辐射小时观测数据集. 对紫外辐射的观测采用CUV3 紫外辐射表, 不确定度为5%, 满足世界气象组织(WMO)的要求. 采用极值法对观测数据进行质量控制. 另一个数据集是紫外辐射日累计重构值, 由全天候紫外辐射估算公式结合混合模型的方法计算获得, 该数据集的时间长度为1961-2014年. 大多数站点紫外辐射重构模型的绝对偏差和均方根误差都小于30%, 且相对偏差为负, 表明该模型对紫外辐射的估算略偏低. 这两个紫外辐射数据集可以提高我们对紫外辐射时空变化特征的认识, 并且可用于研究臭氧生成潜势和大气氧化性以及模拟生态过程.

Phylogenomic Perspective on the Relationships and Evolutionary History of the Major Otocephalan Lineages

The phylogeny of otocephalan fishes is the subject of broad controversy based on morphological and molecular evidence. The primary unresolved issue pertaining to this lineage relates to the origin of Characiphysi, especially the paraphyly of Characiformes. The considerable uncertainty associated with this lineage has precluded a greater understanding of the origin and evolution of the clade. Herein, a phylogenomic approach was applied to resolve this debate. By analyzing 10 sets of transcriptomic data generated in this study and 12 sets of high-throughput data available in public databases, we obtained 1,110 single-copy orthologous genes (935,265 sites for analysis) from 22 actinopterygians, including 14 otocephalan fishes from six orders: Clupeiformes, Gonorynchiformes, Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Characiformes, and Gymnotiformes. Based on a selection of 125 nuclear genes screened from single-gene maximum likelihood (ML) analyses and sequence bias testing, well-established relationships among Otocephala were reconstructed. We suggested that Gymnotiformes are more closely related to Characiformes than to Siluriformes and Characiformes are possibly paraphyletic. We also estimated that Otocephala originated in the Early-Late Jurassic, which postdates most previous estimations, and hypothesized scenarios of the early historical biogeographies of major otocephalan lineages.