Identification and Characterization of Two Novel Syncytin-Like Retroviral Envelope Genes, Captured for a Possible Role in the At
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The Effects of Paleoclimate on the Distributions of Some North West African Lizards. Lee Ellis a Thesis Submitted in Partial
The effects of paleoclimate on the distributions of some North West African Lizards. Lee Ellis A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Liverpool John Moores University for the degree of Master of Philosophy July 2018 1 Abstract As awareness grows regarding impacts of global climate change, so does concern over the effects these changes have on a species habitat and distribution. Climate change is thought to have a major effect on the distribution of species, with the potential to cause isolated/fragmented populations, which could lead to genetic divergence. In this study species distribution modelling was applied to species occurrence data on northwest African lizards from Morocco, with corresponding environmental data. The aim was to identify how intraspecific divergence might be related to historical climatic events. Species distribution models (SDMs) were used to quantify a species niche and define the constraining factors that affect that niche. SDMs predict areas of suitable habitat under different climatic scenarios that replicate prehistoric climates, and used to examine if there is evidence to suggest historical divergence or historical splits in distributions that correspond to current patterns of geographical divergence within species. MaxEnt was used to develop the SDMs and define the species niche and variable constraints. Previous studies have shown that the estimated divergence times of species discussed in this study range between 1–15 Ma. Environmental data dating back to these divergence times are unavailable or unreliable. Therefore, the Last Interglacial (LIG ~120,000 -140,000 years BP) and Last Glacial Maxima (LGM~ 21,000 years BP) datasets were used as a surrogate to earlier interglacial and glacial maximum climates, to analyse species distributions under earlier climatic scenarios which can then be inferred. -
Reproductive Specializations in a Viviparous African Skink: Implications for Evolution and Biological Conservation Daniel G
Trinity College Trinity College Digital Repository Faculty Scholarship 8-2010 Reproductive Specializations in a Viviparous African Skink: Implications for Evolution and Biological Conservation Daniel G. Blackburn Trinity College, [email protected] Alexander F. Flemming University of Stellenbosch Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/facpub Part of the Biology Commons Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(2):263-270. Symposium: Reptile Reproduction REPRODUCTIVE SPECIALIZATIONS IN A VIVIPAROUS AFRICAN SKINK AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EVOLUTION AND CONSERVATION 1 2 DANIEL G. BLACKBURN AND ALEXANDER F. FLEMMING 1Department of Biology and Electron Microscopy Facility, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, USA, e-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa Abstract.—Recent research on the African scincid lizard, Trachylepis ivensi, has significantly expanded the range of known reproductive specializations in reptiles. This species is viviparous and exhibits characteristics previously thought to be confined to therian mammals. In most viviparous squamates, females ovulate large yolk-rich eggs that provide most of the nutrients for development. Typically, their placental components (fetal membranes and uterus) are relatively unspecialized, and similar to their oviparous counterparts. In T. ivensi, females ovulate tiny eggs and provide nutrients for embryonic development almost entirely by placental means. Early in gestation, embryonic tissues invade deeply into maternal tissues and establish an intimate “endotheliochorial” relationship with the maternal blood supply by means of a yolk sac placenta. The presence of such an invasive form of implantation in a squamate reptile is unprecedented and has significant functional and evolutionary implications. Discovery of the specializations of T. -
Amphibian and Reptilian Biodiversty of Ararat Mountain and Near Environment
’ Ğ ğıİÇçÜıı AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILIAN BIODIVERSTY OF ARARAT MOUNTAIN AND NEAR ENVIRONMENT Mehmet Zülfü YILDIZ* Naşit İĞCİ** Bahadır AKMAN*** Bayram GÖÇMEN**** ABSTRACT n this study, it is aimed to determine Amphibian and Reptilian species of Ararat Mountain and near Environment, threats to species and precautions to be taken against these factors. IFor these purposes, total of 18 days herpetological trips carried out in Ararat Mountain between 2011-2017. As a result of the trips and literature searches, 4 Anuran (Bufotes variabilis, Pelophylax ridibundus, Hyla savignyi, Pelobates syriacus), 2 Chelonian species (Mauremys caspica, Testudo graeca) 10 lizard species (Paralaudakia caucasia, Phrynocephalus horvathi, Heremites auratus, Eumeces schneiderii, Eremias strauchi, Eremias pleskei, Darevskia valentini, Lacerta strigata, Ophisops elegans, Pseudopus apodus) and 13 snake species (Xertoyphlops vermicularis, Dolichophis schmidti, Eirenis collaris, Hemorrhois ravergieri, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Platyceps najadum, Zamenis hohenackeri, Z. longissimus, Eryx jaculus, Malpolon insignitus, Macrovipera lebetina, Montivipera raddei) a total of 4 amphibians and 25 reptilian species belonging to 14 families were determined in Ararat Mountain. The observed specimens were released to their natural habitats after their photos were taken, not to damage the populations. According to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) determined species listed as follows: 2 species were Critically Endangered (CR), 1 species was Vulnerable (VU), 2 species were Near Threatened (NT), 1 species was Data Deficient (DD), 16 species were Least Concern (LC), 8 not evaluated. Just only, two species were protected under CITES Convention, and 9 species were also strictly protected (Appendix II) and the rest of the species were protected with BERN Convention. In addition, the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs protect all reptile species but not Amphibians. -
Setting Conservation Priorities for the Moroccan Herpetofauna: the Utility of Regional Red Listing
Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation Setting conservation priorities for the Moroccan herpetofauna: the utility of regional red listing J uan M. Pleguezuelos,JosE´ C. Brito,Soum´I A F ahd,Mo´ nica F eriche J osE´ A. Mateo,Gregorio M oreno-Rueda,Ricardo R eques and X avier S antos Appendix 1 Nomenclatural and taxonomical combinations scovazzi (Zangari et al., 2006) for amphibians. Chalcides for the Moroccan (Western Sahara included) amphibians lanzai (Caputo & Mellado, 1992), Leptotyphlops algeriensis and reptiles for which there are potential problems re- (Hahn & Wallach, 1998), Macroprotodon brevis (Carranza garding taxonomic combinations; species names are fol- et al., 2004) and Telescopus guidimakaensis (Bo¨hme et al., lowed by reference to publications that support these 1989) for reptiles are considered here as full species. Macro- combinations. The complete list of species is in Appendix 2. protodon abubakeri has been recently described for the Agama impalearis (Joger, 1991), Tarentola chazaliae region (Carranza et al., 2004) and Hemidactylus angulatus (Carranza et al., 2002), Chalcides boulengeri, Chalcides recently found within the limits of the study area (Carranza delislei, Chalcides sphenopsiformis (Carranza et al., 2008), & Arnold, 2006). Filtering was not applied to species of Timon tangitanus, Atlantolacerta andreanszkyi, Podarcis passive introduction into Morocco, such as Hemidactylus vaucheri, Scelarcis perspicillata (Arnold et al., 2007), turcicus and Hemidactylus angulatus. The three-toed skink Hyalosaurus koellikeri -
The Herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and Lower Cuando River Catchments of South-Eastern Angola
Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 10(2) [Special Section]: 6–36 (e126). The herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and lower Cuando river catchments of south-eastern Angola 1,2,*Werner Conradie, 2Roger Bills, and 1,3William R. Branch 1Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013, SOUTH AFRICA 2South African Institute for Aquatic Bio- diversity, P/Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, SOUTH AFRICA 3Research Associate, Department of Zoology, P O Box 77000, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, SOUTH AFRICA Abstract.—Angola’s herpetofauna has been neglected for many years, but recent surveys have revealed unknown diversity and a consequent increase in the number of species recorded for the country. Most historical Angola surveys focused on the north-eastern and south-western parts of the country, with the south-east, now comprising the Kuando-Kubango Province, neglected. To address this gap a series of rapid biodiversity surveys of the upper Cubango-Okavango basin were conducted from 2012‒2015. This report presents the results of these surveys, together with a herpetological checklist of current and historical records for the Angolan drainage of the Cubango, Cuito, and Cuando Rivers. In summary 111 species are known from the region, comprising 38 snakes, 32 lizards, five chelonians, a single crocodile and 34 amphibians. The Cubango is the most western catchment and has the greatest herpetofaunal diversity (54 species). This is a reflection of both its easier access, and thus greatest number of historical records, and also the greater habitat and topographical diversity associated with the rocky headwaters. -
Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica. -
Identification and Characterization of Two Novel Syncytin-Like Retroviral Envelope Genes, Captured for a Possible Role in the At
Identification and characterization of 106 S two novel syncytin-like retroviral SACL envelope genes, captured for a 8 possible role in the atypical structure : 201 of the hyena placenta and in the NNT emergence of the non-mammalian Mabuya lizard placenta Thèse de doctorat de l'Université Paris-Saclay préparée à l'UMR 9196, Gustave Roussy École doctorale n°582 cancérologie: biologie, médecine, santé (CBMS) Spécialité de doctorat: aspects moléculaires et cellulaires de la biologie Thèse présentée et soutenue à Villejuif, le 23 mai 2018, par Mathis Funk Composition du Jury : Uriel Hazan Professeur des université, ENS Paris-Saclay (– UMR 8113) Président Jean-Luc Battini Directeur de recherche, IRIM (– UMR 9004) Rapporteur Olivier Schwartz Directeur de recherche, Institut Pasteur (– UMR 3569) Rapporteur Pascale Chavatte-Palmer Directrice de recherche, INRA (– UMR 1198) Examinatrice François Mallet Directeur de recherche, bioMérieux (– EA 7426) Examinateur Thierry Heidmann Directeur de recherche, CNRS (– UMR 9196) Directeur de thèse Acknowledgments I would first like to thank the members of the jury for taking the time to read the present manuscript, which turned out a bit longer than I had planned. I would like to thank Uriel Hazan for accepting to be the president of this jury, book-ending his involvement in my studies. What had started at the ENS Cachan and continued during my Master’s degree at the Institut Pasteur, finally reaches its culmination with the present work, on a topic that Uriel suggested I look into. I would like to sincerely thank Jean-Luc Battini and Olivier Schwartz for their critical reading and evaluation of the present manuscript and their positive feedback. -
Os Répteis De Angola: História, Diversidade, Endemismo E Hotspots
CAPÍTULO 13 OS RÉPTEIS DE ANGOLA: HISTÓRIA, DIVERSIDADE, ENDEMISMO E HOTSPOTS William R. Branch1,2, Pedro Vaz Pinto3,4, Ninda Baptista1,4,5 e Werner Conradie1,6,7 Resumo O estado actual do conhecimento sobre a diversidade dos répteis de Angola é aqui tratada no contexto da história da investigação herpe‑ tológica no país. A diversidade de répteis é comparada com a diversidade conhecida em regiões adjacentes de modo a permitir esclarecer questões taxonómicas e padrões biogeográficos. No final do século xix, mais de 67% dos répteis angolanos encontravam‑se descritos. Os estudos estag‑ naram durante o século seguinte, mas aumentaram na última década. Actualmente, são conhecidos pelo menos 278 répteis, mas foram feitas numerosas novas descobertas durante levantamentos recentes e muitas espécies novas aguardam descrição. Embora a diversidade dos lagartos e das cobras seja praticamente idêntica, a maioria das novas descobertas verifica‑se nos lagartos, particularmente nas osgas e lacertídeos. Destacam‑ ‑se aqui os répteis angolanos mal conhecidos e outros de regiões adjacentes que possam ocorrer no país. A maioria dos répteis endémicos angolanos é constituída por lagartos e encontra ‑se associada à escarpa e à região árida do Sudoeste. Está em curso a identificação de hotspots de diversidade de 1 National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Wild Bird Trust, South Africa 2 Research Associate, Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa 3 Fundação Kissama, Rua 60, Casa 560, Lar do Patriota, Luanda, Angola 4 CIBIO ‑InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485 ‑661 Vairão, Portugal 5 ISCED, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla, Rua Sarmento Rodrigues s/n, Lubango, Angola 6 School of Natural Resource Management, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George 6530, South Africa 7 Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. -
Arrival and Diversification of Mabuyine Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Neotropics Based on a Fossil-Calibrated Timetree
Arrival and diversification of mabuyine skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Neotropics based on a fossil-calibrated timetree Anieli Guirro Pereira and Carlos G. Schrago Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil ABSTRACT Background. The evolution of South American Mabuyinae skinks holds significant biogeographic interest because its sister lineage is distributed across the African continent and adjacent islands. Moreover, at least one insular species, Trachylepis atlantica, has independently reached the New World through transoceanic dispersal. To clarify the evolutionary history of both Neotropical lineages, this study aimed to infer an updated timescale using the largest species and gene sampling dataset ever assembled for this group. By extending the analysis to the Scincidae family, we could employ fossil information to estimate mabuyinae divergence times and carried out a formal statistical biogeography analysis. To unveil macroevolutionary patterns, we also inferred diversification rates for this lineage and evaluated whether the colonization of South American continent significantly altered the mode of Mabuyinae evolution. Methods. A time-calibrated phylogeny was inferred under the Bayesian framework employing fossil information. This timetree was used to (i) evaluate the historical biogeography of mabuiyines using the statistical approach implemented in Bio- GeoBEARS; (ii) estimate macroevolutionary diversification rates of the South American Mabuyinae lineages and the patterns of evolution of selected traits, namely, the mode of reproduction, body mass and snout–vent length; (iii) test the hypothesis of differential macroevolutionary patterns in South American lineages in BAMM and GeoSSE; and Submitted 21 November 2016 (iv) re-evaluate the ancestral state of the mode of reproduction of mabuyines. -
Reproductionreview
REPRODUCTIONREVIEW The evolution of viviparity: molecular and genomic data from squamate reptiles advance understanding of live birth in amniotes James U Van Dyke, Matthew C Brandley and Michael B Thompson School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, A08 Heydon-Laurence Building, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia Correspondence should be addressed to J U Van Dyke; Email: [email protected] Abstract Squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) are an ideal model system for testing hypotheses regarding the evolution of viviparity (live birth) in amniote vertebrates. Viviparity has evolved over 100 times in squamates, resulting in major changes in reproductive physiology. At a minimum, all viviparous squamates exhibit placentae formed by the appositions of maternal and embryonic tissues, which are homologous in origin with the tissues that form the placenta in therian mammals. These placentae facilitate adhesion of the conceptus to the uterus as well as exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, sodium, and calcium. However, most viviparous squamates continue to rely on yolk for nearly all of their organic nutrition. In contrast, some species, which rely on the placenta for at least a portion of organic nutrition, exhibit complex placental specializations associated with the transport of amino acids and fatty acids. Some viviparous squamates also exhibit reduced immunocompetence during pregnancy, which could be the result of immunosuppression to protect developing embryos. Recent molecular studies using both candidate-gene and next-generation sequencing approaches have suggested that at least some of the genes and gene families underlying these phenomena play similar roles in the uterus and placenta of viviparous mammals and squamates. -
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mediterranean Basin
Chapter 9 Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mediterranean Basin Kerim Çiçek and Oğzukan Cumhuriyet Kerim Çiçek and Oğzukan Cumhuriyet Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70357 Abstract The Mediterranean basin is one of the most geologically, biologically, and culturally complex region and the only case of a large sea surrounded by three continents. The chapter is focused on a diversity of Mediterranean amphibians and reptiles, discussing major threats to the species and its conservation status. There are 117 amphibians, of which 80 (68%) are endemic and 398 reptiles, of which 216 (54%) are endemic distributed throughout the Basin. While the species diversity increases in the north and west for amphibians, the reptile diversity increases from north to south and from west to east direction. Amphibians are almost twice as threatened (29%) as reptiles (14%). Habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive/alien species, unsustainable use, and persecution are major threats to the species. The important conservation actions should be directed to sustainable management measures and legal protection of endangered species and their habitats, all for the future of Mediterranean biodiversity. Keywords: amphibians, conservation, Mediterranean basin, reptiles, threatened species 1. Introduction The Mediterranean basin is one of the most geologically, biologically, and culturally complex region and the only case of a large sea surrounded by Europe, Asia and Africa. The Basin was shaped by the collision of the northward-moving African-Arabian continental plate with the Eurasian continental plate which occurred on a wide range of scales and time in the course of the past 250 mya [1]. -
An Endogenous Retroviral Envelope Syncytin and Its Cognate Receptor Identified in the Viviparous Placental Mabuya Lizard
An endogenous retroviral envelope syncytin and its PNAS PLUS cognate receptor identified in the viviparous placental Mabuya lizard Guillaume Cornelisa,b,1,2, Mathis Funka,b,1, Cécile Vernocheta,b, Francisca Lealc,3, Oscar Alejandro Tarazonac,4, Guillaume Meuriced, Odile Heidmanna,b, Anne Dupressoira,b, Aurélien Mirallese, Martha Patricia Ramirez-Pinillac, and Thierry Heidmanna,b,5 SEE COMMENTARY aUnité Physiologie et Pathologie Moléculaires des Rétrovirus Endogènes et Infectieux, CNRS UMR 9196, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, F-94805, France; bUMR 9196, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, F-91405, France; cLaboratorio de Biologia Reproductiva de Vertebrados, Escuela de Biologia, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002 Bucaramanga, Colombia; dPlateforme de Bioinformatique, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, F-94805, France; and eInstitut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS UPMC EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, F-75005, France Edited by R. Michael Roberts, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, and approved October 26, 2017 (received for review August 23, 2017) Syncytins are envelope genes from endogenous retroviruses that Remarkably, placental structures are not restricted to mamma- have been captured during evolution for a function in placentation. lian species. Placentation emerged independently and in a sto- They have been found in all placental mammals in which they have chastic manner in several groups of vertebrates, with the noticeable been searched, including marsupials. Placental structures are not exception of birds (reviewed in refs. 16 and 17). In particular, restricted to mammals but also emerged in some other vertebrates, complex placentas have been described in some South American most frequently in lizards, such as the viviparous Mabuya Scincidae.