•The present study is the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome of B. kachuga (16,517 bp) construed via next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach from eggshell DNA.•Phylogenetic ...relationships among major lineages of Testudines were reconstructed using 32 other complete mitochondrial genomes.•Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree strongly supports each family in different clades and also revealed a close relationship between the Pangashura and Batagur genus.
The Batagur kachuga (B. kachuga), commonly known as the Red-crowned roofed turtle, is a critically endangered species native to India and its neighboring countries like Bangladesh, and Nepal. The present study is the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome of B. kachuga (16,517 bp) construed via the next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach from eggshell DNA. There are 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and one putative control region (CR/D-loop) in the mitogenome. The CR region from the current study reveals conserved TAS, CD, and CSB domains and two AT-rich tandem repeat regions. Most genes are encoded in the heavy strand except the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6) gene and seven tRNA genes. Most PCGs start with the initiation codon ATG, except the COI (Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit-I) gene, which starts with the GTG codon. The present investigation also predicts the distinctive cloverleaf structures of tRNAs except for tRNA-Ser1 and tRNA-Ser-2, which lack a DHU arm. The comparative analysis of Ka/Ks with other 33 species from Order Testudines, in relation to B. kachuga, revealed negative selection in most PCGs, indicating a process of preservation and purification that aids in eliminating undesirable or detrimental substitutes. Phylogenetic analysis of this species has been analysed using the complete mitogenome of 33 turtle species. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree strongly supports each family in different clades and also reveals a close relationship between the Pangashura and Batagur genera. Our study suggests the generation of genome-wide molecular data, in terms of mitogenomes, SNPs, and SSRs, is needed to improve the understanding of this species and their phylogenetics and evolutionary relationships, which will help to improve the conservation efforts of this species.
Artemisia eriantha Ten., also known as "Apennines genepì", is a valuable aromatic plant with several medicinal properties. Among the several phytoplasma symptoms to which this plant can be subjected, ...the fasciation is one of the less reported and studied. In natural environments this plant is a characteristic species of the association Artemisietum erianthaeBrullo 1984. In this study, the first occurrence of fasciation in Artemisia eriantha is described. This phenomenon was observed during the ex vitro experimental cultivations, located in Assergi and Barisciano (L'Aquila, Italy), settled for the restocking of this endangered species. The fasciation occurred only in Assergi experimental field with a magnitude of 0.12%. Specific PCR analysis did not show the phytoplasma presence. This fist report allows to expand knowledge about fasciation in Apennines genepì. Keywords: Apennines genepì, Artemisietum erianthae , Gran Sasso Monti della Laga National Park, Macrosiphoniella artemisiae , micropropagation, restocking, stem fasciation
Abstract
Language endangerment is one of the most urgent issues of the twenty-first century. Languages are disappearing at unprecedented rates, with dire consequences that affect speaker communities, ...scientific community and humanity. There is impetus for understanding the nature of language endangerment, and we investigate where language endangerment occurs by performing network analysis on 3423 languages at various levels of risk. Macro-level analysis shows evidence of positive assortative mixing of endangerment statuses—critically endangered languages are surrounded by similarly endangered languages, indicating the prevalence of linguistic hotspots throughout the world. Meso-level analysis using community detection returned 13 communities experiencing different levels of threat. Micro-level analysis of closeness centrality shows that more geographically isolated languages tend to be more critically endangered. Even after accounting for the statistical contributions of linguistic diversity, the structural properties of the spatial network were still significantly associated with endangerment outcomes. Findings support that the notion of hotspots is useful when accounting for language endangerment but go beyond that to establish that quantifying spatial structure is crucial. Language preservation in these hotspots and understanding why endangered languages pattern the way they do in their environments becomes more vital than ever.
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