The adaptability of plant populations to a changing environment depends on their genetic diversity, which in turn is influenced by the degree of sexual reproduction and gene flow from distant areas. ...Aquatic macrophytes can reproduce both sexually and asexually, and their reproductive fragments are spread in various ways (e.g. by water). Although these plants are obviously exposed to hydrological changes, the degree of vulnerability may depend on the types of their reproduction and distribution, as well as the hydrological differences of habitats. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of the cosmopolitan macrophyte
Ceratophyllum demersum
in hydrologically different aquatic habitats, i.e. rivers and backwaters separated from the main river bed to a different extent. For this purpose, the first microsatellite primer set was developed for this species. Using 10 developed primer pairs, a high level of genetic variation was explored in
C. demersum
populations. Overall, more than 80% of the loci were found to be polymorphic, a total of 46 different multilocus genotypes and 18 private alleles were detected in the 63 individuals examined. The results demonstrated that microsatellite polymorphism in this species depends on habitat hydrology. The greatest genetic variability was revealed in populations of rivers, where flowing water provides constant longitudinal connections with distant habitats. The populations of the hydrologically isolated backwaters showed the lowest microsatellite polymorphism, while plants from an oxbow occasionally flooded by the main river had medium genetic diversity. The results highlight that in contrast to species that spread independently of water flow or among hydrologically isolated water bodies, macrophytes with exclusive or dominant hydrochory may be most severely affected by habitat fragmentation, for example due to climate change.
The plausibility of sympatric speciation is still debated despite increasing evidence, such as host races in insects. This speciation process may be occurring in the case of the two phenological ...forms of the obligatorily myrmecophilous
Phengaris arion
. The main goal of our research was to study the nature and causes of difference between these forms focusing primarily on the incipient speciation via host races. Molecular analyses based on highly variable microsatellites together with
Wolbachia
screening, male genitalia morphometrics and host ant studies were carried out on four syntopic sample pairs. Our results show that the two phenological forms of
P. arion
may meet the criteria for host plant races. They coexist in sympatry in certain parts of the species range which is allowed by the adaptation to the distinct phenology of the host plants. Negative selection acts against the intermediate individuals which are on the wing in the inappropriate time frame. Thus, disruptive selection affects and produces bimodal distributions of phenotypes. However, the phenology of food plants is not entirely distinct and fluctuates year by year. Therefore, the two forms can exchange genes occasionally depending on the length of the time slot when they can meet with each other. Consequently, the reproductive isolation could not be completed and the existence of the two
arion
forms may represent only an incipient stage of sympatric speciation. It is also clear that
Wolbachia
is likely not a driver of sympatric speciation in this case.
Bass (2004) examined the living conditions of families raising severely disabled children in the framework of national data collection. His research results reflect the circumstances nearly twenty ...years ago. The present study aims is to compare the research results of Bass to the present living conditions of interviewees who live in Berettyóújfalu in the 2020s, revealing the changes which have occurred in their lifestyle, family relationships, and future plans in the course of the past years. We used a qualitative interview to reveal the characteristics of the living conditions of ten families living in Berettyóújfalu. According to our research results, there are positive tendencies in the families’ social situation, relationship system or in the economic activity of the parents, but they still face hardship and drawbacks in accessing public services and ensuring their child’s long-term future.
Bass (2004) országos adatgyűjtés keretében vizsgálta a súlyosan fogyatékos gyermeket nevelő családok életkörülményeit. Kutatási eredményei egy közel húsz évvel ezelőtti állapotot tükröznek. Jelen tanulmány célja Bass (2004) kutatási eredményeit összevessük a mai, 2020-as években tapasztalt, Berettyóújfalun élő interjúalanyok életkörülményeinek eredményeivel, feltárva, milyen változások történtek az elmúlt évek során életmódjukban, családi viszonyaikban, jövővel kapcsolatos elképzeléseikben. Kvalitatív interjú segítségével tártuk fel tíz Berettyóújfalun élő család életkörülményeinek jellemzőit. Kutatási eredményeink szerint pozitív tendenciák figyelhetők meg a családok szociális helyzetében, kapcsolatrendszerében, a szülők gazdasági aktivitásában, de továbbra is nehézségekkel és hátrányokkal szembesülnek a közszolgáltatásokhoz való hozzáférésben, és a gyermekük hosszútávú jövőjének biztosításában.
Premise
Gladiolus palustris (Iridaceae) is an endangered European perennial tetraploid herb with special conservation interest in the European Union. Microsatellite markers can serve as effective ...tools for the conservation genetics of this species.
Methods and Results
We utilized a 454 pyrosequencing approach to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) regions in a microsatellite‐enriched library. Of all SSR regions, 46 were screened for specific PCR amplification, and 15 were found to be applicable in the target species. We found 1.62–3.08 alleles per population (effective alleles: 1.58–2.08) that indicated moderate to high genetic diversity values (0.28–0.44) in three pilot populations. Cross‐species amplification was less effective in G. imbricatus and G. tenuis.
Conclusions
The primers reported here can be used for the population genetic characterization of G. palustris. They will help us to better understand the conservation genetics of this highly endangered species.
Premise
Ferula sadleriana (Apiaceae) is a polycarpic, perennial herb with a very limited range and small populations. It is listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ...Microsatellite markers can contribute to conservation efforts by allowing the study of the genetic structure of its shrinking populations.
Methods and Results
We used a microsatellite‐enriched library combined with an Illumina sequencing approach to develop simple sequence repeat markers in our target species. Out of 44 tested primer pairs, 22 provided specific products, and 13 showed heterologous amplification in the target species. Cross‐species amplification was achieved at 20 and 19 loci in two congeneric species, F. soongarica and F. tatarica, respectively.
Conclusions
The primers described here are the first tools that enable the population genetic characterization of F. sadleriana. Our results suggest a wider applicability in the genus Ferula.
The protected Maculinea arion is an obligate myrmecophilous butterfly (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Fourth instar larvae and pupae develop in Myrmica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ant nests. Host ant ...specificity varies geographically, and knowledge of the local host ant species is important to understand the biogeography and evolution of this species, and vital for its conservation. Here we report the first data on the host ant usage of M. arion in the Carpathian Basin, one prepupal caterpillar from a Myrmica specioides Bondroit, 1918 and one pupa from a M. scabrinodis Nylander, 1846 nest. Myrmica specioides is a new host ant species of M. arion. It is important to collect further data on the host ant usage of M. arion, despite the difficulties of data collection.
In natural systems plant-insect interactions are influenced by several factors. For instance plants could be characterised by the presence of defensive chemicals and herbivores are forced to evolve ...resistance against them. There are several studies on induced plant defence, which indicate it can mediate competition between herbivorous insects, shaping host plant choice and community structure. Therefore, realized host plant use can be much narrower than the potential one. A laboratory experiment was done to clear up the possible difference in host plant utilization ability of Melitaea phoebe and Melitaea ornata, especially their utilization of Cirsium pannonicum. The caterpillars were reared individually on three different species of host plant (Ci. pannonicum, O', arvense and Centaurea scabiosa). The weights of the larvae were measured every second day and the data analysed using ANOVA. M. phoebe caterpillars developed well and all pupated when fed on Cirsium arvense and Centaurea scabiosa, whereas those fed on Cirsium pannonicum developed poorly and 10% died. In contrast, ornata developed well on O', pannonicum and the other two host plants. Despite this M. ornata was only found on O', pannonicum in Hungary.
The infraspecific taxonomy of the European populations of the Large Blue (Maculinea arion) is confusing. Several subspecies have been described mostly based on external morphological features. In the ...Carpathian Basin two subspecies have been distinguished. Maculinea arion arion flies from mid-May to mid-June and Maculinea arion ligurica is on the wing from the end of June to mid-August. The two forms show some differentiation in habitat use, but occasionally can also share habitats with two peaks in the appearance of butterflies. Our aim was to study the level and structure of genetic variation in a set of populations of the two phenologically different M. arion. Imagos were collected from 8 localities between 2000 and 2006. Enzyme polymorphism was analysed at 13 enzyme loci using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the analysis of the data, we estimated the parameters of polymorphism. To study the pattern of genetic differentiation F-statistics, hierarchical F-statistics and AMOVA were computed. GeneClass and Structure were both applied to analyse the differentiation between the two phenologically different sets of populations. Cavalli-Sforza and Edwards' arc distances were calculated and a UPGMA dendrogram was constructed on the basis of the distance matrix. PCA analysis was also carried out using the allele frequencies of the individuals. The level of polymorphism was relatively high in M. arion. The results of all analyses indicated that the differences between the two sets of phenologically different populations accounted for a low percentage of the total differentiation. In addition, a sizeable amount of variation could be attributed to the differences among the samples collected from the same population in consecutive years. Thus, we concluded that the "spring" and "summer arion" could not be considered as separate ESUs, although we could attribute conservation value to both forms on the basis of their phenological differentiation and habitat use. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Abstract
Our main goal was to investigate the phylogeography of the butterfly Phengaris arion to reveal the evolutionary origin of its ‘spring’ and ‘summer’ forms. Molecular analyses based on highly ...variable microsatellites, together with Wolbachia screening, were carried out on 34 populations in Europe. We found three well-defined genetic lineages of different origins: the Apennine, the central and the eastern. The highly distinct Apennine lineage is limited by the Alps and evaluated as an Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). Therefore, the taxon name ligurica, described from the Ligurian coast (Italy), should not be applied to denote the ‘summer form’ of the Pannonian region. The central lineage is limited by the Carpathians and the most eastern ranges of the Alps, and lacks major range fluctuations related to glaciations, although there is evidence for extra-Mediterranean refugia in the Carpathian Basin. The eastern clade could have had refugia in central Asia. Our results exclude the potential allopatric origin of the ‘spring’ and ‘summer’ arion, and support the hypothesis that the existence of the two forms could be a result of local adaptation to the distinctive phenology of host plant flowering which is manifested in the genetic differences between them. Wolbachia infection has been ruled out as a driver of sympatric speciation in P. arion.
Obligate brood parasitic birds have evolved a rare avian strategy for reproduction by laying eggs in the nests of other species. In doing so, their breeding ranges, but not necessarily their foraging ...habitats, have become intimately related to the nesting territories of their hosts. We studied home range sizes and distribution patterns in Common Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) on their breeding grounds in central Hungary, where cuckoos parasitize only Great Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) in channel-side reed-beds at a high frequency (>50%). The geographic coordinates of tagged cuckoos were monitored by high-precision, remotely downloadable non-Platform Terminal Transmitter global positioning system (GPS) loggers, attached to 9 females and 6 males. Our results revealed bimodal use of habitat patches: (1) the home ranges of male and female cuckoos were packed densely along the channels where the hosts breed, and their distribution maps had high overlaps between sexes; (2) ∼71% of cuckoos also visited nearby woodland patches, presumably for foraging, where the host species was not present. The size of cuckoo home ranges varied to an unusually great extent: 0.3–185 km2 as calculated by the minimum convex polygon method (85%), or 1–17 km2 when calculated by the more suitable kernel density estimation (KDE) method (Utilization Distribution 85%) for patchy habitats. Male and female cuckoos had similar home range sizes as estimated by the KDE method, consisting of 1–4 areas within the 2 habitat types of channel reed-beds and woodlands. No preference was revealed for night roosting locations between the 2 habitats or sexes. Female cuckoos were more likely to use reed-beds in the afternoons, when females parasitize host nests. Remote downloadable GPS methods offer an effective way of tracking cuckoos across large areas, but the estimation of home range sizes requires caution due to this species' patchy and disconnected habitat use.
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