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Mass landscapes of seven scorpion species: The first analyses of Australian species with 1,5-DAN matrix.

ABSTRACT: Scorpion venoms have been studied for over fifty years; however, the majority of research has focussed primarily on medically important Buthidae species. Additionally, venoms of the estimated 200 species of scorpion native to Australia have received very little attention. The first venom mass profiles of six non-buthid and one buthid scorpion species are presented herein, four of which are endemic to Australia. While masses under 5 kDa dominated the venoms of all species, the buthid venom contained considerably more masses between 7 and 8 kDa than those of the non-buthids, corroborating the emergent trend that buthids are richer in long-chain neurotoxins than non-buthids. The Australian scorpion venom fractions were also analysed with the relatively new MALDI-ToF matrix 1,5-DAN. Over forty partial sequences were obtained, the majority of which are homologous to scorpion antimicrobials such as opistoporin and IsCT2. Overall, this study is the single most comprehensive mass spectrometric analysis of scorpion venom landscapes to date and provides an insight into untapped Australian species.

SUBMITTER: Smith JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3518322 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mass landscapes of seven scorpion species: The first analyses of Australian species with 1,5-DAN matrix.

Smith Jennifer J JJ Jones Alun A Alewood Paul F PF

Journal of venom research 20121023

Scorpion venoms have been studied for over fifty years; however, the majority of research has focussed primarily on medically important Buthidae species. Additionally, venoms of the estimated 200 species of scorpion native to Australia have received very little attention. The first venom mass profiles of six non-buthid and one buthid scorpion species are presented herein, four of which are endemic to Australia. While masses under 5 kDa dominated the venoms of all species, the buthid venom contai ...[more]

PMID: 23236582

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Project description:BackgroundAustralian scorpions have received far less attention from researchers than their overseas counterparts. Here we provide the first insight into the molecular variation and evolutionary history of the endemic Australian scorpion Urodacus yaschenkoi. Also known as the inland robust scorpion, it is widely distributed throughout arid zones of the continent and is emerging as a model organism in biomedical research due to the chemical nature of its venom.MethodsWe employed Bayesian Inference (BI) methods for the phylogenetic reconstructions and divergence dating among lineages, using unique haplotype sequences from two mitochondrial loci (COXI, 16S) and one nuclear locus (28S). We also implemented two DNA taxonomy approaches (GMYC and PTP/dPTP) to evaluate the presence of cryptic species. Linear Discriminant Analysis was used to test whether the linear combination of 21 variables (ratios of morphological measurements) can predict individual's membership to a putative species.ResultsGenetic and morphological data suggest that U. yaschenkoi is a species complex. High statistical support for the monophyly of several divergent lineages was found both at the mitochondrial loci and at a nuclear locus. The extent of mitochondrial divergence between these lineages exceeds estimates of interspecific divergence reported for other scorpion groups. The GMYC model and the PTP/bPTP approach identified major lineages and several sub-lineages as putative species. Ratios of several traits that approximate body shape had a strong predictive power (83-100%) in discriminating two major molecular lineages. A time-calibrated phylogeny dates the early divergence at the onset of continental-wide aridification in late Miocene and Pliocene, with finer-scale phylogeographic patterns emerging during the Pleistocene. This structuring dynamics is congruent with the diversification history of other fauna of the Australian arid zones.DiscussionOur results indicate that the taxonomic status of U. yaschenkoi requires revision, and we provide recommendations for such future efforts. A complex evolutionary history and extensive diversity highlights the importance of conserving U. yaschenkoi populations from different Australian arid zones in order to preserve patterns of endemism and evolutionary potential.

Project description:In grain crops, aphids are important pests, but they can be suppressed by hymenopteran parasitoids. A challenge in incorporating parasitoids into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, however, is that parasitoid numbers can be low during periods within the season when aphids are most damaging. Understanding the population dynamics of key aphid species and their parasitoids is central to ameliorating this problem. To examine the composition and seasonal trends of both aphid and parasitoid populations in south-eastern Australia, samples were taken throughout the winter growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 in 28 fields of wheat and canola. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) was the most abundant aphid species, particularly within canola crops. Across all fields, aphid populations remained relatively low during the early stages of crop growth and increased as the season progressed. Seasonal patterns were consistent across sites, due to climate, crop growth stage, and interactions between these factors. For canola, field edges did not appear to act as reservoirs for either aphids or parasitoids, as there was little overlap in the community composition of either, but for wheat there was much similarity. This is likely due to the presence of similar host plants within field edges and the neighbouring crop, enabling the same aphid species to persist within both areas. Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) was the most common parasitoid across our study, particularly in canola, yet was present only in low abundance at field edges. The most common parasitoid in wheat fields was Aphidius matricariae (Haliday), with field edges likely acting as a reservoir for this species. Secondary parasitoid numbers were consistently low across our study. Differences in parasitoid species composition are discussed in relation to crop type, inter-field variation, and aphid host. The results highlight potential focal management areas and parasitoids that could help control aphid pests within grain crops.

Project description:Developing a rigorous understanding of multiple global threats to species persistence requires the use of integrated modeling methods that capture processes which influence species distributions. Species distribution models (SDMs) coupled with population dynamics models can incorporate relationships between changing environments and demographics and are increasingly used to quantify relative extinction risks associated with climate and land-use changes. Despite their appeal, uncertainties associated with complex models can undermine their usefulness for advancing predictive ecology and informing conservation management decisions. We developed a computationally-efficient and freely available tool (GRIP 2.0) that implements and automates a global sensitivity analysis of coupled SDM-population dynamics models for comparing the relative influence of demographic parameters and habitat attributes on predicted extinction risk. Advances over previous global sensitivity analyses include the ability to vary habitat suitability across gradients, as well as habitat amount and configuration of spatially-explicit suitability maps of real and simulated landscapes. Using GRIP 2.0, we carried out a multi-model global sensitivity analysis of a coupled SDM-population dynamics model of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) in Mount Rainier National Park as a case study and quantified the relative influence of input parameters and their interactions on model predictions. Our results differed from the one-at-time analyses used in the original study, and we found that the most influential parameters included the total amount of suitable habitat within the landscape, survival rates, and effects of a prevalent disease, white pine blister rust. Strong interactions between habitat amount and survival rates of older trees suggests the importance of habitat in mediating the negative influences of white pine blister rust. Our results underscore the importance of considering habitat attributes along with demographic parameters in sensitivity routines. GRIP 2.0 is an important decision-support tool that can be used to prioritize research, identify habitat-based thresholds and management intervention points to improve probability of species persistence, and evaluate trade-offs of alternative management options.

Dataset Information

Mass landscapes of seven scorpion species: The first analyses of Australian species with 1,5-DAN matrix.

Publications

Mass landscapes of seven scorpion species: The first analyses of Australian species with 1,5-DAN matrix.

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