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Cave-adapted beetles from continental Portugal.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The cave biodiversity of continental Portugal faces tremendous conservation challenges, mostly linked to their direct destruction and contamination infiltrating from the surface. Beetles are the most diverse insects and one of the most diverse arthropod groups in caves of Portugal.

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We present the IUCN Red List profiles for the cave-adapted beetles from continental Portugal, all endemic to their respective geological units and massifs. Ground beetles (Carabidae) are the most diverse family of cave-adapted beetles in continental Portugal, followed by rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Beetles in caves of Portugal are mostly terrestrial and only one species is known to have evolved to live in groundwater. Trechus is the most diverse genus with four species, followed by Domene with three species and by Speonemadus and Iberoporus, both with one cave-adapted species. The aim of this contribution is to assess all endemic cave-adapted species of beetles from continental Portugal and to support their specific protection, to promote adequate management of surface habitats and the establishment of priority areas for conservation. The main biodiversity erosion drivers that are impacting the conservation of the studied species are pollution infiltrating from the surface, urbaniation, modifications of the natural habitat for touristic purposes and mining, quarrying and energy production infrastructures.This document can be used in spatial planning and territory management in karst, based on the current scientific knowledge.

SUBMITTER: Reboleira ASPS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8397697 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundCanine dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic in continental Portugal. However, information about the transmitting mosquito species is still scarce, with only Culex theileri identified to date, albeit with L1-2, through dissection. This study was carried out to investigate the potential vectors of Dirofilaria spp. in continental Portugal.MethodsMosquitoes were collected in three distinct seasons (Summer, Autumn and Spring), 2011-2013, in three districts. CDC traps and indoor resting collections were carried out in the vicinity of kennels. Mosquitoes were kept under controlled conditions for 7 days to allow the development of larval stages of Dirofilaria spp.. DNA extraction was performed separately for both head+thorax and abdomen in order to differentiate infective and infected specimens, respectively, in pools, grouped according to the species and collection site (1-40 specimen parts/pool), and examined by PCR using pan-filarial specific primers. Mosquito densities were compared using non-parametric tests. Dirofilaria development units (DDU) were estimated.ResultsIn total, 9156 female mosquitoes, from 11 different species, were captured. Mosquito densities varied among the 3 districts, according to capture method, and were generally higher in the second year of collections. From 5866 specimens screened by PCR, 23 head+thorax and 41 abdomens pools, corresponding to 54 mosquitoes were found positive for D. immitis DNA. These belonged to 5 species: Culex (Cux) theileri (estimated rate of infection (ERI)=0.71%), Cx. (Cux) pipiens f. pipiens and f. molestus (ERI=0.5%), Anopheles (Ano) maculipennis s.l. (ERI=3.12%), including An. (Ano) atroparvus, Aedes (Och) caspius (ERI=3.73%) and Ae. (Och) detritus s.l. (ERI=4.39%). All but Cx. pipiens, had at least one infective specimen. No D. repens infected specimens were found. Infection rates were: 3.21% in Coimbra, 1.22% in Setúbal and 0.54% in Santarém. DDU were at least 117/year in the study period.ConclusionsCulex theileri, Cx. pipiens, An. maculipennis s.l. An. atroparvus, Ae.caspius and Ae. detritus s.l. were identified as potential vectors of D. immitis in three districts of Portugal, from Spring to Autumn, in 5 of the 6 collection dates in 2011-2013. Implications for transmission, in the context of climate changes, and need for prophylactic measures, are discussed.

Project description:A key challenge in contemporary biology is connecting genotypic variation to phenotypic diversity. Quantitative genetics provides a powerful technique for identifying regions of the genome that covary with phenotypic variation. Here, we present a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of a natural freshwater fish system, Astyanax mexicanus, that harbors two morphs corresponding to a cave and surface fish. Following their divergence ~500 Kya, cavefish have adapted to the extreme pressures of the subterranean biome. As a consequence, cavefish have lost numerous features, but evolved gains for a variety of constructive features including behavior. Prior work found that sensory tissues (neuromasts) present in the "eye orbit" region of the skull associate with sensitivity to vibrations in water. This augmented sensation is believed to facilitate foraging behavior in the complete darkness of a cave, and may impact on evolved lateral swimming preference. To this point, however, it has remained unclear how morphological variation integrates with behavioral variation through heritable factors. Using a QTL approach, we discovered the genetic architecture of neuromasts present in the eye orbit region, demonstrating that this feature is under genetic control. Interestingly, linked loci were asymmetric-signals were detected using only data collected from the right, but not left, side of the face. This finding may explain enhanced sensitivity and/or feedback of water movements mediating a lateral swimming preference. The locus we discovered based on neuromast position maps near established QTL for eye size and a facial bone morphology, raising the intriguing possibility that eye loss, sensory expansion, and the cranial skeleton may be integrated for evolving adaptive behaviors. Thus, this work will further our understanding of the functional consequence of key loci that influence the evolutionary origin of changes impacting morphology, behavior, and adaptation.

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Cave-adapted beetles from continental Portugal.

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