Papers by Elvira Matthaeis
Molecular systematics and phylogeography in the fairy shrimp Tanymastix stagnalis based on mitochondrial DNA
Journal of Zoology, 2005
Patterns of sequence divergence in about 1 kb of mitochondrial DNA coding for two genes (16s rRNA... more Patterns of sequence divergence in about 1 kb of mitochondrial DNA coding for two genes (16s rRNA and cytochrome oxidase I, COI) were analysed in 13 populations of the fairy shrimp Tanymastix stagnalis from Norway, Germany, France, Italy (northern and central Italy plus insular populations from Sardinia and the Tuscan Archipelago) and Spain, and in one presumed population of Tanymastix stellae from Corsica. The latter species was originally known only from a single locality in Sardinia, which has been destroyed by urbanization; the Corsican population was referred to T. stellae by some French authors on the basis of the collection of several cysts from mud. mtDNA data revealed a very low level of genetic divergence between the presumed population of T. stellae and the other T. stagnalis populations included in the study. Our genetic findings do not support the presence of T. stellae in Corsica and are in line with previous SEM studies revealing that all species belonging to the genu...
Bolletino di zoologia, 1995
Allozyme variation of 30 populations of the amphipod Talitrus saltator collected from different l... more Allozyme variation of 30 populations of the amphipod Talitrus saltator collected from different localities of Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts was studied. A remarkable genetic differentiation was revealed among diverse geographic groups. Three main groups were highlighted showing values of genetic distance (average D = 0.4) frequently reported for interspecific comparisons. The estimates of gene flow calculated from the Fst values are reported. The pattern of genetic divergence between the different geographic groups is discussed taking into account the dispersal capacity of T. saltator, the pattern of the surface currents in the Mediterranean basin and the Pleistocene climatic fluctuations in the Mediterranean.
Semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods of the genus Cryptorchestia (sensu Lowry and Fanini 2013) ass... more Semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods of the genus Cryptorchestia (sensu Lowry and Fanini 2013) associated with freshwater-soaked leaf litter were known to occur in inland lakes of Turkey and at the shores of the Black Sea. Before 2013 they had been reported as Orchestia cavimana and later as Cryptorchestia cavimana. In our phylogenetic tree, inferred from a mitochondrial and nuclear gene dataset (cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and histone H3 (H3), respectively), we show that these Turkish populations belong to Cryptochestia garbinii, a common and widespread continental species, which is closely related to C. cavimana (endemic to Cyprus) and C. ruffoi (endemic to Rhodes). For the Turkish and European populations of C. garbinii, we found low levels of both genetic differentiation and morphological variation, and an age-related size variability (increasing at each moult) of the small lobe in the male gnathopod I merus, the main taxonomically diagnostic character for Cryptorchestia. A mainland (C. garbinii) versus insular isolation and in situ speciation (C. cavimana, and C. ruffoi) in the two east Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Rhodes is discussed in relation to terrestrial Cryptorchestia species endemic to North East Atlantic volcanic islands
Semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods of the genus Cryptorchestia (sensu Lowry and Fanini 2013) ass... more Semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods of the genus Cryptorchestia (sensu Lowry and Fanini 2013) associated with freshwater-soaked leaf litter were known to occur in inland lakes of Turkey and at the shores of the Black Sea. Before 2013 they had been reported as Orchestia cavimana and later as Cryptorchestia cavimana. In our phylogenetic tree, inferred from a mitochondrial and nuclear gene dataset (cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and histone H3 (H3), respectively), we show that these Turkish populations belong to Cryptochestia garbinii, a common and widespread continental species, which is closely related to C. cavimana (endemic to Cyprus) and C. ruffoi (endemic to Rhodes). For the Turkish and European populations of C. garbinii, we found low levels of both genetic differentiation and morphological variation, and an age-related size variability (increasing at each moult) of the small lobe in the male gnathopod I merus, the main taxonomically diagnostic character for Cryptorchestia. A mainland (C. garbinii) versus insular isolation and in situ speciation (C. cavimana, and C. ruffoi) in the two east Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Rhodes is discussed in relation to terrestrial Cryptorchestia species endemic to North East Atlantic volcanic islands
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ZooKeys, 2018
Semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods of the genus (sensu Lowry and Fanini 2013) associated with fr... more Semi-terrestrial talitrid amphipods of the genus (sensu Lowry and Fanini 2013) associated with freshwater-soaked leaf litter were known to occur in inland lakes of Turkey and at the shores of the Black Sea. Before 2013 they had been reported as and later as . In our phylogenetic tree, inferred from a mitochondrial and nuclear gene dataset (cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and histone H3 (H3), respectively), we show that these Turkish populations belong to , a common and widespread continental species, which is closely related to (endemic to Cyprus) and (endemic to Rhodes). For the Turkish and European populations of , we found low levels of both genetic differentiation and morphological variation, and an age-related size variability (increasing at each moult) of the small lobe in the male gnathopod I merus, the main taxonomically diagnostic character for . A mainland () versus insular isolation and in situ speciation (, and ) in the two east Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Rhodes is ...
Patterns of genetic differentiation and gene flow in Central Italian populations of Dinocras cephalotes (Curtis, 1827) (Insecta, Plecoptera)
Fundamental and Applied Limnology, 2001
Résumé/Abstract Dispersal is a crucial phenomenon which has a strong influence on the ecology and... more Résumé/Abstract Dispersal is a crucial phenomenon which has a strong influence on the ecology and evolution of species, determining the extent of gene flow among conspecific populations. In this paper, we present data on the degree of genetic structuring in 11 populations of the stonefly Dinocras cephalotes, focusing our attention on three Central Italian rivers: Aniene, Nera and Velino. We studied the genetic variation at 28 enzymatic loci by means of starch gel electrophoresis: 19 loci were polymorphic in one population at ...
ZooKeys, 2017
A new Cryptorchestia species, Cryptorchestia ruffoi Latella & Vonk, sp. n. from the island of Rho... more A new Cryptorchestia species, Cryptorchestia ruffoi Latella & Vonk, sp. n. from the island of Rhodes in south-eastern Greece, can be distinguished on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic data. Morphological analysis and DNA sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear protein-coding genes indicated that this species is related to C. cavimana (Cyprus) and C. garbinii (Mediterranean regions, with a recent northward expansion). Results supported a genetic separation between the Cryptorchestia species of the east Mediterranean regions and those of the northeast Atlantic volcanic islands examined in this study (C. canariensis, C. gomeri, C. guancha, and C. stocki from the Canary islands, C. monticola from Madeira, and C. chevreuxi from the Azores). The Mediterranean and Atlantic Cryptorchestia species appear to be also morphologically distinct. Cryptorchestia ruffoi sp. n., C. cavimana, C. garbinii, and C. kosswigi (Turkish coast) clearly have a small lobe on the male gnathopod 1 merus. This character was the main diagnostic difference between Cryptorchestia (sensu Lowry, 2013) and Orchestia. However, among the six northeast Atlantic island Cryptorchestia species only C. stocki has a small lobe on the merus of gnathopod 1. Reduction or loss of the lobe in the Atlantic Island species cannot be ruled out; however, molecular phylogenetic analysis leads us to presume that this lobe independently evolved between the east Mediterranean Cryptorchestia species and C. stocki from Gran Canaria.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2015
The Italian region Latium is characterized by extensive quaternary volcanic systems that contribu... more The Italian region Latium is characterized by extensive quaternary volcanic systems that contribute greatly to arsenic (As) contamination of freshwater, including drinking water supplies. However, knowledge of the possible toxic effects in these aquatic environments is, despite being highly relevant to public health, still limited. In this paper, we approach this issue using Gammarus elvirae, an amphipod species that inhabits rivers and streams in central Italy, including Latium. We explored the possibility of using G. elvirae in the toxicology of freshwater by addressing the most relevant issues. First, we tested the usefulness of hemocytes from G. elvirae in determining non-specific DNA damage by means of the Comet assay after exposure (24 h and 7 days) to different river water samples in Latium; second, we provided an interpretative overview of the usefulness of hepatopancreatic epithelial cells of G. elvirae as a means of assessing toxicity after long-term exposure to As and other pollutants; third, the LC (50-240 h) value for G. elvirae was estimated for arsenate, which is usually the dominant arsenic species in surface waters. Our study sheds light on G. elvirae at different levels, providing a background for future toxicological research of freshwater.
Shell morphology in Cerastoderma spp. (Bivalvia: Cardiidae) and its significance for adaptation to tidal and non-tidal coastal habitats
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2002
Several morphological characteristics of the shell in cockles (genus Cerastoderma) were investiga... more Several morphological characteristics of the shell in cockles (genus Cerastoderma) were investigated. A significant inverse relationship between rib number and shell curve was revealed in Cerastoderma glaucum. Morphometric and meristic descriptors were correlated with some environmental factors, such as salinity and temperature. Analysis of allometry in C. glaucum and Cerastoderma edule revealed significant differences between the two species. The results are discussed from an adaptive perspective, providing possible hypotheses on the steps which might have driven the evolution of form of the studied species during the process of adaptation to coastal tidal and confined habitats.
Status of insecticide resistance in Culex pipiens field populations from north‐eastern areas of Italy before the withdrawal of OP compounds
Pest Management Science, 2010
BACKGROUND: Heavy and constant use of organophosphorus (OP) larvicides selected Culex pipiens L. ... more BACKGROUND: Heavy and constant use of organophosphorus (OP) larvicides selected Culex pipiens L. resistant populations through two main mechanisms of genetic resistance, the increased activity of detoxifying esterase and the production of alterate acetylcholinesterase‐1 (AChE1) by G119S mutation. The aim of this study was the assessment of the distribution of Cx. pipiens populations resistant to temephos and chlorpyrifos in the north‐eastern regions of Italy and the occurrence of the insensitive AChE in these populations. Data describe the situation in the last years before European legislation prohibited the use of OP larvicides in mosquito control, up until 2007.RESULTS: For the first time a high level of OP resistance in the samples from Ravenna (182‐fold, 80% A4/B4 or A5/B5 esterases and 38.3% Ester5), Emilia Romagna region, was detected; therefore, new data from the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions were obtained and reinforced existing knowledge about resistance previou...
Limnologica - Ecology and Management of Inland Waters, 2010
The life history of the amphipod Orchestia sp. cf. cavimana (Heller, 1865) was studied throughout... more The life history of the amphipod Orchestia sp. cf. cavimana (Heller, 1865) was studied throughout the course of a year with monthly samplings and the use of pitfall traps along the shores of Lake Albano in central Italy. The data thus obtained showed two peaks in abundance (the first in June and the second in October) and a minimum capture frequency in February. Egg-bearing females were recorded in spring and late summer, whilst recruitment occurred from spring to autumn, with maximum in June and October. The data collected also indicated the presence of a positive correlation between the abundance of talitrids and both temperature and sediment moisture. Morphological analysis enabled the identification of four different cohorts (with a lifespan of the species of approximately 12-15 months) all four of which remained distinguishable throughout the course of the year. It, moreover, enabled sex determination in individuals of 5 or more millimetres. The subsequent distribution indicated that, when significant, the sex ratio was female biased and that maximum size was greater in males. In particular, maximum sizes were recorded in spring for both males and females and were of 17.5 and 13.0 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the total body length recorded for egg-bearing females was positively correlated with the number of eggs in their brood pouch.
Phosphoglucomutase polymorphism and natural selection in populations of the cave cricket Dolichopoda geniculata1
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 2009
ABSTRACT Electrophoretic variation at the Phosphoglucomutase locus has been studied in 17 populat... more ABSTRACT Electrophoretic variation at the Phosphoglucomutase locus has been studied in 17 populations of the cave cricket Dolichopoda geniculata from caves in Central Italy ranging from the sea level up to 1080 m. 11 populations show a diallelic polymorphism; the distribution of genotypes agrees rather closely with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Allelic frequencies were found to be linearly associated with the elevation of the caves where polymorphic Dolichopoda populations were found. The implications of this finding which suggest a role by natural selection at the molecular level are discussed.ZusammenfassungPhosphoglucomotase-Polymorphismus und natürliche Auslese in Populationen der Höhlengrille Dolichopoda geniculataMit Hilfe der Stärkegelelektrophorese wurden die Variationen des Phosphoglucomutase-Locus an 17 Populationen der Höhlengrille Dolichopoda geniculata untersucht, die aus Höhlen unterschiedlicher Höhe (0–1080 m) in Zentralitalien stammen, 11 Populationen zeigen einen diallelen Polymorphismus; die Verteilung der Genotypen folgt weitgehend der Hardy-Weinberg Erwartung. Die Allelfrequenzen der polymorphen Dolichopoda-Populationen sind linear korreliert mit der Höhe ihres Fundortes. Die Folgerungen dieser Befunde, die auf eine Selektion auf molekularer Ebene hindeuten, werden diskutiert.
Heredity, 1998
We have studied the distribution of resistance genes in relation to genetic structure and gene fl... more We have studied the distribution of resistance genes in relation to genetic structure and gene flow between field populations of Culex pipiens from Italy. Electrophoretic polymorphism of 12 supposed neutral genes showed that genetic differentiation among samples was low and indirect values of Nm provided high estimates of gene flow. In contrast, we observed a strong differentiation in the distribution of resistance genes, highly correlated with the presence/ absence of organophosphate insecticide treatments. These results are discussed in relation to the fitness cost of these genes and pattern of dispersal in C. pipiens.
Genetic variability and divergence between populations and species of Nesticus cave spiders
Genetica, 1981
Genetic variability and divergence at 21 enzyme loci were studied in and between Italian populati... more Genetic variability and divergence at 21 enzyme loci were studied in and between Italian populations of the cave spiders Nesticus eremita (13 populations), N. menozzii and N. sbordonii (one population each). The three species differ with respect to the degree of specialization to cave life, dispersion ability, isolation of populations, abundancy, extent of the distribution area, and range from the
Variation of genetic and behavioural traits in the sandhopperTalitrus saltator(Crustacea Amphipoda) along a dynamic sand beach
Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 2010
In an attempt to unravel the possible relationships among coastal stability, genetic variability ... more In an attempt to unravel the possible relationships among coastal stability, genetic variability and orientation behaviour in the sandhopper Talitrus saltator, we have screened four subpopulations of this species. Sandhoppers along 3 km of a dynamic sand beach were studied for orientation performance (ie adherence to the seaward theoretical escape direction (TED)) and sequence variation for a fragment of the mitochondrial (mt) gene encoding for the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). The sampling sites differed in the ...
Genetic homeostasis and orientation in littoral amphipods
Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 1993
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2003
Allozymic variation was studied at 23 loci in 10 populations of Talitrus saltator, two population... more Allozymic variation was studied at 23 loci in 10 populations of Talitrus saltator, two populations of Talorchestia deshayesii and two populations of Talorchestia brito from the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. Levels of genetic differentiation among the three species showed a close relationship between T. saltator and T. deshayesii, whereas T. brito was more genetically differentiated. Within T. saltator, it was possible to recognise two main clusters, the first grouping consisting of Baltic, Tyrrhenian and North African populations, the second comprising Adriatic and East Mediterranean populations. Talitrus saltator populations were generally characterised by low levels of gene flow ðNm < 1Þ. The relationship between Nm and geographic distances was analysed to test for an isolation by distance pattern in the spatial genetic variation. Isolation by distance was detected at the scale of the whole Mediterranean, with geographic distance explaining about 50% of the variance in gene flow. The North African populations showed an island model of genetic structuring; this result is mainly due to the anomalous genetic pattern of a population from a Tunisian beach (Tabarka) highly exploited for tourism. Human activities, which may influence T. saltator population dynamics, are believed to be responsible for the observed pattern of genetic variation in North Africa.
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 2003
This study analysed the levels of genetic differentiation within and among the six Italian specie... more This study analysed the levels of genetic differentiation within and among the six Italian species of the fairy shrimp genus Chirocephalus by analysing electrophoretic polymorphisms at 22 enzymatic loci and by sequencing a 665-bp fragment of the mitochondrial gene encoding for subunit I of cytochrome oxidase. The allozyme data revealed different levels of intra-specific differentiation; mean h estimates were low in Chirocephalus salinus, higher and comparable in C. diaphanus and C. kerkyrensis, while C. ruffoi was the most genetically structured species. At the inter-specific level, C. marchesonii was the most differentiated species, both for allozymes and mtDNA. Phylogenetic relationships deduced from allozymes and mtDNA were not always consistent with each other. This highlights the differences in performance of the two classes of molecular markers and the need of different independent strategies of data analysis to search for possible incongruence. Neither allozymes nor mtDNA supported monophyly of the diaphanus-group, previously recognized on the basis of the morphology of appendages (antennae and penes). In contrast the molecular results were consistent with the great heterogeneity in resting egg morphology among representatives of the diaphanus-group.
Frontiers in Zoology, 2013
Introduction We examined patterns of genetic divergence in 26 Mediterranean populations of the se... more Introduction We examined patterns of genetic divergence in 26 Mediterranean populations of the semi-terrestrial beachflea Orchestia montagui using mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I), microsatellite (eight loci) and allozymic data. The species typically forms large populations within heaps of dead seagrass leaves stranded on beaches at the waterfront. We adopted a hierarchical geographic sampling to unravel population structure in a species living at the sea-land transition and, hence, likely subjected to dramatically contrasting forces. Results Mitochondrial DNA showed historical phylogeographic breaks among Adriatic, Ionian and the remaining basins (Tyrrhenian, Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea) likely caused by the geological and climatic changes of the Pleistocene. Microsatellites (and to a lesser extent allozymes) detected a further subdivision between and within the Western Mediterranean and the Tyrrhenian Sea due to present-day processes. A pattern of isolation b...
Biochemical biogeography and evolutionary relationships among the six known populations of Stenasellus racovitzai (Crustacea, Isopoda) from Tuscany, Corsica and Sardinia
Fundamental and Applied Limnology, 2000
Résumé/Abstract Allozymic variation at 15 enzymatic loci was studied in six populations of the st... more Résumé/Abstract Allozymic variation at 15 enzymatic loci was studied in six populations of the stygobiont isopod Stenasellus racovitzai. This species belongs to the exclusively stygobiont family Stenasellidae, characterised by morphological, ecological and biogeographical features indicating an extremely ancient separation from a presumed surface ancestor. Here we present allozymic data for six populations of S. racovitzai: two from Tuscany, two from Corsica and two from Sardinia. Levels of genetic divergence ...
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Papers by Elvira Matthaeis