Heterocheilus floridensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae) from the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus (Trichechidae, Sirenia) in Florida, USA.

Morphological data are used to describe a new nematode species, Heterocheilus floridensis sp. n. (Heterocheilidae) from the digestive tract of the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris (Harlan) (Trichechidae, Sirenia) from Florida, USA. Examination by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the new species differs from the related Heterocheilus tunicatus Diesing, 1839 mainly by having dentigerous ridges on the inner surface of the lips, a median unpaired papilla located anterior to the cloaca, and a considerably larger body size. Sequence data for subunits I and II of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene, 18S small subunit and 28S ribosomal RNA genes were provided for molecular characterisation of the new species. However, the current unavailability of homologous sequence data for congeneric specimens precluded a molecular assessment of the morphological species hypothesis, and ascaridoid phylogenetic hypotheses could not be advanced. Specimens of Heterocheilus sp. collected from the Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus in Puerto Rico, on loan from the US National Museum of Natural History, were morphologically consistent with the new species, so apparently all congeneric nematodes reported from both subspecies of the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus Linnaeus and previously identified as H. tunicatus belong rather to H. floridensis sp. n. Heterocheilus hagenbecki (Khalil et Vogelsang, 1932) Sprent 1980 is here considered to be a species inquirenda. A key to valid species of Heterocheilus Diesing, 1839 is provided.

Morphological and genetic description of two new species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) parasitic in needlefishes (Belonidae) from estuaries of Florida, USA.

Two new species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) from needlefishes (Belonidae) in Florida are described based on morphological and genetic characteristics: Philometra aequispiculata sp. n. (males and females) collected from the ovary of Strongylura marina (Walbaum) (type host) and Strongylura notata (Poey), and Philometra notatae sp. n. (females) from the swimbladder of S. notata. Both species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Morphologically, P. aequispiculata sp. n. differs from all congeners mainly in the unique structure of the distal tip of the gubernaculum, whereas P. notatae sp. n. is mainly characterised by the presence of eight markedly large cephalic papillae of the outer circle in gravid and subgravid females, the body length of the gravid female (54 mm) and by the absence of caudal projections. Molecular characterisation of the new species was assessed from phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and SSU rRNA small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) sequences among closely related philometrids by way of Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on COI and SSU sequences show each of the new species comprise discrete ancestor-descendent lineages.

Isolation and characterization of 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the study of genetic population structure of the sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Sparidae).

BACKGROUND: The sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) is found in nearshore waters from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In the southeastern United States two subspecies are recognized based on a number of meristic characters, primarily counts of melanistic pigment bars. The only previous study based on mtDNA control-region sequence found limited divergence between those subspecies and isolation by distance among 15 locations from Florida (Atlantic Ocean) to Texas (Gulf of Mexico). In the same study, using six sparid microsatellite markers, Bayesian analysis showed that the Gulf and Atlantic sheepshead form a single population. To reinvestigate the fine-scale genetic population structure and examine genetic support for the morphologically classified subspecies, a set of species-specific microsatellite markers was needed. FINDINGS: Here we report on 24 polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated from sheepshead and screened in 57 specimens from the Indian River, Florida. The average number of alleles per locus was 13.1; mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.68 and 0.73, respectively. Nine sparid markers screened for the same specimens showed an average of 8.6 alleles per locus; mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.46 and 0.55, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphic markers reported here can be used to search for genetic evidence for the morphologically defined subspecies, to elucidate the fine-scale genetic population structure of this broadly distributed coastal species, and to provide an opportunity to directly compare results of population delineation between nonspecific and species-specific markers.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2012 - 31 March 2012.

This article documents the addition of 171 microsatellite marker loci and 27 pairs of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sequencing primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Bombus pauloensis, Cephalorhynchus heavisidii, Cercospora sojina, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus, Hordeum vulgare, Lachnolaimus maximus, Oceanodroma monteiroi, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, Rhea americana, Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, Schistocephalus solidus, Sousa plumbea and Tursiops aduncus. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Aquila heliaca, Bulweria bulwerii, Buteo buteo, Buteo swainsoni, Falco rusticolus, Haliaeetus albicilla, Halobaena caerulea, Hieraaetus fasciatus, Oceanodroma castro, Puccinia graminis f. sp. Tritici, Puccinia triticina, Rhea pennata and Schistocephalus pungitii. This article also documents the addition of 27 sequencing primer pairs for Puffinus baroli and Bulweria bulwerii and cross-testing of these loci in Oceanodroma castro, Pelagodroma marina, Pelecanoides georgicus, Pelecanoides urinatrix, Thalassarche chrysostoma and Thalassarche melanophrys.

A dispersal-dependent zone of introgressive hybridization between weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, and sand seatrout, C. arenarius, (Sciaenidae) in the Florida Atlantic.

Five diagnostic codominant nuclear DNA markers and a diagnostic mitochondrial DNA marker were used to survey weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) and sand seatrout (C. arenarius), with particular focus on heretofore uncharacterized juvenile populations along the Florida (FL) Atlantic coast. Geographic and reproductive ranges of weakfish and sand seatrout were shown to overlap on the Atlantic coast along north and central FL. An active bidirectional zone of introgressive hybridization exists between these taxa, centered in the St Johns River, FL. Strong patterns of Hardy-Weinberg, linkage, and cytonuclear disequilibrium and a bimodal hybrid index distribution were observed for juvenile cohorts in the zone center, coupled with narrow (∼240 km) concordant clines. Parental forms had disparate habitat preferences; hybrid forms occurred predominantly in intermediate habitats. All genetic data were consistent with the hypothesis that the C. arenarius-C. regalis hybrid zone is maintained by a dynamic equilibrium between continued interspecific gene flow and one or more opposing forces. Cytonuclear analyses indicated that parental forms mate assortatively in the zone but that mate recognition was imperfect. Ethological mating dynamics are likely stabilized by some form of endogenous or exogenous postfertilization selection against hybrids such that parental taxa will likely continue to evolve independently.

Development of 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers in the Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) for capture-recapture studies.

Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci for Atlantic tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, were isolated by using PIMA, a polymerase chain reaction-based technique. The number of alleles at each locus ranged from two to 24 (mean = 7.7) in 65 specimens from Tampa Bay, Florida. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.27 to 0.92 (mean = 0.60) and from 0.28 to 0.95 (mean = 0.62), respectively. Genotypes at one locus deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In exact tests for genotypic disequilibrium, there was no evidence of associations between any pair of loci. Overall, loci were well resolved and highly polymorphic, confirming their suitability for DNA fingerprinting applications and other genetic studies.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Eighteen new polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris.

Here we describe 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci for Trichechus manatus latirostris (Florida manatee), isolated using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique. The number of alleles at each locus ranged from two to four (mean = 2.5) in specimens from southwest (n = 58) and northeast (n = 58) Florida. Expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.11 to 0.67 (mean = 0.35) and from 0.02 to 0.78 (mean = 0.34), respectively. Departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium occurred at two loci. There was no evidence of genotypic disequilibrium for any pair of loci. For individual identification, mean random-mating and θ-corrected match probabilities were 9.36 × 10(-7) and 1.95 × 10(-6) , respectively.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Twelve polymorphic microsatellite markers for the bonefish, Albula vulpes and two congeners.

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated for the bonefish, Albula vulpes using a polymerase chain reaction-based procedure. The number of alleles ranged from two to 23 (mean = 8.8) in 37 specimens from south Florida. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.07 to 0.77 (mean = 0.42) and from 0.07 to 0.84 (mean = 0.48), respectively. There were no significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and no evidence of genotypic disequilibrium between any pair of loci. In a cross-amplification test, all markers yielded appropriately sized alleles for specimens of the provisional Albula sp. B and 11 of the 12 loci amplified for those of Albula glossodonta.

Ten di- and trinucleotide microsatellite loci in the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, for studies of regional population connectivity.

We describe 10 microsatellite loci for Panulirus argus (Caribbean spiny lobster). The number of alleles at each locus ranged from four to 39 (mean = 21.8) in 89 juvenile specimens collected at two different times at a recruitment site in south Florida. Levels of expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.48 to 0.96 (mean = 0.83) and from 0.32 to 0.98 (mean = 0.71), respectively. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed at two loci. There was no evidence of genotypic disequilibrium for any pair of loci. Overall, the loci were well resolved, highly polymorphic and independently segregating, confirming their utility for population genetic studies.