Publications by authors named "Moises A Valladares"
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to clarify the evolutionary relationships of the Orestias genus, previously misclassified under the family Cyprinodontidae due to incomplete data, by using complete genome sequencing.* -
- Researchers sequenced genomes from three Orestias species and created a comprehensive phylogenetic tree, revealing that Orestias is closely related to South American fish rather than distant genera.* -
- Findings indicate that Orestias should be reassigned to its own lineage, closely linked to the Fluviphylacidae family, rather than being grouped with Cyprinodontidae.*
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how historical and contemporary climate changes have influenced the genetic structure of Heleobia ascotanensis, a freshwater snail endemic to the Ascotán Saltpan in South America.
- When analyzing mitochondrial sequences, researchers found diverse haplotypes indicating past population expansions during significant wet events in the Pleistocene, while current population structure appears more fragmented due to geographic barriers.
- Morphometric analyses revealed that more isolated populations exhibit significant morphological differences, suggesting that both genetic and physical traits have diverged due to limited gene flow in contemporary times.
Article Synopsis
- A study identified and analyzed natural pearls produced by a freshwater clam species from southern South America, specifically from Chilean Patagonia lakes.
- The research utilized various scientific techniques like microscopy and spectroscopy to investigate the pearls' composition, which was found to contain calcium carbonate and structural features typical of other mollusks.
- The pearls exhibited a range of shapes (spherical, ellipsoidal, buttoned, and bumpy) and sizes (200 µm to 1.9 mm) and were documented in different colors, appearing in both male and female clams.
Article Synopsis
- The Atacama Desert's evaporitic ecosystems are home to a unique freshwater snail, which is critically endangered and faces threats from climate changes and landscape variations.
- A study found that this snail has distinct genetic groups that correlate with environmental conditions, revealing significant differences in shell shape across geographically isolated populations.
- Given the findings, the snail's conservation status has been updated to Endangered regionally, emphasizing the need for conservation strategies that incorporate its genetic diversity.
Knowing the reproductive biology of threatened species is essential for conservation and to establish proper management plans. , a freshwater snail only known from two locations in the Atacama Saltpan, northern Chile, is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List and Critically Endangered by the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente of Chile. Based on size-frequency distribution, multivariate analysis of shell measurements, and microdissections, we studied the reproductive strategy, recruitment period, sex ratio and sexual dimorphism in this species.
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- The genus Potamolithus in the southwestern Andes includes species that are hard to differentiate due to their small size and similar shell shapes, with only two species formally recognized so far.
- Research using mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed six distinct haplogroups, indicating that there may be several cryptic species in the region, suggesting a greater biodiversity than previously understood.
- Findings imply that species formations occurred during the Pliocene due to climatic changes, highlighting the importance of conserving the regions with the highest diversity of these species.
Article Synopsis
- Beneficial microorganisms, especially fungal endophytes, can enhance plant survival under environmental stress, making them valuable for improving crop performance and restoring endangered species.
- The study evaluated the effect of Arctic fungal endophytes on two endangered tree species in Chile, finding that inoculation significantly boosted photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and growth.
- Further analysis indicated that inoculated plants had better survival rates and potential for expanded distribution, while also maintaining the diversity of native soil microorganisms.
Article Synopsis
- Nothofagus alessandrii is a critically endangered tree species in Chile, facing severe habitat disturbance from human activities and requiring urgent conservation efforts.
- Researchers developed new microsatellite markers through high-throughput sequencing, identifying 18 that successfully amplified and evaluated genetic diversity in three populations.
- The study found significant genetic diversity among individuals, with some markers showing evidence of independence, which will aid in future conservation and management strategies for this endangered species.
Article Synopsis
- - The identification of minute freshwater snails in Chile is challenging due to similarities in shell morphology, which is complicated by the presence of invasive species like Potamopyrgus antipodarum sharing the habitat with native genera Heleobia and Potamolithus.
- - Through a combined molecular phylogenetic analysis and examination of reproductive and morphological traits, researchers identified various snail species across 51 locations, revealing 10 sites with the invasive mudsnail, 23 with Heleobia, and 7 with Potamolithus.
- - The study highlights significant findings regarding the spread of the invasive mudsnail, suggesting potential species replacement and extinction of native snails, emphasizing the importance of integrative taxonomy for addressing complex species identification in ongoing invas
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the genetic diversity, evolutionary history, and physical differences of a freshwater snail species found only in the Ascotán saltpan of Chile, highlighting its distribution across twelve isolated springs affected by past climate changes.
- - Genetic analysis of 322 specimens revealed three distinct genetic populations with varying levels of historical gene flow and some early stages of physical differentiation due to isolation.
- - The findings indicate that these populations have experienced unique demographic histories influenced by environmental fluctuations, suggesting that both current and past events have played a role in their microevolutionary changes, though more research is needed for detailed predictions on genetic variation.
Article Synopsis
- Cochliopidae is a diverse family of aquatic snails primarily found in the New World, with a significant presence in various habitats.
- In Chile, these snails were historically classified under the genus Littoridina but recent studies indicate that most should belong to the genus Heleobia due to anatomical and phylogenetic insights.
- This text reports the formal description of a new species of Heleobia discovered in the Carcote saltpan, based on both genetic and physical characteristics, reinforcing previous findings that indicated its uniqueness through DNA analysis.