Genomic investigations of successful invasions: the picture emerging from recent studies.

Invasion biology aims to identify traits and mechanisms that contribute to successful invasions, while also providing general insights into the mechanisms underlying population expansion and adaptation to rapid climate and habitat changes. Certain phenotypic attributes have been linked to successful invasions, and the role of genetics has been critical in understanding adaptation of invasive species. Nevertheless, a comprehensive summary evaluating the most common evolutionary mechanisms associated with successful invasions across species and environments is still lacking.

Genetic Identity and Diversity of Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Central Mediterranean Sea.

The conservation of loggerhead sea turtles () in the central Mediterranean benefits from an in-depth understanding of its population genetic structure and diversity. This study, therefore, investigates in Maltese waters by genetically analysing 63 specimens collected through strandings and in-water sampling, using mitochondrial DNA control region and microsatellites. Additionally, the two nests detected in Malta in 2023 were analysed for the same markers.

The genome sequence of the Violet Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa violacea (Linnaeus, 1785): a hymenopteran species undergoing range expansion.

We present a reference genome assembly from an individual male Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea, Linnaeus 1758). The assembly is 1.02 gigabases in span.

The First Report of (Crustacea: Copepoda) Infesting Stranded in Malta: Morphological and Genetic Analyses.

Here, we document the stranding of a striped dolphin (Meyen, 1833) (Mammalia: Delphinidae), which was found dead in Maltese waters in July 2020. The stranded dolphin exhibited a severe infestation of the mesoparasitic copepod, Koren and Danielssen, 1877 (Copepoda: Pennelidae). Parasites of this genus represent the largest known mesoparasites to infest cetaceans.

Conservation Genetics of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, , from the Central Mediterranean: An Insight into the Species' Reproductive Behaviour in Maltese Waters.

Loggerhead sea turtle, (Linnaeus, 1758), nestlings were investigated through specimens found dead either after hatching or unhatched ( = 120) from eight nests around the Maltese islands (Central Mediterranean). Molecular genetics was used to conduct maternity and paternity tests of the collected specimens utilizing expanded mitochondrial DNA sequences from the control region (858 bp) and 25 microsatellite loci (12 dinucleotide loci and 13 tetranucleotide loci). Mitochondrial data produced two haplotypes, CC-A2.

The first complete mitochondrial genomes for Serranus papilionaceus and Serranus scriba, and their phylogenetic position within Serranidae.

Background: Butterfly-winged comber, Serranus papilionaceus Valenciennes, 1832, was recently resurrected and so it is no longer considered as a junior synonym of the Painted comber, Serranus scriba (Linneus, 1758). This calls for a more comprehensive phylogenetic assessment using mitochondria DNA genomes to better understand the relationship and delineate these two species.

Methods And Results: Next-generation Sequencing was applied to sequence the genome of these two Serranus species.

Characterization of the complete mitogenome of Haifa grouper, (Perciformes: Serranidae), and its phylogenetic position within Epinephelini.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Haifa grouper, (Ben-Tuvia, 1953), has been obtained, through Illumina next-generation sequencing, and annotated. This mitogenome was found to be 16,525 bp long and to contain 37 genes, a control region, and the L-strand replication origin. The overall base composition of the complete mitogenome for this species was found to be 28.

Resurrection of the Butterfly-winged Comber, Valenciennes, 1832 (Teleostei, Serranidae) and its phylogenetic position within genus .

The family Serranidae is represented by 92 genera and 579 valid species, with the genus Cuvier, 1816, containing 30 species. In this study, specimens of Butterfly-winged Comber, Valenciennes, 1832, were collected from the Canary Islands and compared morphologically and genetically to Painted Comber, (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Mediterranean Sea. Morphological differences, especially in the colour banding pattern, were corroborated by genetic differences in mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear (Rhod and PTR) markers.

The complete mitogenome of the Critically Endangered smalltooth sand tiger shark, (Lamniformes: Odontaspididae).

Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome for the smalltooth sand tiger shark, (Risso, 1810). The circular mitochondrial genome was found to be 16,682 bp in length and contains 37 genes, a control region and the replication origin of the L-strand (O). The base composition of this mitogenome is 32.

Characterization and comparison of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca and Dasyatis tortonesei (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from the Mediterranean Sea.

This work represents the complete mitochondrial genomes of two stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca and Dasyatis tortonesei, from the Mediterranean Sea. The mitogenomes of these two species were obtained through whole generation sequencing and annotated. These mitogenomes were found to be 17,713 bp and 17,630 bp respectively and each contained 37 genes, that is 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, a control region and the origin of L-strand replication (O).

A molecular approach towards taxonomic identification of elasmobranch species from Maltese fisheries landings.

The mitochondrial genome, through the application of DNA barcoding, provides a powerful tool for identifying species even when specimens are either incomplete or belong to species that exhibit cryptic diversity. In fisheries management accurate identification of whole or part of the specimens landed is a fundamental requirement for the conservation of species affected directly or indirectly by the fisheries activities. In this study cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequences were used to genetically distinguish 36 elasmobranch species collected from Maltese (Central Mediterranean) commercial fisheries landings.

Population genetics of the deep-sea bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus, revealing spatial genetic heterogeneity.

Hexanchus griseus is a globally distributed deep-water shark species. It inhabits tropical and temperate waters throughout the world, including the Mediterranean Sea where it is by-caught by small-scale fisheries in the region. In this study, we analysed the genetic variation of H.