Variation in cestode assemblages of Mastomys and Arvicanthis species (rodents: Muridae) from Lake Retba in Western Senegal.

We studied patterns of variation in cestode communities of 3 abundant rodent species that live in sympatry in the Niayes of the Retba Lake, Western Senegal. We evaluated whether the host species have the same parasites and, within host species, whether the variability in parasite community is related to intrinsic (sex, age of the host individual) or extrinsic (habitat, season) factors. Arvicanthis niloticus was parasitized by 2 cestode species, namely Inermicapsifer madagascariensis and the highly dominant Raillietina trapezoïdes .

Morphological and molecular diagnostics of Phytoseiulus persimilis and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

This study focuses on the diagnostics of two natural enemy species, belonging to the genus Phytoseiulus in the family Phytoseiidae (sub-family Amblyseiinae): P. macropilis and P. persimilis.

Species-specific responses to landscape fragmentation: implications for management strategies.

Habitat fragmentation affects the integrity of many species, but little is known about species-specific sensitivity to fragmentation. Here, we compared the genetic structure of four freshwater fish species differing in their body size (Leuciscus cephalus; Leuciscus leuciscus; Gobio gobio and Phoxinus phoxinus) between a fragmented and a continuous landscape. We tested if, overall, fragmentation affected the genetic structure of these fish species, and if these species differed in their sensitivity to fragmentation.

Divergence in behaviour between the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, and its sibling species Ostrinia scapulalis: adaptation to human harvesting?

Divergent adaptation to host plant species may be the major mechanism driving speciation and adaptive radiations in phytophagous insects. Host plants can differ intrinsically in a number of attributes, but the role of natural enemies in host plant specialization is often underappreciated. Here, we report behavioural divergence between the European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis) and its sibling species Ostrinia scapulalis, in relation to a major enemy: humans.

Robertsonian fusions, pericentromeric repeat organization and evolution: a case study within a highly polymorphic rodent species, Gerbillus nigeriae.

Pericentromeric repeats have been claimed to mediate centric fusions through heterologous recombination of arrays of tandemly repeated and highly homogenized motifs. However, mammalian case studies are essentially restricted to pathologic fusions in human, or to the house mouse Roberstonian (Rb) races. We here provide an example in a wild gerbil rodent, Gerbillus nigeriae, which displays an extensive Rb polymorphism, with 2n ranging between 2n = 60 and 74.

On the specific identity of specimens of Phytoseiulus longipes Evans (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) showing different feeding behaviours: morphological and molecular analyses.

This paper focuses on the differentiation of specimens, identified as Phytoseiulus longipes, collected in four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and South Africa. Two of these populations are known to feed and develop on Tetranychus evansi, whereas the two others do not. As morphologically similar specimens can sometimes belong to different species and because differences in predatory behaviours exist among the four populations considered, we tested for the presence of cryptic species.

In defence of model-based inference in phylogeography.

Recent papers have promoted the view that model-based methods in general, and those based on Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) in particular, are flawed in a number of ways, and are therefore inappropriate for the analysis of phylogeographic data. These papers further argue that Nested Clade Phylogeographic Analysis (NCPA) offers the best approach in statistical phylogeography. In order to remove the confusion and misconceptions introduced by these papers, we justify and explain the reasoning behind model-based inference.

Did the introduction of maize into Europe provide enemy-free space to Ostrinia nubilalis? Parasitism differences between two sibling species of the genus Ostrinia.

We examined whether maize offers enemy-free space (EFS) to its pest Ostrinia nubilalis, and may thereby have contributed to its divergence from the sibling species, Ostrinia scapulalis, feeding mainly on mugwort, when introduced into Europe five centuries ago. We collected Ostrinia larvae on maize (70 populations, 8425 individuals) and mugwort (10 populations, 1184 individuals) and recorded parasitism using both traditional (counting emerging parasitoids) and molecular methods (detection by specific polymerase chain reaction). The main parasitoid was Macrocentrus cingulum (Braconidae).

Sex-biased dispersal patterns depend on the spatial scale in a social rodent.

Dispersal is a fundamental process in ecology because it influences the dynamics, genetic structure and persistence of populations. Furthermore, understanding the evolutionary causes of dispersal pattern, particularly when they differ between genders, is still a major question in evolutionary ecology. Using a panel of 10 microsatellite loci, we investigated at different spatial scales the genetic structure and the sex-specific dispersal patterns in the common vole Microtus arvalis, a small colonial mammal.

Characterization and PCR multiplexing of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the whipworm Trichuris arvicolae, parasite of arvicoline rodents and their cross-species utilization in T. muris, parasite of murines.

Trichuris arvicolae and T. muris are gastro-intestinal nematodes of respectively arvicoline and murine rodents. We aim to investigate the ecology of these Trichuris species using population genetics.

Parental crowding influences life-history traits in Locusta migratoria females.

Parental environments could play an important role in controlling insect outbreaks, provided they influence changes in physiological, developmental or behavioural life-history traits related to fluctuations in population density. However, the potential implication of parental influence in density-related changes in life-history traits remains unclear in many insects that exhibit fluctuating population dynamics, particularly locusts. In this study, we report a laboratory experiment, which enabled us to characterize the life-history trait modifications induced by parental crowding of female individuals from a frequently outbreaking population of Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus) (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the freshwater fishes Telestes souffia and Telestes muticellus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

Ten novel polymorphic microsatellites (seven with perfect motifs) were isolated from vairone species (Telestes souffia and Telestes muticellus), which are endangered European cyprinid species. Together with 11 previously published cyprinid-specific loci, five multiplex sets were optimized, allowing the genotyping of 21 polymorphic loci. The level of genetic diversity was assessed in 97 individuals from the two species T.

Twelve new polymorphic microsatellite loci and PCR multiplexing in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci.

Twelve new dinucleotide microsatellite loci of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, were obtained from enriched genomic libraries. Three polymerase chain reaction multiplex sets comprising three, five and four loci were optimized and characterized across 133 B. tabaci females from Israeli rearings and natural populations collected in four Mediterranean countries (Tunisia, France, Spain and Morocco).

Serological evidence of viruses naturally associated with the montane water vole (Arvicola scherman) in eastern France.

We surveyed 12 populations of the montane water vole (Arvicola scherman), previously known as the fossorial form of the water vole A. terrestris, in eastern France for antibodies (immunoglobulin G) to Puumala virus (PUUV), lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), and cowpox virus (CPXV). Antibodies to PUUV were found in 9 (5.

Identification of 21 polymorphic microsatellites in the African parasitoid wasp, Psyttalia lounsburyi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

We have developed 21 dinucleotide repeat microsatellite loci from African populations of Psyttalia lounsburyi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp of the olive fruit fly, as part of a study assessing the role of introgression/hybridization in the success of a biological control introduction. We proposed suitable conditions for polymerase chain reaction multiplexing. All 21 loci were polymorphic with two to 21 alleles per locus within the Kenyan and South African populations tested.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Rattus rattus.

We isolated and characterized 10 microsatellite loci in the black rat Rattus rattus (Muridae, Rodentia), a widespread invasive species largely known to cause serious problems in agriculture and human health. Polymorphism was studied in two populations, one from Madagascar and one from Senegal. It ranged from three to 12 alleles in Madagascar, and from two to five alleles in Senegal.

One fig to bind them all: host conservatism in a fig wasp community unraveled by cospeciation analyses among pollinating and nonpollinating fig wasps.

The study of chalcid wasps that live within syconia of fig trees (Moraceae, Ficus), provides a unique opportunity to investigate the evolution of specialized communities of insects. By conducting cospeciation analyses between figs of section Galoglychia and some of their associated fig wasps, we show that, although host switches and duplication have evidently played a role in the construction of the current associations, the global picture is one of significant cospeciation throughout the evolution of these communities. Contrary to common belief, nonpollinating wasps are at least as constrained as pollinators by their host association in their diversification in this section.

High genetic variance in life-history strategies within invasive populations by way of multiple introductions.

Biological invasions represent major threats to biodiversity as well as large-scale evolutionary experiments. Invasive populations have provided some of the best known examples of contemporary evolution [3-6], challenging the classical view that invasive species are genetically depauperate because of founder effects. Yet the origin of trait genetic variance in invasive populations largely remains a mystery, precluding a clear understanding of how evolution proceeds.

Microsatellite variability in the entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus: genetic diversity and population structure.

The hyphomycete Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Pfr) is a geographically widespread fungus capable of infecting various insect hosts. The fungus has been used for the biological control of several important insect pests of agriculture. However knowledge of the fungus' genetic diversity and population structure is required for its sustainable use as a biological control agent.

Genetic variation for parental effects on the propensity to gregarise in Locusta migratoria.

Background: Environmental parental effects can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences, yet little is known about genetic variation among populations in the plastic responses of offspring phenotypes to parental environmental conditions. This type of variation may lead to rapid phenotypic divergence among populations and facilitate speciation. With respect to density-dependent phenotypic plasticity, locust species (Orthoptera: family Acrididae), exhibit spectacular developmental and behavioural shifts in response to population density, called phase change.

Bionomics, taxonomy, and distribution of the major malaria vector taxa of Anopheles subgenus Cellia in Southeast Asia: an updated review.

There is high diversity of Anopheles mosquitoes in Southeast Asia and the main vectors of malaria belong to complexes or groups of species that are difficult or impossible to distinguish due to overlapping morphological characteristics. Recent advances in molecular systematics have provided simple and reliable methods for unambiguous species identification. This review summarizes the latest information on the seven taxonomic groups that include principal malaria vectors in Southeast Asia, i.

Stress and demographic decline: a potential effect mediated by impairment of reproduction and immune function in cyclic vole populations.

The stress response is initially adaptive, operating to maintain homeostasis. However, chronic long-term exposure to stressors may have detrimental effects. We proposed that chronic stress may be a major factor in demographic vole cycles, inducing decline in high-density populations.

Genetic structure and gene flow in French populations of two Ostrinia taxa: host races or sibling species?

Most models of ecological speciation concern phytophagous insects in which speciation is thought to be driven by host shifts and subsequent adaptations of populations. Despite the ever-increasing number of studies, the current evolutionary status of most models remains incompletely resolved, as estimates of gene flow between taxa remain extremely rare. We studied the population genetics of two taxa of the Ostrinia genus--one feeding mainly on maize and the other on mugwort and hop--occurring in sympatry throughout France.

Population genetic structure of two ecologically distinct multimammate rats: the commensal Mastomys natalensis and the wild Mastomys erythroleucus in southeastern Senegal.

Using the same set of microsatellite markers, we compared the population genetic structure of two Mastomys species, one being exclusively commensal in southeastern Senegal, and the other being continuously distributed outside villages in this region. Both species were sampled in the same landscape context and at the same spatial scale. According to the expectations based on the degree of habitat patchiness (which is higher for commensal populations in this rural area), genetic diversity was lower and genetic differentiation was higher in commensal populations of Mastomys natalensis than in wild populations of Mastomys erythroleucus.