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  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Using DNA-barcoding for sorting out protist species complexes: A case study of the Nebela tincta-collaris-bohemica group (Amoebozoa; Arcellinida, Hyalospheniidae)
    (2013) ;
    Gomaa, Fatma
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    Heger, Thierry J.
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    Species identification by means of morphology is often problematic in protists. Nebela tincta-collaris-bohemica (Arcellinida) is a species complex of small to medium-sized (ca. 100 mu m) testate amoebae common in peat bogs and forest soils. The taxonomic validity of characters used to define species within this group is debated and causes confusion in studies of biogeography, and applications in palaeoecology. We examined the relationship between morphological and genetic diversity within this species complex by combined analyses of light microscopy imaging and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 1(COI) sequences obtained from the same individual amoeba cells. Our goals were (1) to clarify the taxonomy and the phylogenetic relationships within this group, and (2) to evaluate if individual genotypes corresponded to specific morphotypes and the extent of phenotypic plasticity. We show here that small variations in test morphology that have been often overlooked by traditional taxonomy correspond to distinct haplotypes. We therefore revise the taxonomy of the group. We redefine Nebela tincta (Leidy) Kosakyan et Lara and N. collaris (Ehrenberg 1848) Kosakyan et Gomaa, change N. tincta var. rotunda Penard to N. rotunda (Penard 1890), describe three new species: N. guttata n. sp. Kosakyan et Lara, N. pechorensis n. sp. Kosakyan et Mitchell, and N. aliciae n. sp. Mitchell et Lara. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    SSU rRNA Phylogeny of Arcellinida (Amoebozoa) Reveals that the Largest Arcellinid Genus, Difflugia Leclerc 1815, is not Monophyletic
    (2012)
    Gomaa, Fatma
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    Todorov, Milcho
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    Heger, Thierry J.
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    ;
    The systematics of lobose testate amoebae (Arcellinida), a diverse group of shelled free-living unicellular eukaryotes, is still mostly based on morphological criteria such as shell shape and composition. Few molecular phylogenetic studies have been performed on these organisms to date, and their phylogeny suffers from typical under-sampling artefacts, resulting in a still mostly unresolved tree. In order to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among arcellinid testate amoebae at the inter-generic and inter-specific level, and to evaluate the validity of the criteria used for taxonomy, we amplified and sequenced the SSU rRNA gene of nine taxa - Difflugia bacillariarum, D. hiraethogii, D. acuminata, D. lanceolata, D. achlora, Bullinularia gracilis, Netzelia oviformis, Physochila griseola and Cryptodifflugia oviformis. Our results, combined with existing data demonstrate the following: 1) Most arcellinids are divided into two major clades, 2) the genus Difflugia is not monophyletic, and the genera Netzelia and Arcella are closely related, and 3) Cryptodifflugia branches at the base of the Arcellinida clade. These results contradict the traditional taxonomy based on shell composition, and emphasize the importance of general shell shape in the taxonomy of arcellinid testate amoebae. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    COI gene and ecological data suggest size-dependent high dispersal and low intra-specific diversity in free-living terrestrial protists (Euglyphida: Assulina)
    (2011) ;
    Heger, Thierry J.
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    Scheihing, Rodrigo
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    Aim Propagule size and ecological requirements are believed to be major factors influencing the passive dispersal of free-living terrestrial protists. We compared the colonization potential of three closely related testate amoeba species (Assulina muscorum, A. seminulum, A. scandinavica, ranging from 40 to 100 mu m in length). Location Europe. Methods We collected individual Assulina species cells from Sphagnum peatlands across Europe. We sequenced a 550-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) to estimate the within-species variability, as a proxy for gene flow. We reviewed existing ecological and palaeoecological data to assess the ecological tolerance of Assulina species and how rapidly they colonized developing peatlands. Results We obtained COI sequences for 30 individuals of A. seminulum from eleven sites, for 39 of A. muscorum from six sites, and for six of A. scandinavica from two sites. We observed three haplotypes for A. seminulum and two for A. muscorum, often co-existing in the same sites. The sequences of A. scandinavica from the two sites were identical. Assulina muscorum and A. seminulum haplotypes varied by only 1-2 nucleotides, resulting in > 99.5% similarity. Genetic diversity within A. seminulum was higher than that within A. muscorum. Ecological and palaeoecological records showed that A. muscorum was much more frequent and abundant than A. seminulum, and had a somewhat broader ecological tolerance for pH, moisture and water-table depth. Assulina muscorum always appeared early during the developmental history of peatlands, either before or simultaneously with A. seminulum. Main conclusions The lack of genetic structure observed with a variable marker such as COI suggests high gene flow between the sites and thus rapid transport (at an evolutionary scale) over large distances, in agreement with the palaeoecological records. Thus, geographical distance alone does not seem to prevent the dispersal of testate amoebae, at least within Europe. Nevertheless, genetic diversity was significantly lower within A. muscorum than within A. seminulum, suggesting that its smaller size and abundance and/or broader ecological tolerance influence its effective dispersal capacity. These results are in agreement with the often earlier colonization of peatlands by A. muscorum and its broader ecological tolerance.