During a 1-year study, Trichuris adults were obtained after necropsy of Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) from a slaughterhouse in Kuwait. Morphological and molecular identification was performed to confirm the identity of the Trichuris specimens obtained from C. dromedarius. Fifteen male Trichuris specimens were selected, and molecular identification was performed using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 12S ribosomal RNA, 16S ribosomal RNA genes and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Through phylogenetic analysis, 2 distinct groups were obtained using the mitochondrial genes, where group 1 showed a close relationship to Trichuris globulosa while group 2 showed a close relationship to Trichuris ovis, providing molecular evidence of a possible T. globulosa species complex. Additionally, the nuclear ITS2 region did not provide enough resolution to distinguish between the 2 groups of Trichuris specimens. Observation of morphological characters revealed variations in the shape of the male spicule sheath, where specimens present either a globular posteriorly truncated swelling or the absence of posteriorly truncated swelling. Moreover, the variations in male spicule sheath does not corroborate with the results of molecular data, suggesting the limited use of this character for identification of T. globulosa. In conclusion, molecular analysis suggests a possible species complex in T. globulosa, with the mitochondrial genetic markers successfully differentiating between the 2 groups. The limited use of the male spicule sheath as a diagnostic character for identification of T. globulosa is suggested.

Squids of the family Gonatidae are key components in oceanic communities. However, issues related to correct species identification, number of species, and their genetic relatedness remain. To address these issues, sequences from three mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [CO1], 16S rRNA, and 12S rRNA) and two nuclear (18S and 28S) genes were analysed in the Gonatidae. Four of the five sequences (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 28S, and CO1) yielded rather similar patterns of genetic relationships among the species. Molecular evidence suggested intra-familial subdivision into two major groups of species having either five or seven longitudinal rows of teeth in the radula. The former group included all species of the genus Gonatus and two sister-species of Gonatopsis s. str. suggesting that all gonatid species with five rows of radular teeth represent a single taxonomic unit of a genus or subfamily level. Species with seven rows of radular teeth formed several ‘species’ clusters. Sequence analysis also addressed species identification issues in the Gonatidae. Two genetically divergent groups were found among squid which conformed to the description of Gonatus berryi. Molecular evidence suggested sister-species relationships between ‘large’ and ‘small’ forms of Boreoteuthis borealis with size-at-maturity as the only reported difference between these two cohorts. Sequence variation was observed within Gonatus pyros. Inclusion of gonatid sequences from the GenBank into the analysis suggested probable species misidentification in several cases. Combined use of several mitochondrial and nuclear sequences served as a valuable tool for species identification and provided a solid background for unravelling molecular genetic and taxonomic relationships in the Gonatidae.

Phylogenetic analyses can be used to resolve taxonomic uncertainties and reconstruct a species’ evolutionary history. This can be combined with ecological data to predict missing life history traits which are important for creation of conservation management strategies. We investigated the evolutionary and life history of the ‘Critically Endangered’ Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi by estimating its phylogenetic placement and using this new phylogeny to test the accuracy of phylogenetic comparative methods for estimating both documented and unknown life history traits. We extracted DNA from two Grenada Dove samples and obtained sequences from three mitochondrial markers: Cytochrome oxidase I (COI), NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b); and one nuclear marker: β-Fibrinogen intron 7 (β-FIB). We present the first genetic data obtained for the Grenada Dove. Our data identify the Grey-Chested Dove Leptotila cassinii as the species which shares both a most recent common ancestor, with an estimated divergence of approximately 2.53 million years ago, and the smallest genetic distance (P = 0.0303) with the Grenada Dove. Life history trait values for the Grenada Dove predicted from our analyses using phylogenetic imputation are: clutch size = 2 (± 0.09) eggs; clutches per year = 1.4 (± 0.81); incubation time = 14.2 (± 0.75) days; hatching weight = 3.8 g (± 1.05) and single imputation: fledging age (genus median) = 15.5 days, longevity (genus median) = 8.6 years. This study contributes novel information regarding evolutionary history and life history characteristics to inform long-term conservation actions for a ‘Critically Endangered’ species.

Bithynids snails are a widespread group of molluscs in European freshwater systems. However, not much information is available on trematode communities from molluscs of this family. Here, we investigate the trematode diversity of Bithynia tentaculata, based on molecular and morphological data. A total of 682 snails from the rivers Lippe and Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and 121 B. tentaculata from Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania were screened for infections with digeneans. In total, B. tentaculata showed a trematode prevalence of 12.9% and 14%, respectively. The phylogenetic analyses based on 55 novel sequences for 36 isolates demonstrated a high diversity of digeneans. Analyses of the molecular and morphological data revealed a species-rich trematode fauna, comprising 20 species, belonging to ten families. Interestingly, the larval trematode community of B. tentaculata shows little overlap with the well-studied trematode fauna of lymnaeids and planorbids, and some of the detected species (Echinochasmus beleocephalus and E. coaxatus) constitute first records for B. tentaculata in Central Europe. Our study revealed an abundant, diverse and distinct trematode fauna in B. tentaculata, which highlights the need for further research on this so far understudied host–parasite system. Therefore, we might currently be underestimating the ecological roles of several parasite communities of non-pulmonate snail host families in European fresh waters.

Suitable genetic markers for population studies in sponges are necessary to further our understanding of biodiversity and dispersal patterns, and contribute to conservation efforts. Due to the slow mitochondrial substitution rates in demosponges, nuclear introns are among the preferable markers for phylogeographic studies, but so far only the second intron of the ATP synthetase beta subunit-gene (ATPSβ) has been successfully established. In the present study, we analyse the intron of the Lysidyl Aminoacyl Transfer RNA Synthetase (LTRS), another potential marker to study demosponge intraspecific relationships, on samples of Neopetrosia chaliniformis from various locations in the Indo-Pacific and compare its variation with a mitochondrial marker (CO2). LTRS recovers several reciprocal monophyletic groups among the Indo-Pacific N. chaliniformis and provides a potential alternative to ATPSβ.

Traditional morphology-based taxonomy of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) has been challenged by molecular-based technologies in the detection of cryptic species. However, the implications of such cryptic diversity appear to differ when methods based on different types of data are used. Here, samples of a host-associated eriophyoid mite species, Tetra pinnatifidae, collected from different host plants and localities are evaluated. The congruence of results based on morphometric (32 characters), mitochondrial (16S), and nuclear (28S) data were evaluated and showed a host-associated cryptic diversity dividing this morphospecies into several groups/clades that were morphometrically indistinguishable. In comparison, the 16S data confirmed cryptic speciation and intra-clade host-associated diversity, while 28S did not. In contrast, 28S data revealed potential gene flow between host-associated populations. High mitochondrial divergence, as well as low nuclear and morphological divergence indicated very recent stage of cryptic diversity of this eriophyoid mite.

Rocky shore intertidal communities along the cold- and warm-temperate coasts of the south-western Atlantic are dominated by small mussels of the genus Brachidontes s.l. (Mytilidae), yet the status of species occurring in the region remains unresolved. Taxonomic studies have been based on shell morphology, but high phenotypic variability has led to much confusion. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes (COI, 28S rDNA and ITS1) from nine localities in Uruguay and Argentina we confirmed the occurrence of three species in the south-western Atlantic: Brachidontes darwinianus and B. rodriguezii in the warm-temperate and B. purpuratus in the cold-temperate sector. The latter two species coexist in the same beds along the transition zone (41–43°S). The phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes, indicate an early divergence of B. purpuratus. At the intra-specific level, low genetic differentiation and absence of fossil record for B. purpuratus from the earlier Quaternary marine terraces of Patagonia likely result from a relatively recent (post-LGM) colonization originated from populations in the south-eastern Pacific. In the case of B. rodriguezii, by contrast, genetic intraspecific differentiation, a fossil record of phenotypically-related forms going back to the Late Miocene, and phylogenetic position in the COI-based phylogeny, prompts the hypothesis that this species is derived from a local stock with a long history of occurrence in the warm-temperate region of the south-western Atlantic. While intertidal mussel beds from the south-western Atlantic are ecologically similar in appearance, their assembly involves components clearly differentiated in terms of historical biogeography and phylogeny.

Pseudococcidae (mealybugs) is a large taxonomic group, including a number of agronomic pests. Taxonomic identification of mealybug species is a recurrent problem and represents a major barrier to the establishment of adequate pest management strategies. We combined molecular analysis of three DNA markers (28S-D2, cytochrome oxidase I and internal transcribed spacer 2) with morphological examination, for the identification of 176 specimens collected from 40 mealybug populations infesting various crops and ornamental plants in Egypt and France. This combination of DNA and morphological analyses led to the identification of 17 species: seven in Egypt (Planococcus citri (Risso), Planococcus ficus (Signoret), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Phenacoccus parvus Morrison and Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell)) and 11 in France (Planococcus citri, Pseudococcus viburni Signoret, Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti), Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana), Rhizoecus amorphophalli Betrem, Trionymus bambusae (Green), Balanococcus diminutus (Leonardi), Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, Planococcus vovae (Nasonov), Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) and Phenacoccus aceris Signoret), Pl. citri being found in both countries. We also found genetic variation between populations considered to belong to the same species, justifying further investigation of the possible occurrence of complexes of cryptic taxa.

Leishmania turanica n.sp., found infecting the desert rodent Rhombomys opimus in the southern territories of the USSR and the Mongolian People's Republic, is described. This parasite exists sympatrically with L. major and L. gerbilli in R. opimus and is the predominant species. A total of 284 isolates of L. turanica from R. opimus, 3 from naturally infected Phlebotomus andrejevi and 1 from P. papatasi were characterized and found to be clearly distinguishable on isoenzyme and nuclear DNA characteristics from all other Old World taxa of Leishmania.

The nuclear DNA content of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennnadius) was estimated using flow cytometry. Male and female nuclei were stained with propidium iodide and their DNA content was estimated using chicken red blood cells and Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Brassicaceae) as external standards. The estimated nuclear DNA content of male and female B. tabaci was 1.04 and 2.06 pg, respectively. These results corroborated previous reports based on chromosome counting, which showed that B. tabaci males are haploid and females are diploid. Conversion between DNA content and genome size (1 pg DNA = 980 Mbp) indicate that the haploid genome size of B. tabaci is 1020 Mbp, which is approximately five times the size of the genome of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. These results provide an important baseline that will facilitate genomics-based research for the B. tabaci complex.