Cytotaxonomy

Abstract. Simulium metallicum sibling species E was identified cytotaxonomically from an onchocerciasis focus at Altamira in northern Venezuela. S. metallicum E larvae were sampled monthly from two small mountain streams over a 15-month period (July 1990 to September 1991) and eleven habitat variables were measured at two altitudes. One stream consistently harboured much higher densities of S. metallicum E larvae than the other, with three annual peaks of abundance: during the dry season and at the beginning and end of the rainy season. These peak densities were correlated with high rainfall 4 months previously. Larvae were most abundant on submerged rocks and fallen leaves, in small shallow areas characterized by slow water current, high conductivity and sparse terrestrial vegetation cover. Stream variables which best explained the temporal changes in abundance were water discharge and conductivity. The population dynamics of S. metallicum E appeared to be influenced primarily by interactions between stream discharge and substrate stability. Relevance of these results to vector control with larvicides is discussed.

In this study, it is aimed to reveal the chromosome numbers and structures of Crimean Barb, Barbus tauricus Kessler, 1877 living in Ilıca Stream (Ordu/Turkey), by the conventional staining method (Giemsa). Crimea's Barbels working first time as cytotaxonomic and local in this research were used 24 specimens in different sizes sampled with. As the results of the investigations, It's defined as diploid (2n) chromosome number of B. tauricus is 100, karyotype's composed of 6 metacentric, 24 submetacentric, 38 subtelocentric and 32 acrocentric chromosomes and fundamental chromosome arm number is NF= 130. B. tauricus widely distributed throughout the North Anatolian may be arguable taxonomically whether to be as subspecies escherichii or not, but It may said that is located between tetraploids (4n=100) in Eurasian cytotype.

In this study, some morphological characters, anatomical features and chromosome numbers of alpine Lamium cymbalariifolium Boiss. (Lamiaceae) endemic to Turkey are firstly described in detail. Lamium cymbalariifolium is an east mediterrenean element growing on north-facing limestone screes at an altitude of 2100-2280m in the Southwest Anatolia. The investigated species is closely allied to L. microphyllum and L. sandrasicum which are other alpine endemic species to Turkey. Taxonomically significant characters for L. cymbalariifolium are tried to be pointed out. Morphologically, the corolla tube length, the upper lip length, lobe length of the upper lip, the lower lip length and lobe length of the lower lip, the length of pistil, filament, anther and the seed dimensions of the species are firstly reported in the present study. Anatomically, spring and autumn woods of the root, which are forming annual rings are clearly distinguishable. Stem has a thin collenchymatous layer at the cor...

In this study, some morphological characters, anatomical features and chromosome numbers of alpine Lamium cymbalariifolium Boiss. (Lamiaceae) endemic to Turkey are firstly described in detail. Lamium cymbalariifolium is an east mediterrenean element growing on north-facing limestone screes at an altitude of 2100-2280m in the Southwest Anatolia. The investigated species is closely allied to L. microphyllum and L. sandrasicum which are other alpine endemic species to Turkey. Taxonomically significant characters for L. cymbalariifolium are tried to be pointed out. Morphologically, the corolla tube length, the upper lip length, lobe length of the upper lip, the lower lip length and lobe length of the lower lip, the length of pistil, filament, anther and the seed dimensions of the species are firstly reported in the present study. Anatomically, spring and autumn woods of the root, which are forming annual rings are clearly distinguishable. Stem has a thin collenchymatous layer at the cor...

In this study, the chromosome structures, numbers and other cytogenetic features of flounder, Platichthys flesus luscus (Pallas, 1814), which is one of the flatfish species in the Black Sea, were examined with using different banding methods. Fish samples were obtained from fishermen in 5 localities between Zonguldak and Ordu of the West and Middle Black Sea coasts. A total of 0.05 % of colchicine solution (25-50 μg / g body) weight was injected from intramuscular to dorsal and from intraperitonal to ventral for big fish (body weight 250 to 1500 g). However, small fish (body weight 50 to 250 g) were maintained in 0.005 % of colchicine solution for 6 hours. Gill and fin epithelia tissues derived by dissecting were incubated in 0.4 % of KCl solution for 30 mins and treated with Carnoy’s fixative. Dried slides were stained with giemsa (pH 6.8) solution for 15 mins.

In Myrtaceae (Myrteae), the diploid chromosome number 2n = 2x = 22 is the most common, although variations of ploidy level occur, with some triploid (2n = 3x = 33) and tetraploid (2n = 4x = 44) records. Karyotype details in this group are scarce because the chromosomes are small (< 2 μm). In this work, we carried out a karyotypic analysis of 15 species of Myrtaceae grouped in different subtribes and genera. Measurements of chromosome length (long arm, L; short arm, S) were taken and several karyotypic parameters were calculated for each species. The karyotypes in fleshy-fruited taxa (Myrteae) were more varied than in the other previously analysed dry-fruited group (Eucalyptus, Eucalypteae), in which the chromosomes were exclusively metacentric. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 155, 571–580.

In this study, the morphological and anatomical features of endemic Lamium moschatum Miller var. rhodium (Gand.) R. Mill (Lamiaceae) are described in detail. Lamium moschatum var. rhodium has an annual taproot. The stem is erect and clearly quadrangular. The leaves are broadly ovate to cordate-ovate or nearly suborbicular in shape. Inflorescense is verticillate cyme. The corolla is white and the tube is curved and bears an annulus inside, near the base. Cross-sections of the root, stem, petiole, leaf, calyx, corolla and generative organs were examined and the anatomical features of the taxon are discussed. Furthermore, glandular hairs distributed on the plant taxon are shown. In karyological research, chromosome numbers were determined as 2n = 18. The results are presented with photographs and tables.

In this study, It was examined the chromosome structures, numbers and other cytogenetic features of sole Pegusa lascaris (Risso, 1810) being one of the flatfish species live in the Black Sea, by conventional banding methods. The Sole specimens were obtained from fishermen along the coast of West and Central Black Sea (between Zonguldak and Ordu). Gill and fin epithelia tissues derived by dissecting fish samples which used colchicine (0.05%) treatment for six hours were incubated in hypotonic solution (0.4% KCl) and then treated with Carnoy’s fixative. As a result of karyological examination, it was determined that the chromosome number of P. lascaris showed 2n= 42 including 6 metacentric, 8 submetacentric, 12 subtelocentric and 16 acrocentric chromosomes (NF= 56).

The chromosomes of the Chilean frogEupsophus insularis are described for the first time. This species has a chromosome number of 2n=30, and based on the karyotype it is concluded thatE. insularis is closely related toE. migueli. E. insularis has an XX/XY system of sex determination, and pericentromeric constitutive heterochromatin is present in all chromosomes except in the Y chromosome. It is postulated that the Y chromosome is derived from a small ancestral metacentric chromosome that lost its heterochromatic segment.

Abstract. Simulium metallicum sibling species E was identified cytotaxonomically from an onchocerciasis focus at Altamira in northern Venezuela. S. metallicum E larvae were sampled monthly from two small mountain streams over a 15-month period (July 1990 to September 1991) and eleven habitat variables were measured at two altitudes. One stream consistently harboured much higher densities of S. metallicum E larvae than the other, with three annual peaks of abundance: during the dry season and at the beginning and end of the rainy season. These peak densities were correlated with high rainfall 4 months previously. Larvae were most abundant on submerged rocks and fallen leaves, in small shallow areas characterized by slow water current, high conductivity and sparse terrestrial vegetation cover. Stream variables which best explained the temporal changes in abundance were water discharge and conductivity. The population dynamics of S. metallicum E appeared to be influenced primarily by interactions between stream discharge and substrate stability. Relevance of these results to vector control with larvicides is discussed.

In this research, Lallemantia iberica (Bieb.) Fisch. & Mey., L. canescens (L.) Fisch. &
Mey. and L. peltata (L.) Fisch. & Mey. belonging to the Lallemantia Fisch. & C.A.Mey. genus
(Lamiaceae) which is represented by three taxa growing naturally in Turkey, were studied. The
somatic chromosome numbers observed in each taxa was 2n=14. The classification of chromosomes,
the length of long and short arms, haploid chromosome length, arm ratio, centromeric index and
relative chromosomal length were measured by Software Image Analyses (Bs200Pro). Also their
karyotype asymmetry indices (TF%, As K%, Syi, Rec, A, A1 and A2) were calculated. According to
the asymmetry index, L. peltata has a more symmetrical karyotype than L. canescens. This is the
first study for account of chromosome counts and karyotypes for the studied taxa.

The chromosomes of the Chilean frogEupsophus insularis are described for the first time. This species has a chromosome number of 2n=30, and based on the karyotype it is concluded thatE. insularis is closely related toE. migueli. E. insularis has an XX/XY system of sex determination, and pericentromeric constitutive heterochromatin is present in all chromosomes except in the Y chromosome. It is postulated that the Y chromosome is derived from a small ancestral metacentric chromosome that lost its heterochromatic segment.

ABSTRACT The fish genus Astyanax represents a suitable model to test the role of chromosomal changes in population structure and speciation. Therefore, we performed a detailed karyotypic analysis of Astyanax aff. fasciatus from rivers in South America with incorporation of multivariate analyses as an innovate approach to infer chromosomal diversity. Ten populations of Astyanax aff. fasciatus from distinct coastal basins in northeastern Brazil were cytogenetically analyzed using Giemsa, Ag-NOR and fluorochrome staining, C-banding, mapping of rDNA and a genus-specific satellite DNA (As51). A multivariate analysis of chromosomal data was carried out to provide a consensus dendrogram of intraspecifical relationships. In spite of sharing the same diploid number, similar C-banding patterns, the populations varied in karyotype formulae and location of 18S and 5S rDNA cistrons, GC-rich segments, and As51 satDNA. The multivariate analysis showed CG-specific markers are poorly correlated to 18S rDNA. The dendrogram revealed that intraspecifical chromosomal differences are not explained by geographic distance. Instead, this variation seems to be related to the biogeographic history of northeastern Brazil and/or to the presence of unique evolutionary units under incipient speciation. Finally, we strongly recommend the incorporation of statistical analysis in cytogenetic studies of fish, particularly in groups of remarkable intraspecifical diversity as Astyanax. Such studies are useful because they provide a reliable interpretation of chromosomal variation.

Resumen Introducción: Lucilia sericata es una especie de importancia médica y forense, utilizada en terapialarval para curar heridas crónicas y en estudios médico-legales empleada en la estimacióndel intervalo post mórtem y el traslado de cadáveres. No ...

In this study, using conventional staining method, chromosome structures and numbers of Black Sea turbot Scophthalmus maeoticus (Pallas 1814), a species of flatfish living in the Black Sea, have been examined. The specimens of the fish were obtained through fishing in regions between the coasts of West and Middle Black Sea of Turkey. It was determined that S. maeoticus had a diploid number chromosomes of 2n= 44 and a fundamental number of NF= 48. The karyotpe of turbot contained 2 pairs of metacentric, 7 pairs of subtelocentric and 13 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes.