Charissa de Bekker, Ian Will, Biplabendu Das, Rachelle M.M. Adams. 2018. Myrmecological News, DOI: 10.25849/myrmecol.news_028:001 

Ants can display modified behaviors that represent the extended phenotypes of genes expressed by parasites that infect them. In such cases, the modifications benefit the parasite. Alternatively, displayed behaviors can represent host responses to infection that benefit colony fitness. Though some enigmatic examples of behavioral manipulation have been reported, parasitism of ants and its effects on ant behavior and ecology are generally poorly understood. Here, we summarize some of the present-day literature on parasite-ant interactions. Our main focus is on interactions that change host behavior so drastically that infected ants play a seemingly different societal and, perhaps, ecological role. We highlight the parallels that can be found across parasite-ant symbioses that result in manipulated behaviors, such as summiting, phototaxis, substrate biting, and wandering. We also point out the many present knowledge gaps that could be filled by efforts ranging from novel parasite discovery, to more detailed behavioral observations and next-generation sequencing to start uncovering mechanisms.

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Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the devil cray sh group, with elevation of Lacunicambarus Hobbs, 1969 to generic rank and a redescription of the devil cray sh, Lacunicambarus diogenes (Girard, 1852) comb. nov. (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae)

Mael G. Glon , Roger F. Thoma, Christopher A. Taylor, Marymegan Daly, and John V. Freudenstein. 2018. Journal of Crustacean Biology. doi:10.1093/jcbiol/ruy057

As North American cray sh biodiversity becomes increasingly imperiled, the ambiguous nature of the current taxonomic framework can impede conservation efforts. The taxonomy of the family Cambaridae Hobbs, 1942 has historically been based on morphology, but recent studies using molecular phylogenetic techniques have revealed taxonomic inconsisten- cies, including a polyphyletic Cambarus Erichson, 1846. We took a step towards increasing the taxonomic resolution of Cambaridae by investigating a group of primary burrowing cray-  shes which were historically part of the Cambarus subgenera Lacunicambarus Hobbs, 1969 and Tubericambarus Jezerinac, 1993. This group, here called the devil cray sh group (DCG) because it includes the devil cray sh (Cambarus diogenes Girard, 1852), has a confusing taxonomic his- tory and is in need of revision to inform conservation assessments. We tested the hypoth- esis that the DCG is monophyletic through phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from multiple specimens of the eight DCG species and a broad sample of taxa representing approximately 70% of the species in what is currently recognized as Cambarus. Seven of the eight species from the DCG form a well-supported, monophyletic group that is distinct from the remainder of what has traditionally been recognized as Cambarus. Our analyses place the DCG as sister to a clade consisting of taxa from Creaserinus Hobbs, 1973, Faxonius Ortmann, 1905, and Barbicambarus Hobbs, 1969. Based on our results and on unique morphological and ecological characteristics, we split seven of the eight DCG species from Cambarus and elevate the subgenus Lacunicambarus to generic level to accommodate them. We redescribe Lacunicambarus and the devil cray sh sensu stricto (Lacunicambarus diogenes comb. nov.) and designate a neotype for the species to facilitate subsequent revisionary work.

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Venoms to the rescue

Mandë Holford, Marymegan Daly, Glenn F. King, Raymond S. Norton. 2018. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.aau7761

Venomous animals have been admired and feared since prehistoric times, and their venoms have been used to both benefit and impair human health. In 326 BCE, Alexander the Great encountered lethal arrowheads in India that, based on the symptoms of dying soldiers, were most likely laced with venom from the deadly Russell's viper. By contrast, snake venom has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since the 7th century BCE to prolong life and treat arthritis and gastrointestinal ailments, while tarantulas are used in the traditional medicine of indigenous populations of Mexico and Central and South America. The modern era of venom research has so far yielded six venom-derived drugs (1). Recent work has elucidated the evolutionary biology of venoms and provided an impressive diversity of new therapeutic drug candidates.

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Investigating the genetic diversity and differentiation patterns in the Penstemon scariosus species complex under different sample sizes using AFLPs and SSRs

Rosa A. Rodríguez-Peña, Robert L. Johnson, Leigh A. Johnson, Chris D. Anderson, Nathan J. Ricks, Kevin M. Farley, Matthew D. Robbins, Andrea D. Wolfe, Mikel R. Stevens. 2018. Conservation Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-018-1103-6

Habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic activities is the major cause of biodiversity loss. Endemic and narrowly distributed species are the most susceptible to habitat degradation. Penstemon scariosus is one of many species whose natural habitat is vulnerable to industrialization. All varieties of P. scariosus (P. scariosus var. albifluvis, P. scariosus var. cyanomontanus, P. scariosus var. garrettii, P. scariosus var. scariosus) have small distribution ranges, but only P. scariosus var. albifluvis is being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. We used eight microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) loci and two amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations to investigate the population genetic structure and diversity of P. scariosus varieties. Moreover, we compared the utility of the two marker systems in conservation genetics and estimated an appropriate sample size in population genetic studies. Genetic differentiation among populations based on Fst ranged from low to moderate (Fst = 0.056–0.157) and from moderate to high when estimated with Des (Des = 0.15–0.32). Also, AMOVA analysis shows that most of the genetic variation is within populations. Inbreeding coefficients (Fis) were high in all varieties (0.20–0.56). The Bayesian analysis, STRUCTURE, identified three clusters from SSR data and four clusters from AFLPs. Clusters were not consistent between marker systems and did not represent the current taxonomy. MEMGENE revealed that a high proportion of the genetic variation is due to geographic distance (R2 = 0.38, P = 0.001). Comparing the genetic measurements from AFLPs and SSRs, we found that AFLP results were more accurate than SSR results across sample size when populations were larger than 25 individuals. As sample size decreases, the estimates become less stable in both AFLP and SSR datasets. Finally, this study provides insight into the population genetic structure of these varieties, which could be used in conservation efforts.

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Julie A.Reynolds, Ronald J.Nachman, David L.Denlinger. 2018. General and Comparative Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.09.013

Ecdysone, diapause hormone and a diapause hormone analog are all capable of breaking pupal diapause and prompting initiation of adult development in the cotton earworm, Helicoverpa zea. In this study we asked whether these three chemically-distinct diapause terminators elicit the same effect on expression of a collection of microRNAs and transcripts encoding components of the ecdysone signaling pathway. Injection of all three endocrine agents resulted in downregulation of one miRNA, miR-277-3p, a miRNA previously linked to the insulin/FOXO signaling pathway, and all three agents promoted upregulation of spook, a member of the ecdysone biosynthesis pathway, and iswi, an ecdysone-responsive transcript. Other miRNA and mRNA responses varied depending on the agent used to terminate diapause, thus suggesting that different endocrine pathways and mechanisms can lead to the same final developmental response.