A5049513790- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine and environmental studies
Natural History Museum of Bern
2016-2025
University of Bern
2016-2025
Albert Schweitzer Klinik
2024
Ecologie & Evolution
2021-2024
Natural History Museum Vienna
2014-2015
Natural History Museum
2006-2013
Bangor University
2013
Swedish Museum of Natural History
2013
Museum für Naturkunde
2013
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
2013
Abstract A recent phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences from eretmodine cichlids Lake Tanganyika indicated independent origins strikingly similar trophic specializations, such as dentition characters. Because genetic lineages with morphologies were not monophyletic, but instead grouped different phenotypes, raises the question whether morphology covaries additional morphological Here, we quantified variation in body shape and trophically associated traits among using linear...
Water level fluctuations are important modulators of speciation processes in tropical lakes, that they temporarily form or break down barriers to gene flow among adjacent populations and/or incipient species. Time estimates the most recent major lowstands three African Great Lakes thus crucial infer relative timescales explosive events cichlid species flocks. Our approach combines geological evidence with genetic divergence data fishes from East derived fastest-evolving mtDNA segment....
The current phylogenetic hypothesis for the endemic Lake Tanganyika cichlid fishes of tribe Eretmodini is based solely on morphology and suggests that more complex trophic morphologies derived only once from a less specialized ancestral condition. A molecular phylogeny eretmodine cichlids partial mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b control-region sequences was used to reconstruct evolutionary sequence adaptations test alternative models morphological divergence. six lineages found disagree with...
Paedocypris, a highly developmentally truncated fish from peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia, comprises the world's smallest vertebrate. Although clearly cyprinid fish, hypothesis about its phylogenetic position among subfamilies of this largest teleost family, with over 2400 species, does not exist. Here we present analyses 227 cypriniform taxa, including 213 cyprinids, based upon complete mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b nucleotide sequences order to determine Paedocypris and study...
Abstract The four described species of Danionella are tiny, transparent fishes that mature at sizes between 10–15 mm, and represent some the most extreme cases vertebrate progenesis known to date. miniature adult size larval appearance , combined with a diverse behavioral repertoire linked sound production by males, have established as an important model for neurophysiological studies. external similarity different has offered challenge taxonomic identification using traditional characters,...
The American seven‐spined gobies (Gobiidae, Gobiosomatini) are highly diverse both in morphology and ecology with many endemics the Caribbean region. We have reconstructed a molecular phylogeny of 54 Gobio‐somatini taxa (65 individuals) based on 1646‐bp region that includes mitochondrial 12S rRNA, tRNA‐Val, 16S rRNA genes. Our results support monophyly agreement existence two major groups within tribe, Gobiosoma group Microgobius group. However, they reject some Gobiosomatini genera. use to...
Danionella dracula is a new species of sexually dimorphic, miniature and highly developmentally truncated cyprinid fish. Compared with its close relative, the zebrafish Danio rerio , it lacks 44 bones or parts thereof represents one most vertebrates. Absence majority appears to be due developmental truncation via terminal deletion. In contrast these larval-like features, D. also shows several hyperossifications. Uniquely, among carp-like fishes, male have series long, pointed odontoid...
Abstract With 1172 native species, the Indonesian ichthyofauna is among world’s most speciose. Despite that inventory of started during eighteen century, numerous species descriptions last decades highlight taxonomic knowledge still fragmentary. Meanwhile, fast increase anthropogenic perturbations posing serious threats to biodiversity. Indonesia, however, one major sources export for international ornamental trade and home several high value in aquaculture. The development new tools...
Understanding factors driving diversity across biodiversity hotspots is critical for formulating conservation priorities in the face of ongoing and escalating environmental deterioration. While encompass a small fraction Earth's land surface, more than half world's plants two-thirds terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to these hotspots. Tropical Southeast (SE) Asia displays extraordinary richness, encompassing four hotspots, though disentangling multiple potential drivers richness...
Snakehead fishes of the family Channidae are predatory freshwater teleosts from Africa and Asia comprising 38 valid species. Snakeheads important food (aquaculture, live trade) have been introduced widely with several species becoming highly invasive. A channid barcode library was recently assembled by Serrao co-workers to better detect identify potential established invasive snakehead outside their native range. Comparing our own recent phylogenetic results this taxonomically confusing...
Siamese fighting (betta) fish are among the most popular and morphologically diverse pet fish, but genetic bases of their domestication phenotypic diversification largely unknown. We assembled de novo genome a wild Betta splendens whole-genome sequenced 98 individuals across five closely related species. find evidence bidirectional hybridization between domesticated ornamental betta other discover dmrt1 as main sex determination gene in that it has lower penetrance B. . Furthermore, we genes...
Patterns of genetic differentiation were analysed and compared in two sympatric species the endemic Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe Eretmodini by means mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences control region six microsatellite loci. The sample area covers a total 138 km mostly uninterrupted rocky shoreline Democratic Republic Congo includes entire distribution range Tanganicodus cf. irsacae that stretches over distance 35 km. Both markers detected significant within between species. T. contained...
The East African Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria each harbour hundreds of endemic invertebrate vertebrate species. Inferences about the ecological evolutionary processes responsible for origin these species flocks will only be possible when they are made within historical comparative frameworks. Specifically, relative importance intrinsic characteristics extrinsic factors may offer information that drive diversification speciation in We investigated sequence variation a segment...
Labyrinth fishes (Perciformes: Anabantoidei) are primary freshwater with a disjunct African-Asian distribution that exhibit wide variety of morphological and behavioral traits. These intrinsic features make them particularly well suited for studying patterns processes evolutionary diversification. We reconstructed the first molecular-based phylogenetic hypothesis anabantoid intrarelationships using both mitochondrial nuclear nucleotide sequence data to address evolution. The set included...
Abstract Studying recent adaptive radiations in isolated insular systems avoids complicating causal events and thus may offer clearer insight into mechanisms generating biological diversity. Here, we investigate evolutionary relationships genomic differentiation within the radiation of Alcolapia cichlid fish that exhibit extensive phenotypic diversification, which are confined to extreme soda lakes Magadi Natron East Africa. We generated an RAD data set 96 individuals from multiple sampling...
Sundaland constitutes one of the largest and most threatened biodiversity hotspots; however, our understanding its is afflicted by knowledge gaps in taxonomy distribution patterns. The subfamily Rasborinae diversified group freshwater fishes Sundaland. Uncertainties their systematics have constrained use as a model evolutionary studies. Here, we established DNA barcode reference library to examine species boundaries range distributions through DNA-based delimitation methods. A checklist was...
Pleistocene climatic fluctuations (PCF) are frequently highlighted as important evolutionary engines that triggered cycles of biome expansion and contraction. Although there is ample evidence the impact PCF on biodiversity continental biomes, consequences in insular systems depend geology islands ecology taxa inhabiting them. The idiosyncratic aspects exemplified by Sunda Shelf Southeast Asia (Sundaland), where PCF-induced eustatic had complex interactions with region, resulting high species...
Lineages that underwent rapid cladogenesis are attractive systems for the study of mechanisms underlying taxonomic, ecological, morphological, and behavioral diversification. Recently developed statistical methods provide insights into historical patterns diversity allow distinguishing bursts from stochastic background rates in presence confounding factors such as extinction incomplete taxon sampling. Here, we compare dynamics speciation several marine fish lineages some which were...