Multilocus phylogeny suggests a distinct species status for the Nepal population of Assam macaques(Macaca assamensis):implications for evolution and conservation

Phylogenetic relationships within the sinica-group of macaques based on morphological,behavioral,and molecular characteristics have remained controversial.The Nepal population of Assam macaques(Macaca assamensis)(NPAM),the westernmost population of the species,is morphologically distinct but has never been used in phylogenetic analyses.Here,the phylogenetic relationship of NPAM with other congeners was tested using multiple mitochondrial and Ychromosomal loci.The divergence times and evolutionary genetic distances among macaques were also estimated.Results revealed two major mitochondrial DNA clades of macaques under the sinica-group:the first clade included M.thibetana,M.sinica,and eastern subspecies of Assam macaque(M.assamensis assamensis);the second clade included M.radiata together with species from the eastern and central Himalaya,namely,M.leucogenys,M.munzala,and NPAM.Among the second-clade species,NPAM was the first to diverge from the other members of the clade around 1.9 million years ago.Our results revealed that NPAM is phylogenetically distinct from the eastern Assam macaques and closer to other species and hence may represent a separate species.Because of its phylogenetic distinctiveness,isolated distribution,and small population size,the Nepal population of sinica-group macaques warrants detailed taxonomic revision and high conservation priority.

Molecular Assessment of Athecate Dinoflagellates of the Order Gymnodiniales (Dinophyceae) in Todos Santos Bay, Baja California México

The Gymnodiniales are the most important group of athecate dinoflagellates both for its abundance and distribution and for the harmful potential of several of its species. Although morphologically it is well known, phylogenetically it has been very little studied. HABs impact important coastal activities in Todos Santos Bay, so a detailed characterization of potentially toxic phytoplankton species is crucial in monitoring surveys. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to carry out a molecular assessment to the morphospecies of Gymnodiniales currently recorded in Todos Santos Bay, from which discussed their phylogenetic relationships. 120 samples were obtained from monthly samplings during 2019 to 2020. For all of them, 18 s small subunit (SSU) and 28 s large subunit (LSU) genes of rDNA were amplified and sequenced using single-cell PCR. Also, they were photographed. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on MrBayes from the combined 18 s - 28 s data set. The presence of 15 phylogenetic entities was confirmed, four of which constituted new records for the Mexican Pacific, as well as three harmful species, one toxic and two bloom-forming. Our molecular results evidenced the need to re-evaluate the current taxonomic system of athecate dinoflagellates at all hierarchical levels, integrating them with morphological evidence without preponderance of this criterion over taxonomic decisions.