Explore the vast range of titles available.

Objective: Anopheles maculatus is recognized as an important malaria vector in Thailand and other countries within the Greater Mekong Subregion. This study employed both landmark and outline-based geometric morphometrics (GM) approaches to assess seasonal variation in the wing structure and wing contour of A. maculatus from malaria hotspots in western Thailand across three seasons: hot, wet, and dry. Materials and Methods: We analyzed seasonal variation in wing structure and contour using landmark-based and outline-based GM approaches, respectively, applied to the same image set of wing samples. Statistical differences in size and shape among seasonal populations were evaluated using a non-parametric analysis of variance (1,000 replicates), followed by a Bonferroni post hoc test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used as the criterion for statistical significance in all analyses. Results: The size analyses revealed a significant difference in wing structure between the hot and dry seasons (p < 0.05), while no significant differences (p > 0.05) in wing contour across seasonal populations were detected. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in wing structure based on shape were detected between A. maculatus populations in the dry and hot seasons, as well as between populations in the dry and wet seasons. Wing contour analysis based on shape showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) only between the populations from the dry and wet seasons. Conclusion: These findings provide us with valuable information about the seasonal adaptation of A. maculatus, thus enhancing our understanding of vector population dynamics and potentially improving malaria surveillance strategies.

The lectotype and paralectotype of Synodontis victoriae Boulenger, 1906, designated by Poll (1971), were examined. Inconsistencies between data presented for the designated lectotype and the illustrated individual raise the question of whether lectotypification by Poll is valid. This case is not formally regulated by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, but based on Article 74.5, the lectotypification for S. victoriae should be considered invalid because it cannot unambiguously indicate a single name-bearing specimen. Thus, we designate a new lectotype for S. victoriae (BMNH 1906.5.30.191, Entebbe, standard length 188.2 mm) out of two syntypes and provide illustrations and new morphometric and meristic data for both specimens.

Recent studies have identified wing cells, a substructure of the wing, as carrying taxonomic signals across various mosquito genera. However, the presence of a taxonomic signal in the wing cells of the genus Lutzia (Diptera: Culicidae) has not yet been confirmed. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the outline-based geometric morphometric (GM) approach in distinguishing Lutzia species found in Thailand, namely Lutzia chiangmaiensis, Lutzia fuscana, Lutzia halifaxii, and Lutzia vorax. Materials and Methods: The outline-based geometric morphometrics was employed to analyze four wing elements: the wing contour, the second submarginal cell, the first posterior cell, and the third posterior cell. Results: In the size analysis, Lt. vorax consistently exhibited significantly larger wing elements compared to the other species (p < 0.05). The factor maps based on discriminant analysis for the wing elements among the species indicated that most groups overlapped in morphospace. However, for the third posterior cell, the Lt. vorax group presented a more distinct shape. While shape analysis detected significant differences between almost all species pairs (p < 0.05), there was an exception between Lt. halifaxii and Lt. chiangmaiensis in the first posterior cell (p > 0.05). Additionally, shape analysis further indicated that the third posterior cell achieved the highest percentage of correct classifications, with an adjusted total assignment accuracy of 71%. Conclusion: This finding reveals a significant taxonomic signal in the third posterior cell, suggesting that the outline-based GM approach can effectively complement the landmark-based GM approach in distinguishing Lutzia species.

Chronically debilitated loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) (DT) are characterized by emaciation, lethargy, and heavy barnacle coverage. Although histopathological findings associated with this condition have been reported, only limited data is available on health variables with clinical application. The objectives of this study were to 1) to compare morphometrics, clinicopathological variables, and immune functions of DTs to a group of apparently healthy loggerhead turtles to better understand the pathophysiology of the condition and 2) to assess health parameters in live debilitated turtles as they recovered during rehabilitation in order to identify potential prognostic indicators. We examined and sampled 43 DTs stranded from North Carolina to Florida for 47 health variables using standardized protocols to further characterize the condition. DTs were grouped into categories of severity of the condition, and those that survived were sampled at four time points through rehabilitation. All groups and time points were compared among DTs and to clinically healthy loggerhead turtles. Compared to healthy turtles, DTs had significantly lower body condition index, packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocytes, glucose (Glc), total protein, all protein fractions as determined by electrophoresis, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Ca:P ratio, potassium (K), lymphocyte proliferation, and greater heterophil toxicity and left-shifting, uric acid (UA), aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lysozyme, and respiratory burst. From admission to recovery, hematology and plasma chemistry data improved as expected. The most informative prognostic indicators, as determined by correlations with a novel severity indicator (based on survival times), were plastron concavity, P, albumin, total solids, UA, lymphocyte proliferation, WBC, K, Glc, Ca:P, and PCV. The results of this study document the wide range and extent of morphometric and metabolic derangements in chronically debilitated turtles. Monitoring morphometrics and clinicopathological variables of these animals is essential for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis during rehabilitation.

Foci of Triatoma infestans were found in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Bahia, Brazil. The objective of the present work is to evaluate the morphometric differences between populations of residual and wild focus of T. infestans through head geometric morphometry. It is possible to show significant morphometric differences between the studied populations. Furthermore, it is possible to establish a morphometric relationship between these populations and to list hypotheses about the distribution and maintenance of residual foci of T. infestans in Brazil. Triatoma infestans is one of the main vectors of Chagas disease in Latin America. Although the species is under control in most Latin countries, it is still necessary to maintain epidemiological surveillance. The present study aims to characterize T. infestans populations from residual foci in Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, comparing them with natural populations in Argentina and Bolivia. For this, we adopt the geometric morphometry of the heads. It is possible to report the morphometric variety of the studied populations. In addition, we show that the size of the heads contributes to the differentiation between populations, while the shape has less power to discriminate groups. Furthermore, we show that some natural populations have morphometric proximity to residual populations, suggesting a relationship between these triatomines. Our data do not support the origin of residual populations but demonstrate the importance of new studies with other techniques to understand the dynamics of distribution and reintroduction of these vectors in Brazilian territory.

The study of phenotypic evolution has been transformed in recent decades by methods allowing precise quantification of anatomical shape, in particular 3D geometric morphometrics. While this effectiveness of geometric morphometrics has been demonstrated by thousands of studies, it generally requires manual or semi-automated landmarking, which is time-consuming, susceptible to operator bias, and limits comparisons across morphologically disparate taxa. Emerging automated methods, particularly landmark-free techniques, offer potential solutions, but these approaches have thus far been primarily applied to closely related forms. In this study, we explore the utility of automated, landmark-free approaches for macroevolutionary analyses. We compare an application of Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Metric Mapping (LDDMM) known as Deterministic Atlas Analysis (DAA) with a high-density geometric morphometric approach, using a dataset of 322 mammals spanning 180 families. Initially, challenges arose from using mixed modalities (computed tomography (CT) and surface scans), which we addressed by standardising the data by using Poisson surface reconstruction that creates watertight, closed surfaces for all specimens. After standardisation, we observed a significant improvement in the correspondence between patterns of shape variation measured using manual landmarking and DAA, although differences emerged, especially for Primates and Cetacea. We further evaluated the downstream effects of these differences on macroevolutionary analyses, finding that both methods produced comparable but varying estimates of phylogenetic signal, morphological disparity and evolutionary rates. Our findings highlight the potential of landmark-free approaches like DAA for large scale studies across disparate taxa, owing to their enhanced efficiency. However, they also reveal several challenges that should be addressed before these methods can be widely adopted. In this context, we outline these issues, propose solutions based on existing literature, and identify potential avenues for further research. We argue that by incorporating these improvements, the application of landmark-free analyses could be expanded, thereby enhancing the scope of morphometric studies and enabling the analysis of larger and more diverse datasets.

Otoliths are paired calcified structures in the inner ear of teleosts that function in hearing and balance. In this study, the use of otolith morphometrics and shape analysis were explored to delineate the redfin species under the genus Decapterus from the Sulu Sea, Philippines, namely, Decapterus kurroides, D. smithvanizi, and D. tabl. Results showed that the mean otolith shapes are unique within species (p < 0.001). The otolith size-related (OW—otolith weight, OL—otolith length, OH—otolith height, OA—otolith area, and OP—otolith perimeter) and shape-related (RE—rectangularity, SQ—squareness, EL—ellipticity, RO—roundness, AR—aspect ratio, FF—form factor, CO—compactness, and CI—circularity) morphometric indices also showed significant variations (p < 0.001) among the three species. Distinct regions differentiating D. kurroides from the other two species were seen along the dorsal margin of the otoliths, which was supported by its significantly higher values for OH (size-related index) and RO (shape-related index). In addition, the morphometric indices showed significant variations (p < 0.001), except for RE. Furthermore, it was revealed that the size-related indices were able to separate D. kurroides from the other two species, which turned out to be indifferent. The results provided relevant data on the use of otoliths as an additional confirmatory tool in species delineation of the identified redfin species, and, therefore, offer opportunities of applying the same method in delineation and, eventually, identification of species from other genera, especially those that closely resemble each other.

Eucyclops speratus (Lilljeborg, 1901) (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Cyclopidae) was studied using various methods. Molecular genetic methods (comparison of COI and ITSn molecular markers) have shown that this species represents a species complex, and the following methods were used to search for differences between the species: analysis of qualitative and quantitative characters, linear morphometrics, landmark-based geometric morphometrics, and integumental pore pattern of the cephalothorax. Eucyclops sibiricus sp. nov. from Middle Siberia is described. The two studied species can be considered pseudocryptic; the main morphological difference between the species is the number of setules on the inner side of the first and second exopod segments of the fourth pair of swimming legs: E. sibiricus sp. nov. has 6-10 and 7-17 setules, respectively; E. speratus has 0-3 and 0-6 setules, respectively. The morphometry and integumental pore pattern of the cephalothorax were ineffective for identification and separation of species. The existing previous records of E. speratus were also analyzed, and the records of this species in the Irkutsk region (Russia), as well as in Japan and Korea, are attributed to E. sibiricus sp. nov.

Geometric morphometries was used to determine whether geographic isolation could explain differences in wing size and shape between and within continental (27[degrees]S to 41[degrees]S) and insular (Rapa Nui) populations of Culex pipiens s.s. Linnaeus and their biotypes (f. pipiens and f. molestus). Molecular protocols based on polymorphisms in the second intron of nuclear locus ace-2 (acetylcholinesterase- 2) were used to differentiate Cx. pipiens s.s. from Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, and an assay based on polymorphisms in the flanking region of a microsatellite locus (CQ11) was used to identify biotypes. Culex pipiens f. molestus and hybrids shared larval habitats in all continental sites, while Cx. pipiens f. pipiens was found in 5 of the 10 sites. Only biotype molestus was found in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Pipiens and molestus biotypes occur sympatrically in aboveground locations, and only molestus was found in the underground site (ME). Biotype molestus was dominant in rural locations and preferably anthropophilic. These results agree with the ecological descriptions previously reported for the biotypes of Cx. pipiens s.s. Procrustes ANOVA only showed differences in centroid size between biotypes in females and males and did not show significant differences in wing shape. However, we found significant differences among the geographic areas in the centroid size and wing shape of both females and males. Particularly, the population of Rapa Nui Island had shorter wings than the continental populations. The results highlight the effects of geographic and environmental processes on morphotypes in vector mosquitoes.

A user-friendly ImageJ plugin enables the application and training of U-Nets for deep-learning-based image segmentation, detection and classification tasks with minimal labeling requirements.