André Levy

• PhD in Ecology and Evolution
• Researcher at ISPA - Instituto Universitário

Previous studies on the phylogenetic relationships between lamprey species relied either on a low number of morphological characters related to the feeding apparatus, or on a low number of molecular mitochondrial DNA markers. Here, we apply a multilocus approach to assess the phylogenetic relationships of northern hemisphere lampreys, with a specia...

Here we present the first phylogeny of the genus Scartella based on mitochondrial data. The analysis strongly corroborates the validity of all species of the genus and shows that Scartella cristata, a species with a disjunct distribution, is a lineage complex comprising five clades: two in Caribbean waters, another in the East Atlantic/Mediterranea...

The molecular phylogeny of the Atlanto-Mediterranean species of the genus Felimare, particularly those attributed to the species F. picta , was inferred using two mitochondrial markers (16S and COI). A recent revision of the Chromodorididae clarified the taxonomic relationships at the family level redefiningthe genus Felimare . However, conflicting...

Felimare (Hypselodoris) picta subspecies. Table S1–Distribution areas of the six subspecies described for Felimare (Hypselodoris) picta.

Felimare picta (Archipelago of the Azores). Felimare picta (Archipelago of the Azores). Credits to G. Calado.

Felimare cantabrica (South Portugal). Felimare cantabrica (South Portugal). Credits to R. Coelho/IPM.

Felimare picta (South Portugal). Felimare picta (South Portugal). Credits to R. Coelho/IPM.

Felimare tema (S. Tome and Princepe). Felimare tema (S. Tome and Princepe). Credits to G. Calado.

Diagnostic nucleotide characteres for the 16S and COI DNA fragments. Diagnostic nucleotide characteres for the 16S and COI DNA fragments listed for F. picta (including former F. picta picta, F picta webbi and F. picta azorica), F. lajensis, F. zebra and F. tema.

Felimare picta (Mexico). Felimare picta (Mexico). Credits to G. Calado.

Felimare pinna (Cape Verde). Felimare pinna (Cape Verde). Credits to G. Calado.

Felimare midatlantica (South Portugal). Felimare midatlantica (South Portugal). Credits to R. Coelho/IPM.

Sampling localities and accession numbers. Table S2–List of material included in this study, sampling localities and Genbank accession numbers.

Felimare fontandraui (West Portugal). Felimare fontandraui (West Portugal). Credits to G. Calado.

Felimare villafranca (South Portugal). Felimare villafranca (South Portugal). Credits to R. Coelho/IPM.

Felimare bilineata (South Portugal). Felimare bilineata (South Portugal). Credits to R. Coelho/IPM.

The molecular phylogeny of the Atlanto-Mediterranean species of the genus Felimare, particularly those attributed to the species F. picta, was inferred using two mitochondrial markers (16S and COI). A recent revision of the Chromodorididae clarified the taxonomic relationships at the family level reclassifying all eastern Pacific, Atlantic and Medi...

The molecular phylogeny of the Atlanto-Mediterranean species of the genus Felimare, particularly those attributed to the species F. picta, was inferred using two mitochondrial markers (16S and COI). A recent revision of the Chromodorididae clarified the taxonomic relationships at the family level reclassifying all eastern Pacific, Atlantic and Medi...

Abstract In this paper, we analyzed the phylogeny of the section Bulbocodii (genus Narcissus; Amarillydaceae) using the matK and trnL-F fragments of cpDNA in order to review the validity of the recognized taxa. Our results indicate that Narcissus obesus should be considered a valid species, and that N. blancoi is a distinct taxon. In addition, seve...

We reviewed 54 studies on teleost fishes and crustaceans inhabiting European waters to test for the emergence of phylogeographic patterns. Concerning latitudinal variation of genetic diversity, we found that: (1) contrary to the predictions of the “central-margin hypothesis,” only a minority of species (~10 %) revealed higher genetic diversity in t...

The molecular analysis of Genista anglica L. and Genista ancistrocarpa Spach in Europe and North Africa validated the separation of these two sister taxa as two distinct genetic entities, strengthening the already described morphological differentiation. A coastal clade of G. ancistrocarpa outlines a biogeographic region that seems to depart geneti...

The phylogenetic relationships among the North Atlantic Gaidropsarus and between the three Gaidropsarinae genera Gaidropsarus, Ciliata and Enchelyopus are reviewed with the hitherto most comprehensive taxonomic sampling of this group. Phylogenetic results (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) based on nuclear (rhodopsin) an...

The Lusitania Province encompasses the warm temperate marine waters between the southern end of the English Channel, in the North, and Cape Juby or Cape Blanco, in the South, including the Mediterranean and the archipelagoes of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. Briggs and Bowen (2012) proposed that the warm temperate provinces, although r...

A molecular phylogeny of 15 (out of 26 recognized) species of Parablennius Miranda Ribeiro, 1915 was constructed based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear gene fragments, and using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. The closely related genera Hypleurochilus, Salaria and Scartella were also studied to ascertain their rel...

A wide range of factors (developmental, physiological, ecological) with unpredictable interactions control variation in leaf form. Here, we examined the distribution of leaf morphologies (simple and complex forms) across angiosperms in a phylogenetic context to detect patterns in the directions of changes in leaf shape. Seven datasets (diverse angi...

Many of the fundamental concepts of biology lack consensual, precise definitions. Partly, this is due to a contrast between our discrete language and the continuous character of nature. Some debates over these concepts are confounded by the use of the same terms with different specific meanings, indicating a possible need for an expanded scientific...

In this paper, the phylogenetic relationships of the marine blenny Salaria pavo and the freshwater S. fluviatilis and S. economidisi were analyzed using four molecular markers: the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and the control region and the nuclear first intron of the S7 ribosomal protein. The monophyly of Salaria is supported, as well as that...

Aim To test the importance of the Lago Mare stage of the Messinian Salinity Crisis for the dispersal and diversification of European leuciscins (Cyprinidae: Leuciscinae). Location Europe. Methods Cytochrome b sequences of European leuciscins were employed to investigate phylogenetic relationships among species, using Bayesian inference, and to esti...

Several characteristics of the Gobiesocidae, such as the fact that they are small cryptic fishes, could explain the scarcity of studies on these species when compared with other rocky littoral fish families. Analyses of molecular and meristic data are in agreement with the views of previous workers. The genus Lepadogaster must be redefined to inclu...

Previous molecular phylogenetic studies of the genus Chondrostoma (Cyprinidae: Leuciscinae) were unable to resolve the relationship among its major species groups. In this paper we present a phylogeny for this genus, based on five mitochondrial genes and the nuclear gene beta-actin, comprising a total of 4068 bp. Bayesian inference using all gene f...

Region: Brazil.

Region: Brazil.

Summary 1. The importance of behavioural vs physiological adaptations in the evolution of host associations by herbivorous insects is largely unknown. 2. We compared sister species of beetles, one of which, Ophraella slobodkini , feeds on the lineage's ancestral host, Ambrosia artemisiifolia , while O. notulata has shifted to a novel host, Iva frut...

(Iberian minnow)Steindachner 1866 complex. This complex, that seems tohave originated in a cross between distant species, has aremarkable variability in ploidy level and genomic compo-sition, includes fertile Wsh of both sexes and some of itsforms retain meiosis and recombination (Alves et al., 2001).The

In their Editorial “Eaxonomy: impediment or expedient?”, Q. D. Wheeler et al. make a strong case for the internationalization of taxonomy through a cyber-infrastructure that would give taxonomists and museums access to the right tools for documenting species diversity (16 Jan., p. [285][1]).

This chapter discusses coevolution, which is the joint evolution of two or more species or genomes, owing to interactions between them. These interactions include interspecific competition, mutualism, and interactions between consumers and victims, as well as other interactions such as mimicry. Quantitative genetic models of the evolution of compet...

The gap between evolutionary studies in laboratory versus natural populations is a persistent problem.

Although inbreeding, on average, decreases additive genetic variance, some inbred populations may show an increase in phenotypic variance for some characters. In those populations with increased phenotypic variance, character changes by peak shifts may occur because of the effects of the higher variance on the adaptive landscape. A population's inc...

Although inbreeding, on average, decreases additive genetic variance, some inbred populations may show an increase in phenotypic variance for some characters. In those populations with increased phenotypic variance, character changes by peak shifts may occur because of the effects of the higher variance on the adaptive landscape. A population's inc...