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Freshwater ostracodes from the Neotropical-Caribbean region are potentially excellent tools for evolutionary and paleoenvironmental studies but their use is limited, because integrated data in taxonomy, environmental, and geographical preferences of the species at large scale remain unknown. A total of 118 species were recorded in the Neotropical-Caribbean region based on existing literature and results from fieldwork. About 74% of the species are restricted to the region and most of them show limited distributional areas as a consequence of environmental heterogeneity. Based on Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity, five areas of endemism were identified:(1) southern Florida, (2) southern Mexico-northern Central America, (3) Cuba, (4) Lesser Antilles, and (5) northern Venezuela-Aruba-Curacao-Trinidad. The conservation status of these areas was revised and lake ecosystems with endemic taxa were proposed to be included in environmental protection initiatives. Biogeographical analysis showed a strong differentiation between the ostracode faunas of the Neotropical-Caribbean region and the Neotropical-Neogen region. Few exchanges of species were attributed to ecological and geographical barriers such as volcanism and irregular orography. Faunal affinities within the Neotropical-Caribbean region indicated closer relationship between southern Mexico, southern Florida and the Antilles suggesting a common biogeographical history. Middle Central America and Chiapas-Guatemala highlands were discriminated as isolated regions.

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) catalyzes the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and NADH to glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and NAD(+). G3P is important as a precursor for glycerol and glycerolipid synthesis in microalgae. A GPDH enzyme has been previously purified from the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, however, no genes coding for GPDH have been characterized before. In this study, we report the in silico characterization of three putative GPDH genes from C. reinhardtii: CrGPDH1, CrGPDH2, and CrGPDH3. These sequences showed a significant similarity to characterized GPDH genes from the microalgae Dunaliella salina and Dunaliella viridis. The prediction of the three-dimensional structure of the proteins showed the characteristic fold topology of GPDH enzymes. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis showed that the three CrGPDHs share the same clade with characterized GPDHs from Dunaliella suggesting a common evolutionary origin and a similar catalytic function. In addition, the K(a)/K(s) ratios of these sequences suggested that they are under purifying selection. Moreover, the expression analysis showed a constitutive expression of CrGPDH1, while CrGPDH2 and CrGPDH3 were induced in response to osmotic stress, suggesting a possible role for these two sequences in the synthesis of glycerol as a compatible solute in osmoregulation, and perhaps also in lipid synthesis in C. reinhardtii. This study has provided a foundation for further biochemical and genetic studies of the GPDH family in this model microalga, and also opportunities to assess the potential of these genes to enhance the synthesis of TAGs for biodiesel production.

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<p>Cladocera species composition was analyzed in surface sediments of 29 lakes in Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras). The material studied was collected with an Ekman grab in autumn 2013 from lakes located in lowland, highland and mountain regions. The study revealed high variability in qualitative and quantitative composition of subfossil Cladocera. A total of 31 Cladocera species (5 planktonic and 26 littoral) were identified, as well as 4 morphotypes that could not be identified (NRR<em> </em>1-4). Planktonic Bosminidae<em> </em>and<em> </em>Daphniidae were the most abundant families. Daphniidae were restricted to water bodies in mountain regions, whereas Bosminidae were widely distributed in lakes with different abiotic conditions. Moreover, Bosminidae species also occurred in highly mineralized waters (&gt; 900 µS cm^-1). The great majority of the identified Cladocera species belonged to the littoral family Chydoridae. <em>Chydorus </em>cf.<em> sphaericus</em> was the most common species (found in 20 lakes), which probably reflects its tolerance to a wide spectrum of habitat conditions. Cluster analysis discriminated 6 groups of Cladocera species with a high correlation level within groups (≥0.8), which showed different types of correlation with lake characteristics and environmental variables. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that altitude and secondly water electrical conductivity were the most important drivers of Cladocera species composition in the region studied. Furthermore, CCA analysis indicated lowland lakes with low water transparency were also characterized by peculiar species assemblages. <strong></strong></p>