Article
Evolutionary Biology
Linda Haltiner, Piet Spaak, Stuart R. Dennis, Philine G. D. Feulner
Summary: Human activities have facilitated the invasion of various organisms in freshwater ecosystems. In particular, invasive bivalves like quagga mussels have the potential to disrupt the food web and alter ecosystem function. These mussels are highly abundant, have a rapid spread through pelagic larvae, and colonize different substrates. They have invaded multiple waterbodies across the Northern Hemisphere, including large lakes in Central Europe. Genetic analysis of quagga mussel populations revealed significant differentiation among populations in different lakes, but no differentiation within Lake Constance. This suggests that the presence of shallow-water and deep-water morphotypes is a result of phenotypic plasticity rather than local adaptation.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam A. Perez, Abigail Tobin, John V. Stechly, Jason A. Ferrante, Margaret E. Hunter
Summary: This study presents the development of a CRISPR/Cas-based biosensor for detecting the fungal agent Pd, which causes white-nose syndrome in bats. The biosensor combines RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a nuclease cleavage to detect Pd DNA from bat samples. It has the potential to aid in the rapid identification of Pd-positive sites in the field.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Javier Tamames, Diego Jimenez, Alvaro Redondo, Sandra Martinez-Garcia, Asuncion de los Rios
Summary: This article presents a complete system for metagenomic analysis that can sequence and analyze a medium-size metagenome in less than one day. The combination of experimental and computational advances allows for this unprecedented development, which has been tested and proven feasible in field conditions. This rapid and efficient capability can be used for real-time monitoring of microbial communities in remote areas.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ben Belden Mugula, S. F. Omondi, Manuel Curto, Samuel Kuria Kiboi, James Ireri Kanya, Anthony Egeru, Paul Okullo, Harald Meimberg
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity and structure of Osyris lanceolata populations in Uganda and Kenya. The results showed a genetic differentiation between Kenyan and Ugandan populations, with higher genetic diversity in Kenyan populations. Ugandan populations showed more marker deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and inbreeding coefficient. Two populations showed evidence of recent bottlenecks. Altitude differences played a significant role in isolating the populations. The findings suggest the presence of unrecognised taxonomic units within O. lanceolata and highlight the importance of further investigations for conservation strategies.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
My-Hanh Le, Brett Morgan, Mei-Yeh Lu, Victor Moctezuma, Oscar Burgos, Jen-Pan Huang
Summary: This study sequenced and assembled high-quality chromosome-level genomes of four Hercules beetles, revealing a striking similarity in genome structure among the four species. Structural variations in candidate-gene families associated with horn structure and body colouration were identified and their impacts on generating morphological diversity in beetles were discussed. The demographic histories of the beetles were also reconstructed using heterozygosity information, showing close correlation with historical changes in suitable forest habitats driven by climate shifts.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angel P. Diz, David O. F. Skibinski
Summary: The study provides evidence of genetic and phenotypic differences in hybrid populations of marine mussels in the UK. It suggests the presence of genomic interactions and prezygotic barriers between the parental species. The study also highlights the long-term stability of the hybrid zone and its potential resistance to the effects of global warming.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Thomas Schwaha, Valentina Cometti, Ahmed J. Saadi, Matteo Cecchetto, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: Recent surveys in Antarctic waters have discovered numerous bryozoan species, including previously neglected ctenostome bryozoans. However, the lack of calcified skeletons in large ctenostomes makes them difficult to identify. In this study, new specimens from Terra Nova Bay were analyzed, leading to the discovery of a new ctenostome bryozoan species, Alcyonidium kuklinskii sp. nov. Additionally, an identification key and distribution map for all type species of the Alcyonidium genus were provided.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Rebekah L. Horn, Hayley M. Nuetzel, Becky Johnson, Cory Kamphaus, Jon Lovrak, Kraig Mott, Todd Newsome, Shawn R. Narum
Summary: This study presents the first parentage-based tagging baseline for Coho salmon in the interior Columbia River basin and the area around Bonneville Dam. The analysis shows that genetic structure follows a temporal pattern based on broodlines rather than geographic location or stocking history. The baseline data can be used for identifying the origin of Coho salmon and tracking the distribution of hatchery-origin fish on the spawning grounds.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Richard Ian Bailey
Summary: Admixture is a widespread phenomenon and genomic studies can help us understand its impacts on evolution and speciation. Geographic and genomic cline analysis can provide evidence for reproductive isolation, selection, and adaptive introgression. The gghybrid package is a flexible Bayesian estimation tool for hybrid index and genomic clines, suitable for both small and large datasets. Simulations show that model comparison with waic is preferred, while the use of Bayesian posterior distributions and p values to select non-null loci should be avoided.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Yuan Xu, Yangyang Jing, Jing Zhou, Rui Long, Juanzhu Meng, Ya Yang, Yiping Luo
Summary: This study explores the age, growth, and energy storage of Triplophysa rosa, a troglobitic cavefish. The results indicate that T. rosa exhibits life traits conducive to its population dynamics in cave conditions, characterized by slow growth, small size, and high lipid energy storage.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Romei, Mathilde Carpentier, Jacques Chomilier, Guillaume Lecointre
Summary: Protein folds refer to the architecture and topology of a protein domain. Eukaryotes have a larger number of protein folds compared to Archaea and Bacteria. These folds can be divided into two types: those shared with Archaea and/or Bacteria, and those specific to eukaryotic clades. The first type of folds originated from the first endosymbiosis, confirming the mixed origin of eukaryotes. The rate of fold appearance is on average twice as high in Eukaryota compared to Bacteria and Archaea, with the origins of eukaryotes and specific clades showing the highest rates of fold evolution.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Sergey N. Matveevsky, Oxana L. Kolomiets, Nikolay A. Shchipanov, Svetlana V. Pavlova
Summary: This study investigated the meiotic process in male hybrid shrews with complex chromosomal configurations using immunocytochemical and electron microscopy methods. Despite abnormalities in chromosome synapsis, morphologically normal spermatozoa were observed, suggesting that the impact of long meiotic configurations on fertility may be minimal.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bridgett M. Vonholdt, Daniel R. Stahler, Kristin E. Brzeski, Marco Musiani, Rolf Peterson, Michael Phillips, John Stephenson, Kent Laudon, Erin Meredith, John A. Vucetich, Jennifer A. Leonard, Robert K. Wayne
Summary: Effective population size estimates are critical for evolutionary predictions and conservation decisions, especially for species with social factors that impact breeding and population size. This study investigated the genomic estimates of effective population size in grey wolf populations in North America, revealing significant genetic structure and historical signatures of predator extermination efforts. The findings highlight the importance of effective population size estimates for grey wolf conservation.
Article
Biology
Karen Stamm, Jan-Henning Dirks
Summary: Insect exoskeletons can react to prolonged exposure to hypergravity conditions, with increased elasticity at lower levels of hypergravity but decreased survivability, body mass, and endocuticle thickness at higher levels.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ryan K. Logan, Jeremy J. Vaudo, Bradley M. Wetherbee, Mahmood S. Shivji
Summary: Niche partitioning among three closely related pelagic predators in the vertically compressed Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) was studied using recreational fisheries data, satellite tracking, and stable isotope analysis. Although there was high spatial and temporal overlap among the species, diving behavior resulted in spatial partitioning and low trophic overlap. Expanding oxygen minimum zones may increase interspecific competition and limit available vertical habitats for predator guilds.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Shuma Tsurumi, So Kanazawa, Masami K. Yamaguchi
Summary: This study reveals that infants below six months of age lack the functioning of recurrent processing, allowing them to directly perceive physically presented visual information. In contrast, infants above six months of age exhibit the development of recurrent processing, leading to incorrect integration of visual information.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Thomas C. Prang
Summary: This study tested whether heel-striking primates have a relatively larger calcaneal tuber than non-heel-striking primates, and provided support for the shared heel strike plantigrade trait in African apes and humans.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ruiwen Wu, Lili Liu, Liping Zhang, Dandong Jin, Xiaoping Wu, Xiongjun Liu, Zhicai Xie, Zhengfei Li
Summary: Advances in molecular techniques have improved our knowledge of species diversity and phylogenetic relationships in freshwater mussels. This study integrated shell morphology, soft-body anatomy, and molecular phylogeny to determine the species validity and taxonomic position of Lepidodesma aligera and Lepidodesma languilati. Comparative morphology and genetic analysis supported their distinct species status and placement within the family Unionidae.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Mary K. Donovan, Chelsie W. W. Counsell, Megan J. Donahue, Joey Lecky, Laura Gajdzik, Stacia D. Marcoux, Russell Sparks, Christopher Teague
Summary: Herbivore management is crucial for resilience-based coral reef conservation. This study analyzed data from multiple monitoring programs in Hawai'i and found that herbivore biomass varied significantly throughout the region. Both human and biophysical drivers explained the variation in herbivore biomass, and fishing and land-based pollution had negative effects on biomass. The study also revealed a strong link between herbivore biomass and benthic condition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Georgia Titcomb, Jenna Hulke, John Naisikie Mantas, Benard Gituku, Hillary Young
Summary: The rising livestock populations and declining wildlife numbers globally have a significant impact on disease risk for both wildlife and livestock. However, limited understanding of interspecific transmission dynamics poses challenges in predicting and mitigating these diseases. This study reveals that cattle greatly increase potential parasite exposures for wild ruminants at water sources due to their high parasite output, water dependence, and parasite sharing capacity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
