Article
Zoology
JoVonn G. Hill
Summary: Gymnoscirtetes is an endemic genus found in the southeastern portion of North American Coastal Plain. It has been revised based on male genital morphology and geographical data, and four new species have been described. Gymnoscirtetes is primarily associated with mesic grasslands but can also be found in other types of grasslands.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Marc Teissier, Luiz F. Brito, Flavio S. Schenkel, Guido Bruni, Pancrazio Fresi, Beat Bapst, Christele Robert-Granie, Helene Larroque
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the genetic connectedness and population structure of Alpine and Saanen dairy goats from four countries and assess the feasibility of international genomic evaluation. The results showed that French and Italian dairy goat populations are more genetically related, while Canadian dairy goats have significant genetic differences with European populations. These findings are important for further investigating the accuracy of genomic breeding values in dairy goat populations.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kang-Rae Kim, Sang Ki Kim, Mu-Sung Sung, Jeong-Nam Yu
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity and structure of the Korean endemic aucha perch (Coreoperca herzi) using mitochondrial DNA data. The results showed significant genetic differentiation among different water systems and confirmed the origin of a translocated population. This study provides basic data for the conservation of C. herzi.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Lopez-Delgado, Patrick G. Meirmans
Summary: Understanding the impact of historical and demographic processes on genetic variation is crucial for conservation strategies and predicting responses to climate change. Our analysis of genetic variation in 91 native North American plant species revealed lower diversity farther from potential glacial refugia, in line with expectations of recolonization post-Pleistocene glaciations.
Article
Geology
Zhongmin Tao, Aibing Li, Karen M. Fischer
Summary: The presence of localized low-velocity anomalies in the upper mantle beneath the passive Atlantic margin in North America is a puzzling geophysical observation. The anomalies may be caused by the remnant heat from past hotspots or ongoing asthenospheric upwelling. Based on a recent velocity model, new information on the shapes and anisotropic signatures of these anomalies has been revealed, showing that the anomalies are likely consequences of prior hotspot interactions.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Haiying Gao, Cong Li
Summary: A high-resolution shear velocity model of eastern North America was constructed using full-wave ambient noise simulation and inversion integrating onshore and offshore seismic datasets, revealing large lateral variations of lithosphere thickness, strong low-velocity anomalies underneath the thinner lithosphere, and multiple low-velocity layers within the continental lithosphere. The results suggest that multiple tectonic processes and metasomatism have played significant roles in the formation and modification of the present mantle lithosphere beneath eastern North America.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mikael Hedren
Summary: Oceanic islands often have isolated biota with endemic species, which are vulnerable due to small population sizes and threats from habitat destruction or introduced pests and predators. This study analyzed the genetic structure of the endemic terrestrial orchid Dactylorhiza foliosa in Madeira and found comparable levels of diversity in the plastid and nuclear genomes to congeners in continental regions. Genetic analysis revealed greater sharing of plastid haplotypes among plants at closer distances, while nuclear markers showed closer relatedness only among plants growing closer than eight meters. Gene dispersal by pollen was found to be more efficient than seed dispersal in D. foliosa. Overall, the long-term persistence of D. foliosa on Madeira seems to be favorable based on genetic parameters.
PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paul M. Montesano, Christopher S. R. Neigh, Matthew J. Macander, William Wagner, Laura Duncanson, Panshi Wang, Joseph O. Sexton, Charles E. Miller, Amanda H. Armstrong
Summary: Based on the collected data from 2017 to 2019, researchers compiled and archived a geo-referenced gridded suite, including vertical structure estimates and horizontal cover estimates of vegetation canopy cover, in order to bound forest productivity estimates across the Arctic-Boreal region. These results can be used to improve the regional parametrization of forest growth rates and update predictions of changes in North America's boreal forests.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Bin Huang, Zhongwei Wang, Jianjian Huang, Xiaohui Li, Heng Zhu, Qiang Wen, Li-an Xu
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of Camellia chekiangoleosa and found that the genetic diversity was low overall, with high diversity in central populations and high genetic differentiation among populations. The low genetic diversity can be attributed to small population sizes, bottleneck effects, inbreeding within populations, and low gene flow among populations.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Avinash Karn, Luis Diaz-Garcia, Noam Reshef, Cheng Zou, David C. Manns, Lance Cadle-Davidson, Anna Katharine Mansfield, Bruce I. Reisch, Gavin L. Sacks
Summary: This study focused on the genetic basis of anthocyanin acylation in grapevine, revealing a strong QTL on chromosome 3 that explained a large portion of phenotypic variance. Multiple candidate genes were identified, and population-specific QTLs were also found on other chromosomes. The rhAmpSeq markers used in this study could be immediately utilized in grapevine breeding efforts to enhance the quality of grapes and their products.
Article
Ecology
Graham E. Wyatt, J. L. Hamrick, Dorset W. Trapnell
Summary: The dispersal and colonization of species play a crucial role in species persistence. Genetic analysis of a North American understory tree species, Asimina triloba (pawpaw), suggests that human-mediated dispersal may have contributed to its long-distance spread, with anthropogenic populations showing distinct genetic patterns compared to wild populations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
J. Morgan Varner, Jeffrey M. Kane, Jesse K. Kreye, Timothy M. Shearman
Summary: By studying the flammability of 50 important tree species in southeastern forest ecosystems, the most flammable and least flammable species in different ecosystems were identified, filling crucial gaps in understanding southeastern fire adaptations.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Pubin Hong, Zhouyuan Li, Qi Yang, Wanlu Deng, Yanjie Xu, Joseph A. A. Tobias, Shaopeng Wang
Summary: Understanding the spatial scaling of population stability is crucial for conservation strategies. The invariability-area relationship (IAR) is a metric proposed to quantify population stability across scales, but its underlying drivers are still unclear. Using bird data from North America, we found that species with specific traits and environmental factors influenced the IAR. Our results highlight the need for dynamic conservation strategies tailored to different species in the face of global environmental changes.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
James B. Chapman, Simone E. Runyon, Jessie E. Shields, Brandi L. Lawler, Cody J. Pridmore, Shane H. Scoggin, Nathan T. Swaim, Adam E. Trzinski, Hannah N. Wiley, Andrew P. Barth, Gordon B. Haxel
Summary: The North American Cordilleran Anatectic Belt (CAB) is a region about 3000 kilometers long in the hinterland of the Cordillera, comprising Late Cretaceous to Eocene intrusive rocks and anatectic rocks associated with crustal melting. The rocks in this belt are primarily peraluminous, muscovite-bearing leucogranite formed by the anatexis of Proterozoic to Archean metasedimentary rocks. The CAB is integral to understanding the tectonic evolution of North America, with various hypotheses for its origin and formation.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fenia D. Ramiharimanana, Juliano G. Haddad, Maminiaina A. Andrianavalonirina, Cecile Apel, Florent Olivon, Nicolas Diotel, Philippe Despres, Voahangy Vestalys Ramanandraibe, Chaker El Kalamouni
Summary: Dengue and Zika viruses are identified as the most medically important arthropod-borne viral pathogens. In this study, extracts from two endemic plants from Madagascar, S. ericoides and S. inuloides, were found to have potential antiviral effects against dengue and Zika viruses without causing cytotoxicity in human cells or adverse effects in zebrafish. The analysis revealed the presence of specific phytocompounds in each plant species, suggesting their potential as sources for natural and safe antiviral phytocompounds against flaviviruses of medical concern.
Article
Ecology
John P. Schmidt, John M. Drake, Patrick Stephens
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2017)
Article
Forestry
Yousef Erfanifard, Hong Hai Nguyen, John Paul Schmidt, Andrew Rayburn
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2018)
Article
Biology
A. W. Park, M. J. Farrell, J. P. Schmidt, S. Huang, T. A. Dallas, P. Pappalardo, J. M. Drake, P. R. Stephens, R. Poulin, C. L. Nunn, T. J. Davies
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John Paul Schmidt, Jennifer Cruse-Sanders, James L. Chamberlain, Susana Ferreira, John A. Young
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Dorset W. Trapnell, J. L. Hamrick, Patrick A. Smallwood, Tyler R. Kartzinel, Caitlin D. Ishibashi, Charlotte T. C. Quigley
Article
Biology
James E. Byers, J. P. Schmidt, Paula Pappalardo, Sarah E. Haas, Patrick R. Stephens
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Graham E. Wyatt, J. L. Hamrick, Dorset W. Trapnell
Summary: By combining ecological niche modeling and genetic analysis, this study investigates the historical and potential future habitat changes of Asimina triloba, a plant species in Eastern North America. Results show a significant shift in optimal habitat from 22,000 years ago being mostly submerged to a substantial expansion northward by 2070. Genetic data support the differentiation between eastern and western population clusters, with higher genetic diversity in the former.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Dorothy A. Christopher, Jeffrey D. Karron, Wendy R. Semski, Patrick A. Smallwood, Dorset W. Trapnell, Randall J. Mitchell
Summary: The selfing rate in 13 natural populations of Mimulus ringens wildflowers varies significantly, with selfing strongly influenced by floral display and pollinator visitation but not correlated with floral morphology. The study identifies mechanisms involving pollinator visitation and floral display that may play a role in maintaining selfing rate variation among populations.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dorset W. Trapnell, Patrick A. Smallwood, Kingsley W. Dixon, Ryan D. Phillips
Summary: Orchid populations are small and patchily distributed, yet exhibit high genetic diversity and moderate levels of gene flow. Some populations are founded by few colonists, with growth mainly from in situ recruitment. Pollinators play a greater role than seeds in introducing genetic diversity to populations via gene flow.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Graham E. Wyatt, J. L. Hamrick, Dorset W. Trapnell
Summary: The dispersal and colonization of species play a crucial role in species persistence. Genetic analysis of a North American understory tree species, Asimina triloba (pawpaw), suggests that human-mediated dispersal may have contributed to its long-distance spread, with anthropogenic populations showing distinct genetic patterns compared to wild populations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Dorset W. Trapnell, James L. Hamrick
Summary: Colonization is a crucial ecological process for species persistence, especially when faced with environmental changes. This study investigated colonization and population expansion of Epidendrum radicans orchids in lava flow sites on the slopes of Volcan Arenal in Costa Rica, revealing patterns of genetic diversity and spatial structure.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
John P. Wares, Sam Crickenberger, Annette F. Govindarajan, James L. Hamrick, Katelyn M. Skoczen, Dorset W. Trapnell, David S. Wethey
JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Soil Science
John Paul Schmidt, Daniel Markewitz, Francisco de Assis Oliveira, Andrew Sila, Aaron Hoyt Joslin
Article
Ecology
Patrick R. Stephens, Paula Pappalardo, Shan Huang, James E. Byers, Maxwell J. Farrell, Alyssa Gehman, Ria R. Ghai, Sarah E. Haas, Barbara Han, Andrew W. Park, John P. Schmidt, Sonia Altizer, Vanessa O. Ezenwa, Charles L. Nunn
Article
Immunology
John Paul Schmidt, Andrew W. Park, Andrew M. Kramer, Barbara A. Han, Laura W. Alexander, John M. Drake
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2017)