Article
Environmental Sciences
Mickie R. Edwards, Susana Cardenas-Alayza, Michael J. Adkesson, Mya Daniels-Abdulahad, Amy C. Hirons
Summary: Peru's coastal waters experience significant environmental fluctuations due to El Nino-La Nina-Southern Oscillation events, impacting the food web and diet of Peruvian fur seals. Stable isotope ratios are used to infer primary production and dietary variations, with correlations between N-15 values and ENSO conditions. The study suggests that ENSO conditions influence resource availability, potentially affecting pinniped foraging behavior and food web complexity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yi Liu, Wenju Cai, Xiaopei Lin, Ziguang Li, Ying Zhang
Summary: The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a consequential climate phenomenon affecting global extreme weather events often with largescale socioeconomic impacts. Research has found that the economic damage from El Nino is far greater than the benefits from La Nina, and under greenhouse warming, increased ENSO variability leads to increased economic loss.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Minghong Liu, Hong-Li Ren, Run Wang, Jieru Ma, Xin Mao
Summary: This study investigates the distinct impacts of Eastern Pacific (EP) and Central Pacific (CP) El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on Tibetan Plateau (TP) summer precipitation. The results show that EP El Nino and CP La Nina have opposite effects on summer precipitation in the southwestern TP, with significant decreases and increases respectively, while CP El Nino causes significant decreases in central-eastern TP. This study may deepen our understanding of ENSO impacts on TP summer precipitation and have implications for regional climate predictions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Li, Eric Garshick, Shaodan Huang, Petros Koutrakis
Summary: This study investigates the influence of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on surface dust levels in different regions. Results show that dust concentrations are positively related with SOI, with stronger associations in North Africa and the Middle East. La Nina episodes are associated with increased dust concentrations, while El Nino events are associated with decreased dust concentrations in regions with high dust pollution.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anbao Zhu, Haiming Xu, Jiechun Deng, Jing Ma, Shuhui Li
Summary: The El Nino-Southern Oscillation has a significant impact on spring aerosols over mainland South East Asia, southern China, and the ocean south of Japan. The ENSO affects aerosols in East Asia mainly through modulation of upstream aerosol generation and transport processes. The physical mechanism involves changes in air moisture and precipitation leading to variations in biomass burning activities and carbonaceous aerosol emissions.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Nan Chen, Xianghui Fang
Summary: This paper develops a simple multiscale intermediate coupled stochastic model to capture the diversity and complexity of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and successfully reproduces the spatiotemporal dynamical evolution of different types of ENSO events.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Derek B. de Amorim, Paula R. Ribeiro, Marcele B. Bandinelli, Joanna V. Z. Echenique, Matheus V. Bianchi, Paula R. Almeida, Fernando R. Spilki, Leticia F. Baumbach, Luciana Sonne
Summary: This study reports a rare case of B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma (B-SLL) found in a South American sea lion. The main pathological features of this case included poor body condition, generalized lymphadenomegaly, severe and diffuse splenomegaly, and multiple nodules in the kidneys and small intestine. Histological examination showed that these organs were partially or totally replaced by neoplastic lymphocytes with varying sizes and shapes, and a low mitotic count. These cells were immunolabeled positive for CD79 alpha and CD20, and negative for CD3.
DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yu Zhang, Shi-Yun Yu, Dillon J. Amaya, Yu Kosaka, Malte F. Stuecker, Jun-Chao Yang, Xiaopei Lin, Lei Fan
Summary: The study reveals the connection between tropical Pacific-forced Aleutian low variability and the Pacific Meridional Mode, while tropical Pacific-forced North Pacific Oscillation does not significantly influence PMM variability. This finding provides important insights for future research on subtropical-tropical interactions.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Omid Alizadeh
Summary: Research shows that the amplitude and duration of El Nino and La Nina events have not significantly changed over the past six decades. However, the amplitude variability of El Nino events is higher than that of La Nina events, while the duration variability is lower.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Jia, Wenju Cai, Bolan Gan, Lixin Wu, Emanuele Di Lorenzo
Summary: Research suggests that under high-emissions warming scenarios, the North Pacific Meridional Mode (NPMM) strengthens its impact on El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), leading to increased frequency of extreme ENSO events and improved predictability.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Madeline McKenna, Christina Karamperidou
Summary: This study examines the relationship between Northern Hemisphere blocking events and the Central Pacific (CP) and Eastern Pacific (EP) flavors of El Nino. The results show that these two El Nino flavors have different impacts on atmospheric circulation, affecting the strength and placement of the upper-level jet stream, and thus the frequency and duration of blocking events. Therefore, future investigations of blocking and ENSO-related variability should consider the different El Nino flavors.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Joseph Hoffman, Rebecca S. Chen, David L. J. Vendrami, Anna J. Paijmans, Kanchon K. Dasmahapatra, Jaume Forcada
Summary: Debate surrounds the importance of top-down and bottom-up effects in the Southern Ocean, with one study supporting the krill surplus hypothesis that suggests an increase in predators due to the surplus of krill caused by historical whaling. Using genomic approaches, researchers reconstructed the recent demographic history of the Antarctic fur seal and found that the population at South Georgia post-sealing may have been around two times larger than pre-sealing.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Cong Guan, Feng Tian, Michael J. McPhaden, Shijian Hu, Fan Wang
Summary: Salinity anomalies in the central Pacific induce the strongest surface warming during both types of El Nino, tapering off to the east and west. The distinct sea surface salinity zonal structures between the two El Ninos amplify their difference in sea surface temperature magnitude by about 10%. Salinity effects on vertical mixing and entrainment account for the different eastern Pacific and central Pacific El Nino responses.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Yasmin Daoualibi, Renata F. Moreira, Marcele B. Bandinelli, Joanna V. Z. Echenique, Paulo G. C. Wagner, Joao F. Soares, Saulo P. Pavarini
Summary: This study aims to identify, describe, and detail the histological and molecular characteristics of verminotic pneumonia caused by Parafilaroides spp. in South American fur seals. Through necropsy and histological analysis of 26 specimens of Arctocephalus australis found on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, it was found that 12 specimens had parasites in the lung parenchyma, and only one specimen showed a granulomatous lung lesion. Microscopically, the nematodes were mainly found in the alveoli with little or no inflammatory response, and their morphological characteristics were compatible with metastrongylids. Molecular identification confirmed the presence of Parafilaroides sp. in these specimens. Verminotic pneumonia caused by Parafilaroides represents an important differential diagnosis of lung disease in South American fur seals found on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jaime A. Chaves, Fernando Lopes, Daniela Martinez, Dario F. Cueva, Gabriela I. Gavilanes, Sandro L. Bonatto, Larissa Rosa de Oliveira, Diego Paez-Rosas
Summary: The genetic consequences of the geographic distribution of rookeries in Galapagos fur seals were investigated. The results showed that the rookeries on four islands were genetically structured into three main groups. Gene flow analysis suggested migration from west Isabela to Fernandina islands, with limited migration in other directions.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
William Jones, Luke J. Eberhart-Hertel, Robert P. Freckleton, Joseph I. Hoffman, Oliver Kruger, Brett K. Sandercock, Orsolya Vincze, Sama Zefania, Tamas Szekely
Summary: This study focused on adult survival rates of three sympatrically breeding shorebird species in southwest Madagascar. The results showed high adult survival rates for all species and suggested that long lifespans may be an adaptation to unique climatic pressures on the island. However, the potential impact of future climate disruptions on breeding opportunities could make at least two of these plover species vulnerable to ongoing habitat destruction and changing climate cycles.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
David L. J. Vendrami, Toni Gossmann, Nayden Chakarov, Anneke J. Paijmans, Vivienne Litzke, Adam Eyre-Walker, Jaume Forcada, Joseph Hoffman
Summary: Nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes (numts) are common in vertebrate genomes. This study characterizes 25 numts in the Antarctic fur seal genome and identifies two recent numts that have multiple substitutions due to noncanonical insertions.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anastasia Klimova, Jesus Neftali Gutierrez-Rivera, Victor Sanchez-Sotomayor, Joseph Ivan Hoffman
Summary: Endangered species with small population sizes are at risk of genetic erosion, which can have negative effects on their long-term survival. This study investigates the genetic diversity of the captive Peninsular pronghorn population and reveals a decline in heterozygosity and an increase in inbreeding. The research also reconstructs the recent demographic history of the species and highlights the potential for genetically informed management to contribute to conservation outcomes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Keaton Tremble, J. I. Hoffman, Bryn T. M. Dentinger
Summary: This study investigates the genome-wide differentiation patterns in the ectomycorrhizal porcini mushroom, Boletus edulis, a globally distributed species complex. The study reveals contrasting patterns of genomic divergence between continents, with multiple lineages present across North America, while a single lineage dominates Europe. These geographical lineages are inferred to have diverged around 1.62-2.66 million years ago. Despite evidence of substantial and ongoing introgression, high levels of genomic differentiation were observed among lineages. The study emphasizes the importance of local adaptation and environmentally mediated divergence in fungal population differentiation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonas Tebbe, Meinolf Ottensmann, Katja Havenstein, Artemis Efstratiou, Tobias L. Lenz, Barbara A. Caspers, Jaume Forcada, Ralph Tiedemann, Joseph Hoffman
Summary: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an important component of the vertebrate immune system, and understanding MHC variation is crucial for studying fitness. In this study, intronic primers were used to amplify the MHC genes of Antarctic fur seals, revealing 19 alleles and higher allelic diversity than previous studies. Amino acid similarity at the MHC was associated with genome-wide relatedness, but not with heterozygosity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Rebecca S. Chen, Carl D. Soulsbury, Christophe Lebigre, Gilbert Ludwig, Kees van Oers, Joseph I. Hoffman
Summary: Intensive hunting activities can have major impacts on natural populations, but even recreational hunting can subtly affect animal behavior and movement. This study focused on the black grouse population in Finland to investigate the effects of hunting on genetic diversity, inbreeding, and dispersal. The results showed that while there was little genetic structure in the population, immigration rates into hunted sites were higher, suggesting that migration may mitigate the risk of inbreeding. A spatially heterogeneous matrix of hunted and unhunted regions may be important for sustainable harvests in the future.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rebecca Nagel, Jamie Coleman, Claire Stainfield, Jaume Forcada, Joseph Hoffman
Article
Genetics & Heredity
David L. J. Vendrami, Joseph I. Hoffman, Craig S. Wilding
Summary: This study mapped RADseq data from P. maximus and P. jacobaeus to a chromosome-level reference genome, revealing a heterogeneous landscape of genomic differentiation. Highly divergent genomic regions were found on 14 chromosomes, while five showed little differentiation. Population and comparative genomics analyses suggested an initial period of isolation followed by gene flow during secondary contact. Functional annotations indicated enrichment of immune-related processes and mRNA modification in highly differentiated regions. This study provides new insights into the speciation genomics of P. maximus and P. jacobaeus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucie A. Bergeron, Soren Besenbacher, Jiao Zheng, Panyi Li, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Benoit Quintard, Joseph I. Hoffman, Zhipeng Li, Judy St Leger, Changwei Shao, Josefin Stiller, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Mikkel H. Schierup, Guojie Zhang
Summary: We sequenced and compared high-coverage genomes of 151 parent-offspring trios from 68 species of vertebrates and found that the per-generation mutation rate varies greatly among species, with males having higher rates than females in mammals and birds. We identified generation time, age at maturity, and species-level fecundity as key factors influencing this variation. Species with larger long-term effective population sizes tend to have lower mutation rates, supporting the drift barrier hypothesis. Domesticated animals with shorter generation times display exceptionally high yearly mutation rates, emphasizing the importance of generation time in mutation rate evolution.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Constanza Toro-Valdivieso, Ravin Jugdaohsingh, Jonathan J. Powell, Joseph I. Hoffman, Jaume Forcada, Charles Moore, Barbara Blacklaws
Summary: This study reports high concentrations of Cd and Hg in the faeces of Juan Fernandez fur seals (JFFS), which are among the highest reported for any mammalian species. The study suggests that diet is the main source of Cd contamination in JFFS and that Cd is absorbed and incorporated into their bones without causing mineral changes. These findings are important for biomedical research, food security, and the treatment of heavy metal contamination, emphasizing the need for surveillance of apparently pristine environments.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Michael R. M. Lawson, Michael G. B. Hayle, Asilatu H. Shechonge, Wanja Dorothy Nyingi, Antonia G. P. Ford, Joseph I. Hoffman, Julia J. Day, George F. Turner, Kanchon K. Dasmahapatra
Summary: Characterizing reproductive barriers within evolutionary radiations is crucial for understanding speciation. In this study, we focus on assortative mating among Alcolapia species, which are well-known for their adaptive radiations. We observed assortative mating both among the sympatric Natron species and between allopatric species from Natron and Magadi. However, a substantial proportion of disassortative matings was also found, indicating that additional reproductive barriers may contribute to genetic isolation in nature.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jaume Forcada, Joseph I. Hoffman, Olivier Gimenez, Iain J. Staniland, Pete Bucktrout, Andrew G. Wood
Summary: This study focuses on the recovery trajectory of the Antarctic fur seal and highlights the reasons and factors influencing its population growth, discussing the impacts of environmental change and anthropogenic pressures on this species.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
E. I. K. Vitikainen, M. Meniri, H. H. Marshall, F. J. Thompson, R. Businge, F. Mwanguhya, S. Kyabulima, K. Mwesige, S. Ahabonya, J. L. Sanderson, G. Kalema-Zikusoka, J. I. Hoffman, D. Wells, G. Lewis, S. L. Walker, H. J. Nichols, J. D. Blount, M. A. Cant
Summary: Research shows that the sequencing of parental investment has a crucial impact on offspring life history and health. Through an experiment with wild banded mongooses, it was found that offspring receiving extra investment prenatally lived longer as adults, while those receiving extra investment postnatally had higher lifetime reproductive success. These findings provide rare experimental evidence of the distinct effects of prenatal and postnatal investments on individual life history and fitness in wild mammals.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arona N. Bender, Douglas J. Krause, Michael E. Goebel, Joseph I. Hoffman, Eric A. Lewallen, Carolina A. Bonin
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity, effective population size, and demographic history of leopard seals. The research found that the core habitat of leopard seals in the Antarctic is vulnerable to the loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change. Therefore, detailed assessments of past and present leopard seal population trends are needed to inform policies for Antarctic ecosystems.
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Joseph Ivan Hoffman, Svenja Heesch, Melody Susan Clark
