Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric Wootton, Claude Robert, Jolle Taillon, Steeve Cote, Aaron B. A. Shafer
Summary: In this study, the relationships between measures of inbreeding, genomic constraint, and mutational load were investigated in white-tailed deer, caribou, and mountain goat. The results showed that mountain goats had higher inbreeding coefficients and more evolutionarily constrained regions compared to caribou and white-tailed deer. Additionally, white-tailed deer had the highest mutational load, followed by caribou, while mountain goats had the lowest.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
A. M. Janosik, J. M. Whitaker, C. E. Johnston
Summary: This study compares the phylogeography and population structure of Rock Darter in the Mobile River Basin. The results show genetic divergence between major rivers, potentially representing previously undescribed species. Limited gene flow was also observed between lower Tombigbee/Sipsey River populations and others. This study has important implications for establishing conservation guidelines for biodiversity in the Mobile River Basin.
Article
Fisheries
Kathryn E. Mcbaine, Paul L. Angermeier, Eric M. Hallerman
Summary: The candy darter is an endangered non-game fish that has been extirpated from its historic range in Virginia and now exists in isolated populations in the New River drainage. Genetic analysis revealed low genetic variation and evidence of genetic bottlenecks in all populations. The genetic structure of the populations was related to their position in the river, indicating the populations were once connected. Habitat management and genetic exchange through translocations may be effective strategies for conserving the candy darter in Virginia.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Daniel J. MacGuigan, Christopher W. Hoagstrom, Sami Domisch, C. Darrin Hulsey, Thomas J. Near
Summary: Species delimitation is crucial for understanding the mechanisms behind biodiversity. Traditional alpha taxonomy relied on expert knowledge to describe new species, while DNA-based methods like the multispecies coalescent model (MSC) offer a more objective approach, though recent criticisms question their accuracy in certain situations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kayla M. Fast, Brook L. Fluker, Bernard R. Kuhajda, Patrick E. O'Neil, Stuart W. McGregor, Matthew S. Piteo, Michael W. Sandel
Summary: The southeastern United States is a hotspot of biodiversity, but small-stream-inhabiting fish such as the Trispot Darter (Etheostoma trisella) face population declines and genetic isolation due to destruction and fragmentation of their habitats. This study used genetic markers to evaluate the population structure and diversity of E. trisella. The results showed evidence of historical connectivity between populations, but recent isolation. Three distinct genetic groups were identified, corresponding to different geographic localities. The study also highlighted the importance of riverine isolation in structuring populations. Understanding the distribution and habitat occupancy of E. trisella populations is crucial for future conservation efforts.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tam Minh Nguyen, Duy Dinh Vu, Hien Phan Dang, Xuan Thi Tuyet Bui, Hong Phan Lan Nguyen, Duc Minh Nguyen
Summary: Moderate levels of genetic diversity and differentiation were found in Anisoptera costata. Population divergence during the Younger Dryas was detected. The anthropogenic disturbance significantly impacted the genetic diversity of the species in low tropical forests.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kyle D. Gustafson, Roderick B. Gagne, Michael R. Buchalski, T. Winston Vickers, Seth P. D. Riley, Jeff A. Sikich, Jaime L. Rudd, Justin A. Dellinger, Melanie E. F. LaCava, Holly B. Ernest
Summary: Urbanization is reducing wildlife habitat and connectivity, affecting apex predators such as pumas. A study on pumas in California found genetic clusters at different scales, with fragmented populations showing low genetic diversity and inbreeding. The results suggest that existing genetic variation at a broader scale has the potential to restore diversity if gene flow and recombination can be enhanced. These findings are important for conservation and management practices.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristen N. Finch, Adam D. Leache
Summary: Rarity, range restriction, and narrow endemism have significant conservation implications for imperilled species. The study shows that human-associated extinction risk factors can also impact widespread species. Comparing newts in the same region, the research highlights the importance of local-scale landscape genetics in understanding population connectivity.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Naoko T. Fujito, Zachary R. Hanna, Michal Levy-Sakin, Rauri C. K. Bowie, Pui-Yan Kwok, John P. Dumbacher, Jeffrey D. Wall
Summary: The study found that potential hybrids with intermediate plumage morphology are a mixture of pure barred owls, F1 hybrids, and F1 x barred owl backcrosses. While the spotted owl experienced a population bottleneck during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, their population sizes have rebounded without historical evidence of decline between 100-10,000 years ago. Genetic separation between western and eastern barred owls has been found to have occurred thousands of years ago, challenging the previous assumption of a more recent divergence.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alison G. Nazareno, L. Lacey Knowles
Summary: The application of high-density polymorphic SNP markers has raised many biological questions about micro- and macroevolutionary processes. The effects of SNP filtering practices on population genetic inference have not been well studied. Sensitivity analyses showed that gene flow estimates are robust to different settings of MAF and MD, while forest fragmentation may impact dispersal estimates. Recent studies suggest a temporal shift in gene flow scale, highlighting the need for unbiased population genetics estimates.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kojin Tsuchiya, Yuna Zayasu, Yuichi Nakajima, Nana Arakaki, Go Suzuki, Noriyuki Satoh, Chuya Shinzato
Summary: Understanding the structure and connectivity of coral populations is crucial for marine conservation. This study reveals the complex migration tendencies and population dynamics of coral populations in the Nansei Islands, influenced by heterogeneity in ocean currents and local environments.
Article
Ecology
Chloe Schmidt, Gabriel Munoz, Lesley T. Lancaster, Jean-Philippe Lessard, Katharine A. Marske, Katie E. Marshall, Colin J. Garroway
Summary: Global biodiversity is organized into biogeographic regions. Populations near biogeographic boundaries have lower effective population sizes and genetic diversity, and are more genetically differentiated. These patterns are stable and generalizable in their contribution to long-term limits on biodiversity homogenization.
Article
Ecology
Emma K. T. Carroll, Steven M. Vamosi
Summary: The study reveals that the population and distribution of Bull Trout in their native range are declining due to historic overharvest, invasive non-native species, and habitat loss. While there is evidence of genetic differentiation, significant isolation-by-distance patterns were not observed in the Athabasca River basin.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Suzanne E. Roden, John B. Horne, Michael P. Jensen, Nancy N. FitzSimmons, George H. Balazs, Richard Farman, Jennifer Cruce Horeg, Jessy Hapdei, Maike Heidemeyer, T. Todd Jones, Lisa M. Komoroske, Colin J. Limpus, Shawn Murakawa, Rotney Piedra, Laura Sarti-Martinez, Tammy Summers, Miri Tatarata, Elizabeth Velez, Patricia Zarate, Peter H. Dutton
Summary: This study expands upon the current understanding of green turtle population genetic structure in the Pacific by examining nuclear DNA diversity, regional connectivity, and male-mediated gene flow. The results indicate a defined East-West split in the Pacific green turtle populations, and provide evidence of possible male-mediated gene flow.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camille Kessler, Alice Brambilla, Dominique Waldvogel, Glauco Camenisch, Iris Biebach, Deborah M. Leigh, Christine Grossen, Daniel Croll
Summary: The study explores the impact of immune function polymorphism on health and reproductive success within species, as well as the significance of genetic diversity loss in extinction risk. Through the design of a microfluidics-based amplicon sequencing assay, comprehensive genetic variation in Alpine ibex was successfully captured, revealing unexpectedly high genetic differentiation at immunity-related loci within the species.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
